© ROOT-NATION.com - Use of content is permitted with a backlink.
We haven’t covered home security in quite a while, and especially not home security solutions from Ukrainian manufacturer Ajax Systems. But this time, I found a topic that brings together the Ajax StreetSiren Jeweller, Ajax DoorProtect, and Ajax MotionCam (PhOD) Jeweller. The idea for this video came from the 3-2-1 backup rule, a golden standard for data protection. You should have three copies of your data, stored on at least two different types of media. One of those copies should also be kept in a separate location, away from your home – for example, in the cloud or at a friend’s place. That got me thinking: is there a similarly simple, reliable, and cost-effective rule for protecting your home? And if there isn’t one, perhaps it’s worth creating. So I did. Three simple steps – clear, straightforward, and designed to provide the best possible balance between cost and reliability.
Read also: Ajax, Jeweller, and Wings: How It All Began?
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Video about Ajax StreetSiren/DoorProtect/MotionCam (PhOD)
Step Zero: The Foundation
Before we begin, it is worth noting that Ajax Systems home security devices using the Jeweller and Wings protocols need to be connected to a hub. For the setup described here, virtually any compatible hub will do, but I’ll use the Ajax Hub 2 Plus as an example.
It supports a direct mains connection, has a built-in battery, and also supports SIM cards as a backup connectivity option. Yes, it costs around $200.
However, the reliability of Wings and Jeweller is worth paying for. If you’re not familiar with these technologies, you can find more information here.
Step One: Detection
In an apartment, there is usually one main entry and exit point: the door. After all, only Spider-Man can get in through the windows, and he is not exactly a common sight in our part of the world, even when the weather gets hot. So the first thing you should have is an alert whenever the door is opened after the security system has been armed.
For this, you need a door opening sensor, and the Ajax DoorProtect does the job well. For around $30, you get two wireless modules. They can be mounted either with screws or using adhesive tape, the built-in battery is rated for up to seven years of operation, and there is even a Chime feature that notifies you when the door is opened.
We’ll get to that in the third step. What matters here is that DoorProtect can send door-opening notifications directly to your smartphone over a wireless protocol that would require state-level resources to compromise. It also has a clean, unobtrusive design and looks good in both available colors.
Step Two: Verification
So, you’ve received an alert that the door has been opened. What next? You need to verify who entered the apartment. That is where the Ajax MotionCam (PhOD) Jeweller comes in.
This $100 camera differs from more affordable alternatives in that it does not simply detect motion – it also takes a photo of whoever triggered it.
It can detect movement at distances of up to 12 meters, and it can take photos even in complete darkness thanks to its IR illuminator. The first images can arrive in as little as 9 seconds, which is impressively fast, especially considering that the image quality is good enough to identify details of the intruder. The battery life is also impressive, lasting up to five years.
Step Three: Response
So, we’ve detected an unwanted visitor when the door was opened. We’ve captured them on camera and confirmed that it’s not a relative or friend who was given a key. What should you do in this situation? Trigger the siren, such as the Ajax StreetSiren Jeweller. I chose the StreetSiren even for indoor use for a simple reason: it is more rugged, and an intruder will probably try to disable it.
It costs almost $100. Its siren is extremely loud, the batteries can last up to five years, and it can be controlled via a smartphone. There is also an activation delay feature, as well as Chime, or opening notifications.
The siren emits a quiet sound when DoorProtect detects that the door has been opened, even if the security system is not armed. This can be useful, for example, if you want to be alerted to someone opening the door while you are wearing headphones at your computer. And for this particular feature, you need DoorProtect, as MotionCam does not support it.
Conclusion
Yes, you can build a significantly cheaper system, but both detection and verification will be considerably less reliable. That is why these three steps work well together: detection with the Ajax DoorProtect, verification with the Ajax MotionCam (PhOD) Jeweller and response with the Ajax StreetSiren Jeweller. Combined with reliable wireless protocols and backup options for both data transmission and power, this setup offers an excellent balance between reliability and cost.
