Protect America Home Security System review

When it comes to home security, peace of mind seems to be a factor in the type of security you get. And with several home security companies competing for your business I guess what it really breaks down to is the ease of use, added options, and the service. When I received the security system from Protect America, it arrived in a rather large box that made me a little worried. I assumed that for such a large box there must be tons of wiring, and parts, and manuals, and more. I cringed at the thought of having to assemble the security system unit, and run cable and wires through the wall, and fumble with small screws trying to mount the unit to the wall. What did I get myself into?, I wondered.

After opening the box, I quickly realized that installation wasnt going to be bad at all. The box only contained the security system control panel, also known as the Simon XT by GE, 11 sensors, 2 key fobs, a LCD touchscreen remote control panel, a home security yard sign, and the user manual. Surprisingly, the only connections I had to do was to connect the backup battery to the unit and connect my Ethernet cable.

Protect America offers three ways of alarm monitoring connections: a standard landline, high-speed broadband, or wireless cellular. I choose to use the high-speed broadband. Setup for the Simon XT is pretty standard: you just power it up and set the time and date. Then the next step is to install the sensors on the doors and windows you want monitored.

Protect America has packages that vary the number of sensors that you can choose from: 3, 5, 7, 12, or 15 doors or windows ranging in price from $29.99 to $42.99. Since there is not a service technician that would install the system, you basically have to do the installation yourself. The Protect America website has installation videos to help you do the installation.

Installing the sensors was fairly easy and effortless. Each consists of two pieces, the sensor and the magnet. Once installed, the alarm goes off when the magnet is separated from the sensor. The sensor and magnet have Velcro backing so you can shift either one during the install if you need to. Other alarm companies sensors and magnets have to be aligned perfectly and screwed in just right. If either one is not where it needs to be then they have to be unscrewed and re-screwed to align both pieces. With the Velcro backing, attaching it is super easy. The backing uses 3M tape, so the hold is strong.

As you go throughout your home to install the sensors, the manual has a Sensor Information Worksheet inside so that you can identify the name and location of the sensor. You will need this information when you call to activate your alarm system. Activating the system depends on how many sensors and additional optional devices, you have. Since I am reviewing just the basic door and window sensors, it took roughly 30 minutes to pair the sensors with Protect America and their monitoring station. Fortunately, I had the pleasure of dealing with Douglas (x7118) over at Protect America. Not only was he patient with me as we activated the sensors and went through the worksheet, but he was very helpful after the install with emails and phone calls. He helped things go smoothly, even with some unforeseen hiccups that my broadband cable was experiencing. As we tested the system, Douglas informed me of the available optional accessories, as well as future accessories, that they have to offer: glass break sensors, motion detectors, interactive video cameras, garage door sensors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, flood sensors, and even GPS tracking for your car.

The Simon XT control pad can support up to 40 wireless zones, so you can have a ton of additional accessories right at your disposal. With all these optional devices, there was one that kind of stood out among the rest a solar-powered light for the security yard sign that turns on at dusk and off at dawn. I thought it was advantageous to have the security yard sign visible at night. I read somewhere that even having a alarm company sticker or yard sign is a deterrent for thieves looking for a house to break into. I even read that some people have placed dummy security bullet cameras around their house as a deterrent. Every little bit helps I suppose.

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Protect America Home Security System review