
A smart home security system connects to your Wi Fi network so you can monitor and control your security devices using your smartphone and an app. Entry level systems usually include some door and window sensors, a motion detector, and a hub that communicates with
these devices using one or more wireless protocols such as Wi Fi, Z Wave, Zigbee, or a proprietary mesh network. You can add extra door, motion, and window sensors to provide coverage for your entire house and build a comprehensive system that includes door locks, garage door openers, indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras, lights, sirens, smoke/CO detectors, water sensors, and more. A word about wireless protocols: In a perfect world, all home security components would use the same wireless standard to communicate with the main hub, but factors such as power requirements, signal range, price, and size make it virtually impossible to settle on just one. For example, smaller components such as door/window sensors typically use Z Wave or Zigbee technology because they don't require a lot of power and can be powered by smaller batteries. They also operate in a mesh topology and can help extend the range of networked devices. However, neither protocol provides the bandwidth that you get with Wi Fi, which is why it is usually used in security cameras to provide smooth video streaming, and in other devices that require a fat pipe. Moreover, Z Wave and Zigbee devices are connected and controlled using a hub, while Wi Fi devices can be connected directly to your home network and controlled with an app. Finally, Z Wave and Zigbee devices use AES 128 encryption, and since they operate in a closed system with a dedicated hub, they offer more security than Wi Fi devices. Any smart security system worth its salt offers components that work together in a seamless
environment and can be manipulated using customized rules. For example, you can create rules to have the lights turn on when motion is detected, have your doors unlock when a smoke alarm goes off, and have a camera begin recording when a sensor is triggered.
DLJ Financial, Inc. DMI Financial Inc. DML Mortgage Enterprises, Inc. Dolan Gaddi Lending, Inc. Dominion First Mortgage CorporationDominion Residential Mortgage,
LLCDoorway MortgageDouble Positive Marketing GroupDowns Financial Inc. Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corp dba 1st Advantage MortgageDrew Mortgage AssociatesDuxford Financial, Inc.

Once you’ve set up your home security system, you may need to add
extra security cameras or sensors to monitor blind spots that may be out of range. Some home security companies sell additional equipment at a discounted rate if you’ve purchased their home security system. If not, adding additional equipment can be fairly inexpensive. Adding an extra indoor security camera can cost
upwards of $100 or an extra door sensor can cost around $30. Before buying more equipment, make sure you know how many home security devices each control panel or hub can accommodate at once. Also, if you’re installing add on equipment, ask about any additional fees such as extra cloud storage for security camera footage.