Hi,
Just recently got my ST Hub and sensors, I am now looking for a speaker/siren which can solve both the below scenarios
Alarm/Siren notifications when an alarm goes off
Speaks out like “Front door opened” or “backdoor opened” or atleast a simple sound notification when ever such a event happens even in “disarmed” state (more like some of the basestation of traditioanal home security system)
Searching in the forums I see suggestions like ZOOZ Z-Wave Plus Indoor Siren, Utilitech Indoor Siren, Aeon labs siren. Can any of these achieve both of the above or come as close as possible for solving both.
You can’t do it with any of the sirens you listed.
You can do it with the $49 Aeon doorbell unit, because it can play any of 99 different sounds and you can upload your own MP3 files to it.
The only thing is that it is not going to play as loud as the siren-only Units. The doorbell has a max volume of 80 dB, because that’s as loud as can be played without potential hearing damage if this sound continues for very long.
The siren units more typically play at 110 dB, around the same as a smoke alarm. The doorbell has a max volume of 80 dB, because that’s as loud as can be played without potential hearing damage If This sound continues for very long.
The siren units more typically play at 110 dB, around the same as a smoke alarm.
So if you want a really loud siren, you’re probably going to need to have two units, one for the voice notifications and one for the siren.
The community – created wiki has a how to article on voice notifications:
Thanks for the quick reply and pointing me to the wiki. Say if I just want a “beep” or just any sound notification and not a fullfledged “front boor opened” will that be solved by any of the sirens?
Also, for a standalone alarm/sirens which one of the above is recommended and best value?
Some of the sirens can do a beep, but in most cases you can’t change the sound on the fly the way you can with the Aeon doorbell. So you if you have it set for beep then it beeps every time. But you just have to check the specifications on each one as they do vary in features.
For a siren model, the Fortrezz has been the most popular in the past as it is the loudest, and that is usually what people are looking for in a siren. It also has a strobe light option which many people like. You can have it do sound only, strobe only, or both in combination.
The Zooz was only recently released and I haven’t really looked at it to see what its features are.
There is also a gocontrol siren/strobe which may be the least expensive of the group. It’s the same decibel level as the Aeon so a little quieter than the Fortrezz, but does include the strobe option.
The go control siren on its own typically sells for about $35. Or you can find it in the go control “premium security kit” with three contact sensors and one motion sensor for typically around $90, which is a good price. Sometimes that kit itself is even on sale for less, so just keep an eye out. It’s widely carried it Walmart, Home Depot, and other retailers as a security kit. It may say that it requires wink, but it also works with SmartThings. So for value, that’s probably the best, but it may not have the specific features you want.
So for value, that’s probably the best, but it may not have the specific features you want.