2022 update: Unfortunately, it would appear Hub6 has closed their business and the Safe stopped working sometime late last year. It’s a shame since the product itself was quite good. For a replacement, check out the Envisalink by a company called EyezOn.
Occasionally, I like to write product reviews. And by “occasionally”, I mean I’ve done it twice for a friend’s site so far. Here’s the first one I wrote.
This review was first published at amazingdevicesandtools.com
Smart home is a big thing these days. Everything from light switches to microwaves are becoming connected and can be control via mobile app or by voice. It’s all very convenient (and cool!)
As homes got smarter, one thing that often remained “dumb” was existing alarm systems. Of course, one could get themselves a smart home alarm system, such as those from Ring or Ecobee. But replacing a perfectly good alarm system-aside from its “dumbness”-seems like such a waste. Ring does have a kit to retrofit existing alarms, but that is $150 USD, supports only 8 zones, and doesn’t include the Ring system itself which is required.
Fortunately, there are other more affordable solutions out there, one of which is the Safe from Toronto company Hub6. The Safe cost about the same as Ring’s retrofit kit, and just like it, you connect the Safe to an existing alarm system to make it smart. But unlike Ring’s kit, the Safe can handle however many zones you have, and it’s the only component you need.
Installation of the Safe is very simple. There are 2 options: you can connect the Safe (via 4 coloured wires) to the existing alarm keypad or the main control box (usually in the basement). Different wires/clips are provided for the 2 install options.
Once the hardware is installed, you can proceed to teach the Safe about the zones in your home through the Hub6 mobile app. The interface is quite straightforward and intuitive: give each zone a name and choose the location and type (i.e. entry door, living room window). The selection for room and type is fairly comprehensive, but you can also define your own.
And just like that, your alarm system is now smart. As one would expect, you can see the status of the system, such as what zones are open, all from within the mobile app. You can also arm the system with one touch from the app, or even by voice with Alexa or Google assistant. For disarm, it supports unlocking with Apple’s Face ID, which is very convenient (no more passcodes!) There are some functions that you will still need to use the keypad for, such as bypassing zones, so that’s something to keep in mind.
Like other smart alarm systems, another benefit of using Safe is being able to cut off the monitoring fee, since you-and friends and family you invite to the app as neighbours-will be monitoring your home. But what’s unique with Safe is the fact that the existing alarm is still in use, which means you could keep the old monitoring service active for that extra level of security. Alternatively, Hub6 offers on-demand monitoring service for $10 CAD a month, which is perfect for short periods (like on a vacation) when you need a little more protection.
In summary, the Safe by Hub6 is a great way to upgrade an existing alarm into a smart one and cost less than competing solutions.
Pros:
- True upgrade to an existing alarm system so it doesn’t go to waste
- One device handles it all, no need to buy extra components
- Integration with voice assistants
- Nice app, with ability to invite friends and family
Cons:
- Some functions, such as bypassing zones, cannot be done in the app
