Customer Reviews for Defiant Home Security Wireless Home Protection Alarm System

The installation was quite easy, especially since it is a wireless system there are no wires to run. The manual was helpful, even though the small print makes it a bit hard to read. I was concerned that in our long ranch style house the wireless system wouldn't work, but it does, no problem at all. On thing that I don't like is that you can arm the system even when a door or window is open. You won't get a notification that the sensor is open, until you close it and set of the alarm by doing so. This system is a stand-alone system, meaning it can NOT connect to you WiFi, send emails, or notifications to your phone. That much technology can not be expected for this low price.

I was looking for a product that would offer some additional comfort of security when home at night, without the long-term expense of a security monitoring service; so I decided to try this product. Upon opening the product package, the plastic door and occupancy sensors felt very flimsy (a “hollow” feel), giving me the initial impression that this was a rinky-dink product. However, now that I have installed and used this system, I can report that it is surprisingly effective and meets my particular need. The one exception being that the occupancy sensor is finicky and doesn’t always pick-up movement. I have a 3000 SF home, and the alarm panel consistently read the door sensors when they were triggered, even though those were located up to about 150 lineal feet away from the panel, and further separated by a couple of interior walls. I was concerned that the two-piece magnet-operated door sensors would not work well (or at all) if their mating surfaces were not closely aligned. It turned out that this was not a problem -- even though each component was slightly off plane from its mate, the unit still operated flawlessly to detect when the doors were open or closed. But as mentioned, the infrared occupancy sensor sometimes would not recognize intrusion, even when attempting to trigger it from near or far with extensive movement. At other times, it was triggered by incidental movement (i.e., operating as expected). Although the “smart” panel allows for a limited number of custom settings, it has sufficient functions to suit most users, including the ability to modify the entry/exit time delay before arming/alarming, the alarm siren’s duration and arming for staying at home or leaving the home vacant, etc. The alarm siren is built into the panel and is itself is quite loud/shrill to the point that it startled my wife, even though I had prepared her to listen for it. I appreciate that the system also has an “Alert” mode which if set, will flash the screen and sound a chime every time the armed perimeter or the occupancy sensor are breached – good for identifying when someone you expect arrives home or crosses a perimeter. A “panic” alarm button can be pressed on either the panel or the key fob to immediately activate the siren. If there is a downside to this system, (besides the fact that it is not a professionally monitored), it is that the remote sensors are all battery operated (9 volt or AAA). Although the sensors each have low-battery indicators, I suspect many folks may not be monitoring these, creating a false-sense of protection when the battery runs out. As other reviewers have commented, I did not find this system to be difficult to set-up, however, there is nothing about the process that is intuitive. It is absolutely necessary to carefully follow the user’s guide because in most instances, specific keypad sequencing must be entered into the system panel (or the key fob) in order to set-up and to operate the system. However, once you’ve decided which alarm features you will use most often, and have repeated the arming/disarming sequence a few times, it will be easy to operate the system without further instruction. Overall, this is a reasonably effective system. And although additional sensors are apparently available for separate purchase, I think it is perhaps a tad overpriced for the limited number of sensors (3) that are included with the kit. Finally, batteries are NOT included; you will need two 9 volt batteries and four AAA batteries to operate the system.

For those that want to protect their homes, but can't subscribe to a monthly service, this is a great option for home security. WHAT YOU GET: You'll get one control panel with AC adapter and battery backup, one motion sensor, two door/window sensors and one remote control. INSTALL: You will need a phillips screwdriver, 4 AAA batteries and 2 9volt batteries to install this. Door sensors take the AAAs and the motion sensor and control panel backup each take a 9V. There is a template included to make wall mounting of the control panel and all sensors much easier. The sensors can be mounted using the included screws OR double sided tape. Your option. Install takes about 30 minutes, and all sensors are programmed to the control panel out of the box. The control panel must be mounted within five feet of a power outlet (it has a battery backup too). All sensors are wireless. SET UP: The manual is straight forward and easy to follow. You have multiple options when you arm the system for HOME mode (either alert tone or full siren for each sensor, chosen by you for each sensor individually) and ALERT mode (door open with a chime when tripped) and ARM mode (siren for all sensors when tripped). This is all quickly and easily programmed from the control panel. You can program the entry and exit delay time before alarm to the length you wish. CONTROLLING THE SYSTEM: You can choose to use the handy key chain remote to arm and disarm the system, and you can use the keypad with a PIN you choose yourself. You can buy and add extra remotes at any time. The control panel lights up, red for alarm green for entry and home mode when sensors are tripped and yellow for normal control. Each press of a key gives a solid beep to confirm. Again, you CAN set your own custom PIN on this. SENSORS: You can add as many sensors as you want. You can have up to 8 zones total (garage, basement, hall, etc), but unlimited sensors of any type, motion and door/window type can be added. OVERALL: This is a handy basic system and I love that you can add inexpensive sensors all over the place, up to 500 feet away and choose which zone of the 8 available you want them to show up as. You can add multiple sensors to the garage and call them Zone 8, three sensors for the upstairs and call them Zone 7, etc, etc. The siren is LOUD. Holy cow it is so loud (120db) and it actually hurts the ears. No one will be sticking around with this thing going off. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a nice home security system without the monthly service cost.

I recently purchased the Defiant home wireless security system. After installing it, with some difficulty in reprograming some of the settings , I felt I needed to add some additional door sensors. The system comes with two door/window censors and one motion sensor. To my surprise, Home Depot does not carry the matching sensors in store or online under the Defiant brand name. After a few calls and some searching I come to find out that the product is actually manufactured by a company called Sabre, and that it is available on line at Home Depot's web site for almost $25.00 less than the Defiant model is and that it is identical !! You can also purchase the correct door/window sensors under the Sabre brand.

Works well. Very easy to set up.

Impossible to get working. Tried 2 taking it back. Waste of $

Nice system. East installation for the DIY folks. May require professional help If the user is unfamiliar with power tools and house wiring. Would be better to include instructions on integrating the system with your home DVR and PC.

I love the comfort of having an alarm system that is very loud and without the hustle of paying a monthly fee.

This system is very easy to install and very easy to understand the manual that comes with it. Once you cycle through the process of arming and disarming, you can practically operate this system in your sleep. And even with not being connected to a central monitoring station, the siren inside the house is loud enough for the neighbors to hear. I also installed an auxiliary siren on the outside of the house, so if the alarm is tripped, the neighbors will surely become annoyed enough to call the sheriff's department to come investigate. LOL

1. Level 5 on difficulty: if it wasn't for replacing my old one I wouldn't had appreciated the wire being exposed. 2. Still working on when set to HOME the system should chime when doors are open and close. Unless you have to reset it every time someone opens and close door. 3. Other than that everything else; set up, installing door and window sensor, and motion detectors were easy to install.

Great product so far

Easy to set up, basic system reasonably priced, works well but........no wifi, no remote monitoring or control offsite. If you expand the system by adding a remote siren, keypad, motion sensor you are then into the price of a iSmart system with far more features.

It was terrible I bought two and both did not work

Does the job. Nice and loud to scare off any intruders. Simple arm and disarm function.

Easy to install and works well. I didn’t have to use the motion sensor but i tested it and it works. I wish the package came with two keychain fobs as it was a little difficult to find them on my own. The alert function is my favorite while at home and entertaining because it chimes when doors open.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Easy to install remote battery is the only one included it has to long of a delay from the time a door or window is opened till the alarm is activated.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

The system was easy to install, the only drawback was I had to cut the door molding to ensure contact points on sensors. Works Great!!

Worth every penny, would buy it again if needed...

Alarm does not go off when door is opened only a few feet away. The light on the sensor does come on. The motion sensor does not trip alarm either. I called the manufacturer and they are supposed to be sending me a new one. That was a few weeks ago. Very disappointed.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

For the price you can go wrong excellent product

It was easy to install and use.

Only complaint is that there is no way to know for sure if the keychain remote has actually armed or disarmed the system without verifying it on the main system unit. Just because the red light flashes, it does not mean the button press registered.

Better than expected

I was looking for outdoor use and this is strickly indoor.

it only comes with two door and windows bugs and one motion sensor ; you cannot find in the market additionals as ad on ....if you want to expand the ratio of security...I would like to get at least two bugs and one motion detector additional..it holds until 8 zones.

The only drawback for me is that it doe come with a chime option

This is the perfect alarm system if you are not wanting to connect to wifi and have alerts sent to you. For our application it is exactly what we needed for our cabin. Any burglar will not know that this isn't dispatching the alarm to authorities, meanwhile the alarm is going off and will continue to go off until we come to the cabin again, thankfully we don't have neighbors but the wildlife may not appreciate it! Although it may double as a good rodent repellant! Super easy set up with no cables. Plug in and run through the initial set up phases, attach the door/window sensors and program key pad. Can monitor 8 zones. Alarm is a good 120 db which is close to the sound of a chainsaw. If you are wanting alerts and to be able to monitor your home this isn't the system for you. This works best for when you are at the location and to be alerted of a breach. Once the alarm is triggered it does not shut off on it's own, you have to be on site to disarm it. Unless it's running solely on batteries then once the batteries die it will shut off.