Security Online
Vivint’s Web portal is the one-stop location from which to monitor and manage most aspects of any installation. The Security tab, shown here, offers the summary view, detailing the presence of an active alarm, arming state, and the status of all sensors. In other views within this tab, you can monitor all sensors and change their names, create new users and manage their access rights, and establish arming reminders in case the system isn’t armed by an expected time.
Get emPowered
For those who purchase the HVAC panel for their Go!Controller system, Vivint claims that its Energy Star-recommended HVAC templates save an average of $24 per month, though we don't yet have enough data to confirm. There are four such templates. We opted for the second-most aggressive, then tweaked it to be more in line with our family's schedule. The emPower tab also provides control over all connected lights and locks, as well as rule management for triggered events and automation schedules (such as the previously-described vacation lighting).
Power In Your Pocket
Our favorite aspect of Vivint’s system is its mobile apps for Android, iPhone/iPod touch, and BlackBerry. Actually, any Web-enabled phone will work, but the native apps are far more convenient. Live video looks decent over a 3G connection, although you can only view one camera at a time. On the iPhone, you can view saved video clips, but this feature isn’t currently present on the Android app. Unfortunately, Vivint omits from both its mobile and Web interfaces the ability to start recording manually.
More Mobile Screens
Here’s a closer look at three screens within the iPhoneapp. The ability to set a dimmer switch amount within the lighting module is agreat perk. The lock screen is self-explanatory. Vivint’s thermostat controlsfrom the mobile UI are surprisingly strong, allowing you either to select aschedule or perform a manual override until the next scheduled setting kicksin. In general, we find that it takes about five seconds for a phone commandexecute, although HVAC commands are slower.
HVAC Panel Installation
For us, the HVAC panel was the last bit of hardware to beinstalled. As the old panel was removed, our technicians used label stickers tomake moving to the new panel mistake-proof. This bit of wiring aside, there waslittle more to installing the HVAC panel than there was to installing any ofthe sensors. The Go!Control panel handles most of the programming intelligence,and yes—the panel can be remotely flashed with newer firmware.
Wired For Savings
Truth be told, we found that the hardest part of using the new HVAC system was breaking old habits of manually setting temperatures on its touch-sensitive screen. For several weeks, we didn’t take the time to fully configure the online heating and cooling templates, and we paid for it on our energy bills. Once we got an aggressive automated schedule in place, we started saving energy compared to prior year levels.
Saying Goodbye
Vivint installed over $4000 of gear for us. Is the hardware worth the initial charge and ongoing service subscription? That depends. Most home security outfits still install CCTV systems without remote viewing capabilities, heating/cooling system integration, mobile control, and all the rest. As with any type of security, the more you have to lose, the better your protection technology should be. Vivint is state-of-the-art, and now the company is gearing up to integrate solar energy in its offerings. Yes, the margin Vivint charges on its hardware is high. But in many weeks of use, it’s all performed flawlessly. Vivint alarm response has been lightning quick, the company’s tech support is outstanding, and we even like how the Go!Control panel puts a next-day weather forecast in its interface...not to mention those tornado warnings. Perhaps that’s another good way to assess the value in this equipment: go ask Edith Lawellin in Joplin, Missouri if she thinks it’s worth it.