DIY Security System
Cove Security System
The Cove security system provides a good option for professionally monitored systems, starting at only $15/mo. The devices are reasonably priced and you can build the exact system you need. Sensors, motion detectors, flood or freeze devices, medical alarms, and more—there is a wide range of Cove security items to customize your preferences. Based on our tests, we found Cove easy to install, easy to use, and well built.Check PricePros
- Easy setup that requires no tools
- Based on cellular connections instead of WiFi
- Low start up cost for each device
Cons
- No Cove cameras to add to the system
- No free subscription available, professional monitoring required
Scoring
Feature-Rich Professional Monitoring
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Design - 98%
98%
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Performance - 97%
97%
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Quality - 95%
95%
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Usability - 97%
97%
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Value - 94%
94%
Summary
The Cove security system is sold in preset kits or as custom bundles with exactly the sensors and detectors you need for your specific space. All Cove subscriptions have professional monitoring (starting at $15/mo) and the Cove Plus plan also offers smartphone control or integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The system installs tool-free with simple parts that plug into a standard wall outlet, are battery-powered, and / or mount with double-sided adhesive tape. If you’re looking for a DIY system that is incredibly simple, with professional monitoring, and with low start-up costs, Cove could be right for you.
Pricing & Packages
Cove has quite a few different security system packages, depending on the size of property you are securing.
All of their kits rely on the same cellular data-based system with just a different number of accessories between each kit.
All kits also include a 30-day free trial with professional monitoring and 100% cellular connection.
Here’s an exact list of what each Cove kit includes:
Cove Security System Sets
5-Piece Set
Includes:
- 1 Base Station
- 1 Contact Sensor
- 1 Motion Sensor
- 1 Flood/Freeze Sensor
- 1 Key Remote
7-Piece Set
Includes:
- 1 Base Station
- 2 Contact Sensors
- 1 Motion Sensor
- 1 Flood/Freeze Sensor
- 2 Key Remote
8-Piece Set
Includes:
- 1 Base Station
- 3 Contact Sensors
- 1 Motion Sensor
- 1 Flood/Freeze Sensor
- 2 Key Remotes
10-Piece Set
Includes:
- 1 Base Station
- 4 Contact Sensors
- 2 Motion Sensor
- 1 Flood/Freeze Sensor
- 2 Key Remotes
13-Piece Set
Includes:
- 1 Base Station
- 7 Contact Sensors
- 1 Motion Sensor
- 1 Flood/Freeze Sensor
- 1 Medical Alarm
- 2 Key Remotes
Monitoring Pricing
Cove Basic
$15 / mo
Cove Plus
$25 / mo
Cove Protect Basic vs. Cove Protect Plus
Cove Protect: Basic | Cove Protect: Plus | |
---|---|---|
Price Starting At | $15/month | $25/month |
Motion-activated Notifications | Yes | Yes |
Live View | Yes | Yes |
Environmental Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
2-Way Audio | Yes | Yes |
24-Hr Battery Backup | Yes | Yes |
24/7 Professional Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Warranty | 1-year manufacturer's warranty | Lifetime equipment warranty |
Smartphone Control | No | Yes |
Alexa/Google Control | No | Yes |
Lifetime Monitoring Rate Lock Guarantee | No | Yes |
Equipment
The equipment provided with the Cove system includes a variety of sensors, a home base, and a remote for when you’re not at the base station.
Here’s a complete rundown of what each part does and why it’s important to the Cove system.
#1. Base Station
The Base Station is the central command center for the Cove system. From this touch screen panel, you can arm or disarm the system, adjust the volume, view personal settings, or even make a dispatch phone call in the event of an emergency.
- Using that control display you can add / remove sensors and adjust all of the various settings of your system and sensors from a single location.
- Using the control display you can set up a hostage passcode…a code that you enter that disarms the system and then silently alerts the authorities
This touch panel also has a 24-hour backup battery in the event of a power outage or other emergency.
Our Testing Thoughts
- Nice display with a bright, full color touch screen
- Touch controls were quite responsive
- Easy setup and intuitive
How does it work?
The base station holds all of the controls of the Cove System. When motion is detected from sensors or when doors / windows are open or closed, it can also send an alert or an audible chime to notify you.
This panel can be mounted on the wall or it can also sit freestanding on a table or countertop and it plugs into a standard wall outlet.
One unique feature of the Cove touch panel is the two-way on-site voice communication. The two-way audio allows dispatchers to immediately check in on you using the home panel.
Testing It Out
You can test various elements of the system using the control display…including cell connection, sensor signal test, signal walk test, sound audio, siren audio, etc.
Speaking of audio, let me add here that the siren is ABSURDLY loud…and I do mean utterly absurd.
I tested the siren from close range and I may have caused some hearing loss. Do not test this unit unless you’re ready to turn it off or it is an actual emergency.
#2. Contact Sensor
The Contact Sensor is designed to secure movable partitions, like doors and windows. The sensor is broken down into two parts with each part mounting on a separate part of the door or window.
Our Testing Thoughts
- Easy to install
- Straightforward and to the point
How Does it Work?
When a door or window is opened, the contact sensor will send an alert or emit an audible chime notifying you of the activity.
It’s easy to use and quick to install, no tools required. The sensor adheres to and flat surface using the double-sided tape.
#3. Motion Sensor
The Motion Sensor can be used anywhere you want to monitor any motion. These Cove sensors pride themselves on being pet-friendly, with the ability to ignore motion from pets and instead focus only on motion detected from people.
Our Testing Thoughts
- Like the contact sensors, easy to install
- Can use for a doorway or motion in an entire room
- During our tests, we did not experience any issues with false alarms from motion due to pets or from robot vacuums.
How Does It Work?
Motion sensors from any DIY security system are pretty simple. Similar to the contact sensors above, these motion sensors are designed to detect motion and sync up with the home touch panel, letting you know when motion is detected.
#4. Flood / Freeze Sensor
The Flood / Freeze Sensor detects water or freeze hazards and lets you know so that you can take action before it gets out of hand.
Other competitors, like Ring Alarm, also have this sensor, but with the Cove system it comes standard with many kits, and with Ring, this accessory is sold separately.
How Does It Work?
This sensor is installed on the floor and when it detects water or freezing temperatures it will emit an alert to the base station and / or a notification text directly to your smartphone.
NOTE: No testing notes here since our system did not come with this device.
#5. Key Remote
The Key Remote is a small in-hand key fob, about the size of the fob you’d use to lock or unlock your vehicle.
It serves the purpose of a mobile base station, allowing you to perform basic functions at the touch of a button, even when you are not near the home base.
Our Testing Thoughts
- Incredibly easy to setup
- Low price point so you could add more remotes to your system as needed
- Great range. Even 50’ish feet away and through an external wall it was able to communicate with the system.
- Button prices do require a surprising level of force. Which I suppose could be good so you don’t accidentally press a button without intending to.
How Does It Work?
Using the Key Remote, you can alternate modes (Away, Stay, Disarm) or press “SOS” and have it work like a remote panic button.
It comes with a 5-year battery life and a lifetime warranty available as well.
Some may consider this device to be a bit of an unnecessary “extra”, but I found it to be a nice addition.
Sure, smartphone control is simple too, but recall that only the Cove Plus system will have smartphone compatibility.
#6. Medical Alarm
The Medical Alarm is only included with the 13-piece set but it can also be purchased separately.
This device syncs up with the rest of the Cove system and can dispatch proper local personnel in the event of a medical emergency.
Our Testing Thoughts
Although this device did not come with the set we tested, here are some of our initial thoughts:
- Low price point
- Flexible to be carried around or even worn on your body
- Waterproof design is good for people who have a high fall risk, as showers or baths are one of the most dangerous places for these risks
How Does It Work?
This alarm is a single push button alarm that sends a signal back to your central base station in the event of a medical emergency. It’s incredibly easy to use and quick to access.
Cameras, Doorbells, Sensors, and Other Items
In addition to the items listed above, there are a few other sensors available to expand the capabilities of your Cove system.
Here is a quick list of some of their most popular items:
- Glass Break Detector: sends an alert if it detects the sound of glass breaking
- Smoke Detector: detects smoke and emits an audible alarm
- CO Detector: detects the presence of carbon monoxide, a poisonous, odorless gas, and emits an audible alarm
- Indoor Camera: have eyes on the spaces you are monitoring by adding one (or more) indoor cameras to the Cove setup
Cove Security Camera
I will add here that the Indoor camera is a third party camera and not native to the Cove name. It doesn’t pair up with the security system so it feels a little odd to even offer it as an addition.
Customer service says a Cove camera is in the pipeline, but since it hasn’t launched yet, I can’t really speculate as to how that will integrate.
Cove Glass Break Sensor
We were also able to test out the glass break sensor. Although it is not included with any of the kits mentioned above, it is a pretty handy device.
It’s small, about the same size as the motion detector, and has the same double-sided adhesive on the back so it’s easy to stick on any smooth surface.
Installation & Setup
The easy setup DIY security systems is largely why many people are opting out of traditional systems in lieu of a more non-invasive, contract free agreement.
DIY Systems vs. Traditional Security Systems
DIY systems are generally:
- Contract free
- Flexible to mix and match different cameras and sensors
- Wireless or battery-powered (unless you specifically want a wired system)
- Easy to take the system with you if you move
- Inexpensive cost per month; only pay for what you need
Traditional systems generally:
- Have lengthy contracts
- Costly start-up fees
- Require professional installation
- May have penalties if you move or cancel the contract before the term is up
- Feels a little “behind the curtain” and company may lack transparency
Getting Started with Cove
The Cove setup takes about 20-30 minutes, including unboxing, setup, and installation. Of course, this was with the relatively small system we tested. If you opt for a system with more devices setup could take longer.
Unboxing Time
5-10 mins
Setup & Install Time
15-20 mins
Setup was extremely easy. Basically, you plug in the control tablet / display first and then simply follow along. It takes a few minutes to make a connection, but after that it rolls along quickly and smoothly.
- The control display walks you through the setup of each sensor.
- Touch panel prompts tell you what sensor to get, what to do with (press a button, contact the sensors together, etc.), and how / where to install it
The setup also included some helpful graphics and measurements for how and where the sensors are best installed.
Installing the System
Touch Panel
- Setup is easy. Plug it in, let it connect to Cove, then follow along the display
- Sits freestanding or can be mounted on the wall; plugs into a standard wall outlet
- The power cord on the control display includes a screw so that you can insert a drywall anchor into your wall. This prevents it from being easily unplugged. A small, but noteworthy added security measure.
Contact Sensor
- Provides double-sided adhesive on the back that easily sticks to a flat surface
- Install up high for best results
Motion Sensor
- Provides doubled-sided adhesive on the back that easily sticks to a flat surface
- Install up high for best results
Flood / Freeze Sensor
- Sits directly on the floor
Key Remote
- It’s a wireless remote you can take on-the-go, virtually no install
Medical Alarm
- Put it on a nightstand, in a pocket, or wear it as a necklace
Finalizing with Cove
The final step to the install process is a call from Cove directly. They can call you via the control display or on your phone.
They call to verify the system has been correctly setup, verify / create your secret word, tell you a bit about the system, and also tell you that you have a 2 hour window before the system will be fully armed.
This window gives you extra time to play around with the system without the worry about issuing false alarms.
Features
Some of the most attractive features of the Cove security system are nods to how user-friendly and intuitive the system is.
Whether you are in a rented, leased, or owned home, Cove is a non-invasive, secure system that can provide peace-of-mind.
Here’s a quick list of some of the best Cove features:
First and foremost, Cove boasts its 3-factor alarm response. This “three-touch” strategy can help reduce false alarms and provide help faster response times in the case of an emergency:
- LiveAssist: a dedicated two-way communication channel between you and Cove built into your alarm panel. Whenever your alarm goes off, day or night, we’ll speak to you directly through the panel.
- InstaText: sends an SMS text to your smartphone if your alarm goes off so you can quickly dismiss the alert or dispatch help
- Direct Phone Call: calls you directly to check on your status. If you don’t answer, they’ll contact emergency services immediately.
Other Cove system features include:
- Cellular Backup: Relies on cellular connection instead of a potentially spotty WiFi network
- 24/7 Customer Support: professional monitoring service provided with all Cove Protect subscriptions
- “Smash and Grab” Technology: if intruders try to destroy the home panel, during a break-in, it will still dispatch the police
The Modes
The Cove security system has three different modes it can operate in. The modes include:
Disarmed
- Disarms all sensors
Stay
- Disarms interior motion sensors
- Keeps door / window sensors activated
Away
- Arms all sensors
The ‘Stay Mode” is useful when people will be staying inside the home. This mode is commonly used at night or when you know you won’t be leaving the home for a while.
Smart Home
The Cove Plus plan is the only subscription that offers smartphone or smartphone connectivity. With Cove Plus you can control the system using your smartphone, an Alexa-enabled device, or Google Assistant.
Using voice control, you can:
- Change security modes
- Check the status of your security system
- Send an SOS for immediate assistance from local dispatch
Monitoring
As mentioned above, professional monitoring is available with both Cove subscriptions—Basic or Plus. This is a little abnormal (relative to other DIY systems) as the nicer feature also means highly monthly fees.
That being said, professional monitoring does do an excellent job of providing peace-of-mind and guaranteed access to help in the case of a true emergency.
Hands-free Control
There are two kids of hands-free control with the Cove security system:
- Key Remote
- Smartphone App (with Cove Plus only)
- Voice Control (with Cove Plus only)
The Key Remote is the easiest of the three. It comes with all Cove systems and you can also purchase additional remotes seperately.
NOTE: The next two control options are only available with the Cove Plus system.
The smartphone app provides all of the same features as the Key Remote and even a few more. You can control the system directly from your smartphone and receive push alerts or text notifications whenever anything unusual happens.
Voice control is a handy feature, especially if you already have an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device already in the home.
The App
The Cove app seems pretty basic, but still serviceable. When I tested it out, it didn’t seem that you are able to adjust device settings on the app, which is a bit disappointing.
You can only adjust the device settings on the touch panel itself.
Customizing It
You can add multiple locations and manage them all from a single app. It’s a pretty nice feature, especially if you have a 2nd home, office, guest home, etc. You can also add multiple users that have account access.
Lastly, the app has an event history log, just like the touch panel display.
Routines
Routines is perhaps the most advanced and interesting feature on the app.
When a specified event or schedule occurs, the Routine can trigger a notification, an individual device action, or a scene (a group of devices with actions).
For example, you can set the system to arm at a specific time.
The “scenes” integrate with Amazon Alexa and can trigger a wide range of options.
For example, I could have it start to play a song, turn on a security light, or auto lock a door, etc.
Customer Service
A good customer service program excels in two different areas, in my opinion. Here are the two parts I like to consider when envaluating how good (or not so good) a customer service team is.
- Part 1 is support when making the initial purchase.
- Part 2 is support when / if things go wrong after install.
A good company needs customer service that excels in both of these areas in order to ensure customer satisfaction.
#1. Making the Initial Purchase
To purchase a kit, Cove is user-friendly. They offer a range of security system kits that are already ready to go or you can build your own system.
To build something custom, the website will ask you a series of prompts to help determine what your needs are. If you already know exactly what you need, you can skip these questions.
If you get stuck on the questions or still aren’t sure exactly what you need, there is a Cove online chat, which you can open up anytime to get some answers.
I cannot say how much I love when a chat is available and avoid a phone conversation.
NOTE: I did have to wait around 8 minutes for someone to finally connect to the chat when testing that out.
#2. When Things Go Wrong
After you setup your Cove system you may still have questions or issues that require customer support. In this instance, there are two main resources that Cove provides.
- Online Chat
- Resource library
As mentioned above, the online chat thread is a great option for quick questions or small issues. If they can’t assist you, chances are that they will be able to forward your request to the right department to get things resolved.
The resource library is a blend of FAQ articles, images, diagrams, and even short videos to walk you through different aspects of the system you may be struggling with.
Overall, I would say the Customer Service department at Cove is helpful. It is full of information, but in a way that is digestible and accessible.
And if you get stuck, it’s reassuring to know you can access the online chat, email customer service, or just pick up the phone and call without much issue.
The Bottom Line
Cove was just launched in 2018, but has already caught the attention of professionals and DIY-installers alike. The Cove system is affordable if you’re looking for professional monitoring, starting at $15 / mo.
If you want all the bells and whistles, you can opt for the $25 / mo subscription to Cove Plus which provides other smart features like smartphone integration and Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice control.
While it doesn’t offer much in terms of cameras you can add to the system, if you primarily want sensors, it’s a fantastic option.
The Cove security system is a good option for users who want:
- Professional monitoring: comes standard with Basic or Plus subscription plan
- Low start-up costs: affordable to add different sensors or detectors and build the exact system you need, without paying for extras that you don’t
- Cellular connectivity: relies on cellular network instead of WiFi which can sometimes be spotty; no need for range extenders to expand your reach
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Unlike other security systems where you can just opt for cameras, the Cove system requires all users to pay a monthly fee in order to use their system. (But it is contract-free so there’s that.)
If you find that the Cove system isn’t for you, there are still options. Cove offers a 60-day trial period and if you decide at the end of the trial that you want to return the system, Cove will even pay return shipping.
Yes. Professional monitoring is included with all Cove subscriptions. There is no way to self-monitor the Cove system.
Yes. Just email customer support with the items you want and how many. They can set up a sales order and you can easily add products to your security system.
Yes and no, but mostly no. Currently, Cove is including a Yi camera with many packages for free. However, that camera does not integrate with the overall Cove system. To monitor that camera you’ll need a separate install and app. Cove is expected to launch a Cove branded camera in 2021.