Morepork - Spark home security

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Morepork - Spark home security

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#1363513 12-Aug-2015 10:54

It does seem quite expensive.

For $10 a month self monitored/$29 monitored, I would be very tempted.

However, I do not know what other alarm companies charge for monitoring? I know I can get a security system installed for $1k-1.5k

timbosan

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#1363515 12-Aug-2015 10:56

BlueShift:
timbosan:
BigPipeNZ: It's pretty awesome.

Does this mean BigPipe customers are able to get it to?

Says on the website Spark broadband customers only.

I saw that and hence the question, as @BigPipeNZ has obviously got info on it and/or seen it before, and they are owned by Spark, so the question still stands.

BigPipeNZ

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BigPipe

#1363521 12-Aug-2015 11:11

timbosan:
BlueShift:
timbosan:
BigPipeNZ: It's pretty awesome.

Does this mean BigPipe customers are able to get it to?

Says on the website Spark broadband customers only.

I saw that and hence the question, as @BigPipeNZ has obviously got info on it and/or seen it before, and they are owned by Spark, so the question still stands.

sadly nope, it's for Spark brand customers only. Bigpipe is not Spark and Spark is not Bigpipe (we just happen to be owned by Spark)

I have 'insider' knowledge because we are a Spark Ventures business, and so is Morepork, so they are our BFFs4EVA and play on our indoor netball team.

Hoot Hoot!

bigpipe.co.nz
https://www.facebook.com/BigPipeNZ
https://twitter.com/BigPipeNZ

timbosan

2160 posts

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#1363524 12-Aug-2015 11:21

BigPipeNZ:
timbosan:
BlueShift:
timbosan:
BigPipeNZ: It's pretty awesome.

Does this mean BigPipe customers are able to get it to?

Says on the website Spark broadband customers only.

I saw that and hence the question, as @BigPipeNZ has obviously got info on it and/or seen it before, and they are owned by Spark, so the question still stands.

sadly nope, it's for Spark brand customers only. Bigpipe is not Spark and Spark is not Bigpipe (we just happen to be owned by Spark)

I have 'insider' knowledge because we are a Spark Ventures business, and so is Morepork, so they are our BFFs4EVA and play on our indoor netball team.

Hoot Hoot!

Thanks for the clarification, and bummer. I assumed some 'insider' knowledge but wanted to make sure.

SumnerBoy

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#1363552 12-Aug-2015 11:36

BlueShift: I'm assuming someone with a bit of tech nous could order themselves a very similar collection of sensors online for a lot less cash, set it up with a prepay SIM, and monitor it via a web interface so it will work on any device. Someone like Sumnerboy can probably point in the right direction.

Yes - whilst individual Z-Wave sensors are typically more expensive than these (i.e. Fibaro Door/Window sensor is $95 instead of $30 for the Morepork version) you can use them without the need for any monthly fees. A Raspberry Pi 2 ($50) + AeonLabs USB Z-Stick ($120) running openHAB gives you a fully functional Z-Wave controller which you can build a security system on. You could setup what Morepork offers in terms of a controller + door/window sensors for about $450. You can pick up cheap Android tablets for well under $200 or just use your phone (openHAB has free native iOS and Android apps). You can also pick up IP cameras for less than $200 as well and these are relatively easily integrated into openHAB - or even better use the Imperihome app with openHAB for a much slicker dashboard style UI.

So you can buy all the hardware for less than their up-front fee IMO, and then run it using open source software, for no monthly fees. You would be using your home broadband for external access, not sure I see the need for GSM but I am sure it wouldn't be hard to setup a backup connection using a prepay SIM.

However - it wouldn't be a nice simple plug+play solution like Morepork no doubt is trying to achieve. So is probably not suited to the less technically inclined users.

BlueShift

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#1363575 12-Aug-2015 11:45

I wonder what happens if you leave Spark broadband after having Morepork in there for a while. Are you locked into Spark forever? Will the monitoring stop working and leave you with a $1000 paperweight? Can you keep paying Spark the $30/month and have it keep working after you switch to another provider?

ETA: Found the answer in the T&Cs - Where you cease being a Spark broadband customer, your Morepork Plan may be terminated and you will need to pay any outstanding Charges, including Early Exit Fees and outstanding Instalment Payments. If you wish to continue using Morepork Services under a Morepork Plan, you will need to pay an additional $10 per month above the amount payable by Spark broadband customers for your chosen Plan. We hope that you remain a Morepork customer.

wasabi2k

2096 posts

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#1363591 12-Aug-2015 12:00

So the $29.95 is self monitoring, plus their cloud hosting of photos and videos, along with the data SIM cost.

Monitoring is usually $30-40 (plus a bit more if you are using 3G), without any of the cool tech stuff.

Also looks like callout fees are additional under MorePork, most alarm people try and charge you for those too.

We were looking at full replacement of our alarm anyway (as it is old and rubbish) - $1300 for the whole system and a few extra sensors then $30 a month makes a lot of sense.

Yes this could be done with open source, cheaper, but I am willing to pay for convenience.

edit: I also have zero trust that someone in an admin position can't just tap into camera when they feel like it, so video/camera in bedrooms is a bit of a no-go.

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lxsw20

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#1363594 12-Aug-2015 12:13

Cool product, personally I don't see value in $30/$50 per month but I'm sure others will be different. Especially if they already have a monitored alarm solution with out the added features offered.

CYaBro

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#1363597 12-Aug-2015 12:16

I just get a blank page when I try browse to their site, anyone else seeing this?
Tried on a few devices with same result.
I was getting their 'Coming Soon' page yesterday.

Edit: wait it is working now. :)

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

graemeh

2078 posts

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#1363604 12-Aug-2015 12:37

This is definitely a very cool product but it seems just like the initial launch of Tivo, the high price will kill it.

You can often get a free hard-wired alarm by signing up for around $30 a month in monitoring. That doesn't get you video but I'm sure if you chucked $1000 at the alarm installer you'll be able to get video too.

wasabi2k

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#1363610 12-Aug-2015 12:53

graemeh: You can often get a free hard-wired alarm by signing up for around $30 a month in monitoring.

Really?

Haven't had that experience recently, also have no desire to sign up for 5+ year contract.

Edit: What kills the other options is having to open access in to my home network and store data at home. I am assuming the Spark system will host the data there, which is a different set of problems.

andrew027

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#1363624 12-Aug-2015 13:19

SumnerBoy: You would be using your home broadband for external access, not sure I see the need for GSM but I am sure it wouldn't be hard to setup a backup connection using a prepay SIM.

I'm not an expert in this stuff, but wouldn't you need GSM so the control panel unit can contact your mobile when there's an event? If I'm at work and somebody cuts the power or the phone line at my house, I won't be able to connect to my home broadband, but the control panel (with battery backup, as stated on Morepork's site) could still send me a message.

graemeh

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#1363664 12-Aug-2015 13:51

wasabi2k:
graemeh: You can often get a free hard-wired alarm by signing up for around $30 a month in monitoring.

Really?

Haven't had that experience recently, also have no desire to sign up for 5+ year contract.

Edit: What kills the other options is having to open access in to my home network and store data at home. I am assuming the Spark system will host the data there, which is a different set of problems.

Yes really. I had a quick hunt around and the first site I looked at had $1+GST a day for montoring, so about $35 a month with a three year contract. It does have a $199 install fee though.

http://www.safegard.co.nz/free-alarm.html

Not quite free but then I didn't look very hard. There will be free deals out there.

Update below:

Here is a free alarm with $35 per month for monitoring and a three year contract.
http://www.alarmwarehouse.co.nz/shop/page.php?page=11

The Safegard alarm is probably a better deal though as the Alarm Warehouse alarm requires you to have a landline, the Safegard alarm supports broadband or landline.

6FIEND

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#1363677 12-Aug-2015 14:15

Like many other commentators, I can see the appeal but am surprised by the pricing.

I already have a professionally installed and monitored security system, and pay the same amount for that monitoring (within a couple of dollars) as Spark are looking to charge for an entirely self-managed solution.

Good luck to them though :-)

wasabi2k

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#1364689 12-Aug-2015 15:06

So the free (contract) alarms appear to be largely wired and require analog phone lines.

In my case we can't use wired (house just doesn't suit it). Also want to get rid of analog phone line sooner rather than later and 3G/cellular is extra.

Might give MorePork a go and see how it works out.

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