Customer Reviews

Motorola Homesight Home Monitoring and Control System, Easy Start Kit, HMEZ1000

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The concept is good, the execution is very cheap, and the support is non-existant.
My CDROM exibited a CRC error, after many promises of a replacement CD, I still don't have it - 4 months in waiting - a friend loaned me theirs.
The range on the transmitter is extremely poor, anything bigger than a 1 bedroom apartment and you're in trouble - as far as monitoring baby goes - FORGET IT - low light ability of the camera is nill. The noise level and artifacts increase exponentially.
There are other products in the X10 world that are an order of magnitude above this product. Let's hope that this is the first generation of the product and the quality will improve with the next rev.
I would no recommend this product - bypass and wait until next version.

Sounds like an advertisement - "Motorola takes the prize for creating the easiest-to-use home security system".

From my perspective,

1) The hardware (HW) seems to be pretty decent
2) The software (SW) is lacking in many of the basics; thus, the SW cripples the MOT Home Security System

If I didn't get such a huge discount [ as a Motorolan ], I would not have bought it - considering the state of the SW.

The HW was easy to set up, and so was the SW for that matter. I was really pleased with the HW. The physical profile of the HW devices is thin. I have no problems with the HW. On the other hand, I was very disappointed in the SW.

The SW is a Java app which runs on Windows. The Java issue is secondary, so I'll stay away from it. My main issue with the SW is that it does not allow for user-defined processes (i.e. NOT Motorola SW-defined processes) to be executed upon a given event. For example - the SW only allows you to perform a few actions, such as having the Motorola HW take a snapshot or sending an email. The SW will NOT allow you to run a user-defined process. Why is that important? Well, many people have existing systems (e.g. X10 modules or IR). If you wanted to "turn on" lights or alarms, you can NOT with the Motorola SW. Just imagine not being able to automate anything outside the Motorola HW. Yeah - this could have been by design - to force a purchase of Motorola products. If it was, it was short-sighted.

Conclusion - stay away from it until the SW contains a feature that will allow user-defined processes.

I was so looking forward to getting this set up. Right out of the box it had errors that I couldn't get past. Motorolas online support was hopeless and after 3 days I tried their phone support (which wasnt working when I first tried it).

The phone support couldnt get the problem solved (it doesnt help that the box come swith 2 CDs that have slightly different set-ups on them!), and escalated the issue. I did get a call back within 20 minutes which was impressive, the solution (which I was in the process of trying anyway) was to try it on another computer. This time it worked. The problem however was my phone system caused interference making the pictures jumpy. Solution was to turn of the phones...oh hang on I sort of need those on to recieve calls! Well with no solution in the works, even the Motorola tech suggested that if I was not happy with the product to return it.

I really hope they do get the bugs and choppy slow software working, as this has the look and beginnings of a wonderful product.

I am just really bummed now. If you have no computer know-how don't even bother trying this product it will just make you insane.

I have had this system for over a year now and was very happy with it. It had it limitations such as not very good in low light but was fixed by purchasing a infrared lamp. The software is fair but lacks the ability to integrate outside of Motorola HW.
Updates are easy to find on the Motorola website and are free to download. This system integrates and works with the Motorola Homesight system.

Pro's:
Easy to setup
Good distance for wireless

Con's:
Doesn't work with non-motorola hardware
Broad use of the 2.4Ghz spectrum.

We just finished an embedded hardware software seminar on this product. The reason this product was choosen is that it is a classic example of low cost parts to produce a product with a high profit margin. In this case over $150 for Motorola on each unit sold ! Every component it the lowest cost/quality in it class. But it does perform according to the specifications. Please dont go expecting to monitor your baby in a dark room with a 3 lux spec CMOS camera.

product does not work, is outdated and I will never buy from this company and or website again.

I bought this system from another website. What I received was the base system with the wireless controller, 2 wireless cameras a magnetic door/window contact and an A/C outlet attachment (allows you to remotely activate a lamp, tv, etc...) This system is kind of cool, but I wouldn't rely on it to monitor you home while you are away.

1.) The remote monitoring capability requires a rediculously expensive subscription to [...] at a minimum of [...] per year. (although you may be able to bypass this via a VPN connection to the computer it's attached to) but you will lose the capability to have notifications sent to your cell phone or email.

2.) Device setup via HomeSite software is awkward and not as intuitive or felxible as I was hoping it would be.

3.) The magnetic contact that my package came with always gives me problems with Motorola's HomeSite software until I arm the system then open and close the door/window it's attached to. It also seems to lose the signal reporting a false positive as if someone opened and closed the door when in fact it had been closed the whole time.

4.) When installing this system on a second computer which I actually wanted it to be perminently installed on, my 2nd computer could not detect the new device from the install CD. This may be a problem with the computer, but all the same, I've had trouble installing other Motorola devices not related to this security system on my computers and I chalk that up to crappy programming.

5.) The standard camera this ships with DOES require quite a bit of light in order to make anything out. Motorola does make a day/night camera which might be more reliable.

On a plus note, this system is quite expandable. They have many add-on products for the system although I don't think I will upgrade any more than it already is.

Bottom line. It's a cool toy, but not a viable security system. If I hadn't bought this system at the steal I got it at, I would be VERY dissapointed. There are better alternatives out there (IP-based cameras)which would be more cost-effective for what you get.

Do NOT waste your money on this trash!!! Words cannot even begin to describe my frustration with this product, and with Motorola's technical support for this either. I've installed multi-thousand dollar security systems with no real problems before, but this cheap piece of trash is nothing other than that - trash.

I love this system. The software made it easy to set up and and the camera signal was perfect. No need to run wires throughout my whole house, wireless transmitter works well. I even bought 2 more expansion cameras (Motorola Wireless Color Camera HMWL1010) to monitor more rooms in my house and outside by the pool. I love that I can watch the live feed even when I'm out of the house at work so I know exactly what is going on, who comes to the door, etc. I'd really recommend this home monitoring system to anybody with kids as well, it gives great peace of mind.

This had the potential to be useful but failed. the software is terrible, and the wireless sensors go about 30 feet max. Terrible time installing the software, once it is working its very limited and slow. The sensors lose contact all the time and the cameras are bad.