Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

3 Best DIY Home Security Systems for Travelers

Mike Richard
By

diy home security systems amazon cloud cam header
Not long ago, legit, full-featured home security systems were for the rich. They were complicated, costly to install and subscribe to, and only worth it for someone with an art collection or basement full of gold bullion to protect. However, the game has changed in the last three years alone. Now, anyone with a decent Wi-Fi connection and a healthy fear of strangers can set one up. For anyone who travels, it’s easier than ever to keep an eye on your home from anywhere in the world. Here are three of the best DIY home security systems.

Amazon Cloud Cam – See It

diy home security systems amazon cloud cam

Amazon’s foray into the security camera game is a solid one. The Amazon Cloud Cam is utilitarian, easy to setup, and provides some of the same features of its competition at half the price. The indoor camera offers a 120-degree field of view. The most basic setup — monitoring a front and a back door — should only require two cameras. With sufficient light, the camera operates in color; in dimmer situations, it switches to black-and-white using eight infrared LED lights. If you’re keen on the most basic setup without a subscription plan, the Cloud Cam streams 24 hours a day with the live feed available to view online. When motion is detected, it will automatically store the relevant video clips for up to 24 hours. However, paid subscribers (plans range from $7-20) get access to the best features, including being able to store clips for up 30 days and setting zones where the camera will ignore motion and not trigger an alert.

Recommended Videos

See It

Google Nest Cam – $199

diy home security systems nest

Nest Cam has long set the bar for indoor home security cameras. The features, functionality, and pricing are similar to the Amazon Cloud Cam. It offers a 130-degree field of vision; high-resolution, 1080p video; 8x zoom; and impressive night vision. The setup is dead simple, and the included bracket can be mounted to just about anything. It plugs into any outlet or standard USB port, so you needn’t ever worry about a dead battery. The Google device works great on its own without a subscription. However, paid subscribers to the Nest Aware plan get access to a host of great features including the ability to save up to 30 days of footage storage in the cloud and enhanced detection to trigger less false alarms (like passing cars or your dog going nuts in the living room). The two-way speaker is another nice touch as it allows you to baby-talk to your pets or shout at unwanted intruders to get out of your house. The connected smartphone app is free and available for iOS and Android.

Related

See It

Point Smart Home Alarm System – $79

diy home security systems point smart home alarm

If the idea of an internet-connected camera filming the inside of your house 24/7 makes you nervous, you’re not alone. Thankfully, the Point Smart Home Alarm system is a different sort of home security device altogether. The camera-less design is more like a smoke alarm on steroids. In addition to detecting smoke, a slew of additional sensors detects everything from intrusions to mold to drastic changes in temperature. If the device senses something out of the ordinary, it alerts you via a smartphone app. It can also be programmed to warn family or friends if something’s amiss. Depending on the size of your house, you will need to invest in multiple “Points” to cover the square footage. Plus, unlike a typical Wi-Fi camera, it runs for a full year on a single charge. It’s currently available for pre-order; units are slated to delivery in May 2018. It’s already handsomely surpassed its funding goal on Kickstarter, so it’s likely the Point will go into production on schedule.

See It

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Fly high in style with the best travel accessories for long flights in 2023
Modern air travel kind of sucks. But with the right gear, it doesn't have to. Get prepped ahead of your next flight.
best travel memberships subscriptions worth the money view of airport departures area travellers rushing

Without a doubt, taking a flight is still the most convenient mode of transportation, but let's be honest, modern air travel kind of sucks. Thanks largely to the pandemic, it's only gotten worse in the last three years. On the list of humanity’s favorite pastimes, flying ranks just above listening to babies cry and just below eating a partially frozen chicken sandwich. Unfortunately, many flights feature both.

However, flying can be much less terrible if you're prepared with the right gear. If you’re fortunate enough to sit in first class, you're probably sitting comfy with a pre-flight bourbon, back rubs, and a complimentary amenity kit. For the rest of us plebs, however, we need to make our own. So recline your seat the full inch, put that tray table down, and check out this list of the best air travel accessories to pack for your next long flight.

Read more
The 14 best road trip cars for exploring the country
Make your travels memorable with these amazing road trip cars
best road trip cars vw van 32

When embarking on a road trip, camping, or even a vacation for that matter, the car you take is nearly as important as the route. Some drivers consider a one-hour drive to get a leftover Christmas tree as a road trip, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. The cars on this list are vehicles that you’ll want to drive across the country in and go on an adventure to find some of the best routes in America.

The vehicles you see here range from classic icons to exotic supercars. Of course, we didn't forget about SUVs that have enough room for the entire family, including Fido. Choosing a car to take on a road trip is a highly personal decision. But at the end of the day, these are the best road trip cars, hands down.
Lamborghini Urus

Read more
Make trip planning easy: The best packing apps for every type of traveler
Packing for a work trip or vacation sucks. But, thanks to technology, it can suck a little bit less
best packing apps for travel 2021

Let's be real: Packing for a trip is tedious, stressful, and time-consuming. For most of us, it just plain sucks. Thankfully, if you’re not the sort of masochist traveler who actually enjoys packing (like this author), smartphone technology is here to help.

There's a huge selection of travel apps out there, including packing apps for every flavor of traveler: From control freaks to those who want a dead-simple wizard to hand-hold them through every step of the packing process. These seven mobile packing apps can make the process as quick, painless, and even mindless as possible. These are the best packing apps for travelers who seriously hate to pack.
For Almost Everyone: PackTeo

Read more