Rather simple but well extensible Alarm Concept, functions possibly something to proprietary (vendor-specific)

General:
I have quite a bit to know on surveillance technology. Here, the systems for me to share in 2 larger bearings. Once in a fairly open world in which IP-based, multi-vendor systems is the diversity in focus and can be accessed from anywhere on this technique with the most diverse, individually configurable devices without manufacturer-Cloud and the other world, in which one rather Manufacturer bound is limited, but the individual components are already tuned to each other directly. The system of "Gigaset elements" belongs more to the latter systems. Both systems have pro and cons.

Scope of supply:
The delivery was at my camera also order the "Gigaset Starter" with base station and doors, and motion, electricity or network cables, short operating instructions and this camera. This camera can not be powered by batteries, as unfortunately in the article text "Gigaset element-camera (surveillance camera incl. Fastening solution, batteries, Quick Start Guide) ..." comes across. The batteries are one of the sensors!

Commissioning and registration:
Before it can ever go off, you will be asked to deposit his e-mail address from the manufacturer and to assign a password. Now, a mail is sent to this email address, where you will have to confirm a registration link. A little later the "Gigaset elements account" is active. Then you can log in to the account and there is another invitation to enter the activation number of the base. I have it connected the base station to the network. It now takes a few minutes until the base was registered. Now you see the base as a green dot in the app shine. Only now I was able to activate the camera with a similar registration procedure via the app. The camera also has an Activation ID. After that, the camera in the app is also visible.
Then can also use the motion and door sensors are added in accordance with (insert batteries, then later log on to base, etc.).

The commissioning of all devices I felt a bit awkward. I've only tried it from your phone, the mail registry does not work or the sensor device often took ages. That has probably including lying on mobile browsers, because from the PC worked at least the registration immediately.

App:
The app is built properly and you can add this app, set them up to a certain extent and also different alarm features put more "Gigaset element device" (individually, at home, away from home). It is possible to receive the alerts on the smartphone, the email address or contact speed dial.

Functioning of the set:
I needed actually mainly the camera. This is now functional even without a base. The camera latches easily (via the app configurable) in the domestic wireless one. Of course it is also using the supplied LAN cable. A very long power cable + extension gives the camera still a big margin. The 720p HD image is actually resolved through the 1 million-pixel sensor of the camera quite good and the colors I find properly. With appropriate darkness the camera switches to infrared and provides up to about 5 feet a well-lit black and white image indoors. In this case, the diodes shine light reddish what undercover "surveillance" but difficult. I could activate a still image or live video display in the mobile app so far always. Although I with the term "live" something else understand because the image even felt in the WLAN 20 seconds time lag arrives in the smartphone. Also Outdoor be received the picture via GPRS with the app, because you have to configure anything, there are no Dyndns entries or port forwarding on the router necessary. That probably comes down through the connection of the smartphone with the above registered Gigaset cloud Accound. Schön is the fact that the camera has a microphone and therefore also transmits the sound. One can therefore not only watch but also listen in ...

What I have not yet succeeded in that by motion in front of the camera (Motion Detection) an alarm message on the phone or sent an email with image will be sent, even though I have both (mail + mobile) entered in the app as a notification option. It does not seem to work with the camera. Thus, I currently only a live image on my smartphone when I run the app once. There are no individually controlled recording function that records should only be cached on other app extensions directly in the cloud in the future, na dann mal caution that rooms are there so monitored ;-)! So I have currently no option to save videos. The mobile phone is therefore actually only a simple camera monitor! Thus, the camera itself makes no sense alone, because I do not mitbekomme when unauthorized persons running around at my house, would be more of a chance discovery. So here come the latest, but then the Gigaset sensors and the base station into play.

The base station is actually only for further integrations of various additional monitoring devices required (door sensor, motion sensor, etc.) because these devices can indeed build no direct Internet connection. This then makes the base station and the registered account which alarms the mobile app will be communicated ... If eg a movement alarm, you can look to the camera function, what is going on at home.

Here again are some indications (pros and cons):
Clear advantage of such alarm system is the principle easy installation and expandability with the "Gigaset element sensors". Up to 48 devices can be registered to the base. The solution of Gigaset is made for people who do not want to take care of every technical detail is.
The sensors are, however, several things to consider. The door sensor can only hinged doors, but are not used to tipping patio doors and windows while the sensor detects the opening of the window, but he should not hear glass breaking example. The distance of the "Gigaset element sensors" to base station should not be particularly large. So for larger houses or "property" it could sometimes give transmission problems. Sort of like that is also known for cordless phones in the home. For example, I occasionally disturbances in the door sensor that was installed 2 floors lower than the base and then "offline" indicates, which of course annuls the protection principle.
Furthermore, there is of course no alarm forwarding when "someone" time fuse "turns out" because only alone the sensors are equipped with a battery. It must also be clear that if the Gigaset cloud servers are not available times (for any reason whatsoever and that came already before), nothing works !!!
The app seems still to be improved, for I have often displayed on the phone screen flicker, when I run the camera view and also the feedback for various actions (Firmware Updates or registration of Gigaset components) is not always or not always clear. I often did not know whether it worked.
What I personally still lacking is a temporal alarm control, because I need the alarms mostly only when I'm not home. Currently solve the sensors from the activity.

Conclusion:
The "Gigaset elements set" makes sense for those who want to build an initially favorable or "light" and closed monitoring system equipment in the apartment / house. You can gradually build up over the hedge nachzukaufende sensors, it then goes quickly in`s money. The offered services include a siren, window and door sensors, motion detectors, the camera and in the future a switch socket and a smoke detector. The system is therefore in the future a little "rounder". Up to 48 devices can be coupled to the base.
The above restrictions should still find some consideration in the selection. Several firmware updates were made already, but there are certainly further potential for improvement.
If initially only certain areas are protected, which may be possibly entered not, very rarely or only by certain people (basement, attic, hobby room, garage or in the holiday season ...), you can safely give the plant a certain recommendation. Even as a pure information notice whether somewhere or windows or doors are open, can one help the plant safely.

But who needs only one video monitor, find with other manufacturers cameras with much more extensive functions. 3 stars (not bad).