Review on 🚀 WallySense by Eric Rose

[UPDATE 2017: Wally is a great home surveillance system. The best on the market. But don't buy this old original version. The new version (V2) has been completely revised and offers clear advantages over V1. I've been using the new V2 system for eight months now and I'm very happy with it. The V2 system is available from Revain.] I've tried several sensor systems to monitor my home's environment (temperature, humidity, and water leaks) when I've been away for long periods. I haven't found a perfect system, but Wally's system is by far the best I've found. After a few months of use, I found ways around the system's shortcomings and it became my go-to system for monitoring my home environment. [Important update: In my original review, which was posted after a month or two of use, I found that I was having trouble making reliable connections. I think I understand why. Shortly after installing the Wally system, I did some repairs in the basement. Apparently, the electrician disconnected the Wally hub from the "dumb" extension cord and plugged it into a surge-protected extension cord. I only noticed that yesterday. Since the hub was removed from the surge protector and plugged into a regular power strip, performance was near-perfect. Sensors still need to be "close" to house wiring, but "close" can mean just a few steps from obvious outlets. This is a huge improvement and I'm increasing my rating from five stars. Wally's manual says not to plug a hub into a surge protector power strip, and they understand that. Now back to the original review.] Pros: + Exceptional battery life. Most other sensors either need to be plugged in or chew batteries. For example, my Quirky+GE Spotter sensor drains batteries, and the Spotter disables half of the sensor functions when not connected to an AC adapter.+ Design. The sensors are very small (the size of a credit card and about the thickness of my iPhone) and have a nice, unobtrusive shape. They can be hidden almost anywhere + customization. Adding a sensor via the web interface or iPhone app is very easy if the sensor can communicate with the hub. + Accuracy. The readings match my regular thermometer and hygrometer + interface well. The sensors transmit data both to the application and to the website, which can be accessed with any browser. The website and the app have a very clear, intuitive and easy-to-use interface. In addition, Wally, which is very important, constantly invests in the web panel and application. They have released several updates to the app and the latest website design is just superb. + communication. Notifications are easy to set up and can be sent to your smartphone or email. Most leak detectors will simply beep on the unit when they detect water, which is useless if you're not home. Others only work with a dedicated app or only send text messages to a phone. Wally wins for flexibility; It sends email alerts and notifications and you can get status information from any browser on any device. + Intelligence The website/app not only shows current readings, but also stores a year's history so you can track conditions in problem areas over time (e.g. to see what time of year a basement has too high humidity inclined). + Conditions that trigger an alarm (e.g. upper and lower humidity limits) can be configured for each sensor and the system sends three types of alerts (email, alarm notifications via the smartphone app and alert icons on the dashboard) , when conditions are exceeded limits you set. Highly customizable to avoid false positives and redundant alerts increase the likelihood that you'll quickly learn about the real problem. + You can add sensors, all reporting through a common dashboard and app. It sends signals over house wires rather than maintaining a strong Wi-Fi connection (which is why the sensors have such long battery life). I think whether you're happy with this system or not depends on whether you need to place the sensor in a specific spot where there are no house wires around. [As mentioned in the update, after plugging the Wally hub directly into a dull power strip instead of a surge protector power strip, all of my "troubles" work fine with the hub now.] - Part of Wally's benefit is that it meters and not only displays temperature, humidity, etc., but also evaluates the data. For example, they say they'll message me if the conditions in my home indicate I might have a mold problem and even suggest contractors who could help. That can be helpful, but I assume it's also part of their money-making model. I want them to give me control over my data and what remains strictly confidential. [UPDATE Summer 2014: We were away for a week to visit our parents. While we were away I started getting alerts from Wally's sensors saying the temperature and humidity were above their ranges. I thought the system was faulty as it was my first summer after installing the sensors. When we got home we found the mouse had climbed into the air conditioner, chewed through the wires and shorted out the system. We got home late Friday night and weren't able to do the repairs until Monday, which was a very hot and muggy weekend. If I had trusted Wally's sensors, I could have called a mechanic from my parents' house and got the system working before we got home. I had to trust the sensory system. [UPDATE Spring 2015: Wally's Touch System just paid for itself! We had just left for the weekend when I got a notification on my phone that the Wally sensor had detected a water leak in the basement next to the water tank. I never got false leak alerts so I turned the car around and drove home to check. In fact, there was a fresh and growing puddle on the basement floor. I was able to pinpoint the source of the leak, quickly make temporary repairs, and got a plumber to come Monday for permanent repairs. The leak sprayed water at a pretty good rate. If it wasn't for Wally we would have come home after the weekend to find the basement flooded. Traditional water sensors (the kind that set off an alarm when they get wet) would be useless as there would be no one home to hear the alarm. Thank you SNUPI/Wally, I owe you a debt of gratitude. [SPECIAL NOTE FOR EVERYONE WITH CONNECTION PROBLEMS: When my Wally hub was plugged into a power strip and I was having connection issues, I played around until I was able to connect under the worst of circumstances and thought it would be helpful to share your workaround. For example, before I found out about the surge protector issue, I was having trouble picking up signals from two sensors in my basement that were relatively far from house wiring (there are only two outlets in the basement). So I took a 25 foot extension cord and ran it from the outlet right through the basement. I then placed the Wally sensors along the extension. It wasn't the best solution, but the sensors sent data reliably and continuously, even when the Wally hub was blocked by a surge protector. The extension cord didn't have anything attached, so I just attached the open end high up on the opposite wall of the basement so there wouldn't be a problem if water leaked into the basement. If you're having trouble with dead zones and have already made sure your Wally Hub isn't plugged into a power strip, this might be a workaround for you.] Bottom line: unobtrusive sensors (nice design). Extreme battery life. Accurate readings. Great warnings. Excellent reporting interface. Great smartphone app. This is how a home sensor should look and work.