Dahua AirShield Alarm System First Impressions Are Of A Well Made System That’s Intuitive And Easy To Get Running.
Dahua AirShield Alarm System First Impressions – I’ve been playing around with Dahua’s AirShield wireless alarm system over the last couple of days – first impressions are that this is a capable solution that’s easy to set up.
The hardware and the app are not slick in the way Ajax is slick, but AirShield and its devices have an engineered feel to them in some of the small details – the battery box seals, the thickness of the poly mounting plates, the robust build quality – that suggests this is a system that designed for serious work.
Programming the system is simple and simple is good. You open the DMSS app on your mobile device, create an area, add a device, flip the switch on the device to pair, the device comes up in the app, and away you go. Pairing is a cinch – and the connection time is quick.
I started with the heart of the system, the DHI-ARC3000H-FW2 wireless alarm hub, which was painless. I powered it over Ethernet from a PoE switch. I downloaded the DMSS app first. The hub also supports Wi-Fi (which I activated) and optional 4G LTE with dual SIM backup. The hub supports up to 150 wireless peripherals – Dahua calls devices added to AirShield ‘peripherals’ – including 6 sirens and 64 keyfobs, and Dahua claims wireless range at up to 2000m in open space.
Things I loved from the start as I began work include detailed ‘peripheral’ status in the app, including signal strength, battery, temperature and firmware version. That’s useful information and it made me feel I was dealing with a serious security solution designed by engineers who understand what installers and end users want (and need) to see. When undertaking an installation, you get immediate notifications for tamper events, device pairing and alarms, which I liked.
The first detector I got going was the DHI-ARD1233-W2 wireless PIR that I immediately installed in the office kitchen covering 3 entry points. It’s a neat little unit with a 12m, 90-degree detection range, dual-element PIR, pet immunity to 18kg, auto temperature compensation and 3-level sensitivity adjustment. Same as the other devices, it uses 2-way encrypted communication with frequency hopping and is rated for up to 1600m open-field range.
The detector that next caught my attention was the outdoor triple-tech unit I’m putting out in the courtyard. It’s a chunky, solid sensor with a sunshade and hefty build quality. There’s a little part of me that wishes it had a camera, because with PIR and microwave doing the detection you know something’s definitely happened, but without image verification you’re still relying on another zone with camera coverage to tell you whether it’s a wombat or a person with ill intentions. Regardless, this sensor is robust and has an excellent spec.
The standout device in the system I’m installing is the DHI-ARD1731-W2 wireless PIR camera. Pulling it out of the packaging you can just feel this sensor means business. It sends up to 6 HD images at 1600 x 1200 pixels in about 10 seconds using RF-HD transmission, supports a 1-week cloud cache for images and video, and gives you settings for image transmission speed, resolution and the number of alarm images. This sensor is one big puppy, but in a good way. I’ll definitely been using all 4 mounting screws!
I also liked the siren side of the system. The DHI-ARA12-W2 indoor siren is compact, pushes out more than 84dB, and, same as other Dahua devices, it can work as a repeater. Another neat unit was the 2-way talk intercom siren, which adds audio interaction to the mix. I’m looking forward to seeing how it works – obviously the siren needs to stop before you start to talk.
There are loads of configuration options inside the app – I only skimmed through. You can adjust PIR sensitivity, microwave range, image transmission speed, photo resolution, and the number of alarm images sent. The system can send up to 20 images per alarm event depending on the settings – that’s a lot.
One thing I noticed while working through the installation is how quickly devices pair. Wireless pairing really is a cinch. The process was so fast I regretted not having more sensors on hand – a few more PIR cameras and some smoke detectors would round out the system.
The DMSS app itself is simple but effective. It’s not the most polished interface on first acquaintance, but as you build the system the app becomes richer. It always feels functional rather than flashy but that suits this system.
These much longer than expected first impressions are that Dahua’s AirShield wireless system feels well thought out from front to back. It’s easy to install, the devices are solidly built, the pairing process is quick, and the app is simple and deep – I enjoyed using it. I love playing with security gear. If that was all I had to do all day I’d be perfectly happy.
Standby for the full review of Dahua’s AirShield alarm system coming up soon in SEN – in the meantime you can find more Dahua products here or read more SEN news here.
“Dahua AirShield Alarm System First Impressions Are Of A Well Made System That’s Intuitive And Easy To Get Running.”
