Installing the Cove Home Security System hub, panel, and sensors is quick and easy, but if you’d rather have a professional handle the job, installation starts at $129.
I plugged in the hub and waited a few seconds for the LED to turn green, then plugged in the panel and pressed Get Started. The panel immediately found the hub, so I pressed Continue and entered the four-digit code found on the back of the hub. After several minutes, the panel connected to the hub, so I pressed Continue and Get Started, then selected my Wi-Fi SSID and entered my Wi-Fi password. After a minute or two, the hub was connected to my network, at which point it ran a few diagnostic tests. Next, I created a four-digit master code for arming, disarming, and accessing the Settings menu, and I was ready to install my sensors.
Cove sent me a full array of add-ons, including indoor and outdoor cameras, a doorbell camera, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide (CO) detector, a panic button, a glass-break sensor, a water-leak sensor, a siren, and a remote fob. For my testing, I installed a pair of entry sensors, a motion sensor, and a Home Cam V3.
When the panel displayed a message indicating it was time to install my sensors, I tapped Continue and triggered an entry sensor by removing the battery tape and separating the two pieces, after which the sensor was immediately detected. I gave it a name, installed it on a doorway with double-sided tape, and repeated the process for the second entry sensor.
For the motion sensor, I removed the battery tape, pressed the test button, and secured the device to a corner in my living room. I tested each sensor and tapped Activate to enable monitoring. After a few seconds, I received a phone call from Cove to verify my monitoring account, so I downloaded the Cove Connect app and logged in using the credentials sent via text message.
To install the Home Cam V3, I plugged it in, opened the app, tapped the Cameras button, and then tapped Add a Camera. I used my phone’s camera to scan the QR code on the bottom of the device and pressed the reset button for 10 seconds. I entered my Wi-Fi credentials when prompted, and within a few seconds, the camera was connected to my network and added to the app. I gave the camera a name and placed it near a doorway in my foyer.
