I wonder if integrated fire and carbon monoxide detection will eventually be available. Most other systems already have this feature
I have been able to order today, I have not seen other reports of a similar issue
Yep, orders are working. I placed an order today that was about $250 before my discount code was applied.
Maybe?
Did anyone use the straight credit card option, or Amazon Pay. I finally got the order to go through, absent the discount code, with Amazon Pay…which leads me to believe something was wrong with the ECommerce side and the normal merchant account.
So I guess maybe then damn…
Maybe. I had a guy in another forum tell me that he processed his order with Amazon Pay and the $5 WYZE5PAY code worked for him.
I used Amazon Pay as well, but I had to use my code for 5 free V3’s instead so I could get the free shipping for all those, and then it wouldn’t let me use any of my other codes 
Oh well.
Same for Ring Alarm too. To me…the cellular backup is almost a must. If an intruder cuts your internet first…you’re in trouble.
Interesting ingenuity but that might be the flaw in your plan. I’ve never seen a UPS or other device that turned its outlets on only after line power went out. They’re designed to step in to keep things running (outlets always active), not start them up. Maybe such a device exists though.
They must…when I lived in Haiti (a total of 2 & half years over 2 different stays), lots of devices worked this way…power would totally shut off (like multiple times a day for long periods I might add), and some kind of inverter would THEN kick on and power up what it was set up to power (certain outlets, plugs or the whole house depending on the setup), so they definitely exist…it’s just never mattered to me enough…but if someone else desperately needs this, I know for sure some are out there…
Oh wait! What about all those mobile battery chargers that won’t output any power while they are plugged in and charging themselves! That would work. Leave one of those plugged in to the outlet charging constantly and it won’t ever do power output until the power to it is cut, then it will switch and output power, turning on the hotspot. That would definitely work, no Wyze plug needed.
You could always tweak the plan so that a conventional smart UPS signals the phone as to its loss of power, triggering actions on the phone. The networking might be slightly tricky…
Hmm. Maybe…
Good thinking. Honestly, some people could probably just get a free 3rd or 5th line with a free phone that doesn’t even increase their phone plan (we had this opportunity, but couldn’t think of a use for another line, so didn’t do it). Most of those will include X GB of hotspot use. Just keep it as a home phone with a tasker script that watches for when the WiFI disappears and then turns on the hotspot for the HMS. That’s probably the easiest solution for lots of people.
Does anyone know if the hardware (the hub & V2 sensors) will still function in the same capacity that the v1 sensors and bridge did if the user is not subscribed to the home monitoring plan? I do not live in the US so the monitoring is useless but I’d still love to try the hardware
Well…I just canceled my Ring Alarm plan (yearly service ends 1/27/2021). I also ordered the kit plus 6 more sensors, 2 additional motion, and 1 extra keypad. This should replace everything I currently have with Ring…other than the three doorbells I have. Waiting for a Wyze doorbell w/ battery as no good power sources at my doors in the right places. Willing to beta test any other new sensors/hardware to integrate with this whole home solution. Thanks!
While I can’t speak for Wyze, the following is my understanding based on all the FAQ’s, and clarifications from employees…though it does take some reading between the lines.
It is indicated that the hub and sensors will function independently as sensors and hub with standard notifications, but not have security alerts or alarms, siren, etc. This is because they said they will eventually let others buy and use the hub and sensors without a subscription being forced for initial purchase. Without the HMS, the keypad will be pointless, and the monitoring tab won’t function, but they’ll otherwise function as normal devices outside of that tab. Unfortunately you can’t get anything without a core set (which includes the keypad (that will be worthless to you), and you will have to pay at least the first month of of the security subscription ($4.99), but other than that, you could technically order everything you want, then cancel the subscription and everything should keep working as normal sensors. Until they open orders to non-subscribers, once you cancel the subscription, you will not be able to order more sensors without adding the subscription again, and it’s possible they wouldn’t let you order the subscription again if your account shows an address outside the USA , I don’t know. So you might have to wait a while if you want another purchase in the future. Just keep all that in mind.
In short…yes, you should be able to buy it, cancel the subscription, ebay off the keypad you can’t use anyway, and everything should work as normal. If it doesn’t, then you can ship it back for a full refund within the first 30 days anyway.
I personally would recommend getting the annual package anyway. It’s only $5 more and you’ll have a full year of being able to use the entire thing as though it is a full security system, with a siren/alarm and everything. Just switch the setting to “practice mode” so you never use “Noonlight” professional call center services and everything else will still fully function in every way. I mean, why not if it’s only $5 more for a full year of otherwise fully functioning service minus the guys calling you? But yeah, either way should work…it appears they just don’t want people to realize the loophole (that you can order and just cancel the service and have the new sensors without the security system). Personally, for just $5 more, I’m fine with having the service for a year, even though I’m going to disable the call center texts and calls with “Practice mode” enabled indefinitely.
Thanks this was really helpful, and it tallies with my reading of the situation was well. With one exception - I seem to recall that if you did not renew the annual subscription at the end of the first year then you would be charged for the free kit. Could someone confirm whether or not I have imagined this?
I didn’t read that anywhere that I remember (and I read every single FAQ and everything on the HMS pages), but I don’t dismiss it as impossible, and I could’ve overlooked something too.
However, I think your memory is actually confusing what was said about the 30 day refund policy
For Wyze Home Monitoring Service (HMS) annual plan users: If you cancel your annual plan within 30 days after shipping, you must return your Core Starter Kit hardware to get a refund.
If you cancel the yearly subscription within the first 30 days, you must also return the starter kit. This is to prevent fraudulent attempts…people ordering the yearly subscription to get the “FREE” core kit, then wanting to keep their free product (not return that part of the order) but get a full refund for the service part of the order. Wyze was clarifying that you are not allowed to do that, it is a single package and all together, so there is no loophole.
After 30 days, it is my understanding that you may still cancel the subscription (so there is no monitoring capability anymore), but you will not receive a refund for it.
If someone has any reference stating differently, I am certainly open to it. It would make some sense for Wyze to want people to do it for a second year, but then I would’ve read a lot of complaints online that it is actually $120 for that package, and that Wyze was lying throughout their messaging about not requiring long contracts like most all the other companies do. This would be a huge contradiction to what they’ve been advertising if they are forcing at least a 2 year contract. Just saying…