I recently had to change my internet router. Figuring all I would need to do is go into the app and update the settings to connect the app to the new network (name change) and all things would work again. I was majorly incorrect. When the network changes because of internet equipment failed, such as my router, or you change internet providers just updating to the new network is not enough. You have to basically reinstall all components, delete old and add new, like the initial installation. For me this meant dragging out a ladder to climb up to a camera mounted 15 feet off the ground. At 72+ years old that is not an easy nor fun task. Especially when it requires standing on the ladder to push a button on the camera for almost a minute. The it took 4 phone calls to support and 2 scheduled virtual calls to get things working again. Oh, and at the time of this writing I am not sure if the front light schedule works or not, I have to wait until tonight. I may have to call support again tomorrow and possibly schedule another virtual support call. ADT, have you heard of account automation. Store the info regardless of the network. Put in in my account info in say… I don’t know… the “cloud” on your servers. Your only saving grace are the personalities and service provided by you support folks.

We love the convenience of the smart phone app and have used it for some time on our home security system. Recently, we upgraded an older ADT system in another location where the occupant only uses the phone app to arm and disarm the system. She is usually not inside when she arms and disarms. Today, she armed it while still inside, then opened the front door to leave. Note she did NOT arm it via the panel. The system delayed the minute set before arming and IMMEDIATELY sent an alarm alert due to a door opening and closing while armed away. It seems when arming with the app, opening and closing a door AFTERWARDS is not allowed. The system will only allow arming, then leaving if it is done by the panel, not the app. A subtle difference but makes sense when you think about the normal sequence of events will be different for the 2 arming methods. I do not recall being told or reading about this difference and learned it the hard way. Fortunately, the alert came to my phone in the first minute and I was able to disarm and clear the alarm before police were dispatched.

I regret getting ADT and this is app is a huge factor in it. I thought it was slow to notify me of movement and to load videos, because of my slow internet, but no. Whether I’m in 5g or not, it still is very slow to load the 30 sec clip. I get notified of movement trigger on my camera about 3-4 min after it happened, which is a safety issue for me as I live alone. What really solidified my dissatisfaction is getting a Ring camera to monitor my cats entrance. I get notified within seconds of the movement on the Ring and it always catches it. I don’t fully understand why some things trigger ADT and some things don’t (I have it set to notify me of animals). Another frustration is not many videos are saved and still don’t understand why chicken can be saved but a human or car won’t be. Also, when you get a notification of movement and you go to open it, sometimes it goes to the live and not the 30 sec clip. Once you click it, that 30 sec clip is lost and you can’t view it (if it was one of the few that saved). Overall I regret getting sucked in and paying $70+ month for a video camera system that is way inferior to $8/mo ring.