Link Interactive

Link's features are great. There's a bunch of different people who asked us because we have keyless door entry. It's a house that we don't stay in all the time and so a lot of times, we just let someone else stay there. We have friends that are having a wedding stay because we gave them access for the weekend. So, all of that has been really helpful. I also had a contractor there and I could just set a code for him. If he needed to leave and go get more parts and come back, he could. I can set the time period that the code is good for. I can do it remotely too. I can manage everything from the app online.

There's a lot of things you can do from your phone. To actually add a security passcode and set up all the features, there might be a way on the app, but I haven't been able to because there's one part of it that I couldn't set the code on to the lock from the phone. I had to do it from either an iPad or computer. It didn't work on the phone. I couldn't believe I was spending this much money on the security alarm because everybody advertises free equipment but it's definitely worth what I spend.

It would have been nice though to have a feature where if I leave and forget to set the system on, I can set it. But that's not a deal-killer. The system that I got has nice and good features. With the smartphone, I can arm or disarm the alarm. And if I leave and don’t set it, it'll notify me. Then once I pull in the driveway, it automatically disarms it. The system is also very easy to use and it makes me feel more secure. With ADT, there were times that I went out of town and I was a little nervous because the system wasn’t working or I couldn’t communicate from my phone to see if it was set. Other than that, Link's system has a high cost-benefit ratio and is very competitive compared to a lot of the other systems.

That was the one thing that was very disappointing to me because when ADT said they would schedule the installation and send somebody, they did. And the installation ended around $300. Link's system is good but relative to the cost, the quality of service is below average. Link Interactive is not as good and as professional as ADT is, being a larger company. From that perspective, I'm not quite impressed with Link Interactive. They shouldn't make a promise if they can't deliver.

The installation was simple. They coded the security and my passcodes before I even got the system. I just needed a screwdriver, sticky things, and simple common sense. One feature that made it very easy was not having to have the Wi-Fi that it's connected to. I didn’t have to have my internet installed at that time because I just moved into my apartment, so it was very nice. I also don’t have to worry if the power goes out or about my Wi-Fi. The customer support has been there for any question or problems that I've had or things that I didn’t remember. When I was getting ready to activate the system, there was a whole list of stuff that I was supposed to do that I've forgotten and I called them. They worked me through everything and it was a breeze. Other than that, the equipment is very good and easy to use. It's very cost-efficient and effective, too.

I talked to a couple of different providers and Link was the friendliest. Any time I called in, they were willing to help. If they couldn't, they'd get somebody who could help. I got all the door sensors and stuff. They are pretty simple. My daughter hooked everything up because we were on the road. The sensors, you can put anywhere. There's also the motion sensor which you can position anywhere in your home for any reason. But I haven’t gotten to my cameras yet. I probably could have done that this time around, but I’m not going to. We have two dummy cameras outside my house. But I know that just by the specs of the Link cameras, they are a better quality and not as expensive as my last security system. I would have paid for it all at once, but I did payment plans.

The Link app is also able to arm and unarm the system. I love that. That means I don’t have to remember any codes. It’s linked to my phone. The tablet thing is really easy to use. If I don’t understand it, I just call Link and they pretty much break it down for me where like a kindergartener could understand. In using the app, you flip over and the app pops up. You have home, away from home, sleep mode and even an alarm clock. The app also tells me the weather. Once I hook up my cameras, it’ll show me images on my app real time.

I like the fact too that my alarm system will deactivate when I get close enough to the house. But I noticed something which I don't like. A lot of the times that I leave, I activate the alarm system. The road we live on kinda circles back close to the house. It registers my phone, it knows the phone is close, and it deactivates my alarm system. I think my house is locked up but it’s not. Other than that, I don’t have a problem with the system because usually my daughter checks after she knows we have left the house and have gone back on the road. She reactivates the alarm system for me. She used to be on the system because she was here for a couple of months. I pretty much have two security systems. I have my daughter who's constantly making sure that I don’t mess up.

I have one of those doorbell cameras and every once in a while, it senses something. It just records as if there was an event. If it’s at night, you can see the first five seconds. It’s bright enough to see what’s going on and you can tell it's working. But all of a sudden, it just gets very dark. You can still see but if anybody was more than four feet from the doorbell, you won’t be able to see them anymore. I would think it was just set wrong. However, it starts out where you can see it then the picture goes dim. I’d like for the camera to just work. It really hasn’t worked right since I got it. The visibility is not bad during the day but it’s very difficult to make out who the person is. If it’s at night, it’s impossible to see the person well. The camera is useless at night.

Another thing is Link doesn’t have enough storage. I can only store the last 1,000 images. The problem is that with one of the cameras that I have, every flake sets off an image when it snows. I can have a video every minute. If I can only save 1,000 images, then I can use that up in a big snowstorm. There may be some adjustments. Maybe I can reduce the sensitivity on that camera so that snowflakes don’t set it off. However, by doing that, I lose sensitivity in terms of out in my yard because a snowflake that passed right in front of the camera.

I’m not 100% satisfied with Link's service, but it’s not bad. I use their app but one thing I don’t understand is why on the desktop, I can’t just click on the doorbell camera by itself but I can do that on the mobile app or vice versa. Also, the subscription service cost isn't too bad, but the equipment is kinda garbage so any price is too high. I like Link's service and the way it's set up. I would recommend Link if I could, but I the equipment sucks. They should get some better equipment.

Otherwise, Link is pretty ideal. Their customer service and sales seem fine. The guy that got us all connected a year ago was really nice. He told me about a lot of extra stuff they offered that I could add on as I go along. And the system was an install-yourself and it was fairly easy to understand and install. I got Link's basic package and I got a few things more than I had with my other system. The system features have been good and they're of higher quality. I also like to keep adding stuff a lot better than I did on my other system. Their smartphone feature is pretty cool too. It has a lot of upgraded stuff.

I bought some extra stuff and there was a problem with my credit card. Since I never received the stuff, I just said I didn't wanna buy any more stuff. However, they still charged me for the stuff that I never got. I called and they said everything was already taken care of, but a week later I had gotten an invoice saying that I’m past due. I called and they said that they were gonna take care of it. Then they sent me an email saying that it was already taken care of.

I have the sensors and they work fine. Unfortunately, the glass break sensors, which I need, are super expensive and I couldn’t get them. If somebody breaks through the glass, the door doesn’t go off, because it was not actually opened. I don't even know if I’m being monitored. When you call technical support, the lady is just reading and says hold on. And you hold and wait, and wait. Although I’m not completely dissatisfied, I don’t think I will recommend Link Interactive.

I wanted a doorbell or something where they have the camera to be included in our home security. It'd be cool if Link Interactive did that where if someone would ring the doorbell, I'd be able to look at our panel or phone to see who is at the front door. I use their app more than the actual putting the code in. I have these push notifications and Ian has his texts. I like how we can just customize. I have different things where it's like, “It's nighttime”, then I press a button, and automatically, it's like arm stay, no enter delay, warning, and sounds. These are super cool to use.

There had been two real problems where I had an alarm event happened because one of the sensors was acting up. Luckily, Ian was home to turn it off before the cops showed up. One of the window sensors was messed up. The window sensor in the bedroom is not activated because it's too far away from the panel. Other than that, the only recommendation I would have is the sticker on the back would be more easily removable and come with two replacements because once we moved them, we can only duct tape them back on or have to put a screw in the window.

The biggest thing is it gives me a pre-warning system. I'm a firearms instructor on the side, so I'm not too worried. Ian tells me the alarm is extremely loud so if someone comes in, I already know and ready for whatever happens. I can skip the step of calling the police because I know they're on their way. All I have to do is hunker down the bedroom. It's a deterrent and maybe the alarm will scare them away. Overall, I felt 95% satisfied with Link Interactive and I would recommend them to friends.

Link is better as far as the equipment and the people of monitoring. They are always professional and they are always doing what they're supposed to do. Monitoring has always been good throughout and they have two-way communication, but the sales portion has not been good. As a current customer, I would call to buy new stuff, and I have bought a few new items since I had the contract. I'm out of contract now, but they left a bitter taste where I'm not valued as a customer. With ADT or LifeShield, you are the first person they would try to attack to sell something new by giving a promotion. However, Link doesn’t do that. Once they get your sale, you are on your own. I am not valued anymore even though I'm a current revenue because I am paying my bill every month. They tend to cater to new customers.

They should improve on their communication and do a more active pursuit of current customers. I have a few security things, extra cameras, garage door sensors, thermostat, and all the other things, that I've added since I've been with them. If they were to give promotions and say, “Hey, buy this one as a current customer and save this, or buy one, get one free,” or whatever promotion it is and if it's a deal, I'll get it. If it's not a deal and I can't afford it, I won't get it.

Also, if they have a policy, it needs to be standard throughout everybody I speak to. I bought four security cameras and they were separate from another camera that I had on initial setup. I called one person and told him I could get the cameras cheaper in eBay. The person said no and that if I get it from them, I will be covered on the warranty. I said, “If the camera breaks, I'll just send it in and you'll replace it?” He said, “Yes. As long as you buy it from us, you're covered under the warranty lifetime.” I would never have to buy those cameras again. If it's old or it gets damaged, they will replace it, and it's a win-win for both us.

I called in to ask about a sensor and the person said that I only have one year. which leaves me uncomfortable because if something goes wrong with all four cameras, I have to buy a brand new camera for $200 each from Link, and they are the highest-priced for the cameras. But I figured the higher price was beneficial if it included some form of warranty for later on, so I paid the highest price. If the person had told me that when I spent $800 on four cameras, I wouldn’t have gotten it because I could have spent $400 on four cameras on Amazon, the same cameras they are selling for $200, and still have the same results and pay for an extended warranty through Amazon. I get a warranty on everything I buy and if I'm gonna spend more than $200 and something happens, I'm covered and I'm gonna own my money. Link dropped the ball by telling me what I wanted to hear just to get the sale.

The biggest selling point with Link is the monitoring people, not their customer service nor the sales. I got the stuff and I installed what I could and it was very easy because it was self-explanatory. However, there were things I couldn’t do because I was not familiar with the system. The ease of setup is great. The reps guided me over the phone and they were amazing. Most features in the system work and most features they offer are very good. I'm a smart-home person, so everything is incorporated via Alexa and most features are compatible. However, their app is not fluent and it's not user-friendly. But it's a process. I use the app almost for everything - open garage doors, thermostat, and turn on the lights.

The cost of Link is around $5 higher than everybody else. If I'm happy with the system, I don’t mind paying. However, I'm not happy with Link anymore. As a company competing with other major players, they have to separate themselves from ADT and the only way to do that is customer service because other competitors have similar equipment and similar services. I'm out of contract and I can leave any time I want. The equipment is mine. I can leave and take it. But what makes me want to stay or what makes me not to go with somebody else? It has to be their customer service, which Link is lacking. If somebody comes on with a good deal and I don’t have to pay anything, and it's a few dollars cheaper, maybe I will leave. I don’t trust Link.

They walked me through the installation process and it felt like they were familiar with the system and they knew what should be in the box. One time, we were looking through the box and I couldn’t find something. There was a piece that goes on the back of the monitor like a little mainboard. They did a really good job. I found the installation really easy, although I ended up using Command Strips instead of drilling through the plastic parts to put in the motion detectors. They wanted me to put a screw hole through the plastic in the back.

I have four houses and I know each house really well. We did custom security plans for each house since some plans have more floors than the other. All of the houses there, they are very similar as they all have a garage that you drive into, but they all have different floor plan layouts. I kinda knew what I was looking for because I’ve always tried to have very secure homes. I’ve used lots of equipment, whether it was with the other security companies. And Link is the top, at least for now. Everything changes and you have to change with everything because usually, there’s something that can be improved. Some of the security features are really updated too. Link has the app and it’s a lot more proficient. The app is good and user-friendly which is really important because I’m trying to have renters who have a variety of computer skills to do it too, not just me.

The cost for Link was really wonderful too. This was the lowest cost in systems that I’ve had in my 15 years of putting them in my houses. That’s really good savings for somebody out there and for me, in particular. I was very impressed by that. It’s made up in the contract, but that is a really good thing. But I had to send one of my Link systems back because my renter was in love with the routine of what she is doing now. Sometimes people don’t wanna try something new, but if they do and they’re okay with a commitment of a two or three-year contract, they will like it. They’ll actually buy the system and they’ll want to have it in their house.

With Link, if customers have any questions or they need to send the system back in the first three days, that has been made really easy. In my case, Link sent me a form to sign and I sent all the things back. It was really nice. As for the other systems, I'm gonna keep them at my other rental houses. My renters are enjoying using them for locking doors. It makes them feel safe and makes me feel good. Link's system could really help people. The cost of having some break-in in your house and also just the feeling you have if you don’t have anything in place and then afterward, you’re like, “I should have done this,” Link is definitely a system that's well worth it. I’m happy to tell my family or friends about it.

Link Interactive's customer service was good and fast. As soon as I made a request, they immediately sent me a text message. On the very same day, we closed the deal. So as far as sales were concerned, they were good. On the customer support side, some of the instructions they sent for the do-it-yourself installation were not very clear. Still, when I called, they kinda walked me through the setup. Although I figured out the instructions after a couple of weeks, there’s a little room for improvement in terms of making the instruction guidelines clearer. We were getting false alarms but overall, the reps were very responsive. Once you get them on the call, they're very knowledgeable and helpful. Whoever is on the phone, they know exactly what kind of issues you’re running into, and they can guide you through settings.

I got the four sensors plus the motion from Link Interactive. Everything was pretty much installed and paired, so it was ready to go. Installation was easy as all I needed to do was to put some sticker and it was all set up. Then I just attached it to the door. One of the neat things about the system is that they've got this interactive feature where, in case of emergency, they actually talk through the panel with you, just so they can actually listen to what’s going on in the house. Also, it's nice that they can also determine if there is an emergency or it's only a false alarm.

The additional feature though is really the mobile app that you can arm. That’s really neat. The only drawback of the system compared to the old traditional ones is that when you’re trying to set the alarm to "away", you need to make sure all the doors are closed before you click the arm. If the door that you’re trying to get out from is open, the system is not smart enough to realize that. That door will be bypassed and that is pretty bad. Other than that, you can always arm the system from your phone, which is really nice.

The other disadvantage is that the system comes with a receiver and sender. Everything should be attached to the door and it has to be within a certain distance. Sometimes, the way your door is set up may not allow for a nice installation, so there are some limitations there. The systems get confused. All of a sudden, it sends some signal today that something is going on when there's actually none.

All the settings are very conservative, and the system can easily sense if somebody is tampering with it. At the same time, however, it can put the settings such that they will confirm with you through the phone or message before it will send the officers out. So, you can kinda filter some of those false alarms, but not too much because sometimes it could be some problems and you may wanna need assistance. Good thing Link Interactive also has a support system during the weekend, so in case there is a false alarm, they can fix it for you. It’s almost like 24/7 help for emergency situations. Overall, I am very satisfied with Link Interactive. I really like the installation. I could ask somebody to come and install the security system who will ask me for thousands of dollars, but Link Interactive’s system is something I could do myself. I strongly recommend Link Interactive.