REVIEW – I am in the last stages of building my new office/studio space in my basement and having spent so much time in this space, it became obvious how many electronic and infrastructure devices are in my basement, It is also evident that I need to place smoke detectors in each designated space to ensure quick notification of any smoke situation. Let’s see if this X-Sense Smart Smoke Detector with SBS50 Base Station kit can fulfill my needs.
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $129.99 – Amazon; $139.99 – X-Sense
Where to buy: X-Sense website, Amazon
What is it?
The X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station is a comprehensive wireless home safety system designed to integrate and manage multiple types of safety devices—including smoke detectors—through a centralized base station and a smartphone app.
What’s included?
- 1 x Base Station
- 1 x AC Adapter
- 5 x Smoke Detectors with Batteries and Mounting Brackets
- 1 x User Manual
Tech specs
Base Station
Model: SBS50
Power Supply-
Input: 100–240 V AC 50/60 Hz; Output: 5.0 V/1.0 A
Operating Temperature: 40–100°F (4.4–37.8°C)
Operating Relative Humidity: 0–85% RH (non-condensing)
Alarm Volume: 100 dB
App: X-Sense Home Security (both Android and iOS supported)
Wi-Fi Frequency: 2.4 GHz (Incompatible with 5 GHz Wi-Fi network)
Operating Frequency: 915 MHz
Wi-Fi Transmission Range: 164 ft (50 m)
Wireless Protocol: IEEE 802.11b/g/n
Smoke Alarm –
Power Supply: Replaceable 3V CR123A lithium battery
Product Life: 10 years
Battery Life: 5 years
Sensor Type: Photoelectric
Operating Temperature: 40–100°F (4.4–37.8°C)
Operating Relative Humidity: ≤ 85% RH (non-condensing)
Alarm Loudness: ≥ 85 dB at 10 ft (3 m) @ 3.2 ± 0.3 kHz pulsing alarm
Silence Duration: About 9 minutes
Operating Frequency: 915 MHz
Maximum Number of Interconnected Units: 24 wireless units (only compatible with X-Sense Link+ wireless alarms)
Connection Distance (in open air): 1,640 ft (500 m)
Design and features
- Note: Compatible only with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (incompatible with 5.0 GHz); connects to the X-Sense Home Security App via the included base station
- Never Miss an Alarm: Whenever smoke is detected, you’ll get an immediate alert on your phone; at the same time, the base station and each linked alarm will sound loudly, letting everyone at home know to evacuate
- Build a Smart Home Safety System: The SBS50 base station supports up to 50 devices, including the XS01-M smoke alarm, XC01-M carbon monoxide alarm, XP0A-MR combination alarm, STH51 thermo-hygrometer, SWS51 water leak sensor, and more; the 1,640 ft (500 m) open-air connection range means you can even secure every corner
- Instant Status Alerts: Monitor your home from anywhere and receive instant notifications for alarms, low battery warnings, faults, and more via the X-Sense Home Security app; you’ll also get a notification when the danger has passed
- Fast Fire Dispatch Within Just 3 Seconds: By subscribing to the (optional) Protect+ Premium subscription plan, which provides 24/7 professional monitoring service, when an alarm is triggered, you will receive a message from the monitoring center within 3 seconds to verify the emergency. After the emergency is verified, a fire truck will be dispatched immediately
- Test from the App: Enjoy instant and easy peace of mind by testing the alarm from within the app, without having to climb a ladder to press a button on the device itself
- Control with One Button: Easily connect the base station to your Wi-Fi with one button, and quickly silence your entire system by tapping the silence button in the app or on the base station
The X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station feature a small and sleek base station measuring approximately 90 x 90 x 26 mm and weighing around 78 grams. It has a built-in speaker capable of emitting alarm sounds up to 100 dB. It also features voice prompts and multiple audible options for alerts. The base station design includes a multifunction silence and network button for straightforward operation and an LED indicator with three colors to display the status. The X-Sense smoke detectors are round and compact with a single button with a built-in LED for pairing and operation. On the bottom, there is the battery compartment and the wall mount.
Assembly, Installation, Setup
The X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station are quite easy to set up. The process is handled from within the app. The first step is to plug in the base station to power and then go through the app to pair it with your wireless network. Then the next step is to pair the smoke detectors with the base and, if desired, with each other. The interconnect option of lining the smoke detectors with each other is done 2 at a time, and the entire process is straightforward and worked without a hitch. As you add the smoke detectors, you have the option to name them, and in my case, I named them according to where I intended to place them.
Performance
The X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station is an easy system to set up and offers nice features like the ability to interconnect the smoke detectors. According to X-Sense, the SBS50 base station acts as the central hub, supporting up to 50 devices, including smoke, carbon monoxide, and water leak alarms. The specifications state that it can provide an extended wireless range of up to 1,700 feet and that it allows for flexible placement. It is important to note that the system only supports a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection and requires the app to set up and manage the devices.
Having said all of that, the notable features and centralized management via the app only work if the communication between the base and the devices is solid and can withstand basic environmental interference. While I like this system and would love to keep it as my system of choice, I am struggling with the placement of the devices. I have the entire system with five smoke detectors set up in my basement, which is no larger than 1000sq ft. While there is a lot of great insulation between some the rooms and while the walls are made using metal studs, the connectivity should not only still work but it is obvious that the distance from the base is less important than the ability of the signal to communicate despite the materials in the walls next to the detectors. I will explain all of this in the video below.
What I found was that I had to keep moving the detectors to sometimes undesirable placement spots just for them to maintain consistent communication with the base. This created most of my frustration. While the alarm sound is quite loud and the benefit of interconnecting means that you are unlikely to miss any alarm, the system must work well to be considered a worthwhile life-saving addition to my home.
Here is a video of my thoughts about this system:
Final thoughts
The X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station is overall a nice system that is well-made and effective when it works. This kind of system can be life-saving, so the issue that I continue to experience with smoke detectors disconnecting and going offline unless they are carefully placed makes me unsure about keeping it as the system of choice.
What I like about the X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station
- Nice design and nice technology concept
- Easy to set up and easy to pair devices
- The app is clean and straightforward
What needs to be improved?
- The communication signal strength and consistency between the smoke detectors and the base
Price: $129.99 – Amazon; $139.99 – X-Sense
Where to buy: X-Sense website, Amazon
Source: X-Sense provided a free sample for this review. X-Sense did not have a final say on the review and did not preview it before it was published.
