Kini SafeAlert

Review

Most people with firearms in their home are concerned about safety. A new product from Kinisium might be able to help you with some piece of mind. That product is the Kini SafeAlert. The Kini is a small motion activated sensor that gives you “safety alerts” when it senses motion.

The Kini SafeAlert is added protection against something that is already secured. I would not rely on it solely for the safety of a firearm, or any other dangerous device. However, it can be used to detect if someone is getting into one of those places, like a safe or liquor cabinet for example.

Kinisium uses a small motion activated transmitter. Physical size of the transmitter is about 2.25” x 1.56” x 0.75”. Not bad for something that has motion detection and wifi. The “Kini” alerts you through a text message or email when it detects movement. It does this by sending a wifi signal. It does not have any cellular capability, so it must be within a wifi area that has internet access. However, it does work very well in its designed area of use.

When the Kini first arrives, Kinisium has you set up the device. First you have to create an account with their web based interface. The Kini has an activation code, so anyone can’t just set it up. Once you turn on the Kini and enter all the appropriate info, you are now ready to attach the Kini to something. Since the Kini is rechargeable, I would recommend charging it up first.

Now that the Kini is ready to go, find a good place to test it out. Kinisium supplies some hook and loop, as well as a small cable tether. I say try it out first because there are actually a bunch of settings for the Kini in the interface. You can set email or text alerts, or both. You can name what the alert will be called, for example: “Safe Movement”, “Motion Detected”, “Door Open”, etc. More important is the ability to set how much movement before the Kini alerts you. You can also set which axis you want to alert you, for example: X,Y, and Z or just X and Y. I just have it set for all axes. There is also a setting for how long until the Kini re-notifies you after the initial movement. Depending on where the Kini is located, this can be an important feature. The Kini will also let you know when it is low on power. That way you can charge it up. I charged mine when it was new. It has been 4 months and is still at 80% power. So I don’t see you needing to charge it very often.

The little Kini has a ton of uses for added security and piece of mind. You can install it anywhere you want, as long as there is a wifi signal. Or essentially, on anything that you want to be notified of, when it is being tampered with. Tool chests, liquor cabinets, safes, doors, medicine cabinets, breaker boxes, or anything else you don’t want messed with. The main reason I say “added security” is because the Kini is not a replacement for locks, especially when it comes to firearms. The Kini usually takes between 8-10 seconds for it to notify me, via text, of movement. So it is only a barrier. If a firearm were unsecured, even with the Kini attached, something terrible could still happen in the time it takes to get notified. The Kini is not a replacement for a good locking device, no matter what you install it on. The Kini’s best feature is that it can be used on anything imaginable.

I mounted up the Kini to a safe door. It has worked well, essentially it sits inside the safe. I have it set so that if the safe gets bumped, it will notify me. Because of where it is mounted, it also alerts me when the safe door is opened. I will mention that this safe is fairly close to the wifi router. If I were to install it in my garage somewhere, I would want to make sure it consistently could send alerts. I have been very happy with how the Kini works. The battery life laso really impressed me.

If you are looking for that extra added security, or should I say notifications, the Kinisium Kini SafeAlert might be worth looking into. It is nice knowing when someone, or something, is messing with your important stuff. Just remember it does not take the place of proper storage, it is just added security that enhances safety. Take a look at the Kini and see what you think.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Safety device that texts you when movement is detected

Target Market:

Anyone wanting an extra degree of safety

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

Small motion detector
Sends texts and Emails when moved
Adjustable
Rechargeable
Comes with tether
Charging cord included
On/Off Tool

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Red

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars at Kinisium.com

Great product!

The SafeAlert is a great product. It was easy to set up, and it definitely works. I was a little skeptical about putting it inside a safe (weak/no signal in there?) but it works just fine, even in a safe/drawer, etc. and gives a nearly instant alert (text message) when it is moved. It's very sensitive, as well...with it sitting on a table, jumping on the floor next to the table sets it off when it's on the most sensitive setting (and you can adjust the sensitivity, as well).

I recommend this, and am actually thinking about getting another one.

Link to other reviews:

Grit Daily

Price point:

MSRP = $75.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Kinisium

Our Rating:

Pros:

Easy to set up
Sensitivity adjustments
Works inside a metal box
Attaches easily
Text and Email alerts
Battery life

Cons:

Lag time before notifications
Can be too sensitive sometimes

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link: AR Build: A young woman's perspective

I ran across the Onnais safe when I saw a friend had one. Being the curious type, I proceeded to have them send me one. I liked that the Onnais had both fingerprint and numerical code access. It can hold 1 large framed pistol comfortably, or 2 if they are Glock 17 size or smaller.

The Onnais is pretty functional. As long as you don’t expect it to keep career criminals out. It’s all steel exterior is nicely finished. Although I would like a little stronger steel on the lid, more on that later. It is foam padded on the inside, not the thickest foam, but not bare metal either. The biometric sensor is easily accessible, as is the numerical keypad and key slot. The safe also comes with a wire cable to secure it to something strong. Or it also has 2 screws that can be used to mount it to a flat surface. The holes are pre drilled in the bottom of the safe for the screws, and a slot is at the rear corner for the cable.

Setup on the Onnais is really easy. Install the 4 AA batteries, which are not included. Use the instructions to program a code in. The number code must be at least 5 digits and up to 10. Two keys are also included. The keys are actual keys, not the barrel type typically found on cheaper stuff. Then you can program fingerprints in. It allows up to 30 fingerprints. Because it is a biometric sensor, I recommend storing about 5 or so with each finger you plan to use. Do the sides, tip, etc of one finger, then the next, and so on. That way there is a better chance that the reader will read your finger under stress.

One of the things I like about the Onnais safe is the triple opening options. Even though the biometric reader has a less than 1 second read time, sometimes the biometric sensor wont read your fingerprint. You then have 2 other options to open the safe. Let’s be honest here, biometric readers are cool, but they can still be unpredictable. Mine wont read my fingerprint if I have a cut on my finger, or if some skin has recently been roughened up on it. Get some dried super glue on your fingertip, and it just won't read it. But don’t worry, that code you entered will still work. Just type that code in, press “OK”, and the Onnais pops right open. The key is basically a backup for if the batteries die, at least for me. The fingerprint reader actually performed very good for me, minus when I had other problems noted above. I just switched fingers when it gave me the flashing red light, then it usually opened right up.

To put the Onnais into perspective, I call it a rapid storage box. Partially because a “safe” implies a bit of work to get into. This Onnais is great if you want something to keep children or others from gaining access to your pistol and still have almost immediate access yourself. I wouldn’t hesitate to put this on a nightstand or something similar. But there is the question about breaking into it. You can pry the lid up by sliding a butterknife between the lid and the frame. Enough so that you can get something stronger into it and pry on it. Until either the lid bends, but more likely is that the plastic locking latch will break. I didn’t pry on it enough to break the latch, but I see how it is highly possible. It does flex the lid quite a bit when prying on it with the knife.

Another option to use the Onnais in, would be a car. I say this loosely, because it needs to be placed somewhere it can’t be seen, maybe a trunk. But, because of the supplied cable, it can be wrapped around a semi-permanent fixture, like a seat mounting base. If it gives you a safer storage option than “your car is not a holster”, when you run into some place like a post office, or federal building, then it may have just done its job. The Onnais is not water or air tight, so don’t plan on using it in a boat, if you get the idea.

The Onnais safe is a good concept. If you need quick access to a firearm, it might be just the ticket. If you need to keep it super secure, it might not. I do like the “safe”. Having backups to backups, makes it function like a quick access safe should. If it is to keep honest people honest, then it would be a good little bedside safe. You can check it out on https://onnaisafe.com/ or Amazon if you're interested.