FakeTV – Fake TV Burglar Deterrent For Home Security – How it Works
A Fake television is an effective burglar deterrent! It’s even more effective than ordinary lights that are on a timer, in my opinion. Here’s why I like the ‘FakeTV‘ product. And explanation how it works.
This is the FakeTV that I bought. I’ve had it for a number of years. I can report that it has held up perfectly, and is still functional today.
Actually, the following is their current model since I purchased mine:
FTV-11 Extra Bright
(view on amzn)
As viewed from the outside at night, a TV appears as a flickering shimmer of light, colors, and hues against a window, shade, or curtain.
Burglars are opportunists. The typical home burglar looking for a vacant home to burglarize will likely move on when they believe that someone is home.
Tip: Outdoor motion lights!
(Here’s my review on what I believe is the best choice.)
If you are going away on vacation or for any extended period of time, a fake TV light like the one shown below will serve as an excellent deterrent.
FakeTV – Looks like a Real Television from Outside
If you are away from home for awhile on a trip or vacation, in addition to setting up a few lights on timers for the evening, the illusion of a TV turned on will add a very real appearance that someone is home – adding an additional layer of security.
This Fake TV light is a device that simulates a TV by producing realistic random patterns of flickering light. It simply plugs in to a wall outlet. Or you might connect it to a 24 hour timer programmed for the evening hours.
How it works
The emitted light is realistic in that it’s sourced from multicolored LED’s located behind prism lenses. The combination emits the unique diffused patterns of light into the room. It reflects off the walls, ceiling, and windows which enhances the effects.
The randomness of the flickering is very similar to that of a real TV. The intensity changes, the color and hue changes, and the random speed at which it flickers is similar to scene changes on TV – some rapid, some slower.
FakeTV simulation
FakeTV prism lenses & multicolored LED’s
Settings
The Fake TV light has several user-settings.
– always on
– a light sensor which detects when it is getting dark in the room
– It can be set to run for 4-hours, 7-hours, or after dusk.
I personally prefer the ‘always-on’ setting while plugging the power supply adapter into a 24-hour timer which I program for specific hours of operation.
If you’re looking for an additional layer of home security while you’re away from home, consider the Fake TV Burglar Deterrent.
Note:
Home security and burglar deterrence should be thought of in ‘layers’.
In addition to burglar deterrents such as outdoor motion lights, security stickers & placards, deadbolts, bump-proof locks, long screws in your door strike-plate, an x-large dog bowl on the front porch, a real or fake security camera, etc., consider what the INSIDE of your home looks like as viewed from the OUTSIDE to a potential burglar. Thus, the FakeTV!
[ Read: Key-Bumping Used By Burglars To Break Into Your Home ]
[ Read: Door Security Bar – Extra Door Security Layer for Home Security ]
>> My review an even better door security bar – Buddy Bar Door Jammer
You really cannot tell the difference between the light from FakeTV and real TV even with a lab full of expensive optical test equipment, which I have. It’s not just randomized, but it statistically weights the output to change what kind of programming it is producing. For awhile it might have a greenish cast (outdoor scene) or bluish (sky), might be static (news) or dynamic.
Cordially,
Rein Teder
Engineer, designer of FakeTV
(and Patriot!)
😎👍🏻
We purchased two “fake tv’s” — one for the bedroom, one for the living room. Set them on timers. We live on the 2nd floor so it does look like the tv is on in each room. We also leave a radio playing to a talk-radio show. And our lamps are on timers set to go off and on at different times. We also have two loud dogs. Some real and some fake security cameras.
I have a FakeTV and it works great! It takes a little trial and error find the best location in your house but once you find the best location it really does give the illusion of a real TV. I would recommend this product to anyone its relatively inexpensive an is effective way to keep your home safe!
I haven’t had a tv in my house for well over ten years. At least a fake one would be quiet.
I have two of the fake TV’s, and use them all of the time! I would recommend them to everyone!
Turn the fake TV light on then leave a CD player blaring on repeat with combinations of AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Merle Haggard and Charlie Pride at night. Leave the CD player on 24/7… loud enough to hear while standing outside the door.
What a cool idea! Probably uses a ton less energy than a TV, too.
Maybe I missed something in the article, but I guess my first question is; why spend $20 on a “fake” TV light? Why not just leave the TV on? That way you could have sounds from the house also.
revron,
– the cost of electricity (although not a huge deal – depending on the TV itself), but maybe significant if you’re gone on vacation for a week or two while running the set 24/7
– the ability to run the Fake TV on a timer
– selectable hours of operation
– the Fake TV could easily be positioned anywhere inside the home, potentially making it more noticeable to the outside world at night
Thanks.