FakeTV FTV-11 Extra Bright Burglar Deterrent Television Simulator

This is a great idea! We bought one and it worked out well. The light from it is very bright, so put it in a large room to get the right effect. The instructions that came with it are pretty clear and easy to understand.

Works well

I was pleasantly surprised at how good a job this does at simulating a TV. You want to have it reflect off walls or curtains, and keep the device out of line-of-site from the windows, as the instructions call out. Once set up, from the street it really did look like someone was watching TV. Sometimes the lighting pattern changed quickly. Other times it changed slowly. It was very convincing. All in all, it works as advertised.

Very bright, good random patterns and low wattage. Whats not to like? Choose always on or select 4 (or 7) hours auto turn off after it turns itself on to a dark enough room (dusk). To add randomness to the on/off times as well as activate it in early hours, I tried to use my X10 stuff but it didnt work with lamp modules or appliance modules. I suspect it doesnt show enough load for the X10 circuitry, but, no problemo: just use the always on setting with an old-fashioned timer capable of multiple on/off settings. Built-in variable on/off times would be good, but I would guess the price would go up dramatically. Burglars will, of course, smell a rat, but theyre not going to hang around long enough to detect patterns or guess if someone is really home - theyll know the occupant is heads up and may have other surprises for them - so, they merely move on to someone elses place...

Really a smart buy. Our house does look like someone is home watching tv at night when we aren’t home.

I was a little skeptical that this could work, but I must say Im pretty happy with it. The light display varies in different patterns and from the outside of my house the lights in the window do look just like a TV was left on. You may want to angle the device slightly away from the window. I initially pointed it right at the window and from the outside of the house the lights appeared to be too bright. When I angled it away a bit, it looked more realistic. I also like the option to set it to come on automatically at night, and then it stays running for 4 hours or 7 hours depending on your choice. Obviously can be left on continuously as well. If you use light timers in your house for when youre away, I think this product could be an additional layer of protection.

The vendor and even some reviewers claim this product fades light as a television does. Not true. It blinks. Each LED has 3 light levels with no fade between them. The light that falls on a wall from TV is dependent on the image on the screen, and on the cuts and dissolves it contains. Many times over 35 years, Ive been called on to simulate light projected out of a TV screen for movies, and there are many methods to do it. This product would most definitely not be acceptable on a movie set. LEDs can be faded, but that would make for a much more expensive product. I set the product up at night to light the sheers over a large window, and when I went outside to look at it, I simply couldnt buy it. The blinking and absence of fades was very obvious. My concern was that if a burglar spotted it, they might conclude it was fake, and therefore no one was home. If reviewers think it looks real, then low-end burglars who are as dumb as sticks or they wouldnt be taking such a risk, would likely also believe it, but when one shows up who realizes its a fake, it signals that no ones home. I have other devices, and I leave lights on (LED and CFLs), and leave a radio playing, and more concerned about daytime burglars, when most burglaries take place. I havent given up on the FakeTV yet, and Ill give it another chance in another window, but if it still looks fake, Ill have to return it.

I had to deal with emptying my mothers small home after her death a few years back, driving back and forth from New York State and Michigan. I bought my first FakeTV light for that purpose, and it worked great the two years I used it there. When the house was sold, a family friend took it and she now uses it in her home. I often have a house sitter now when I travel less frequently, but I bought another FakeTV light and still use it. It works well, never failed!

This works as advertised. You can leave it on 24 hours a day and it would get hot or burn electricity. Looks like the real thing. Highly recommend this to all.

Better that a timer on a light,, better than a motion sensor light, these make your house look like someone is home and watching tv ! I use this in conjunction with all of the above as well as motorized blinds , ring cameras and an alarm,,,, Bad guys want EASY,, this helps it look like it WONT be easy....