Home alarm systems.

[Cal44]

I just had an alarm system put in at our home.

The house was already wired for it, but we needed a new circuit board and connection to a monitoring company.

I did this because we had an attempted burglary last week.

I was wondering what percentage of forum members also have home alarms.

[DWalt]

I do, and my advice would be to stay far away from ADT. You can get better systems for much less, which don't require long-term (or any) contracts. Always go with wireless, not hard-wired, including calls into the monitoring systems. One of the first thing a burglar will do is cut your outside phone wires.

[Rivoak]

Originally Posted by DWalt

I do, and my advice would be to stay far away from ADT. You can get better systems for much less, which don't require long-term (or any) contracts. Always go with wireless, not hard-wired, including calls into the monitoring systems. One of the first thing a burglar will do is cut your outside phone wires.

I too had a really bad experience with ADT after they got me locked into a contract and unilaterally raised the monthly charge every year. I despise them. After their contract was up, I switched to HD 24/7 video surveillance and had NO monthly charges. Also, I had real time smart phone video to see what was going on. If anyone had broken in, I could have told the cops what room they were in, what they looked like, and sent the cops a screen shot. When my new system was installed, the guys actually laughed at the amateurish job ADT had done and at their equipment.

[Kanewpadle]

That's a good start. Don't let your alarm become a false sense of security. If you haven't done so already, harden your perimeter. If your alarm sounds the bad guys are already in.

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Mine is monitored 24/7, wireless, no contracts, all for only $14.95 per month. When I do a monthly test the alarm company is calling me in less than 30 seconds from when I hit the "Test" button. I have had it over two years and completly satisfied with the system and the alarm company. I have entry sensors, glass break sensors, motion detectors and 3 smoke alarms. The company's initials are SS and is advertised on radio and TV.

[DWalt]

It is a good idea to have signs around and stickers on your windows, even if you don't have an alarm system. My system is somewhat like posting #5 describes. I use a Texas-based security company, same monthly fee. I test it several times per month to be sure the monitoring people are awake. Had it 4 years, no problems whatsoever. I repeat, AVOID ADT.

[mclark202]

I just ordered a set of Arlo cameras from Netgear. These are wireless cameras that record to the cloud for 7 days for free. Motion sensor activation, night vision, text alerts, etc. I'm mainly going to use them to monitor the only two exterior doors of my house. Should work pretty well.

[Cal44]

Originally Posted by mclark202

I just ordered a set of Arlo cameras from Netgear. These are wireless cameras that record to the cloud for 7 days for free. Motion sensor activation, night vision, text alerts, etc. I'm mainly going to use them to monitor the only two exterior doors of my house. Should work pretty well.

I have a couple cams also, but haven't installed them yet. They can be set up so you can monitor remotely over the Internet.

Someone on another forum suggested setting up one of those IR game cameras.

Not sure what good that does for security, but it would be interesting to monitor my back yard and see if any one or any critters are coming around at night.

I've always wanted one of those, but never had an excuse to get one before.

[ladder13]

I have my alarm and cameras wired to my standby generator should the power go off for any period of time and I'm not home.
Plenty of thieves come out to play during power outages.

[pawngal]

I don't have a system at home but have considered it, would be the SS system already mentioned. My perimeter is secure, steel doors, deadbolt locks, no sliding glass doors, only 1 vulnerable window faces a busy street.
If I'm home my 4 legged alarm system is always on and loud.

[rwsmith]

The infrastructure is great, always got alarms, calls, everything needed, but their business practices are terrible. They changed their name a few years ago but it's still the same crud. They came around maybe once a year and didn't even have credentials for the new company months after they made the changed. This was at a time when fake people were knocking on doors. I asked the guy to identify himself, even though I new him by sight and he got mad and left. I went with another company, though not perfect about getting service people to the house, even though their office is 1/2 mile from me, is much better.

PM me if you want names. I feel funny about posting them here.

[Tom S.]

I did my own. It's a wireless Simon 3. I have motion sensors, glass breakage sensors, smoke/fire sensors in the house, garage, and shed, CO2 sensor and door entry sensors on the entry doors. The alarm arms/disarms with remote key fobs or using a pass code and has a battery back up. You can buy the basic alarm, them add modules to suit your needs. Besides the sensors I have, you can also add water sensors and temperature sensors. Total cost was around $900. You can pay an online monitoring company something in the neighborhood of around $19 a month for monitoring, but I live in a subdivision with good neighbors and we police our own alarms. If you have a land line, it can be programmed to call your cell phone or you can buy a wireless unit to call your cell, but it costs extra per month.

[Donn]

Had a wireless system installed a few years back, house and garage. Never thought I'd have to, but since home values haven't rebounded as much as other areas, I can't move without taking a huge hit. And what with the neighborhood demographic changing, it was time.

[pittpa]

I suspect that the longer your police response times, the less a bad guy worries about a security system in an unoccupied house. They often spend only a few minutes in the home, looking in bedroom and bath, where valuables and narcotics are. This was the scenario at a friend's home. We are in a low crime suburb. He had security signs only. The perp pried the entire bedroom window out of the brick exterior, climbed in, took a revolver and narcotics, left the shotgun. It was thought that he was in the home less than 2 minutes, maybe one. The owner suspects the perp did not care if it was alarmed, knowing it takes some time for the police to respond. Many times the security company calls the house or the owner first, depending on how it is set up. I'm rethinking my setup where they call the house first in order to avoid false alarm charges.

[sharpessword]

Surprised no one mentioned this yet. Having a good dog as
a member of your family will help you enormously in terms of
home security.

A good dog will always let you know when someone is coming around.
A deep growl and vigorous barks will deter many criminals.

I also agree that electronic home security is worthwhile, as
well as "protected by--" signs.

Our little dog, however, gives my wife and I a lot of peace of mind, when it comes to home security.

[HoleCarder]

I have an alarm system. It is NOT monitored; and don't even know how to arm the thing.

However, I have two large, hungry, German Shepherd dogs. They would thoroughly enjoy a break-in.

[josywales]

I call BS on the dogs for home security. Check online for the home security videos of dogs wagging their tails, seemingly enjoying the attention of a stranger. Unless they are specifically trained as security dogs, all sorts of things can go sideways, including the homeowner getting bit. Why do you think citizens aren't permitted to pet K9 police dogs.

It's a challenge to have a social, family pet, pull double duty as a security dog. Not impossible I suppose. Small dogs with big mouths will give warning when you are home. When you're not home, they'll happily escort thieves to your guns. I will say, delivering US Mail, the little buggers are the meanest, but I digress.

Outdoor lighting, dogs, and alarm systems all have their place, especially when you are home. But you just can't beat good old insurance for peace of mind. Aside from family heirlooms, good sporting goods insurance covers everything. I'm not talking about riders on your home owner's policy, too many pitfalls and drawbacks to those: increased premiums when you file a claim, agents who don't understand gun values, etc. Did you know that if you file a claim on your homeowner's insurance for any reason and it's denied, you are still placed into an industry-wide database, which tells other companies you attempted to file a claim?

Look up Historical Firearms, Eastern Insurance. I have no affiliation, but Jack (John) is easy to talk to, very informative, and their rates are the best I've seen. I have dogs, an alarm, and my safe was brought in by 5 piano movers, who nearly killed themselves doing it. Still, my peace of mind came when I bought the insurance. YMMV.

[Ron M.]

Agree on the dog thing. Our Rottweiler Shepherd mix is outdoors during the day, in our chain link fenced back yard, and anyone who comes within earshot of the house or walks by gets a stern warning from her (she just wants attention or to play, but any lurkers checking out the neighborhood don't know that). She has only growled once during the evening while inside that I can remember, and I immediately turned on the floodlights around the exterior of the house. If there was anyone out there, they hot footed it away. Good doggie!

[Usmc5811]

No alarms or monitoring system at my house. Just an 80lb Akita that is not gonna let you in the door unless she knows you, or the wife or I tell her it's ok and to "be nice".

[e3mrk]

I have motion sensor flood lights in the back yard and the same in the front over the doors,Also both Neighbors have pretty good guard dogs that don't miss much along with Everyone around here watches out for each other.

[BC38]

I guess I'm that rare exception who got an ADT system and is happy with it and their service. Even though we are in a good neighborhood, it's extra piece of mind. Our 70 pound Australian Cattle Dog is also a piece of mind noisemaker. He growls when anyone he doesn't already know even comes on our property.

[CCantu357]

I think a good alarm system can be a good product, if it is a local company that has local monitoring and is on good standing with the PD. We had one of those of national chain specials for a bit - waste of time and money. I prefer to go with the German Shorthaired Pointer & Austrian 10mm Auto way of home defense, not to mention lights. With these new LED bulbs one can keep that yard as bright as Tiger Stadium yet uses less energy than a 100w lamp bulb, plus the local power company will often install a flood light for a small fee. Nothing like standing on the back patio and being able to see every square inch of the perimeter!