Home security services.

[alexfitch225]

I've been getting mail solicitations lately about home security. (Companies like adt and what not) anybody used them? I'm not sure if it would be worth while but I'm open to compelling facts that may sway me in either direction.

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[BC38]

We have ADT - have had since shortly after we moved here.
Before that we had Protection One at our last house south of Seattle.

Neighbors all around us got their houses robbed in our last neighborhood. Not us. We got stuff stolen out of our vehicles and from our driveway, but they never even touched the house.

I'm a big believer in home alarm systems. They seem to be a pretty good deterrent. Ours uses a cellular phone system to call in the alarm, so they can't even disable it by cutting the phone line. With my firearms locked up in a decent steel security cabinet, I'm quite confident that the alarm is going to be enough to keep anyone but a top notch, well prepared, determined, professional thief from getting to my guns before the cops show up - even though it isn't a real "gun safe"

 

[alexfitch225]

We have ADT - have had since shortly after we moved here.
Before that we had Protection One at our last house south of Seattle.

Neighbors all around us got their houses robbed in our last neighborhood. Not us. We got stuff stolen out of our vehicles and from our driveway, but they never even touched the house.

I'm a big believer in home alarm systems. They seem to be a pretty good deterrent. Ours uses a cellular phone system to call in the alarm, so they can't even disable it by cutting the phone line. With my firearms locked up in a decent steel security cabinet, I'm quite confident that the alarm is going to be enough to keep anyone but a top notch, well prepared, determined, professional thief from getting to my guns before the cops show up - even though it isn't a real "gun safe"

See I'm at a loss since our neighborhood has a few Leo's in it also seems to get patrolled alot during the week since there's a school near by. I'm not sure if adt would be worth it in that sense.

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[rwsmith]

I find Monotronics..

I find Monotronics to be a very straight up and well performing company.

I quit with Vivent for many reasons, mostly involving their business practices and their Customer/tech policies, even in the basics.

 

[rosefarm]

Check out simpli safe.....spelling may be wrong. Alarm is painfully loud and it is all wireless. I am not affiliated with this outfit in any way!
Mechanically I am a blithering idiot and this thing was easy to install and about 15 bucks/month to monitor the system.

 

[sierra255]

If you do install or already have a system, be sure to check with your insurance company as most give a discount on your homeowners policy.
Many give up to 20% or more in premium reductions.

I have my home and shop covered with a intrusion detection system and get a 20% reduction.

 

[ACORN]

We signed on with Comcast cable and got their security system. We recently traveled to visit my daughter at college for her birthday. It was comforting to be able to use their app to check the house and see all was secure. You have the option of adding video cameras, recording. I would like to add an outside siren but I haven't checked to see if the offer one.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

I have had SimpliSafe for almost four years. Completely wireless, monitored 24/7 for $15.00 a month and no contracts whatsoever. For a slightly higher monthly payment you can monitor it with your smart phone. You can also add more sensors if the need arises. The smoke alarms are also monitored. I have had two false alarms (my fault) and the police were here in less than 10 minutes. Worth checking out. Home Security Systems from SimpliSafe

 

[thomasinaz]

I can recommend SimpliSafe for their home security system. Before I retired last year we had a marked Sheriff's vehicle in front of my house whenever I was off duty. It apparently was a great deterrent, and the neighbors loved it. (They all asked what happened to my truck, after I turned it in.) When I retired I told the wife, half jokingly, that now there would be burglaries in the neighborhood. Well in a couple months there were 3 that I know of, so we looked around for a system. We ended up going with SimpliSafe and have been very happy with the system and their monitoring services. Easy to install, even for me, and their customer service is great. Makes us feel a whole lot better, especially when we travel. Anyways, one opinion from a non affiliated, satisfied customer.

 

[DWalt]

At one time I had an ADT system, but it got far too expensive for me so I dumped them. Sort of like cable providers, they start cheap then escalate their monitoring fees.

For about the past 5 years I have used the Smith-Thompson Security service (wireless), no complaints. I think they are headquartered in Dallas, don't know if they are national. You buy the system (in my case about $600 installed) and pay $16.95/month for monitoring. No contracts required. I test mine monthly to make sure the monitoring service is on the ball. They always have been. It's not wired into your telephone land line as some are, entirely cel phone with backup battery in case power is cut.

 

[Tradewind36]

I had ADT but it got to be expensive, now have SimpliSafe and have no complaints.

 

[DWalt]

Or you could follow my brother-in-law's method, and far cheaper. He has alarm system stickers on all his windows and doors and signs in his front yard, but no alarm system. That's probably fairly effective.

 

[alexfitch225]

If you do install or already have a system, be sure to check with your insurance company as most give a discount on your homeowners policy.
Many give up to 20% or more in premium reductions.

I have my home and shop covered with a intrusion detection system and get a 20% reduction.

Heck that might of sold me straight away right there

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[Skeptic 9c]

I have security from a local company, it has been very effective tested when dust triggered the fire alarm combination.
They called, we cleared it.
Geoff
Who notes you do have to turn it on and off again to be effective.

 

[gdnagle]

Call me paranoid but I have PiSECTOR 3G/4G Cellular & Landline all in one wireless security alarm, cut the land line and it automatically uses cellular, DIY and it will call up to 8 numbers so it's technically a 24hr monitored system. To back this up I also have ZOSI 8 Channel 960p AUTO-PAIR wireless camera system. With 8 cameras I can monitor lots of my property and being wireless makes hooking up easy, you just need power. You can also monitor it online and with motion activated it will send emails, I don't use this feature too many deer around here. My main system is .45acp with 12ga backup when I'm home as I don't have any close neighbors.

 

[ladder13]

I've always use mom and pop security companies. I like to know the owner and his few techs. They use the same monitoring stations that everyone else does.
As a bonus, the monitoring costs have been much lower than the big companies in my experience.

 

[italiansport]

I have ADT security as ONE method of deterrent. In addition I have security cameras and a good safe. I also have other items I'd rather not discuss openly here. The more difficult you make it for someone to break in the less chance you'll be robbed and they'll look for someplace else..
I am also fortunate to have a law enforcement officer for a neighbor and I bet the fact there's a cruiser parked out front is a good deterrent as well

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Recently A neighbor about 6 blocks away was broken into and robbed.
They are located in a location which I think is extra vulnerable.
They back up to super busy through street, have a neighborhood entry street on one side and a regular street in front.
And a small back yard with a 6 foot fence.
They were out of town and it appeared to them that the crook-s entered from the rear and spent considerable amount of time in their home.
They stole one firearm and electronics.
And a LE guy with marked car lives across the entry street.

 

[vytoland]

security systems = by the time they notify the police and the police arrive......the crooks got what they want and gone.....

 

[Goldstar225]

I am an LEO and have a security system but I don't count on it to totally prevent any loss. If I'm asleep I count on it as part of my total system to delay the crook and give me time to react. If I'm away from home, I count on the alarm to minimize the burglars time in my home and reduce my loss. My experience has been that in homes with no security system, burglars take their time and are more thorough in their pillaging. In those instances where the alarm is sounding their "time on target" is limited to a couple of minutes.

 

[NYlakesider]

Got a question for all you "SimpliSafe" users. I know they brag about their cell hook up, but what happens if you do not have cell service available in your area? Do they also use a conventional phone dialer.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Looks like you can, found this in the Help Center:

"To connect your wireless security system to a home phone, you can use a phone in the jack labeled “PHONE” on your Base Station. Then plug your Base Station phone cord into the wall.

To use a DSL filter, you should plug the filter into your home’s wall jack, the plug a phone cord into the filter and the “TO WALL” jack on your Base Station."

Welcome to the SimpliSafe Help Center

or ask them direct:

Contact us

 

[NYlakesider]

Looks like you can, found this in the Help Center:

"To connect your wireless security system to a home phone, you can use a phone in the jack labeled “PHONE” on your Base Station. Then plug your Base Station phone cord into the wall.

To use a DSL filter, you should plug the filter into your home’s wall jack, the plug a phone cord into the filter and the “TO WALL” jack on your Base Station."

Welcome to the SimpliSafe Help Center

or ask them direct:

Contact us

Thanks, I was curious about that. My son who lives in a no cell area is thinking about a system and I have heard a lot of good on that "simple" system. We see their commercials all the time but they only tout the cell dialer.

 

[Brokenbear]

Protect America

Looked at Simply Safe and found nothing wrong but the pricing as the "free equipment" was in the price of the monitoring which kept on going long after the equipment was paid off

Protect America whose reliability and customer rating was ever bit as high as Simply Safe priced equipment and monitoring services seperately ...

So I have a very low monitoring monthly cost and love the trouble free system PA has provided

Bear

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Looked at Simply Safe and found nothing wrong but the pricing as the "free equipment" was in the price of the monitoring which kept on going long after the equipment was paid off/QUOTE]

I don't quite understand your statement. There is no "Free" equipment. You pick the sensor package that suits your home, or add additional sensors to an existing system, pay for it and they ship it to your home. Once installed it can be used without paying the cost of monitoring, and then there is no further cost to you. The basic monitoring fee is $14.99 a month, and that includes both intrusion and fire monitoring. The monitoring can be canceled at any time without penalty, there are no service contacts that lock you in like other services. I pay the monthly monitoring fee, my neighbor does not. He thinks with the signs and siren that would be enough protection. Me, I like the fact if a smoke detector in the garage or reloading room goes off that the fire department will be notified.

I have motion detectors in my gun room and the door is always closed. Somehow I managed to lock my cat in the gun room when I left to go shopping. The motion alarm was triggered, they called me on the cell to make sure I wasn't home, then called the police and three police cars had my house surrounded by the time I returned home in less than 10 minutes.

It does work, the cost is minimal, and I will never be without it. I never plan to move, but if I did I can remove the system as easily as it went up and take it with me to a new location.

 

[DWalt]

In addition to intrusion detectors (doors/windows/motion), It's good to have a fire/smoke detector also. Some even have CO detectors and a sound of broken glass detector, not sure that's worth it. And make sure you put up warning signs and window stickers. The security company will give you all you want.

 

[hardcase60]

There is another DIY wireless alarm system provider using Honeywell equipment that looks pretty promising. The company is called AlarmGrid out of Florida.
I only recently got in a position to order one of their systems. They have self monitoring or central station monitoring. Both WIFI and cell phone capability. Great reviews, No contract, Individual owner, Great DIY videos. I have no affiliation to this company. The compatibility with other Honeywell products and add on with glass breakage, smoke detectors, etc. is what sold me. Honeywell products (sensors, thermostats, water leak detectors, etc.) are also available from other widely used internet sites. I like the self monitoring choice to work out all the kinks of what a location needs, works vs don't work to avoid all the possible pesky false alarms. Most major incorporated areas will require a homeowner to get a permit regardless of how you proceed. Hope this helps a little. hardcase60

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that you do purchase the equipment upfront but some of the packages IMHO are very affordable for the quality and piece of mind.

 

[BigBoy99]

I looked at the big named security companies but went with a smaller local one and have not been displeased. The local company costs was about 30% less than the big name companies. Service has been outstanding. When a sensor malfunctioned and was causing false alarms, they had some out to fix it in an hour after it happened. The one time there was an attempted break-in, the police were notified very rapidly and scared off the perps. The only damage done was lock on an outside door needed to be replaced. I'm sold on the smaller security company.

 

[joe44va]

ADT paid for themselves when the ceiling fan upstairs caught fire and we were down stairs and didn't know it. The price increases are getting a bit much though.

 

[greenlane]

Its always good to have a security system installed in your house . You never know when a break in could happen . I bought a cctv camera from a Vancouver security alarm company . There was also a fire alarm installed by the previous owners and we decided to keep it . We integrated both the cctv and the fire alarm and use them both .