Home Security System

[24jeepn]

I've felt lately that I need an alarm system to deter thieves while I am away from home. I want to purchase and install my own equipment that I can monitor myself via the web and mobile devices. I feel with todays technology the paid monitoring services have really been rendered pointless, but they do still have a stranglehold on the home security market.

Ideally this system would notify my via text message when an alarm has been triggered and would have a siren that would startle the intruder. I'm not too concerned about when I'm home, I've got that covered

Has anyone found a reliable system you would recommend? I have done some looking and it's pretty hard to find a quality security system without having to pay someone for monitoring. Thanks for any insight you can offer.

 

[bp231986]

Ya my system is called Athena, my female German Shepard. Very reliable. Im still working on training her to txt me but besides that no other system can beat her

 

[VPNAVY]

While you are looking 24jeepn - invest in some alarm stickers (i.e., ADT, etc.) for your windows. You can find them up on EBay, Amazon, etc. Many times - the sticker's themselves are a good deterrent (while you are deciding).

 

[tork'd]

here is a place i have used for info...

Security System Reviews

good luck

 

[DeadAye]

Ya my system is called Athena, my female German Shepard. Very reliable. Im still working on training her to txt me but besides that no other system can beat her

Dogs are wonderful alarm systems - WHEN YOU'RE HOME.
Why do you think the goblins have pit bulls now a days?
Those terriers are bred for fighting other dogs -
They are called the bulls of the dog fighting pit for good reason!

Dogs just aren't the burglar deterrent that they once were.
At least when no one is there to back them up.

 

[Brian41]

I have an ADT monitored system which was in the house when we bought it. It costs $100/3 months and well worth it for me. I live in the country and a break in would go unnoticed until I got home. In 11 years I've had two false alarms but police responded and I was called. Probally my dog set off the glass breakage alarms by accident. He's gone now and the alarm is my only protection.
Once before we moved in somebody kicked in the garage service door. The siren scared him off and only damage was the door which got replaced by the grateful insurance company. The police responded but too late to catch him.

 

[foggood11]

Skylink SC-1000 Complete Wireless Alarm System. Had one for the last couple years and happy with it. DIY install - not terribly complicated.

I test the dialer feature every couple months by tripping a sensor - seems to work because it rings my cellphone. The only false alarms have been by me, forgetting to disarm the system.

The basic system doesn't come with much, so there is an additional cost in buying more sensors. And of course, an issue with unmonitored systems is if the perp cuts your phone line before coming in the house, the dialer is pretty useless. Locate the siren where it has the best chance of being heard by neighbors.

 

[samuelrp]

A neighbor has a unique alarm system. Each time she leaves home, she puts a large memo on her door stating "back in 3 minutes".

 

[m1gunner]

In order for your equipment to send you a text, you have to have some kind of service (cell phone, land line, etc).

There are panels that will send a text, but not if the phone line is cut. There are cellemetry modules that will interface with the panel and cell service, also do SMS, CDMA, ethernet, TCP/IP, etc. But then you have to provide the conduit via monthly service charges and more equipment in some cases.

Buying a standard panel and have the dialer send you a short text via phone lines when tripped is probably the easiest thing to do, but far from foolproof.

 

[Martimus]

Honeywell makes some good systems...

My home security system provides Internet based monitoring, backed up with cellular. The panel has a phone line connector on it which I hadn't planned on using. One day I got the crazy idea to hook my home phone to it, programmed it and tested it. And it worked... So now I have multiple backup paths in the event of an issue.

I've got a dog who thinks his main job is to protect... the box of puppy treats!

Oh and let's not forget the best home defense partner of all... SMITH... and... WESSON!

 

[zonker5]

This was my security system for several years. He did have ADT as a backup just in case the burgler was carrying an extra t-bone.

 

[ThirtyAcres]

A neighbor has a unique alarm system. Each time she leaves home, she puts a large memo on her door stating "back in 3 minutes".

A Day Sleeper sign on the front door will also keep potential burglars guessing.

 

[Henry O]

You get what you pay for. A locally owned independent alarm company affiliated with a locally owned and operated dispatch center is far better than any of these franchise operations with monitoring stations in another country.

Radio/Cell phone is the only way to go. Almost everyone knows that cutting the phone line is the first order of the day. Turning off the power follows a close second so battery back up is important.

Siren outside, strobes that do not reset on all four corners of the house, and zones inside your home. Think about "home" being your windows, doors, attic access. "Away" being all of that plus closet doors, pantry, a few kitchen cabinet doors in addition to what is on the "home" cycle. Eliminates the issues with motion detectors, glass breakage, thunder storms and animals in the house.

But what happens if they lie in wait outside?? Surprise will overtake fire power in many cases. An alarm pad can be programmed with a numeric code that shuts off the alarm system and also sends an immediate request for help at the same time. There is nothing wrong with a few "panic" buttons cleverly concealed as well.

I think a good monitoring company is worth every penny paid. And like others on this post, I run a check every 30 - 45 days to be sure it is all working as intended.

As the advertising slogans say, the time to do something is before it happens. I get text and phone calls to my cell from the alarm service monitoring. So do the local police, and their call goes to them before me.

I was told that you cannot kill all the termites, just the ones on the surface. The goal is to drive them to another location. A good alarm system, strong locks and common sense will hopefully do the same thing for you.

 

[joesammark]

We have plenty of hi-tech options for protecting our home. These days when the thefts are all time high, a comprehensive home security system is the need of the hour to ensure peace of mind of any homeowner and also comes with gas leak detector, fire alarm, glass break-in and door break-in detectors to ensure cent percent security of our house round the clock, irrespective of whether we're at home or away. Please produce some more attachments about the topic for view detail information.


affordable adt security

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[m1gunner]

I just found out my system will do the remote Iphone/computer interface thing. If you already have any kind of cell system, just about all the systems will do this now. No extra equipment to buy, but higher monthly fee.

 

[Dmaxboy08]

get motion sensors AND door sensors. We have them and they are great for when we are at home. Just arm the doors and you can still walk around the house and it makes me sleep better knowing when a door opens, alarm goes off(key pad goes off and siren that is mounted on the outside of the house on the master bedroom side), police get called, and im walking out the bedroom with a springfield .45 loaded with 14 rounds and a very bright tac light

On a side note, Get motion sensor lights for outside. We have them placed at every door. I do not own a dog(yet) but i have nailed a "beware of dog" sign at the end of the driveway and another one nailed to a tree close to the house. You need different levels of security for your home. House security system is good but you need something that may make a person think twice about trying to break in. You never know, a stone cold killer could be walking up to your house one night but be very afraid of dogs and he may read a sign that says "beware of dog" and turn around and walk away

 

[NE450No2]

I highly recommend a good home alarm system.

I also recommend you have it professionally monitered.

In struct them that if they ndo not redieve a call from you within two minutes after the alarm goes off to call the Police immediately, first, and then to call you.

I also recommend you do not hve an alarm system that depends on a "land line".

Also the best alarm system is ONLY as good as the people running it. Always turn it on when you go to bed, and ALWAYS TURN IT ON WHEN YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE.

In fact I have one area of my house where the alarm is turned on ALL THE TIME, independant of the alarm for the reat of the bouse, so even IF we froget to turn on the alarm system when we leave, this part of the house is ALWAYS alarmed... ALWAYS.