Why post this in the Finance forum? I was recently robbed and if I’d had an alarm system, I’m sure it would have stopped the criminals and saved me a large financial headache dealing with police and the insurance company. As we go further into recession/depression, robberies are bound increase. Also, the previous threads about homesecurity have been archived.
We’ve already got an alarm monitoring thread, but there are many different types of systems out there, and choosing the right one can be somewhat confusing. I thought we’d benefit from a discussion about what the best types of homesecurity and surveillance systems are out there on the market today.
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I personally dislike the basic systems that ADT/Brinks etc. set up in your home. They consist of a base unit that contain the:
· Siren - makes the noise · Keypad - for enabling/disabling the system · Auto dialer - for calling the monitoring service or whatever number you enter
...and door/window contact sensors, and a motion detector. Other accessories are also available.
The main reason I dislike these types of systems is that if the base unit is ripped off the wall, your whole alarm system can go down. However these systems are often best suited for a small condo or an apartment because they can be wireless, they are easy to install, and putting holes in the walls is not an option. These types of systems include the GE Simon XT, Ademco Lynx, and Skylink SC-1000.
The next step in homesecurity is what I%u2019ve chosen for my own system. It separates the keypad, siren, and dialer into separate components. The reason this is good, is that if a thief finds the siren and smashes it, the police are still being called. If he finds the keypad and smashes it, the siren is still going off and the police are still being called. The auto dialer is contained in a separate metal box. This metal box has circuit cards in it that are the brains of the whole security system. Here are some of the benefits:
· You can place it in a more discrete location of your house (like the basement, a closet, or some other hidden corner). · It has a backup battery that will continue to work if the power goes out (power lines cut by robber). · You can attach GSM or VOIP modules that allow it to dial out via cellular telephone or through the internet if your phone lines are cut by a smarter thief. · This system is usually more robust allowing for more accessory attachments like smoke detectors, CO2 monitors, glass break detectors, etc.
Examples of these systems include the GE Concord 4 and the Ademco Vista 20p panels
Message edited by: Raiz on 2009-02-02 16:16:24 CST
Here's the system I'm going with. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Ademco Vista 21ip Control Panel with integrated IP and GSM module (internet and cell monitoring).
6160rf keypad with built in wireless transceiver.
6271C color touchpad for a secondary keypad.
Aurora motion detector with Pet Immune up to 40lbs.
5816 window/door transmitters for each entry point.
12V 7Ah battery backup in case the power goes down.
2 "Wave 2" sirens - one indoor, one outdoor.
Decals on the windows, a sign in the yard.
I found most of the system on eBay from various buyers. If you want to buy it all from one place, doityourselfsecuritysystems.com seems to have better prices than SafeMart.com and HomeSecurityStore.com. Sometimes they have good package deals if you don't want to hand-pick each individual piece.
I also plan on picking up a simple 2-camera security system from Costco. One for the front, one for the back.
Personally I don't think alarm systems do much good. Too many false alarms, too long response time by the security patrol to do any good.
I'd go for the hard security personally -- bars on windows and doors. If it looks too tough to get in the burglars will just pass your house by for another.
If you INSIST on getting a security sytem installed, I would do it yourself -- don't use a company. Set up cameras at the driveway or front door and discretely record all comings and goings.
The problem with security systems is that the novelty wears off after a certain period of time. You get complacent about setting the alarm every time you leave or go to bed at night. Personally, just buy the ADT/Brinks signs to put them out front and buy a gun.
nobody listens to those alarms. i've set mine off and it went off for 10+ minutes. we were rewiring the system panel to dial out and needed to test it. if it can not make its call to the monitoring station you are screwed. cut the phone/cable and what?
get cellular based dialer. most criminals don't have cell jammers but know how to snip some wires.
btw make sure you have smash sensors on the windows as alot of folks just smash a big window and grab. same with the doors that are glass construction.
i put light sensitive spot lamps (CFL soon LED) outside to light up the house like a xmas tree. also some rat-shack motion triggers chimes. the chimes are friggen annoying but you can imagine the idea of breaking into fort-knox is probably not so appealing when you have idiot neighbors who have no protection at all.
you can run webcam software on obvious points of entry to ftp/smtp on motion to an off-site location (dreamhost?) and i'd bet by the time they grabbed the camera or pc (or hide it on a server) you'd at least have some pictures.
what i find amazing is the # of people creepin' in cars during the day when you are gone. or at night. and strange animals you never usually see (families of racoons and other oddities).
does not take alot of time to protect yourself.
be sure to include a good smoke/fire/Carbon monoxide detector in your disaster recovery plan.
Hrm.. search my old thread about ~2 years ago as I was robbed three or four time building my house, including two days in a row. I live in a dangerous area, and worse yet I'm back in the woods hidden so my property is a prime target. I still have attempts even with my strong deterrence, so I went a little overkill. It doesn't help that it's worth no less than 2x as much as every other house on the street. There were some interesting ideas in the thread! Since that fiasco, here's what I did:
1) Setup custom installed system. HAI (www.homeauto.com) OmniPro II home automation control unit. Purchased on eBay cheap. Battery backup of course too. a) Purchased a variety of their motion sensors, triggers, etc. Every door, window, and opening is covered. b) Telular Telguard unit for cellular backup. Thieves cut the hard lines? Instant alarm and notification/ c) The HAI system Emails/textpages me directly, although I do use ADT as a backup. d) HAI also allows me to login remotely via PC, iphone, etc. Can control everything (change temps, turn on lights, audio, change security modes, open the front door, etc) 2) Exterior camera's at every corner, at the bottom of the driveway shooting UP the driveway (hidden camera w/ nightvision) to grab license plate #s f) Camera system also has remote access. Login via PC or web to watch. Good for opening doors for people watching the house if they forget the door codes. Dedicated XP machine necessary for a good true DVR. Don't use virtual machine's, or share it with any other processes. 3) Good, bright, corner lighting that has good motion sensors (think RAB) to light up areas.. also helps cameras out so you can make out their faces. Can also be purchased on eBay for half off or so. 4) Driveway gate. The property is completely inaccessible to vehicles (too many trees) unless you use the gate. Also remotely hooked up. 5) Two dogs.. one of which being an american mastiff. Although he's still a puppy (6 months, 125 lbs), his pappy is 250lbs so he will be a small horse when he's done growing. 6) As a last resort, to protect my family, various guns hidden in between walls (under the drywall) that I can punch through and grab. This was not my original idea though. I saw this in a post elsewhere (maybe someone here? I don't remember). GREAT peace of mind though.
DIY of this complete home automation system, including all security and such, I built it based on a budget of 1% of the value of the home (not including the guns). Some smaller homes 2% budget would be OK as well but these are reasonable budgets to do. Homeowners insurance savings will have it paid off before I move out. Believe it or not, DIY is NOT very hard. Buying all of these components cheap mostly on eBay you can save thousands easy. The driveway gate was the only thing I bought normal.. but even that, complete with the opener, remote's, etc was about $2,300.
Here's an idea. Depending on the value of your homes, you can skip the perimeter cameras and just install camera BOXES with a cable coming out, stick it in the corner of your soffit or something so it looks real. Most camera boxes are tinted so no one would ever know there's not a camera in it. Also pick up some ADT signs on eBay. Theft deterrence is worth it's weight in gold. I've read a good bit into it, and professionals constantly say deterrence is the most important step. That can be accomplished cheap! A dog is also extremely helpful, especially larger ones or ones known to be aggressive.
He cracks the safe, then gets sprayed with cat piss, followed shortly by the dogs being released.
I agree with above, alarms are worthless. Best to invest enough money into the resources needed to either ID the criminal, or stop him cold. With proof positive video footage, it's much easier to get a detective to do his job. Even better when your solid steel doors actually keep the burglar out and he still gets ID'd and arrested. Sliding Glass doors have got to be a thieves wet dream (One Tap and you have a wide open door.
I got a wireless security camera a few years ago when I thought a crazy ex was going to help herself when I was at work... It autorecords with motion, uploads to a server and sends me an email. Worked well for me, because I'm on the comp all day at work.
Couple years later I got tired of seeing dogs, cats, birds, bears set it off so I don't get auto-notified. Probably a little bit of a visual deterrent, however.
Anyone have any opinions on how worthwhile it would be to use Kensington cable-locks on stuff? On one hand, they usually use fairly thin cables that wouldn't stand up to a bolt-cutter. On the other hand, they might be a deterrent to a smash and grab kind of theft.
I ask because it seems like everything you buy nowadays comes with that little slot. It used to only be on notebooks, but my LCD TV has one, my Mac mini has one, etc.
smackfu said:Anyone have any opinions on how worthwhile it would be to use Kensington cable-locks on stuff? On one hand, they usually use fairly thin cables that wouldn't stand up to a bolt-cutter. On the other hand, they might be a deterrent to a smash and grab kind of theft.
I ask because it seems like everything you buy nowadays comes with that little slot. It used to only be on notebooks, but my LCD TV has one, my Mac mini has one, etc.
Worthless. I had a trailer broken into with a contractor grade, very large heavy duty lock. Any half decent crackhead thief knows to bring a big cutter with him (or believe it or not, even torches are sometimes used around here for big hits). So these rinky dink cables are only good for preventing the people you "semi trust" from messing with something. I put them on guns to prevent kids from ever getting hurt and that's about it. I would not count on them for security.
It depends on neighborhoods but often you don't have to have extreme alarms, dogs, guns, etc. You just have to look a less worthy and/or a more difficult target than the neighbors. There's been only one robbery on our street a couple of years back and it was one of the wealthiest and one of the least well protected ones. I'm not sure guns would even prevent much in most cases since burglars usually don't go when they suspect the owners may be home. The possibility of each homeowner having one is enough to make them go for an easier target (empty home).
Put ADT/Brinks yard signs, motion activated lights outside, inside lights on timer for when you're away, buy good homeowner insurance, do a regular video inventory of your assets, and it'll go a long way. We've got alarm monitoring too because a good alarm system (wireless+backup+siren out of reach in vents) was already in place in house we bought and the NextAlarm annual premium is almost covered by the discount on our homeowner insurance policy (net cost $20/yr).
ilikebtmoney said:6) As a last resort, to protect my family, various guns hidden in between walls (under the drywall) that I can punch through and grab. This was not my original idea though. I saw this in a post elsewhere (maybe someone here? I don't remember). GREAT peace of mind though.
I...I don't know what to say, so many emotions are swirling through my head at the same time.
So awesome, yet, so scary, yet, so....wow. Just wow.
TheSaint said:ilikebtmoney said:6) As a last resort, to protect my family, various guns hidden in between walls (under the drywall) that I can punch through and grab. This was not my original idea though. I saw this in a post elsewhere (maybe someone here? I don't remember). GREAT peace of mind though.
I...I don't know what to say, so many emotions are swirling through my head at the same time.
So awesome, yet, so scary, yet, so....wow. Just wow.
If you're that shocked, just imagine the perp.
BTW the chambers aren't loaded so it's really not that scary.
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