Home Alarm

[Vandals909]

Hello, I'm looking for some advice on a home alarm system. The home we just purchased has a magnet type sensor on every window and door. It is an old Moose products alarm from probably 1986.

I want something newer I believe with a motion for the entertainment center area and also the back detached garage. The back garage also has the magnetic sensors from the old system. Again just want something newer, this old system is a number pad and hard to operate.

It would be nice to have something that can be monitored or notified by an APP on your phone.

Worried about false alarms when we aren't home.

Opinions are appreciated, I'm looking to make an educated purchase.

Thanks for any help!

 

[BellyUpFish]

Have you looked at SimpliSafe? I'm leaning that way..

 

[Jeff95TA]

I just put one in my parent's house from SafeMart. Combination of door sensors, motion & glass breakage.

 

[bdamico]

Try search function. Been some threads on this lately

 

[Omaha Flash]

We installed an adt system. Each door is equipped with an unauthorized entry alarm, each room has a glass breakage alarm, and the main floor has motion sensors. We also had smoke alarms installed as well. I had the same coverage installed in my shop and a seperate storage building. We are really pleased with the service. They are very quick to respond (this we know from accidently setting off the alarms). When we leave for an extended period of time i notify adt and advise them to contact the police first in the event of an unauthorized entry or smoke alarm before calling us. They are always very cooperative and helpful. We do get a small break on or insurance rates. We live in a rural subdevision and having this system adds to our peace of mind. My advice, go with a well known company and buy quality equipment. You'll be glad you did.

 

[Vandals909]

Thanks for the replies. Safemart looks like a nice place to build your own system.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Have you looked at SimpliSafe? I'm leaning that way..

I've been using it for a year and a half. Garage and house, motion sensors and door/window sensors are all wireless. It works too. Monitoring is $15 a month, or just have it work unmonitored.

Jim

 

[Pat Brady]

My BIL has ADT. He says it costs him about $15.00 a month. I can't really see that but he sure likes his.

 

[zmotorsports]

We installed an adt system. Each door is equipped with an unauthorized entry alarm, each room has a glass breakage alarm, and the main floor has motion sensors. We also had smoke alarms installed as well. I had the same coverage installed in my shop and a seperate storage building. We are really pleased with the service. They are very quick to respond (this we know from accidently setting off the alarms). When we leave for an extended period of time i notify adt and advise them to contact the police first in the event of an unauthorized entry or smoke alarm before calling us. They are always very cooperative and helpful. We do get a small break on or insurance rates. We live in a rural subdevision and having this system adds to our peace of mind. My advice, go with a well known company and buy quality equipment. You'll be glad you did.

This is what we have and have been very happy with it. We too notify the monitoring center if going out of town and put the authorities as the first call number. Not a big deal and they are very helpful in assisting us.

Mike.

 

[Vandals909]

What are your guys experience with false alarms?

 

[Omaha Flash]

As for false alarms we have never had any to this point. The system we have is very dependable, has battery backup in the event of a power failure and will roll over to my cell phone in the event of a land line phone failure.

 

[BellyUpFish]

I've been using it for a year and a half. Garage and house, motion sensors and door/window sensors are all wireless. It works too. Monitoring is $15 a month, or just have it work unmonitored.

Jim

Looking into it some more today. I watched a few YouTube videos and I think we'll be ordering a system somewhere.

I need to figure out where to mount the baseunit in order to get sensors out to my detached garage.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Looking into it some more today. I watched a few YouTube videos and I think we'll be ordering a system somewhere.

I need to figure out where to mount the baseunit in order to get sensors out to my detached garage.

It has a pretty good range. Mine is about 75' and two walls away from the garage sensors, and it works fine.

Jim

 

[BellyUpFish]

It has a pretty good range. Mine is about 75' and two walls away from the garage sensors, and it works fine.

Jim

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[ddawg16]

A dog is one of the best alarms you can have. I don't know of anyone in our neighborhood who has been robbed that had a dog.

Talked to a cop one time. He said it was the cheapest alarm/protection you could have.

He also said that the only thing a 'monitored alarm system' is good for is to let you know when you got robbed.

 

[Stuart in MN]

A dog is one of the best alarms you can have. I don't know of anyone in our neighborhood who has been robbed that had a dog.

Talked to a cop one time. He said it was the cheapest alarm/protection you could have.

He also said that the only thing a 'monitored alarm system' is good for is to let you know when you got robbed.

Nothing wrong with owning a dog, but it can't call the fire department or an ambulance if you need one, and it can't prevent a breakin if you go out somewhere and bring the dog with you.

They're just one part of the whole package for protecting your property, but monitored alarm systems can and do work. Mine has scared off would-be burglars more than once.

 

[chief ben]

my Home Security System is 5 foot chain link fence, all gate locked all the time,
AND THIS GUY, JERRY LEA, 127 Lbs. And 300 Pounds Of Torque in his Jaws,

And He Love to Sing With Me And The Band,


He Loves to Ride with me And His Brother And Sister,

he will Guard & Protect Anything And Everything You Have,






And You Will Never have to Worry About Your Buddys Messing With Your Wife.
http://s164.photobucket.com/user/DaveBentz/media/BirdMan007-1.jpg.html

 

[zeke67]

ADT or comparable can get you set up with all the modern features you want and still connect into you existing door switches. My last home had mechanical (pre-magnet) door switches and wired screens, circa 1970. I replaced the mechanicals with magnet switches. I had an ADT system that took the switches and the screens. Also had motion detector and multiple glass breaks and smokes. Biggest downside was it was only 5 zones. It's one big long loop to find a defective switch. But the place was like a fort.

Current home is a mix of wired window switches plus wireless stuff where the in wall wiring has failed. Circa 1990. Multiple motion a and smokes. Twenty plus zones. Not near the fort of the previous set up, i can't have a window open without bypassing a zone.

I wouldn't replace what you have, just add on the features you want.

There are lots of DIY options. But a company that offers a monitored system will call the authorities in addition to relying on a siren to scare off the bad guys.

 

[rodm1]

Grate read, I need to do this to. I think a early warning system is what I need for night visitors. A dog sleeps and don't always wake up just like you.