Home Security Systems

[stealthmagic27]

Hey everyone,

In the market for a home/garage alarm system, any experiences recommendations appreciated! Please no pictures of dogs or guns those are already on the list lol

Preferably a wireless system that is wifi and gsm enabled (can call out if someone enters the house), camera integration would be a plus also.

I appreciate the help!

 

[1dwn5up]

I'm not familiar with alarm systems, but I was looking into getting Cameras. Best buy has a few wireless choices, one by netgear.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear...lack/1668003.p?id=1219507983609&skuId=1668003

 

[Todd.Brock]

I looked into simplisafe.com. Wireless, GsM , no contracts, reasonable pricing. Only issue I saw were that's a lot of batteries to replace!

 

[ddurrett896]

I'm not familiar with alarm systems, but I was looking into getting Cameras. Best buy has a few wireless choices, one by netgear.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear...lack/1668003.p?id=1219507983609&skuId=1668003

One thing about wireless cameras - they run off batteries or needed to be plugged in.

Batteries - don't last long - annoying having to always replace.
AC Powered - Odds are you won't have an outlet where you want the camera. You will have to run power to an outlet, might as well get the wired and run the cable.

I bought a Swannview setup for around $300. It gets the job done and the camera quality is just ok. Setup was pretty easy and it just records all day and will hold about 10 days before its starts to re-write over old data.

 

[mpire]

I wouldn't bother with wireless for security. I replaced mine and its so much nicer not dealing with batteries giving you faults every time a sensor battery dies.

Same goes for cameras, sure its nice to have a wireless camera to watch your baby/dog or whatever, but for security you will want a simple wired system.

I have a samsung system, which is far from the best or most expensive, and I really like it. I can check my front porch camera to see if I have packages, etc.

Also, seeing the cameras on the house the hooligans avoid my property.

 

[Ohio Auto]

I would not use wireless...hard wired is the best way to go if you can afford it.

 

[RECox286]

I was involved with winter home watch and small maintenance

for 30 years as a self employed service at a summer resort. So,

I have had experiences with several security systems & companies.

Wired systems vs wireless:

Both need to be monitored by a central.

Both experience breakdowns and need repairs. The big names in the

business, ADT for one, is good on installation, but slow on making

trouble calls. OTOH, smaller (local) outfits seem to be Johnny-on-the-

spot when we called in for service. My observation: wireless systems

go bump in the night more than wired systems.

Technology moves pretty fast, just like computers, so be aware that

your system may be antiquated by the 3rd or 4th time the serviceman

comes, ready to sell you a "new and improved" system.

I liked the simple systems; control box, interior infrared motion detectors,

fire detection (extremely worth while) and freeze protection if the house

was vacant for long periods with the water left on.

Most outfits will tout wireless, mostly b/c they can install the systems

much quicker thereby getting a better bottom line.

You will have false alarms with any system. The cat will climb the

drapery, the kids will break a window while playing ball, a draft will

cause the burglar detection to activate, components will fail, rats

can eat the wires...you name it.

You have access to all the same parts as any other installer and can

build your own system, which I have done, with results as good as

commercially available. Depends on your mechanical expertise, and

you still need to use a monitoring central, to call the cops, or fire dept.

Mostly, the compromise is that your life will not be the same once you

go electronic, and there was one customer who just refused to use his

new system after he found out how inconvenient it was to his lifestyle.

We used the system to monitor the freeze and fire protection only.

I think that about sums things up from my experiences.

Me ? I don't live in a large city, and will not consider putting a system in.

I'd rather get a JY dog, to be honest.

Uncle Bob

 

[buddyboy]

unless you have things that cannot be replaced, insurance is the cheapest way to go.

an alarm system will stop or catch very few criminals

take pictures of everything, put an alarm company sign in yard and make sure insurance will cover break-ins.

a crackhead will break into your garage, hear the alarm- grab your stuff, walk out the door and be long gone by the time the cops get there... you can show the cops an out of focus picture of the crackhead and talk about how bad things are getting.

 

[stealthmagic27]

Thanks for inputs everyone, RECox thanks for sharing, some great info there! I'm Ok with either wired or wireless. I am going to be installing the system myself. From the people I know with wireless systems, batteries are change 1nce every 3-6 years. My parents have an older simple wired system and its been going strong for I don't even know how long...

Ideally just want something to alert the neighbors if someone were to pop in, but yes if they grab and go well that's what insurance is for. If the system can make a phone call to me or text then great. I have seen some where you pop a SIM card in and it essentially becomes a phone...

 

[Gfercaks33]

I do security for a living and I will say this, I avoid installing wireless like the plague. Just for the fact you have to replace batteries. Manufactures say if you use a lithium battery you should get 3-7 years depending on activity.

 

[Stuart in MN]

ReCox's post is pretty good. I have a wired system, installed and monitored by a local company - they're only about 3 blocks from my house, and I like having the place monitored by a place that knows the neighborhood rather than from a call center on the other side of the country somewhere.

I have a 100 year old house that's pretty big, and I was very impressed by their crew's ability to run wires without having to tear out the walls. I use door sensors, motion/sensors, along with smoke detectors and a low temp alarm. The detached garage is also connected with door and window sensors and a rate-of-rise heat detector (smoke detectors don't work well in garages where you can have exhaust smoke.) There are also several very loud alarm horns inside and out that will wake the dead - someone broke into my garage some years back, and the 140db horn ran them out before they had a chance to do anything.

A lot of people talk about systems that send a message to your cellphone instead of to a monitoring company. That's all fine, but if you're not in phone range or traveling, or if you're sleeping and there's a fire with smoke a monitored system may save your place or your life.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I find having wireless cameras is handy for me not for security, but to see what is being left on my front door. I make sure I have a camera pointed at the door step, AND one that faces out towards the driveway and street so I can see the vehicle of the person coming to steal that package off the step.

 

[garrett1812]

I recently did a lot of looking into this and purchased this setup (almong other items):
https://www.alarmgrid.com/products/honeywell-l7000pk-wifi-4g

Very simple to setup, allows home automation and cell phone access.

You can get monitored service, or service to call you or others.

 

[stealthmagic27]

Hey garrett, the L5200 model was actually the first I looked at on amazon. How long have you had the system? Anything you don't like about it?

As much as I like a hardwired system. I don't think I want to run another wire after rewiring my entire house lol.

 

[jimp]

I have a system if IP cameras covering my remote shop. They can be set up with detection zones in their field of view and once triggered send an alert and pictures to you phone, tablet or pc. The pictures are off sight so they can't be destroyed locally.
I have 6 open and 2 hidden cameras on the shop and same at the house, the open ones are as deterrents and I have the alarms and two way sound turned on to scare people way, they are also nice for answering the door remotely (I have one facing the front door and on the porch ceiling, I love some of the looks I capture as they turn around and look up at the alarming camera). They produce a very good picture in the dark (IR) and I have my hidden camers illuminators turned off (other camers provide more than enough light).

The only thing you need is the IP cameras and internet access and you can monitor live and capture alarm picture from any of the cameras (Like anything connected to the internet the cameras can be hacked, so I do not have any full time IP cameras inside my house, I connect the two inside my house only when we travel, but the outside is alway 100% covered).

Do a search for IP camera, I use Foscam.

 

[rentprop1]

I looked into simplisafe.com. Wireless, GsM , no contracts, reasonable pricing. Only issue I saw were that's a lot of batteries to replace!

I have simple Safe and I'm more that happy with it, its totally wireless, you don't need a bunch of glass or window sensors, just install motion sensors and keep them at the correct height for pets or turn the sensors upside down. its requires no land line, calls the monitoring center via cellular connection, you can set it off whenever you want and test the alarm co response time, mine is about 2 min from alarm to call for safe word, I think its a little slow but they blame it on my cell reception in the area.

I also purchased a Swann 8 camera set up from Sam's club but haven't installed it yet was on sale for $ 500 ...all I know with my research about cameras is you get what you pay for, I can't afford a $ 3000 entry level 8 mp system so this will have to do. Maybe I just watch people take my stuff, or maybe I'll get lucky and be able to identify someone.

 

[garrett1812]

Hey garrett, the L5200 model was actually the first I looked at on amazon. How long have you had the system? Anything you don't like about it?

As much as I like a hardwired system. I don't think I want to run another wire after rewiring my entire house lol.

I actually have not installed the system yet. I bought in preperation for a new house. I have had a Honeywell system in the past, with a mix of wired and wireless sensors, and found it easy to program and control myself, which is why I opted for them again.

The only frustration is a bit in the cost. Monitoring service is inexpensive, but they charge extra then for Total Connect (access over internet, cell phone), then a charge extra for home automation (control zwave devices). In my mind, the Total Connect should do home automation, its nearly the same function. Cameras are also expensive to add with the same service, but you can do cameras many different ways, so not a big issue.

 

[stoveboltgunnut]

I have simplisafe, installed it in March of 14. It has been flawless. The only batteries I have replaced so far were in the keypad. Very happy with it.

 

[garrett1812]

I looked into simplisafe.com. Wireless, GsM , no contracts, reasonable pricing. Only issue I saw were that's a lot of batteries to replace!

I also looked into this, but opted for the Honeywell system just for the flexibility of the service providers. I think hardware cost was higher for what I was looking at, but I can't recall. All in all Simplisafe looked like a very easy to set up system.

Also check out 2GIG.

 

[1dwn5up]

Anyone here using DropCams?

 

[Trey T]

I use a company with cellular service for our home security. I looked into surveillance and thought about Dropcam, Panasonic IP camera, and Foscam. My brother has Foscam (480p and 960p cameras) and he said out of those three Foscam is the only camera that can send photos based on motion-detected to your email and he uses a 64GB Android phone as his DVR for video.

I'm leaning toward the 960p foscam for my home.

 

[Riverside]

I have spent hours reading posts about security systems and I remain confused about my options for a system that will alert me through my phone if I don't have an internet connection in the building. I see that DropCam would work for video and SimpliSafe would work for motion detection. Is there a similarly-priced option that combines motion detection and video monitoring, and will alert me without an internet connection?

 

[stang2007]

I have a alarm from, http://PIsector.com

wireless so simple setup, they have alarms that have can do what you want.
I bought mine as a alarm to wake me in the event of an intruder. not to protect my stuff thats what insurance is for.

 

[Trey T]

I have spent hours reading posts about security systems and I remain confused about my options for a system that will alert me through my phone if I don't have an internet connection in the building. I see that DropCam would work for video and SimpliSafe would work for motion detection. Is there a similarly-priced option that combines motion detection and video monitoring, and will alert me without an internet connection?

Not that I'm aware of. When it comes to home security, there are two technologies out there right now:

1. traditional home security with binary input/output
2. "smarthome" security using Z-wave technology, completely all digital

There are security companies out there that's combine those two like Vivint. Z-wave technology is an internet-base technology for alerting homeowner if there's a break-in. Z-wave allows more information passing through to alert the homeowner, such as video live feed and motion picture, where traditional home security can't do that bc of the technology limitation.

z-wave is a very powerful technology yet very simple to install and use.

 

[BearsFan315]

Have wireless system in our home, put it in myself, 5 years ago. only replaced 1 battery to date. love it. can access and monitor it from anywhere, mainly my cell.

can add cameras if wanted.

no contract, month to month, only cost is buying equipment.

Livewatch

 

[cbracer]

I bought the Swann 720p system with POE or power over ethernet. It works and does a lot, but only their latest 1080p systems have the newer software. If I had to do it over again I'd spend the $3k and get that nicer one Costco sells and not the Swann.

 

[mpire]

I am watching this thread trying to learn a few things.

I don't like wireless, just my opinion.

What is your favorite install it yourself alarm system with internet monitoring with a cell phone?

I already have plenty of cameras. I want something on the doors and windows that is better than my horrible wireless system.

 

[stealthmagic27]

Good stuff here guys, I appreciate all the input on this!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Several outdoor motion detector lights will scare of many would be thieves.

I can not see paying the monthly cost of a monitoring company. There are systems out there that will dial a phone and send you a voice message. I have not seen any of these that can work with a cell phone. Seems like a simple thing to do.

I would also want an exterior flashing light (and possible horn) powered by a large battery with charger.

 

[paranoid56]

i like using POE cameras. one wire to run and thats it. i have them hooked up to my computer via blueirus and it works great. emails me or texts me when it sees motion.

 

[ozyborn]

Mine is called Brutus. 3 year old German shepherd. Runs on dog food and water. No batteries, a few false alarms such as a squirrel making a dash towards a tree. Will not eat anything that somebody other than me gives him. If you want to see just how protective he can be threaten my kids when he is around.

 

[barnjunkie]

We put in a Revo system a few years ago. The system has the capability to be hooked to the internet, but I never tried it. It has so many functions, I really just wanted a recorder that would do 5 or 6 cameras for a week or so.
The only real advantage to a camera system is that you might get lucky and figure out who stole your stuff. (But you would never get your stuff back.)For that reason alone, it is a good investment for me.

 

[Trey T]

Mine is called Brutus. 3 year old German shepherd. Runs on dog food and water. No batteries, a few false alarms such as a squirrel making a dash towards a tree. Will not eat anything that somebody other than me gives him. If you want to see just how protective he can be threaten my kids when he is around.

Sounds expensive.

 

[stealthmagic27]

The only real advantage to a camera system is that you might get lucky and figure out who stole your stuff. (But you would never get your stuff back.)For that reason alone, it is a good investment for me.

Knowing is good enough for me

 

[MattN03]

subscribing...

 

[NUISANCE]

I ordered this last week and it just hit my door today http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defender...m-with-8-Wired-800-TVL-Camera-21155/204421951

I was looking at the Defender Pro 4 camera system with 1TB of memory then this one went on sale with twice the memory and 4 extra cameras for less. I will be putting it up over the next couple days and will reply back when all is said and done. For the price it was the best one I could find with the ability to monitor the cameras over the internet and 150ft of night vision. Even if I don't like it I can just take it to the local HD and get my money back and find another one but I am sure it will work for what I need.

 

[barnjunkie]

I was thinking about getting another one for my detached shop. Please post on the results.

 

[bjl95mustang]

I have the 2gig system monitored by https://suretydiy.com/ this company also sells the equipment and has a very good tech support. I believe they will also program the system so its plug and play. They have a very good monitoring and customer service.

Mine is a touch screen wireless gsm. It dose zwave, myq garage door, etc. all of the features are usable on my phone.

I can see when a door is open even when the system is disarmed with a time stamp.

They also do video that you can watch on your phone. But I have a lorex system for that with free internet entwork connection.

There is a forum on https://suretydiy.com/ and there are so many options etc I just gave a few.

 

[gte718p]

Hey garrett, the L5200 model was actually the first I looked at on amazon. How long have you had the system? Anything you don't like about it?

As much as I like a hardwired system. I don't think I want to run another wire after rewiring my entire house lol.

I have the older version of the L5200. It is not monitered, but I am very happy with it. Extremely easy to setup and I've replaced a grand total of 2 batteries in 4 years. I'm probably due for a whole house sweep, but that will take all of a half hour and cost $30.

We have a massive house so I mainly use it to tell me if someone breaks in three stories down or if I left the garage doors open.

We new version with Zwave and internet connectivity is pretty cool. Lots of nifty features.

 

[Hotrod barn]

We have a wireless system, I installed three years ago. It is monitored and it has never taken longer than 45-60 seconds to call me when it is activated That's pretty good. The police have been here three times and takes 3-4 minutes each time ! Again pretty good. Last time I walked in my barn (motion detection) I got maybe 6 feet in before I got a call. I have never had battery issues or sencor problems (yet).
After reading about the post from home invasion in the garage , I may do something to my windows in our attached garage. There is a sencor on the door to the mud room. But that wouldn't have helped in that break-in .