Our new town home is prewired for an alarm, but does not include everything needed. I do want to have an alarm of some sort, and will get an estimate from a couple of our local companies, but I would also like to look at the wireless, self installed systems. I am not looking for the system to sing and dance, by recording everything that goes on in the house and text me every time the wind blows! Just looking for monitoring services, motion detection inside (with the ability for the dog to move about,) glass break on the windows and easy to arm system.
I have had a wired system for the past 24 years, so familiar with how these work, although I know technology has changed significantly that a new wire will be different. How do the wireless systems compare to the old fashion wired? Even some of the wired companies offer wireless, so that could be an option also.
We just installed some Honeywell cameras. They work off of our wifi system and are set to record motion and noise. The indoor ones are geofenced, so they turn off when we are within a mile or so of home. The one in the garage is on all the time. When there is noise or motion it records a 30 second video and emails and sends a message to our iphones We never had a system before and found them very easy to set up and use.
No expert on this at all but I’ve seen several articles on wireless systems being hacked, so I’d suggest reading up on that aspect when making a decision.
We checked on a new security system when our then current ADT contract expired- had gone to them when getting new windows and doors made the hardwiring not worth redoing. Ended up choosing to renew with AD, already own all we need and had installed, and were able to negotiate a much better deal for 5 years. The costs and actual services of other choices (such as Simplisafe) were not worth making a change. Not as worried about power outages because we have impact (break in) resistant windows and good bolts. An alarm system is a last, not first, security measure. We do like having the noise when we open a door and the panel warning us we left a door open (such as the side door when cooling off the garage with the car and it open for cross ventilation). We could do more with our existing system but not paranoid enough to feel the need to bother.
I already had one big national company come for an estimate and the second is coming Tuesday. While the house is prewired, it doesn’t include much I still need glassbreak, motion detection, keypads, as well as monitoring, including smoke and fire. It is cheaper to rent the equipment they need to install, but the cost with the rental and monitoring was $49! We were paying $23/month at our old hold, but we probably bought the system when we first moved in; either one of us remember, although I think the builder had it installed prior to us buying the house.
Now my husband want me to check with one of the small local companies and see if they can provide the same for cheaper. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone that uses the small companies, and no reliable reviews avail online. If the second national company is cheaper, I will work on the first, but my guess is that know exactly what the other offers and negotiates will not work.
We don’t know about the insurance break for smoke and fire yet, as we have an HO6 policy as our units are attached. Without fire and smoke monitoring, it only saves a couple of dollars not to have it. Waiting to hear from our insurance agent in the morning. While we have fire walls between units, it would not be unheard of for a neighbor to have a fire and affect my home.
I do want a full system as break ins are common and I am home alone several nights a week; not that my husband would save me if he were here
Do you need an alarm system? Does your homeowner’s policy cover all your belongings in the event of theft? If you’ve got expensive jewelry that you only use a few times a year, the most effective solution might be a small safety deposit box. Are you more concerned about the monetary value or the sentimental value of your possessions?
@roethlisburger Neither, it is my safety I am most concerned about. I have actually been held at gunpoint in my own home due to a break in; not looking to repeat that again! My “things” call all be replaced and I don’t have much in the way of jewelry.
@snowball -I cannot imagine!! That is terrible. We have simplisafe. A do it yourself over the cell phone lines type thing. It was easy to install. However we are having an issue with the fire alarms. They seem to have malfunctioned and are going off at odd times and not accepting new batteries. We are going to put a call into the company this week
That is a much more useful product than a thermostat! One suggestion - need more sensor colors. Many folks have brown or wood-wrapped windows, like those shown in the ad. Aesthetics matter in high tech products. A white sensor looks way too obvious on those honey stained doors - white only limits the market unnecessarily to white trim and window owners. I would not want a white sensor on my hemlock trim.
Another issue, common to many cat owners. If the motion detection cannot be disabled, this product is not going to work. We tried many different motion detectors. Cats managed to outwit every useful installation option by eventually tripping those strategically installed sensors. I swear my avatars can walk on the walls and ceilings!
Maybe they can be painted. There is no need for a sensor on every window if one also has nestcam cameras that will detect motion and send you a video. The camera can be set to detect motion, sound or people. You can turn off the motion and sound and have it set to only respond to people. The newer nestcam IQ cameras can be programmed to recognize specific faces so it can tell a parent if their kid is home. And the nest secure was announced a week or so ago and will be released shortly. Soon to follow is a door lock made in partnership with Yale locks. All of these products work together. The nest secure security system was released. in September and will be available in November http://www.techadvisor.co.uk/new-product/digital-home/nest-secure-release-date-price-features-3664267/
I wonder if Nest has a customer “suggestion box”… folks usually have all windows painted or stained the same color. Also… maybe version 2.0 will have this… like in cars - sense the presence of the fob to disarm without the need to tap.
Back in the early nineties, we used X10. It was so easy to install and use! If Nest or any others can duplicate and improve upon that system, it will be gold. This new product looks like it has the potential.
You can probably send a message through their website or on their twitter account or facebook page. The finish is a sort of brush finish, not glossy, so its probably paintable/stainable. Just a guess, but seems likely.
As for sensing that the fob is close by, it is possible, but one doesnt always want their house unlocked or the alarm off just because the phone or the fob is nearby. Better to have the option to give it a command, IMO.
Our system was pre-wired but I had a private service review the whole set up and make corrections. We now have wireless sensors on all doors and replace their batteries every few years. I was told that casement windows do not need sensors since they can’t be opened by crooks as easily as double hung or single hung windows. Glass break and motion sensors are in most rooms. The installer said we could use Krylon spray paint for plastic if we want to change the color of the sensor covers.
The system can be set to “stay” which activates the perimeter and glass break sensors but not the motion sensors, or to “away” to activate all. A chime notifies us of opening doors when the system is not armed. I keep it set on “stay” whenever we’re home.
The thought of interior cameras does not appeal to me, although we have a number of exterior cameras. I’m also not interested in systems, or locks, that can be controlled by smart phone due to the hacking risk.
Crooks don’t enter through broken glass - they break a hole to open the window so they can enter comfortably without injuring themselves. Casement windows would be inconvenient, for sure.
Saw a startup at a local bpc that created window sensors that need no battery changes. Every time one opens the window - the energy powers up the sensor:
I still need glassbreak, motion detection, keypads, as well as monitoring, including smoke and fire. It is cheaper to rent the equipment they need to install, but the cost with the rental and monitoring was $49! We were paying $23/month at our old hold, but we probably bought the system when we first moved in; either one of us remember, although I think the builder had it installed prior to us buying the house.
folks usually have all windows painted or stained the same color. Also… maybe version 2.0 will have this… like in cars - sense the presence of the fob to disarm without the need to tap.