Best home security system/monitoring?

[Shyatic]

So we had a breakin next door to our house, and with a new job now I can probably afford a good security system, what are folks thoughts?

I want to hire a security company to install a good system and then pay for monitoring somewhere separately (because I'd rather pay $500 for the equipment and $5 a month for monitoring). Plus, we have a lot of equipment already in place, it is just really old.

Any thoughts on getting this done?

Note: I have Windows Phone devices, which I'd like to use for monitoring if possible... again, would love to know how to get started without getting big names (ie ADT/etc) for obscene monitoring fees that I could use a third party for. And also, those third parties would be great to know also!

Thanks!

 

[Spungo]

Until you get a system up and running, you can try mounting some fake cameras and some motion activated lights. You can also steal one of those "protected by" signs from someone else's house.
If you want to go all out, make the fake cameras pan back and forth with a blinking LED on top. Would you try breaking into a house that appears to be owned by a paranoid lunatic?

Security systems are mostly useless because humans are lazy. Most people don't set their alarm or don't know how to set their alarm, so the alarm stays off 99% of the time. What does the monitoring actually do? The police arrive 45 minutes after the burglars have left the scene, they take a statement from you that says you didn't see or hear anything, they say "we'll call you," and nothing happens. Forget the service.

Even if you get a real system, you should keep the fake cameras. While a burglar is avoiding the fake camera with the LED, he's being watched by the real camera.

edit. I'm actually surprised how many fake cameras are on amazon. I wonder if any of them do motion tracking, like the fake camera looks directly at you at all times but isn't recording anything.

The bolded (by me) above is not the kind of advice that is welcome here.

Perknose
Forum Director

 

[Shyatic]

No, I want video feeds of my front/back door and garage area... preferably that upload to the cloud when we engage the alarm, or something like that, with a retention period of some kind. Just looking for thoughts on what might be the best system, and also, where to get monitoring done from.

Thanks!

 

[RossMAN]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2298964

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2296567

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2132062

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2118673

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=148288

 

[LikeLinus]

You can also steal one of those "protected by" signs from someone else's house.

Wow, really? Admins allow people to talk about property theft and trespassing? Amazing.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow, really? Admins allow people to talk about property theft and trespassing? Amazing.

Yeah, but talk about torrent downloads and it gets closed pretty fast. :awe:

For security, it's good piece of mind to go with a paid monitoring service. If you're not in a situation to answer a phone call or check alarms at least some action will still be taken.

Though idealy just the fact of having the system should deter most thieves.

 

[zanejohnson]

i have two cams, one on the front door/yard area, one on the back deck/storage shed area

i use a server running VLC in linux to capture and broadcast the streams via REGAL to DLNA........or i can just VNC into the server box itself and see both cameras live from anywhere on the net...

 

[boomerang]

I want to hire a security company to install a good system and then pay for monitoring somewhere separately (because I'd rather pay $500 for the equipment and $5 a month for monitoring). Plus, we have a lot of equipment already in place, it is just really old. Any thoughts on getting this done?

Why not install a totally wireless system yourself? Your old equipment will most likely need to be replaced. Keypads will have to go as will the alarm panel itself.

I've never seen monitoring that cheap. $8.50 is the lowest I've ever seen but regardless, I am in total agreement on not going with the big boys with the big price. The savings on your insurance will typically more than cover the monitoring cost which is something the knuckle-draggers never figure into the equation.

What too many fail to understand is that there is a real advantage to keeping the bad guys out of the home. They may trip a perimeter alarm, but keeping them from entering is huge. I'd rather an alarm go off at 2 AM when a door switch is set off than to have a camera recording the bad guys movement through my house while my family is asleep as he and his accomplice are on the way back to the bedroom with guns drawn and zip ties in their hands.

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/
Many systems available from a variety of manufacturers.

http://simplisafe.com/
I'm not sold on their stuff but I think it is worthy of consideration.

Your main decision is whether you want to monitor through POTS, Internet or Cellular. Or a combination.

 

[PliotronX]

I was thinking about this for my new place and while I'm definitely going to put some fakes up, is there a good DVR disguised as something thieves ordinarily wouldn't want? I'm thinking even an old Linux box would appear valuable to thieves so they'd just jack that too and I'd have no footage.

 

[boomerang]

I was thinking about this for my new place and while I'm definitely going to put some fakes up, is there a good DVR disguised as something thieves ordinarily wouldn't want? I'm thinking even an old Linux box would appear valuable to thieves so they'd just jack that too and I'd have no footage.

So you're OK with them breaking in and stealing stuff but you want to be able to identify them afterwards? Assuming they get caught of course. If they don't get caught or don't have a criminal record, (in other words are known to the local authorities) the footage is pretty much useless.

You put the DVR in a place that thieves are unlikely to take the time to discover. The attic, a crawl space, up in the floor joists in a basement or above a drop ceiling.

 

[Kaido]

No, I want video feeds of my front/back door and garage area... preferably that upload to the cloud when we engage the alarm, or something like that, with a retention period of some kind. Just looking for thoughts on what might be the best system, and also, where to get monitoring done from.

Thanks!

I would say roll a DIY system, then add on a basic monitoring service. For example, Dropcam has network security cameras, plus they have the new Tabs coming out this summer: (monitors doors, windows, etc.)

https://www.dropcam.com/

Or else go the Foscam/Blue Iris route - that way you can get smartphone notifications and monitor things visually yourself, but only pay for a basic alarm panel service for doors & windows using something inexpensive like SimpliSafe or ProtectAmerica so they can push out the police or call you in the event of a break-in.

 

[lk2500]

Cut and Paste from a friend of mine, looks like he spent some coin:

Service through: SuretyDIY
· Alarm.com Gold Interactive $19.95 (This is the service I’m currently paying for, may add monitoring and video in the future).
o Central station monitoring + $8.00
o Cloud video + $5.00

Alarm and home automation system:
· 2GIG Go Controller 2GIG-CP21-345E (HomeSecurityStore.com) $192
o + 2GIG cellular radio module for AT&T $131.95
· Honeywell 5800 PIP-RES wireless motion detectors QTY (5) eBay 139.50
· Honeywell 5853 wireless glassbreak detectors QTY (4) eBay 185.00
· Schlage BE469NX touchscreen deadbolts QTY (2) eBay 118.15 each
· 2GIG CT100 Thermostat eBay $74.00
· 2GIG-SMKT3-345 Smoke heat detectors QTY (2) eBay $36.85 each
· 2GIG-CO3-345 Carbon monoxide detector eBay $38.00
· iON Plunger-2GIG wireless door sensor (smarthome.com) QTY (3) $26.57 each
· iON Micra-2GIG wireless window sensor (smarthome.com) QTY (5) $26.57 each
· Alarm.com ADC-V620PT Pan/Tilt video camera eBay $209.00
· Resolution Products Flood & Temperature sensor (suretyDIY) $49.95
· ZWAVE switches and electrical plugs are around $30-50
· LiftMaster 8550 or 8557 Elite Series garage door openers work with the alarm.com service

I personally have an ADT system + a Foscam camera that will send me an email if it detects motion/sound as a backup.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Everyone always mounts fake cameras. You should try mounting a fake dog on your front porch.

Not only will that keep burglars away, but it will keep everyone else away too.

 

[Meghan54]

Everyone always mounts fake cameras. You should try mounting a fake dog on your front porch.

Not only will that keep burglars away, but it will keep everyone else away too.

Or even better, get a real dog. Nothing scares away the opportunist break-and-grab burglar than a nice, big, barking dog. Most burglars don't want to chance getting mauled/bitten by a dog. Maybe the brave ones, but they're very few and far between.

 

[rsutoratosu]

ADT and slomins allows you to go to their office to pick up addition decal and signs. Just find someone you know with existing alarm and have them go pick up some signs and decal for you, they're free.

I dont have adt but had adt install at work, I just ask the installer for a bunch of adt window sticker..

 

[Ms. DICKINSON]

Those security decals can be had. I was away for a month and I resorted to them. lol. http://www.ebay.com/sch/?_nkw=adt security signs&clk_rvr_id=656102024633

 

[PliotronX]

So you're OK with them breaking in and stealing stuff but you want to be able to identify them afterwards? Assuming they get caught of course. If they don't get caught or don't have a criminal record, (in other words are known to the local authorities) the footage is pretty much useless.

You put the DVR in a place that thieves are unlikely to take the time to discover. The attic, a crawl space, up in the floor joists in a basement or above a drop ceiling.

What gave you that impression? I would just be a lot more comforted by something in my control rather than an alarm that would go off fifty times a day and be able to identify thieves. Even with masks you can get builds and numbers and skin color. Ill be in a rental for a while so I dont know yet what kind of options I will have. Thank you for the ideas, I've never really thought about it.

 

[alkemyst]

Alarmsystemstore.com has $8.95 monitoring that is VERY GOOD. I get calls immediately even about low battery conditions. They are very professional and to the point. Once a visitor messed up and gave my 'danger' word. They operator didn't bat an eye, said thank you and immediately dispatched police.

I have both Cellular and landline monitoring through them. I also bought all my DSC gear through them. My father, brother, and several friends have also purchased/use their monitoring.

The owner is Andy Bowman. He's a great guy too. Any kind of technical snags I had, he got me on the right path quickly.

I have every door/window covered, every room has a glass break, every common area has a motion detector, my external workshop is protected.

Best money I ever spent.

You can order ADT signs and stickers off eBay, the package deals are economical. I placed ADT stickers on every set of windows and have signs with lights (bought the LED lights separated) in front of my front and back doors and the door to my workshop.

 

[boomerang]

I have both Cellular and landline monitoring through them.

What does it run you additional for Cell monitoring? I'm up for renewal in a month here and need to make some decisions. I'm with Comcast VOIP now and although the central station is not equipped for VOIP, reporting is flawless. But these thieves are getting smarter and are cutting lines going into the house. If they were to do that, I would need cell for a backup. The other issue is the numerous power outages here. When I lose power, I nearly always loose my internet too and my VOIP along with it.

 

[alkemyst]

What does it run you additional for Cell monitoring? I'm up for renewal in a month here and need to make some decisions. I'm with Comcast VOIP now and although the central station is not equipped for VOIP, reporting is flawless. But these thieves are getting smarter and are cutting lines going into the house. If they were to do that, I would need cell for a backup. The other issue is the numerous power outages here. When I lose power, I nearly always loose my internet too and my VOIP along with it.

It's just another monitoring contract. I also have Comcast VOIP. My cellular backup is usually faster than the COMCAST VOIP.

My unit was like $100 (I have a unit by UpLink) with monitoring and cellular fees it's $150 per year. My landline monitoring comes out to $107.40.

The newer Uplink device is around $150. I am not sure if the cellular cost is different than mine, but I think with alarmsystemstore.com's cellular monitoring they wrap any cellular fees for devices they sell into that $150 per year.

 

[moonbogg]

Dog + shotgun = your shit is safe.

 

[alkemyst]

Dog + shotgun = your shit is safe.

Not really...and that shotgun is just going to be stolen when you are not home as chances are it's not in a safe.

A dog / alarm sign are about equally effective unless you are being targeted for a particular reason.

Those looking for guns will usually kill a dog, same with those looking for drugs.

 

[boomerang]

It's just another monitoring contract. I also have Comcast VOIP. My cellular backup is usually faster than the COMCAST VOIP.

My unit was like $100 (I have a unit by UpLink) with monitoring and cellular fees it's $150 per year. My landline monitoring comes out to $107.40.

The newer Uplink device is around $150. I am not sure if the cellular cost is different than mine, but I think with alarmsystemstore.com's cellular monitoring they wrap any cellular fees for devices they sell into that $150 per year.

Thanks. I actually want to drop our land line but from the perspective of alarm reporting that's neither here nor there as I have one of these attached to the panel now that can report through my internet connection but I must do my monitoring through them for that to work. But I think I may have to replace the panel to get something to work with the cell backup. I just need to make a call or calls to find out the scoop. I have an older DSC panel.

Compounding the issue is that we'll be moving to the Naples area hopefully within the next few years so I'm also weighing the benefits of updating the "infrastructure" here in Michigan.

 

[moonbogg]

Not really...and that shotgun is just going to be stolen when you are not home as chances are it's not in a safe.

A dog / alarm sign are about equally effective unless you are being targeted for a particular reason.

Those looking for guns will usually kill a dog, same with those looking for drugs.

I don't think you are understanding me.

 

[alkemyst]

Thanks. I actually want to drop our land line but from the perspective of alarm reporting that's neither here nor there as I have one of these attached to the panel now that can report through my internet connection but I must do my monitoring through them for that to work. But I think I may have to replace the panel to get something to work with the cell backup. I just need to make a call or calls to find out the scoop. I have an older DSC panel.

Compounding the issue is that we'll be moving to the Naples area hopefully within the next few years so I'm also weighing the benefits of updating the "infrastructure" here in Michigan.

Most cellular systems are very simple, they just read if it's a fire or burglary and monitor the siren. I like DSC a lot. Once you learn how the coding is done, it's very intuitive (at least to me).

The one thing I don't like is with the IP communicator you have to power down everything and then bring it all up and quickly give it an IP address to use before it all boots up.

I still haven't fully set up my Internet access.