Originally posted by: koolhand
Any Do-It-Yourselfer have any more personal experience/recommendation on alarm system? Interested in installing a system myself w/ local monitoring but w/ optional central. The OP's original link looks like a decent system esp w/ future remote monitoring/checking on web.
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I'm not a DIY, but I've installed security systems for 30+ years. Basically, all the equipment these days is pretty good. The system the OP linked to looks all right, but the cost of extra doors is $50 a pop. Motions are $90. He's probably going to need one of each. That puts the cost of the system at around $400. Still better than an ADT system. He might do better on EBay, it just depends on how much time he's willing to invest.
One thing about those motions: They're called "pet immune". I highly doubt that. We've used some of the highest quality "pet immune" motion sensors with mixed results. Far better to just flip the unit upside down and mount it 3 or 4 feet above the floor (this will give you a 3 or 4 foot pet alley) in an area that's not looking at a couch or something the animal can get on. Maybe mask the lens some to block certain views.
Securing the phone line is another biggy. Either completely hide it, physically secure it or tamper it with fake phone line, so that if it's cut it will set off the local alarm.
These days we don't bother with securing the windows. Doors and motions are about it, for a basic system. Most burglars come in the front door (50% of the time).
As far as motion locations go, the foyer/stairs to the 2nd floor is the primary location, with the basement and/or master bedroom being the secondary spot (most burglars go for the mbr first).
If you're going to have a monitored system you need to run a phone line from the phone interface to your control panel. We use cat 5 for this, mainly for convience. You should seize the line, opposed to just tapping it on. ie: Pull off all extensions, place the blue pair onto the incoming phone, send it to the alarm panel, return from the panel on the orange pair. These hook to the extentions. The extra pairs can be used for tampers, if the system has hardwired zones for this. I doubt the OP's does. Good thing to check.
Just a few things I've picked up over the years. PM me if you have more specific questions.