Can I get some home security recommendations?

[Stg-Flame]

I've been looking into getting something set up for my house for a while but I can't decide what would be better and I'm really tired of the Vivent/ADT door-to-door salesmen with their recruiter-like sales pitch. I'm not looking for anything too fancy - just some motion sensor cameras that can notify me when they turn on.

Where I'm at currently I don't have very good data and a lot of the websites I saw earlier had too much trying to load (videos I assume) so the sites never loaded properly. I figure a tech forum should have some good recommendations for things like this.

 

[bbhaag]

I've been looking at security systems as well for our place. A couple of things come to mind before I make a recommendation. What's your budget, how many cameras do you want, and do you want to go wired or wireless?

For reference I'm looking at a four camera system from Ubiquiti. Their UniFi Protect line of products appeals to me but is on the expensive side. All their stuff is sold ala carte though so I'm still planning it all out.

 

[Stg-Flame]

I honestly don't know how much security systems normally cost but I was thinking somewhere in the 3K - 5K range. Four cameras would work for me but I was also thinking about something that detects when a window opens or breaks. I'd prefer wireless if it's reliable but I haven't found anything wireless that's as reliable as wired, though I do hate the idea of punching holes through my house for the wires.

 

[deadlyapp]

Wireless (not WiFi) is generally quite reliable, and usually not interrupted, you just have to keep them monitored for battery life. If you're going with a monitored system and want to DIY, then SimpliSafe I've heard good things about. Personally I've gone with a smart home system so I can simply monitor it myself (I didn't want to pay a monitoring fee), however I have had some of my contacts drop off in the past and there is definitely the limitation that if your internet drops out, then there is no simple way to switch over to cellular. I also have external and internal cameras, external are on an internet connected DVR and internal are only real time and cloud based (only used to verify the alarm in case of intrusion).

Door sensors are usually $20-40 ea, window sensors have gone to an acoustic version (uses a microphone) and costs around $40 and you don't need one for every window, just each room. Good systems you can also add water leak detection to, fire alarms, CO, etc. You should easily be able to get a system for only a few hundred dollars and then save the money and use it for live monitoring. Camera system you're talking about $500-800 + installation if you don't do it yourself. Wireless cameras (like the Arlos) are available but will also lock you into expensive contracts and battery life.

 

[Stg-Flame]

Thanks for the recommendations. I guess I was way overshooting how expensive they would be, but that was mainly based on what those annoying salesmen were talking about. I was wanting two indoor cameras to activate upon alarm like you're talking about, so wireless sounds fine to me, though given my work situation, I can't monitor it myself so I'd need someone to help out with that. I've heard Simplisafe get advertised on the radio, but I was hesitant about a DIY project like that.

 

[deadlyapp]

Thanks for the recommendations. I guess I was way overshooting how expensive they would be, but that was mainly based on what those annoying salesmen were talking about. I was wanting two indoor cameras to activate upon alarm like you're talking about, so wireless sounds fine to me, though given my work situation, I can't monitor it myself so I'd need someone to help out with that. I've heard Simplisafe get advertised on the radio, but I was hesitant about a DIY project like that.

It's not particularly challenging, however yes you're probably talking about at least several hundred dollars and up if you want someone to fully do your installation. I'm not familiar with any monitoring solutions that also will check your cameras (frankly I'd be completely unwilling to give another company access to internal cameras) but they probably exist. I have the apps on my phone so if I get an alarm notification, I just quickly check the cameras - it usually only takes a couple of minutes to verify.

 

[Stg-Flame]

I was mainly referring to a monitoring company for the outside while the inside trigger if any of the door/window sensors trigger. Simplisafe says they have a monitoring service and I also don't trust anyone monitoring cameras inside my home, so that's going to be one of the things I'm going to require documentation on if a monitoring service is included.

The reason I need the monitoring service is because I work in the oilfield and I'm usually in an area with no cell service or data and during fall and winter, it's entirely possible that we will get stuck on location for days at a time due to road conditions becoming unpassable (roads usually washing out). Even if I'm in an area with good cell service, I'm usually hours away from the nearest city and there's no guarantee that I'd even be able to check my phone (especially if I'm working in the rain or snow).

 

[deadlyapp]

I was mainly referring to a monitoring company for the outside while the inside trigger if any of the door/window sensors trigger. Simplisafe says they have a monitoring service and I also don't trust anyone monitoring cameras inside my home, so that's going to be one of the things I'm going to require documentation on if a monitoring service is included.

The reason I need the monitoring service is because I work in the oilfield and I'm usually in an area with no cell service or data and during fall and winter, it's entirely possible that we will get stuck on location for days at a time due to road conditions becoming unpassable (roads usually washing out). Even if I'm in an area with good cell service, I'm usually hours away from the nearest city and there's no guarantee that I'd even be able to check my phone (especially if I'm working in the rain or snow).

Yeah a standard security system with monitoring should be enough for you. Installing a handful of cameras that cover both inside and outside and just feed back to a local DVR would just give you good video proof in case of a break in. Cameras at the end of the day aren't really admissible as evidence unless you can recognize the person.

 

[Stg-Flame]

I live in a small town near another small town. The cops pretty much know everyone and I have three sheriff deputies in my neighborhood and two state officers within a block of me, but I was also wanting good cameras which is why my budget was originally so high. I've seen plenty of security footage during my time as a beer vendor to know that the cameras are next to useless if they are not HD.

 

[deadlyapp]

I live in a small town near another small town. The cops pretty much know everyone and I have three sheriff deputies in my neighborhood and two state officers within a block of me, but I was also wanting good cameras which is why my budget was originally so high. I've seen plenty of security footage during my time as a beer vendor to know that the cameras are next to useless if they are not HD.

4M cameras only cost about $100 ea for good Poe ones now, if you want 4K or higher they are a bit more expensive but really quite reasonable.

 

[BoomerD]

I went with Ring 18 months ago. Hardware was reasonably priced, (watch Amazon and Costco for sales) and $100/yr for monitoring is damned cheap...and it works. I have two smoke detectors tied into the system, and earlier in the year, I was cooking bacon for breakfast, got distracted...and the pan started to smoke. Smoke detector went off...couldn't get to my phone to answer the call from Ring fast enough...2 minutes later, fire chief is knocking on my door and fire department sirens are heading my way...as well as a couple of cops. Needless to say, once it was determined that there was no fire, I got a lot of ribbing..."No more bacon cooking for you, Boomer!"
The only problems I've had is one door sensor that keeps losing connection with the system for some reason. It's easy enough to fix it...takes just a few minutes, but it's a PITA.
I added one of the ring battery spotlight cameras for my back yard too. My back yard backs up to "wilderness" and the bay. No houses behind me...so this keeps an eye on that area for me.