Home security system - alternative to ADT/Brinks

[sunzt]

GE has a $20 wireless alarm kit includes a couple window and door alarms.

http://www.amazon.com/GE-51107-Smart.../dp/B00032AVN6

Anyone tried it?

 

[alkemyst]

GE has a $20 wireless alarm kit includes a couple window and door alarms.

http://www.amazon.com/GE-51107-Smart.../dp/B00032AVN6

Anyone tried it?

That alarm would only be good to warn you of an intrusion while you were home. Without monitoring and the fact that that unit can easily be destroyed quickly, it would not provide adequate protection.

It would be better than nothing though.

Some people use these while traveling.

 

[alkemyst]

Everyone should be aware that no matter what Brinks/ADT, or just about any other big name alarm service told you, the system becomes almost useless without monitoring. They let you think you own it, but it will either be deactivated, or will start beeping in the middle of the night until reset. Brinks units do this when monitoring is cancelled, and there is no way to disable it.

Folks, avoid the house brand hardware from the big name operations like ADT. The hardware is junk, and can only be monitored by them. You are much better off with a name brand like Motorola, and a local independent alarm tech.

By the way, hard line telephone monitoring is so outdated. If you want monitoring, cellular is the way to go.

IMHO you'd use both hard line and cell...You could also add IP monitoring over cable as a third layer.

 

[techreview]

Everyone should be aware that no matter what Brinks/ADT, or just about any other big name alarm service told you, the system becomes almost useless without monitoring. They let you think you own it, but it will either be deactivated, or will start beeping in the middle of the night until reset. Brinks units do this when monitoring is cancelled, and there is no way to disable it.

Folks, avoid the house brand hardware from the big name operations like ADT. The hardware is junk, and can only be monitored by them. You are much better off with a name brand like Motorola, and a local independent alarm tech.

By the way, hard line telephone monitoring is so outdated. If you want monitoring, cellular is the way to go.

Bingo! A popular ADT/Brinks yard sign next to the front door might be meant as a preventive measure, but a burglar who sees that yard sign will know exactly what to do before attempting to gain entry. He may just cut the phone line, shut the power supply, or follow the internal alarm siren sound and rip the alarm units (most systems have time delay), thus preventing the security alarm systems from notifying anyone of the break in.



We just canceled our ADT contract and switched to a cellular GSM wireless security alarm system from ProEPP.com. We also got a separated wireless indoor alarm. It is so far the best alarm system to my knowledge. All the protection is under our own control. We can easily call the alarm system, listen in via the build-in mic, arm, or disarm if necessary. As a bonus, the alarm host (control panel) can serve as a home phone. And most of all, there is No contracts, and No monthly service fees.

 

[alkemyst]

Here's another major online seller.

http://www.alarmsystemstore.com/DSC-Power-1832-alarm-system-kit-p/dsckit32power5cp01nt.htm

Alarm System Store is awesome. I know know 6 people with their products and everyone (even security system veterans) are happy.

Monitoring for less than $8-9 a month (I just paid it today and don't know the exact amount, it's cheap and I have two contracts for both my landline and my GSM).

Great tech support, great prices and service.

I have a DSC 1864, remote workshop covered, IP communication, glass breaks in every room, door and windows contacts on all, 3 motions, and more. The cost for all this equipment was less than a year monitoring from most of the 'major guys'.

I did pick up ADT signs and window stickers from ebay though as well. Every pane of glass and in front of all doors with LED lights from China

Their monitoring is VERY good. I will get calls almost immediately after batteries go low and if there is a false alarm they don't act like it is one. I don't remember the company, it was one of the big ones; but a friend had a home invasion and they asked they "ARE YOU SURE?" when giving their "DANGER WORD". Asshats ran away fortunately. If they were armed here in Florida with mandatory sentencing they'd have just executed everyone and got the same penalty more or less.