Recommend Me A Wireless Apartment Home Security System

[Pardus]

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[mizzou]

My ADT Pulse unit has been very reliable for the last year. A bit expensive, but nice to know you have decent 24/7 customer service.

 

[JackBurton]

1 Year monitoring agreement, cost of the GE Simon XT is $238.99
3 Year monitoring agreement, cost of the GE Simon XT is $99.99

Correct.

 

[boomhower]

Thanks to this thread I spent some cash. Went with Frontpoint. Wheeled and dealed a bit. Got the system, two door sensors, two motion sensors and a fire/smoke sensor for $135. Yeah it's a three year contract but I don't see my need to a system to go away anytime soon.

 

[Pardus]

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[drinkmorejava]

You could try something like Canary. It's a kickstarter project. Preorders shipping in July are $199.

 

[yuchai]

Simplisafe:
• $275 for hardware + 24.99/mo monitoring, 1st year cost: $574.88
• Equipment is not used by any other home security company in the world.
• Keypad not backlit, Fischer-Price feel to it.
• Motion detectors are large and clunky looking, so are the door and window sensors.
• Does NOT have “smash and grab” technology comparable to FrontPoint.
• Alarm comes from the base system and not the keypad. so the burglar would try to smash that and not go on a hunt for the base system, which is sounding the alarm but is also the device that sends out the call to dispatch.
• If the base station were destroyed by an intruder, the monitoring station would not be aware of any issues and, thus no emergency would be detected or followed up on.
• Base station for must be placed at least 15 feet away from the keypad or it will not operate.
• If you have a Simplisafe sign out front to let people know your home is protected BUT the burglar knows that if they find the base, they will be home free.
• Does not offer any home automation options and does not plan to in the future. Not a deal breaker, but limits future upgrades.
• Not CSAA Certified or UL

Frontpoint:
• $99.99 for hardware + $42.99/mo monitoring, 1st year cost: $529.89
1st two mos monitoring free
• GE SIMON XT is not proprietary
• Smash & Grab system notifies the monitoring station of an emergency when the control panel is destroyed.
• Must pay for monitoring for 3-years, not a big deal to me.

I know people who had ADT and the tell me those alarm systems can be disabled very easily. Either way, will test it out before committing to the contract.

http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-home-security-system/

So help me understnad the Frontpoint system. Sounds like it has no base station and the keypad serves the function to send the signal when there's an intruder? I get that it is supposed to send the signal even if the keypad is destroyed, but how can that be guaranteed? It would seem that if the destruction is complete enough on the first blow that it could fail to send a signal?

At least with the Simplisafe you can hide the base station, maybe even inside a locked room or closet. The idea is that unless the burglar knows exactly where it is, it would be too late to find and destroy it. By the way, I think it's the keypad, not the base station that sounds the alarm for the Simplisafe, precisely for that reason. The base station is not supposed to give out any lights or sound when something is triggered.

 

[Pardus]

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[JackBurton]

Frontpoint uses a single control panel that any criminal can take apart and disable in under 20 seconds without any tools, it's really pathetic. The Frontpoint unit can be opened by prying the plastic cover off the housing, it's designed that way, then you have access to siren, battery and so on.

I'll give SimpleSafe a call soon.

First, can you point out the loose wires you mentioned? I don't see it in the picture. Secondly, read the instructions, you put the keypad in a place away from the windows so it can't be seen from outside. When someone breaks in, they have to FIND the unit first. As soon as a sensor is triggered, the alarm goes off and FrontPoint is notified. You also receive a text stating an alarm was triggered. They can cut whatever wire they want after the alarm goes off, it isn't going to do any good.

 

[JackBurton]

So help me understnad the Frontpoint system. Sounds like it has no base station and the keypad serves the function to send the signal when there's an intruder? I get that it is supposed to send the signal even if the keypad is destroyed, but how can that be guaranteed? It would seem that if the destruction is complete enough on the first blow that it could fail to send a signal?

At least with the Simplisafe you can hide the base station, maybe even inside a locked room or closet. The idea is that unless the burglar knows exactly where it is, it would be too late to find and destroy it. By the way, I think it's the keypad, not the base station that sounds the alarm for the Simplisafe, precisely for that reason. The base station is not supposed to give out any lights or sound when something is triggered.

You could put FrontPoint's keypad anywhere you'd like. You can put it in the closet if you want.

 

[jagec]

You could put FrontPoint's keypad anywhere you'd like. You can put it in the closet if you want.

And then have to jog up to your bedroom, open the closet, and enter the code every time you come home from work? No thanks.

 

[JackBurton]

And then have to jog up to your bedroom, open the closet, and enter the code every time you come home from work? No thanks.

What, do you think we're in the 1980's? You use the app on your phone to disarm the system before you even get in the house. You don't even need to set a delay on the system.

 

[Pardus]

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[JackBurton]

The keypad is too heavy to mount on the wall with velcro strips due to the backup battery making up for most of the weight. I'm a renter and my lease forbids me from drilling holes in the wall.

The company should use a lithium battery instead of this old style brick. I don't want the unit on a table or in a closet, if its not easy for me to disable upon entry, there is no point to using it. The entire system looks like it was built in someone's garage, there is a cheapness look and feel to it.

Disabling the unit via an app is ok, but i don't carry my cell with me all the time. What if you lose/break your cell. Relying on an app 100% of the time is not a good idea.

None of my closets have an electrical outlet to power this thing. I'm looking at other solutions.

It sounds like you didn't even try it and have a very outdated view of how an alarm should function. If you don't want to use an app, they have a remote to disable the arm. The point is, the only time you should use the keypad is when you are already home and arming for the night. Entering the home doesn't require touching the keypad and I wouldn't put a delay on ANY alarm. I want to disable before I enter, not after. I don't want to give a thief one second of extra time in my place. However it seems like you have a different goal in mind for your solution.

 

[Pardus]

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[JackBurton]

Jack, How long have you worked for Frontpoint ?

The unit is flashing with some error code. Will not pay $43/mo for a so-called security system that looks and feels like crap.

I don't work for them, but I've fully configured and set their system up for a friend. And IMO, it's a great wireless system. It sounds like you are just fumbling around with it and are not taking time to even try and set it up properly. If you are getting error codes, call the support line. It's mostly likely something YOU'VE done since it doesn't sound like you are reading the directions. This could be simply resolved by calling the support line, instead you're griping about it. It could be very well something wrong with the unit, but you haven't even tried to look into it. The "looks and feels like crap" comment seems like you are still stuck on the keypad and not the system's overall features or performance. Again, the keypad should be the least of your concerns but for some reason you are REALLY focused on its appearance. I don't know what to tell you, maybe people should post pictures of potential security systems' keypads and you just make your decision with that.

Fact of the matter is, it is a wireless system, designed for flexibility. If you want an iPad type control panel, it is most likely going to be a built in wired system, however you'll be hard pressed to find a better feature set than FrontPoint's. If there is something another product offers that FrontPoint doesn't, post it. I'd honestly like to see it.

Again, I'm have no stake in FrontPoint. If you go with something else, I couldn't care less. But from your comments it sounds like someone taking equipment out of a box, putting it together without reading directions and then claiming it's crap when it doesn't work.

 

[boomhower]

I received mine Friday and got it installed today. Can't remember exactly when I ordered but it was the beginning of the week so less than 5 days to my door. Followed the directions and got everything put up. Called the number and a nice guy walked me through the set-up process. Took about ten minutes. I've not got everything up and running just fine. Put the keypad on a desk. I have mine set to no delay, turn it off before I get home with the app. A sensor on each door, motion in the living room and motion in the hallway in case they come in through a window. Plus a fire sensor.

The control panel is pretty much the industry standard. Not much better you can really get unless you want a touchscreen but I never plan on really using it much. Time will tell on durability but for set-up of all sensors and the notifications from the website and app, I'm very satisfied. Down the road I'll add some door locks and other z-wave stuff but for now it's got what I need. For $135 up front and $43/month I feel it's a good value for what you get. If you call to order bargain with them. They wanted close to $300 for the equipment I wanted, got it down to $135.

 

[rh71]

^ $43/mo. is pretty ridiculous IMO. With central station here it's as low as $15/mo. Cellular instead of phone line is $25/mo. Even the overpriced ADT packages are $29/mo. or so.

Is it so they can recoup the low up-front price? I got 2 Honeywell keypads, 2 wireless motion sensors, and 2 wireless door sensors for $250 installed from a local alarm guy and paying $15/mo. for central monitoring.

If you are not doing cellular monitoring, you may as well do internet-connected central monitoring for $9/mo. http://www.alarmrelay.com

 

[Pardus]

^ $43/mo. is pretty ridiculous IMO. With central station here it's as low as $15/mo. Cellular instead of phone line is $25/mo. Even the overpriced ADT packages are $29/mo. or so.

Is it so they can recoup the low up-front price? I got 2 Honeywell keypads, 2 wireless motion sensors, and 2 wireless door sensors for $250 installed from a local alarm guy and paying $15/mo. for central monitoring.

If you are not doing cellular monitoring, you may as well do internet-connected central monitoring for $9/mo. http://www.alarmrelay.com

ADT wanted $100 for the hardware and $50/mo for monitoring. They also wanted to sell me a warranty on the panel in case it breaks. Worst part of it, they won't do a self install.

 

[boomhower]

^ $43/mo. is pretty ridiculous IMO. With central station here it's as low as $15/mo. Cellular instead of phone line is $25/mo. Even the overpriced ADT packages are $29/mo. or so.

Is it so they can recoup the low up-front price? I got 2 Honeywell keypads, 2 wireless motion sensors, and 2 wireless door sensors for $250 installed from a local alarm guy and paying $15/mo. for central monitoring.

If you are not doing cellular monitoring, you may as well do internet-connected central monitoring for $9/mo. http://www.alarmrelay.com

I'd say that's a large part of the cost, making that money back. Does your $15/month allow remote monitoring of the system?

 

[Pardus]

Updates so far, all quotes are for cellular monitoring.

ADT: $55/mo for monitoring, 3-year commitment. $100 for someone to come out and take measurements. Uses GE Simon control panel. Supervisor called me back to give a quote. Refused to put it in writing.

Frontpoint: $43/mo for monitoring, 3-year commitment. $100 for GE Simon control panel.

SimplySafe: $30/mo for monitoring, No commitment. Proprietary hardware.. Refused to send quote by email.

Protect America: $55/mo for monitoring, Free GE Simon, Free Video Camera, Free Remote. Free Mini Pin Pad. 3-year commitment. Refused to send quote by email.

LaserShield -$35/mo for monitoring, 3-year commitment. $215 for proprietary hardware, one year warranty only, after that you pay to have it fixed.

LifeShield - $30-$40 for monitoring, 5-year commitment. $50 for proprietary hardware

 

[iRONic]

$199.00 at woot!