Wireless Home Security Systems?

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dromel

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I had a break in last week so now I'm pursuing the age old tradition of locking the barn door.
I'm looking for recommendations for a Wireless Home Security System, not monitored. There seems to be a ton of them on EBay and Amazon for around $100 to $200 I would need it to dial 4-6 numbers to my cell and my neighbors, all of which are former military and LEO. After several hurricanes and other incidents we have formed a strong neighborhood mutual assistance group. For various reasons the police response time in my city is 1 to 3 hours.
I would need to secure 4 sliding patio doors and about 10 windows. Not sure about using motion detectors, as I have two cats. I have a background in electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as tool room machinist, so installation should not be a problem.
Any thoughts?
 
todays motion detectors have a pet mode that can allow a small to midsize sized animal to pass by but still not allow even a smaller kid to pass. A couple of the motion detectors can cover a home but you should pay to have it monitored. Insurance should be lower with monitoring.
 
Buy honeywell. Do not buy GE. Over the last 17 years in the security business that's the biggest 2 things I've learned about the equipment. Honeywell is all I've used for years now. For the wireless contacts if you get model #5816 they will work for your doors and windows. You need motion detector (s) as well. Window contacts only work if the window is opened up. If someone breaks it and crawls in they are useless. But I still recommend them bc they usually raise them after breaking them to avoid cutting themselves.
I like to put in a outside bullhorn and / or strobe light. Thats not so easy with a wireless system. They don't put out enough power to operate one. You will need a trigger cable to make one work. Most of the wireless motions are 80# immunity. If you look hard enough you should be able to find a 40# one. If you just want a local alarm I would recommend buying keyfobs for everyone and turning your entry time to like 5 seconds or even instant with no delay. Yall can disarm it from outside.
 
I'll just chime in to second what fallout mike said. I have 10 years in the business, with half of them working beside him, and share many of the same experiences with equipment. Honeywell is good quality stuff and very user friendly. Don't worry about your cats. Pet immune motion sensors are available and are reliable for use with small animals.
Because of what he said regarding the bullhorn and wireless systems, I would suggest getting a hardwire system like a Vista20 and making it wireless. The only wires would be for kepyad, power, siren/strobe and phone. The phone wire can be eliminated with a cellular dialer. You can do this by either simply adding a wireless receiver to your control panel, or purchasing the kit with the RF keypad, which has a built in wireless reciever.
It's technically not "wireless" but all of your contacts, motion sensors, glassbreak sensors etc. are wireless, so wires are at a minimum.

Hope this helps.
I also agree that this is a good topic to keep, especially in the strategies and tactics section. Although I have no authority or say so, I do hope the mods will agree and leave this open for you.
 
If you get the vista system you will need 6160 alpha pad to program it. This will get pricey bc they are over $100 for that keypad along with the $100 6150RF keypad needed to run the wireless devices. But you may could hardwire some things with this and save a lot of money on the wireless devices except for the must have wireless you will need. If you go with honeywell you can contact me and I will gladly walk you through all the programming.
 
Our cable company offers wireless alarms. You buy the equipment they monitor for $30 +/- a month. They have an app for it so you can get alerts or even see your camera
 
Very glad to see this post about security. For the most part no one ever comes into my home and then I make it a point to keep these in the front part of our home. However a few weeks ago a couple that are in process of buying mobile homes and land from us made a visit. Before I could redirect them both were in my den (MAN CAVE for lack of better word), this is where all my goodies are at. I have alarm's both motion and magnetic switches on both front and rear doors along with a few on key windows. However on Friday I had a situation that made my wife dial 911 because of heart issues. Our little community has a somewhat decent rescue squad but all of a sudden not only our RS responded but looked like everyone in the county had showed up, most of these people I had no idea as to who they were or why they were here. Wife being the super woman she is never left my side and kept all she could out of my den. Don't want to sound over paranoid but sure don't want strangers look at two old people that would be an easy target. I am man enough to admit that I know enough about the best security systems to know I don't know enough. So I will be following this to gain information and knowledge about the best way to go.
 
If it involves camera's and DVR's recording video, there is a important caveat to remember.

Surveilance camera systems do not have watermarks or encryption so they are not likely to be usable in court since they are easy to tamper with.

Security camera systems have encryption and sometimes watermarks so they are usable in court.

Also, above all else, get HD quality (720 or better 1080 lines of resolution) and color, not black and white cameras. Video is no good if it's blurry and low resolution so you can't see or identify anything. Look at reviews from more than one source, as some DVR makers are Junk.

Shop carefully or shop (and pay) twice.
 
A very decent dvr runs $1200-$1600. $200-$300 cameras need a decent dvr to reach their potential. Most people can get by with a $1000 4 camera system though.
 
I have seen some of the security/surveillance cameras that have a picture quality of squat. I didn't know for sure what was the best or better for what it's being asked to do but kinda thought the higher the lines the higher the quality of video. As I have told others before I'm not rich but not selling pencils on the street corner yet and I rather have a one decent picture over 200 ft of grainy out of focus video.
 
Walker the higher the lines of resolution the better the picture ... as long asv your DVR is capable of transferring that quality. Great cameras and a crap DVR is still a crap picture. Everything has to be good to get a good picture.
 
Thanks Mike, that is pretty much what I thought also. For the last year or so our kids have been trying to get us to move in with one of them to help take care of us. I hate to admit but security for my wife and myself has become dependent on IF I HEAR in time and at this point of our life I can bump into a Marshmallow and get a bruise. One daughter in Mesquite Tx has been on our case to move there and if I do then I don't have to worry as much about the Security cameras or other systems. But until I finally give in I still want to put in a system that will afford some of that warm fuzzy feeling, just wondering if it would be better to have one that is monitored by a company or just a ultra loud alarm and video.
 
Walker, if you are having trouble like that I would advise you to just get one through a reputable alarm company in your area. You need yours monitored. Get a panic button for you and your wife. You can get a wristwatch style, necklace, or on a clip on your belt. A camera system is never a bad idea either. Be prepared to pay for the cameras though. Most alarm companies will charge $3, 000 to $4, 000 for a 4 camera system. You would come out much cheaper getting someone to do it on the side with the equipment you buy. However, if you have a company do it and you have problems in the future then you have someone to service it.
 
Mike I was expecting to have to pay a fair amount for the systems. I get irritated at myself at all the things I can't do anymore. That an other limitations is why I'm giving thought to moving in with daughter. I might just get me a couple Rottweilers for home security but my 8yr old black cat might kick their butts, I had an ole Tom that was huge, and have actually watched the cat cross the yard and jump on big dogs an run the down the road. Have another appointment with a heart specialist tomorrow will base my decision on what he has to say.
 
We had a breakin at a weekend home in the NC mountains a few years ago, and felt exactly as you do about the need to install a security system. Bought a super cheap X-10 system with motion detecting and window/door switches that worked just as we hoped.

Only problem is the system false alarmed every few months for unknown reasons, maybe when the furnace came on creating an unintended heat source for the motion detectors.

Bottom line is I realized that when the system called my fine neighbors at 2 AM and they felt the need/obligation to hop in the car and go investigate what was going on, I was putting them at risk for my property that was insured anyway, other than a deductible.

Now I have upgraded the exterior lighting and door locks, disabled the phone dialer, and have only a 40w red light bulb that hangs in the front window that lights when the system is tripped.

I no longer worry about my neighbors getting their sleep interrupted or their lives put on the line.

My point is, harden your home to make it a tougher target for dirtballs, and they will find an easier place to work. They hate motion detecting lights and will not hang around.
 
If you get the vista system you will need 6160 alpha pad to program it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I forgot about that. I forgot, not everyone has one of them behind their seat. lol
But, like you said, the money saved on hard wiring what you can will likely pay for the 6160 KP more than once.
 
Pyzon, so you are saying you bought a super cheap system that false alarmed all the time just like you hoped? When you get cheap stuff false alarms happen a lot. Especially if its cheap wireless crap.
 
My experience says get a good monitored system with cellular backup. We have had 2 break-in attempts in the past 6 years. Both times they cut the phone line first, then went for the windows. Imagine their surprise when the audible alarm sounded and the police rolled up within a few minutes. Caught one and the other ran off. Nothing taken in either attempt.

Spend the money if you want a good system, and have it professionally installed. A cheap system that doesn't do what you want it to do is no system at all.
 
I'd be very interested to hear about others' experience with various DIY or wireless systems as I am considering them for our home. I have only heard terrible things about ADT, and reviews for both SimpliSafe and Fortress systems seem very positive. the Fortress system includes an indoor and outdoor siren that would be sure to draw attention. Both setups can be programmed to call a phone number when tripped but I am not sure if they need landlines. The Fortress is not monitored and therefore no monthly fee, Simplisafe has monitoring but no contract for $15 per month.

http://www.amazon.com/Simplisafe2-W...TF8&qid=1373740462&sr=8-1&keywords=simplisafe

http://www.amazon.com/Fortress-Wire...utdoor/dp/B00A1D90Q6/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
 
I just got online and was about to order SimpliSafe. However, based on other blogs, I will order it direct from the SimpliSafe web site. No price difference, but you are assured of the latest and greatest version and can use discount coupons, like SimpliSafe.com/Hannity, which is good for 10 per cent off.
I will keep this thread advised as to how easy and effective their system really is. I'm going to include the $15/mo monitoring and will try to put some of my neighbor's phones on their list, depending on how it is able to be configured.
Stay tuned.
Dromel
 
I've had simplisafe for about 8 months now and have been very happy with it. Installation was a non-event, its been reliable, they call very quickly when something goes off. I pay to have the feature to monitor / control it with my iphone too.
 
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