Security system opinions

[humbletaxi86]

I am looking to get a security system since someone broke into my garage while my wife and I were asleep. So far I think I am leaning toward "Frontpoint Security"; anyone have any useful personal experience with the different companies out there, good or bad?

[Fugaloo]

There are two components to a system. First is the hardware, and many of the pros use all the same brands. The difference is in the design. A well qualified guy will know what and where to put it. The more you spend the more barriers and areas will be "protected". The second part is the monitoring company. When your system triggers an alarm, the brain calls out to the monitoring company, they read a code and follow procedure. That may be to call the cops or fire, or it may be to call you. As a crime preventer you can not beat cameras. They won't help much in findoing out who broke in, but if you know the guy on the film it helps. More importantly they prevent the crime from happening. Costco sells a bunch of kits for wiring up your house with a DVR camera system that records and is viewable from the internet. Along with cameras you DEFINITELY want motion lights all around your place. Your money would be better spent making your house look like a hard target than installing a system that makes a loud sound and calls the cops after the door gets broken down. It's just like having the club in your car. It's easy enough to cut through the steering wheel, but it's a lot easier to break into the next car without a club.

[Where's Bruce?]

I take home security to the nth degree. Here's some of my solutions:

1. Disable the roll up garage door by unplugging it (thus preventing electronic devices from scanning/opening it) and I place screwdrivers in the holes in the tracks to prevent it from opening from the outside completely. I also have low tech grenade style alarms wired to it (the kind that go off when the pin is pulled) in case the door is opened from the inside. They work even if the power is out, battery powered.

2. In addition to an ADT type system, I have added surveillance cameras inside and out. Those on the exterior are high vis to deter criminals and we have signs alerting people to the fact they are being recorded.

3. My home is the best lit house on the block...360 degrees. Then I have strategically positioned super bright motion detecting security lights in addition to the ornamental lights. Again, you wanna make your residence a poor target.

4. 3 noisy dogs who don't like it when people walk by and voice their opinion night or day.

5. Low tech alarms on all yard gates that trigger a subtle warning signal inside the house, especially the master bedroom. I wanna know when someone is on the property before they get to a rear door or window. I am watching them on my monitor and tracking their movements in real time.

6. If anyone is dumb enough to enter after all this then i must assume they are brazen, crazy, dangerous or all of the above. My firearms are my final line of defense and everyone in the house is well equipped to handle the intruders. We practice home invasion scenarios in the dark so it's second nature.

Some people treat their home like a car, put any ole alarm on it and think they're safe. But if someone gets into your car, insurance will cover it. If someone attacks your family, it's not like insurance is gonna bring them back to life. So yes, I take home security very seriously because I want maximum protection for the things I value most...my loved ones. To me, anything less is crazy. Start with the alarm but don't rely on it. Make your home a fortress and an undesirable target. JMO

Alarms can call the Police but Police generally write the report and call someone to clean up the mess. Home defense is all on you.

[Rob P.]

Any alarm company will tell you that they do not put sensors on the garage door. They have to put a delay into the system after the door (whichever door that is) is opened so that the home owner can disarm the system. The delay for the garage door is so huge that, if a BG were to open the door, the delay would allow them enough time to do whatever they wanted before the alarm goes off. Thus, a sensor on the garage is useless and actually creates a large and exploitable hole in the security system.

Best bet is to disable the garage door opener. You can buy a remote controlled device which plugs into the wall and then whatever you want controlled plugs into the device. The device then makes the garage door opener POWER remote controlled. This would allow you to still use the opener when you come home and disconnect the power while away.

Amazon carries a bunch of them.

[humbletaxi86]

I have the garage door opener disabled and pegged so they can't get in. I don't know how they got in there in the first place my neighbor and I both had our garage doors wide open when we woke up in the morning, they must have master controls or something. The thing that pissed me off the most was that they stole about 20# of whitetail burger out of my freezer!

[humbletaxi86]

Bruce what kinda alarm is that on your gates that alerts you inside the house, and are there motion sensors that would work for that? I would like to know when someone is out there before they even try something funny. The motion sensor lights don't seem to bother them one bit, they are brave especially for coming in the garage while I'm there when right when they walk in the see a reloading bench and a rafter full of antlers.

[Farmerdoug]

Bruce what kinda alarm is that on your gates that alerts you inside the house, and are there motion sensors that would work for that? I would like to know when someone is out there before they even try something funny. The motion sensor lights don't seem to bother them one bit, they are brave especially for coming in the garage while I'm there when right when they walk in the see a reloading bench and a rafter full of antlers.

If I was you, I would take this burglary to DEFCON 1. The fact that the thieves saw those antlers and reloading equipment alerts them to guns. Guns equal fast cash and a reason to dig deeper. This is why I hate showing strangers my game room (which houses two of my gun cabinets). As much as I would like to brag and show off my accomplishments, I know deep down I must bight my tongue and only allow close friends and relatives in. I cringe every time a cable guy, gas company employee, or any other tradesman comes by my home. Nobody peeks unless absolutely necessary. That may sound like paranoia, but it beats three dudes with shotguns busting your door in at O-dark-thirty.... I like dogs and good lighting as a first line of defense. Dogs will alert you faster than anything; and good lighting lets you and your neighbors see things at night that are out of the ordinary. Good luck brother. We all feel for you. There's nothing in this world worse than a thief. Thieves not only steal your material items, they also steal away your peace of mind and well being. As far as I'm concerned, thieves should be hung just like murderers, rapists, and child molesters. Our society has no use for them; as most are lifelong career criminals.

[Rob P.]

I have the garage door opener disabled and pegged so they can't get in. I don't know how they got in there in the first place my neighbor and I both had our garage doors wide open when we woke up in the morning, they must have master controls or something. The thing that pissed me off the most was that they stole about 20# of whitetail burger out of my freezer!

What they did was drive around pushing the button of various garage door remotes that they already had. When the frequency matches, your door opens for them and they just stop & walk in like they have permission.

If you have a garage door opener that is remote controlled, you MUST disable the power to the opener to keep thieves out. (or clip the remote antenna off at the board so it is no longer remote activated. Then either install a manual key coded pad or go inside & manually hit the opener button.)

[Fugaloo]

The garge doors nowadays use a digital spread spectrum. That means every time you use the opener, it creates a private digital handshake and is given the pass for the next button press. So unless your opener is twenty years old you don't have to worry about that.

The alarm system itself is just a circuit board and sensors. When the sensor is closed, the circuit is closed. When the sensor is open the circuit is open. You can sensor anything, and with a good security system you can integrate even them into the interface you already use. The garge door could be programmed to trigger any kind of report, be it a siren, a light, a booby trap, or a call to the police. It's just what your security guy is willing to program into it. Any barrier can be beefed up. All it takes is a little work, some materials, and the added time it takes to get in and out. Deterrence is the best medicine though. Bruce has it right to be a well known fortress. But even with all that if somebody wanted in there bad enough there is a way. Lights and cameras do the most for the money. High profile, vandal proof, night vision with accompanying motion lights is the way. I have a 1000 watt HPS flood light on a motion timer, and a rotary count down timer. It lights up my court like monday night football. So the kids can come up and turn it on for thirty minutes a pull, and then it goes onto motion activated from 11:30 until 5:00am. That way it is really functional during the evening for the kids to play in the dark, and everybody in the court knows that it takes an animal larger than forty five pounds to turn it on late at night. So even if I don't see it trip, my neighbors might, and in a court that number gets multiplied by everybody that lives there.

If you know how to solder or wire things like car stereos you can do your own systems. If you know how to design them, you can find all the parts you need on the internet. If not, call a local security guy pay him for an hour and come up with creative ways to fortify your castle. You will pay premium dollars from a guy who is good but if you can't do it yourself it's well worth the money

[spectr17]

Just installed a Swann 4 camera video system (DV8-2600) for $325 for a friend. 8 camera channels, 500G hard drive good for 7 days recording before it starts over. You can install a 2 gig drive for more room and there is a USB port to do backups. Camera IR good to 70 ft, daytime you can make out car plates no problem, night time not so much unless lit real good and shorter distance. 3 camera resolutions, I set him to the best rez at NTSC: D1 (704 x 480), they also have HD1 (704 x 240) and CIF (352 x 240). It uses H.264, the latest recording compression technology. This is a wired system so you have to string cable in the attic or staple it along the outside of the eaves. They do have wireless cams, not usually as good as rez and you still have to have power at the camera location.

http://www.swann.com/s/products/view/?product=1161

The slick part is they have an app to watch your house from a computer or cellphone. He can view all 4 cams at once or tap the camera he wants full screen. You can also set alerts to email you when motion is detected in zones you set up so you can flip on your phone to see what's up. You can do screen captures and email them to people like the cops if needed from anywhere. The friend plans to add a PTZ, point, tilt, zoom, camera for the front area of his home for $245. He's had some issues with vehicles parked on the street and needs a good camera there that can cover the whole frontage of his 100 foot lot. That leaves 3 more channels he can add inside or just not use them. I'd want to monitor the hallway and garage since that's where you're going to see them inside most likely. The slickest part is he can monitor the outside of his home and garage if he wants while in bed now with his cell. That bump in the dark can now be checked without hopping out of bed to fire up the puter or walking outside to see what the cameras see.

He also has motion lights outside which help the cameras see better at night. He doesn't advertise the alarm and I think that's a good idea, you're just giving the bad guys info on what system they need to hack or turn off. Lock your electrical panel box and install a battery backup system for your alarm and video system that will hang at least 4 hours. A good home/office UPS battery backup one is just over $100. Don't hide keys, the first thing burglars look for since they provide a QUIET entry. Get to know your neighbors if you don't already, a nosy neighbor can prevent a burglary or at least get the cops coming to run them off. Don't yap about your jewelry, guns or money you have. I just saw that update on the newlywed cruise guy that they now think was rolled because he mentioned he was carrying a large amount of cash. I disagree on being a known fortress, why advertise? That just makes the bad guys curious what you're hiding. Low key off the radar but with several layers of good alerting systems is what you want. A front door camera is easily spotted if you don't hide it well but you would be surprised how many shady looking folks shake doorknobs during the day when you're at work.

Watch your backtrail as you get close to home, take another street if you think someone followed you home from the mall or bank. Home invasions happen to anyone and anywhere. Don't flash your guns or let on what you have or where your safe is. It may not be your neighbor's kid who breaks in but he may blab to his meth head buddy who will.

Build a safe room in your house if you don't have one, somewhere you wife/kids can bail to if the house is invaded. Just a reinforced space with a steel frame door that the bad guys can't pry open in an short time.

Keep the cell charged and a spare battery handy.

Oh and his son doesn't know yet that dad said no more parties when mom and pop are gone out of town. I'm the bad guy now he said lol.

[mtnsammy]

Bright lights are old school and they make it hard for cops to see. Think about it the cop is patroling in the dark, his night vision is sharp then he gets to your house lit up like Vegas. All the night vision is blown away. Your house is well lit but will the crook stay in the light? Mild night lighting works best. Enough to see but not excessive. I use 7 watt flour. bulbs. Little juice and I can see all around my house. If you walk up at night there is just enough light to see but nothing that would blind someone.

Cameras are the best. Alarm companies all have a delay of 15-45 minutes before responce. Cops get the calls after the crooks have left. In the high desert we had crooks in and out of the house in less than 5 minutes. When was the last time you called 911? It takes at least that long to just talk to someone. The camera systems now work off of motion. Most can be set up to send you a text and pic when the alarm/ motion goes off. Crook inside, text sent, recording starts, you can see on your phone dude in blue shirt red cap inside house. Now when you call 911 they have a reason to place you in the front of the line for service rather than send someone out for a service call. Better than that you can send a video of the crime to the cops and the insurance company. Faster claims and better prosecution.

Alarm companies other than monitoring your video feed is kinda worthless now. Loud noises can be made without paying 50-100 a month.

Just my opinion and I am sure someone has good to say about their alarm company. My dogs, cameras and lighting has kept me safe for 20 years. KNock on wood.

[subfan]

Get a dog.

[Where's Bruce?]

Bruce what kinda alarm is that on your gates that alerts you inside the house, and are there motion sensors that would work for that? I would like to know when someone is out there before they even try something funny. The motion sensor lights don't seem to bother them one bit, they are brave especially for coming in the garage while I'm there when right when they walk in the see a reloading bench and a rafter full of antlers.

There's a world of options, the installer who did our place made em at home. It's a simple plastic housing for a battery with a pushpin. Every time the gate is opened, it pushes the into the housing and completes the circuit. This in turn triggers a small red light w/ buzzer on my nightstand. You can use the same technology for a regular alarm but chose not to because the neighbors (the ones I like) and family will come and use the pool in the summer and I didn't wanna deal with the fine of false alarms in my town. I can also lock the gates if I choose to...something I generally do during power outages when my big azz generator is running.

[spectr17]

Bruce what kinda alarm is that on your gates that alerts you inside the house, and are there motion sensors that would work for that? I would like to know when someone is out there before they even try something funny. The motion sensor lights don't seem to bother them one bit, they are brave especially for coming in the garage while I'm there when right when they walk in the see a reloading bench and a rafter full of antlers.

Yes there are motion sensors you can use to trip a circuit to activate a light or buzzer. The problem with motion sensors is the false alarms due to the sun reflecting off trees and bushes and the wind moving them around. The other issue is when the temp nears 98F the sensors have trouble discerning a warm body from the ambient air. It's why your porch light sensor works great in the winter but only turns on when you're right underneath it in the summer. If your summer temps don't get that high then it's not a worry. You might look into the driveway beam sensors, they are an IR beam of light sent between 2 boxes (transmitter & receiver) that when broken sends an alert. Less falsing with these and you can mount them higher so just a person sets them off and not a shorter cat or dog.

On the bright flood lights, MtnSammy is right, not only do they blind the cops they also blind your cameras too. Bright floodlights and car lights even cause the video to flare and you can't see anything then. Soft lighting works the best. You also have to take this into consideration when mounting a camera if you're after nighttime IR viewing, any bright source of light is going to mess with the hi gain IR cams. One install I worked on the neighbor had one of them mercury halide security lights on his back porch which messed up the friend's long range IR camera. We ended up moving the cam so it had a different view of the area he wanted covered.

[humbletaxi86]

Thanks for all the help everyone, I think the camera with the cell phone connecion sounds like the ticket I'm gettin sick of walking around the perimiter of the house in my undies with the 12 guage everytime the wife thinks she hears something. I got a new dog too my older lab is about like the mayhem dog off the allstate comercial... that comercial is hilarious!

[Huntnup]

First off thank you all for the info. This has been something I have been wanting to do, but put off.
If you install a wireless key pad on your door, will that still keep the garage opener hakers out?

Thanks