Home alarm system

[coffeeman]

Hi all

I have a burgler alarm in my house. It's no ADT etc. It's simple system I got 4-5 yr ago. I have a few wireless sensors that see the intruder and dials my cell phone and 2 other phones. It leaves a recording on 3 dialed numbers of intruder message. Alarm dials one and if no answer then dials second number; up to 3. The neat thing; when call comes in, from house, I hit # and I am connected to home and I can listen to anyone who is in there. I can't talk back to the house. So far I have caught 3 intruders. Brother-in-law who is allowed into house but didn't know about alarm and nephew who came home early after an out of town trip were both caught by surprise. It was interesting to listen to both of them talking and using some choice words of "What the heck was that etc." The alarm makes a lot of noise till I shut it off and then I can listen to whoever is in house. The 3rd person surprised was the cleaning lady. She didn't hang around so I could listen to reaction. However, in the last 5 years I never needed the alarm. No unauthorized entries.

Now I want to upgrade. I was wondering if anyone can suggest an enhanced system. I would like to get something with video and be able to actually talk back to an intruder if I wanted to. Something like saying to intruder, "I got ya, your busted or the police are on the way." I think using a laptop to access home cameras would be a nice feature. Recording the intruders would be nice. I have heard most properties ane robbed by someone who knows the property they target. A video has a good chance to identify someone.

For those wondering, why not just get ADT or one like. I have ADT at work. I probably have to answer about 4 false alarms a year and always at 3am in morning. On one alarm the police went through the building and told me "It's safe to go in. All is secure." Turns out intruder went through roof and police never noticed. Fortunately, I never stayed at building, I just reset alarm and discovered the hole in roof the next morning. At home , if I get call from my simple system, I can contact relatives or trusted neighbors. They can be there in 5 minutes. The state police might take an hour or more depending on how busy they are.

You all have a SAFE and GOOD weekend.

Cheers...Coffeeman

 

[YanmarFever]

Coffee, I have 3 ADT alarms, we had only 1 false alarm in 14 yrs. (a bird)

I use to be in the security bussiness for 18 yrs. and ADT was always the best alarm system we saw back then. The least false alarms of all the systems I saw.

My alarm also calls me if it were to go off & I can listen too.

There is an alarm co that puts microphones & actually listens in if the alarm were to trigger, its called sonitrol, (very professional)

Take care Ernie

 

[MossRoad]

Just a few things to think about....
If I were going to rob a house, the first thing I would do is cut the phone lines, the cable lines and kill the power at the meter. Then I'd leave for 1/2 an hour and see if anyone showed up. Unless your alarm system has battery backup and a cell phone autodialer your message will never leave your house.

- Put an outdoor camera on the side of your house that has the utility hookups, at each entrance door of your home, and towards the rear of your property.

- Get a computer with a video capture card, preferrably 4 or 8 ports. They usually come with software that will monitor the pictures of the cameras and record photos and/or video if motion is detected. That software should also have FTP and e-mail capability. It will FTP the photos and/or video to your personal web space, and then send you an e-mail that something was recorded. This way, even if the intuder cuts your phone and internet, a picture of him will have already been sent to your website before the line is cut.

- Get a cellular auto dialer.

- Put a sign at your back door that read something like, "If you can read this sign, your photo is already posted on the internet."

 

[czechsonofagun]

If you have the cell phone coverage, there are systems to send you a SMS (short message) to your cellphone. Like this one:

BT Home Monitored Wireless Burglar Alarm |

My friend had a burglar broke in his weekend cottage and what he showed me ws amazing. He had sensors in every room and the phone listed messages to show exactly waht time the guy entered what room - of course he called the local police as soon as he got SMS #2 and they caught him. He even got a message from the entrance hall when the police entered the cottage.

 

[kenmac]

Just a few things to think about....
If I were going to rob a house, the first thing I would do is cut the phone lines, the cable lines and kill the power at the meter. Then I'd leave for 1/2 an hour and see if anyone showed up. Unless your alarm system has battery backup and a cell phone autodialer your message will never leave your house.

- Put an outdoor camera on the side of your house that has the utility hookups, at each entrance door of your home, and towards the rear of your property.

- Get a computer with a video capture card, preferrably 4 or 8 ports. They usually come with software that will monitor the pictures of the cameras and record photos and/or video if motion is detected. That software should also have FTP and e-mail capability. It will FTP the photos and/or video to your personal web space, and then send you an e-mail that something was recorded. This way, even if the intuder cuts your phone and internet, a picture of him will have already been sent to your website before the line is cut.



If they are going to go through the trouble to cut the, cable , phone lines, kill power at the meter . Don't you think he/she will also wear a mask so they won't be noticed no matter how many pictures you take ? You would also have to have battery back up to power the computer/ cameras when he/ she cuts the power at the meter

 

[coffeeman]

Just a few things to think about....
If I were going to rob a house, the first thing I would do is cut the phone lines, the cable lines and kill the power at the meter. Then I'd leave for 1/2 an hour and see if anyone showed up. Unless your alarm system has battery backup and a cell phone autodialer your message will never leave your house.

- Put an outdoor camera on the side of your house that has the utility hookups, at each entrance door of your home, and towards the rear of your property.

- Get a computer with a video capture card, preferrably 4 or 8 ports. They usually come with software that will monitor the pictures of the cameras and record photos and/or video if motion is detected. That software should also have FTP and e-mail capability. It will FTP the photos and/or video to your personal web space, and then send you an e-mail that something was recorded. This way, even if the intuder cuts your phone and internet, a picture of him will have already been sent to your website before the line is cut.

- Get a cellular auto dialer.

- Put a sign at your back door that read something like, "If you can read this sign, your photo is already posted on the internet."

Hi there

The phone line is covered. Recently I had underground phone entrance put in. Phone company never bothered to unhook dead phone line from pole. So only the phone company and I know of extra line. Oh I forgot, the contractor who ran new line across inside house, the company who dug the trench for line, contractors helpers and probably about ten neighbors who inspected the job as it was being done.

The cellular dialer is good idea. I asked phone co about that a few years ago, but couldn't get info. Lots changed in 4 yrs. The video to email interests me a lot.

I like signs idea, much like ADT signs of alarm.

Cheers Coffeeman

 

[MossRoad]

If they are going to go through the trouble to cut the, cable , phone lines, kill power at the meter . Don't you think he/she will also wear a mask so they won't be noticed no matter how many pictures you take ? You would also have to have battery back up to power the computer/ cameras when he/ she cuts the power at the meter

The picture is taken and sent before they kill the power and phone line. The original poster was asking about upgrading to video to suplement an alarm system. I agree that video is no substitution for a good alarm system. It is, however, a good suplement to the homeowner to see what the heck happened while they were not looking.

 

[coffeeman]

The picture is taken and sent before they kill the power and phone line. The original poster was asking about upgrading to video to suplement an alarm system. I agree that video is no substitution for a good alarm system. It is, however, a good suplement to the homeowner to see what the heck happened while they were not looking.

Hi MossR

In addition, I thought it might be nice to be able to contact house cameras over the net to look see in real time. I have an X10 system now. I got mine at Home Depot. X10 is a low end alarm sales company. When X10 first set up on the net one used to be able to access a roof top camera on their building in Vegas. In the demo I, the customer, could scan the street from my computer. It was neat. I don't think the demo is on their site anymore and I'm not sure if they sold a kit to setup such a system for ones self. I haven't checked them out yet. I think their cameras aren't that clear. I have heard of folks setting up to watch employees at work from their laptops. (1984 is alive and well)

Cheers...Coffeeman

 

[jbrumberg]

I utilize a more natural deterrent, and I do not need electricity (food, water, and pooper scooper devices help). She is 90 pounds, loyal, and protective. There is nothing we could do if I my wife and I were not home and a thief was serious about gaining entrance (i.e. "offing" the dog), but if that same individual tried entrance and got through "Samantha" and we were home I would be more than prepared- I have a choice of additional deterrents and it would not be pretty for the intruder(s). Jay

 

[MossRoad]

Hi MossR

In addition, I thought it might be nice to be able to contact house cameras over the net to look see in real time. I have an X10 system now. I got mine at Home Depot. X10 is a low end alarm sales company. When X10 first set up on the net one used to be able to access a roof top camera on their building in Vegas. In the demo I, the customer, could scan the street from my computer. It was neat. I don't think the demo is on their site anymore and I'm not sure if they sold a kit to setup such a system for ones self. I haven't checked them out yet. I think their cameras aren't that clear. I have heard of folks setting up to watch employees at work from their laptops. (1984 is alive and well)

Cheers...Coffeeman

Yes, X10 still makes systems that you can access remotely over the internet from anywhere. I have a few of their cameras just for fun and do not rely on them for security, although the ones that are prominently visible do serve a purpose.