Home security system

ItemB

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I sell and install security camera systems. Do yourself a favor and stay away from wireless. They still need a cable run to them for power but the video signal is wireless. They don't have a very good range and lots of interference issue. For $1000 you can get a nice 4 camera IP system that will connect to your existing internet, at no additional cost, and can be viewed from any computer or phone. Make sure to get an IP system. The picture quality is at a minimum 3 times better with IP over the old analog systems. They are easy to install yourself. Plug and play with just minimal router port forwarding knowledge.

This is what I am planning on doing this spring/summer install a few IP camera's around the hosue then, get simpli safe for the doors and monitoring. Simpli safe is relativity cheap compared to the other brands, although I haven't read or looked up many reviews on them.
 


Bowhunter_24

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I looked into this awhile back. I didn't want to pay $65 a month. I didn't need video either. What's the point?

i want something that makes a lot of noise and alarms when someone is trying to break in. And not pay a stupid monthly fee.

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Also I don't want some shady company being able to look in my house whenever they want. I about choked that vivent punk in my front yard.
 

Whisky

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I looked into this awhile back. I didn't want to pay $65 a month. I didn't need video either. What's the point?

i want something that makes a lot of noise and alarms when someone is trying to break in. And not pay a stupid monthly fee.

- - - Updated - - -

Also I don't want some shady company being able to look in my house whenever they want. I about choked that vivent punk in my front yard.

So what did you come up with? I currently have a date with a Vivint punk

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For me the cameras would provide additional security to the rest of my property. Also My current circumstances are a theives wet dream. If I was married, lived in town and worked near by the cams wouldn't be necessary. Also they could help with other things such as trespassing and poaching deer potentially.

But you are right....from the cops perspective they suck compared to alarms. I was just looking at doing a cam system until I tlked to a few law enforcement guys and something audible is preferred.
 

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Watched "It takes a thief" or something similar a few times and more than once a "Beware of Dog" sign was mentioned as a great deterrent.
 

johnr

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I know my neighbors somewhat in my new neighborhood, I lock my doors, have a dog, a gun safe with all important expensive stuff in it, and a cop one house over, and the sheriff deputy on the other end of the block. I set timers to turn lights on inside the house, and try not to advertise my valuables by leaving garage doors open, or fancy items on display. I also have friends that will look in on the place if I am on an out of town excursion.

I guess in 25 years of home ownership I have been lucky, with no situations. I feel as though putting up a sophisticated alarm system would be nice, but not probably needed.
 


Whisky

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A safe is on the list also....

And for others reading this make sure all exterior house and garage doors have deadbolts....A lot of this stuff is probably common sense but living in ND all ones life and guy can become complacent and naive, until "it happens"
 

nxtgeneration

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I'm starting to kick around the idea of getting a simple system now as well. Would like something with video I can monitor online to check on the dog in the back yard if needed as well as a couple door alarms. I never really felt the need for alarms until my wifes co-worker woke up with someone in his kitchen a couple months ago.
 

Colt45

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I looked into this awhile back. I didn't want to pay $65 a month. I didn't need video either. What's the point?

i want something that makes a lot of noise and alarms when someone is trying to break in. And not pay a stupid monthly fee.

- - - Updated - - -

Also I don't want some shady company being able to look in my house whenever they want. I about choked that vivent punk in my front yard.

Check out Insteon or Vera security controllers, I have buddies who have these systems and they are both happy with them, its a do it yourself setup with no monthly fee. Pretty much the sky is the limit on how far you want to go with it. I think Menards actually carries the Insteaon stuff. I don't know that one is better than the other or if the price is much different.
Anyways, I am planning on doing my own security system and will probably pick one of these, start out small and see how it goes. I would like a couple of camera's, some motion sensors/alarms that will notify me via text, and probably a few smoke alarms. I just don't see this being that hard to figure out, but I haven't tried installing or setting up a system yet. I need to do some more research myself!
 

SupressYourself

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I actually ended up going the Vera route and I like it a lot.
http://getvera.com/

There are hundreds of different z-wave compatible sensors that will work with it.
It’ll do security and home automation stuff. The limit is pretty much your budget and your imagination.
For example: you switch it to “home” mode from your smartphone app and all of your door and window sensors disarm, a few select lights automatically come on, your thermostat is automatically set to <whatever>, your coffee pot turns on, your motorized window blinds go up, and so on…

There’s no monthly fee for anything, it can be set to text and email you when your alarms go off or your motion sensors are tripped or whatever. This was a big selling point for me as I didn’t want to pay some monitoring company every month when all they really do is call the cops when the alarm is tripped. -- I can do that myself.

I found it all really straight-forward to put together and get working. Most time I spent was just figuring out what devices I wanted to start with. To be fair, I’m a software engineer, so pretty good with tech stuff. Your mileage may vary.
 

Rowdie

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Having the Glock locked up under the bed isn't gonna do you much good when the perp is standing over you. Just sayen...

That's What the dog is for. No one is getting into my house or even approaching it without it barking.
 


dewey89

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I got mine through Pacific Security in Bismarck, glass breaks in every room, every door is monitored, I can run it from my phone. I did not opt for cameras although I wish I would have know, I'll probably install a stand alone system my self.

Cost $1800 up front, $360 annual charge after that. I couldn't be happier.

It does work too, we had an attempted break-in when I was at work one night. My wife was home alone with our 7 month old son at the time. The alarm scared the asshole off and I arrived home 7 minutes later, by then the cops had already cleared the house and surrounding area. It's good piece of mind and it will wake you up at least so you know someone has broken in.
 

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