Security systems

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Thinking about getting a security system. What should I look for?

Do I need monitoring, or is a loud alarm good enough?

[MuleShack]

We have had some break ins in our area and was going to start doing some research on this topic also. Our house is wired for basic set up already but nothing is installed.

Anybody have cameras hooked up to their system and how much is that added to the total$$?

[TR21HP]

My wife and I put in an alarm system several years ago that included sensors on all doors and windows plus a wireless motion detector in the front room.

We have the monitoring for the sole purpose of if we are not home. Otherwise if we are home and it goes off there is the 870 Remington as a last resort.

[shnelson]

Thinking about getting a security system. What should I look for?

Do I need monitoring, or is a loud alarm good enough?

I just finished setting my honeywell vista system up, I'd highly recommend it for a low cost system that gives you a lot of features.

It really comes down to what you want the system for though... Are you looking for central station monitoring? Most stations will not support a system that they did not put in for you, and may charge a nominal fee to bring your system up to their specs. With that in mind, most companies offer a free or reduced cost system if you sign a contract with them.

In my case, I did not have the original desire to have a central monitoring station. My thoughts were to get a system that would alert you in case of fire or break-in at night or while the wife is home alone. I chose a panel that you can integrate with your computer network, and it will send pages to my cell phone as long as it has an internet connection.

Are you looking for some automation to be handled (lights, appliances) with the system?

All said and done, I'd say your looking at $3-500 for a DIY system that you can finish over a weekend.

[LightningBG]

Not exactly a security system, but I was looking at getting a surveillance system to add on to ours (separate system actually).

Anyways.... There are 4 camera systems at Sams online site for about $500 that have smart phone access so you can look at your home cameras from a blackberry, etc.

My idea was hook it up so I could flip to a certain input on all the tvs in the house and see the cameras. I thought it would be cool to see whats happening in the front/back yard even if I'm sitting in the basement watching a movie.

[LightningBG]

One thing to consider regarding the monitoring is what type of neighborhood you live in. If your in town and an alarm will attract attention and scare someone away, then monitoring may not be needed, but if you're out in the country/wood, there may not be anyone to hear the alarm or see whats going on in/at the house.

[Tom7227]

Whatever you get be sure that it works. A friend is working on a case with the #1 national firm and every system failed. The biggest shock to me was that the cell phone backup wasn't even hooked up despite it being a major factor in the purchase. There were fatal results in this case.

[Tom7227]

This is what I was refering to in my previous post:

http://www.startribune.com/local/east/91...7PQLanchO7DiUsX

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

This has law suit written all over it. What a tragedy.

[wishing for walleyes]

I was just looking at a couple of 4 camera systems last week.Check this out.Seems like a fair deal. camera system

camera system

Ok they are both unavailible now.The 500 gb was $499 and the 320 gb was $300 something last week.

[shnelson]

Get the cheaper one and you can swap the hard drive out for a 500gb if you need to - a 500gb drive is going to set you back $80 or less these days, if thats the only benefit of the more expensive system I can't see justifying $200 for an extra 180gb .