Budget Security System-Much Success!

[Amber Lamps]

Well, I mentioned in another thread that I was putting together a cheap home security set-up. Here's a short summary of what I have and how it works.

Equipment,

Simon XT alarm panel, including sensors $100 Amazon deal

Keychain remote $0

2 wireless motion sensors $0

2 wireless heat/smoke detectors $0

8 wireless door/window sensors $0

Magic Jack Plus $40 includes 1st year of unlimited phone service

Budget 500G DVR and 4 outdoor, ir cameras $110 Woot special

Mr Roboto motion activated, motorized camera $60

Used battery backup I got from work $0

Since I live alone and have a remote, I installed the panel in my bedroom close to the router that I have the Magic Jack plugged into. I programmed the unit to call me in case of an alarm. I can then (or at any time) check the cameras using my smart phone and decide what to do.

Pros,

Inexpensive peace of mind. No monthly monitoring fee or contract. No monitoring lag-when I worked for ADT, I saw 15+ minute lags in their service. No monthly home phone service bill/expense. No need for an active computer for external cameras as cameras record on dedicated DVR which also networks the images. Can monitor service/cameras remotely and check on house from virtually anywhere. Internal battery back up on alarm good for a couple days. Router/cable modem/ ext camera battery back up is good for a few hours. All accessible windows and doors are covered.


Cons,

Dependent on cable company internet service. Motorized camera needs active computer. Alarm system calls you 6 times if you accidentally trigger the alarm...:lol: All sensors are battery powered.

All in all, I'm quite happy with the system and it was pretty easy to install and program. Of course, I was lucky to find some of the stuff I have super cheap, so you might pay a bit more for the equipment but I see similar stuff every day for cheap. BTW you can program up to four numbers for the unit to call. So you can set it up to call the police, a neighbor, friends, etc... If 911 gets 6 calls from a house they will send a unit to check it out.:lol:

[azoomm]

Cool. I've been setting up something at the track for monitoring. And, right now looking for a reliable wireless camera that I don't have to have connected to power all the time. I'd imagine the wireless sucks the life out of a battery to make it realistic, but a girl can dream - right?

Thanks for posting this....

[Particle Man]

Cool. I've been setting up something at the track for monitoring. And, right now looking for a reliable wireless camera that I don't have to have connected to power all the time. I'd imagine the wireless sucks the life out of a battery to make it realistic, but a girl can dream - right?

Thanks for posting this....

Solar power and some decent batteries. :)

[marko138]

I like it.

[Amber Lamps]

Cool. I've been setting up something at the track for monitoring. And, right now looking for a reliable wireless camera that I don't have to have connected to power all the time. I'd imagine the wireless sucks the life out of a battery to make it realistic, but a girl can dream - right?

Thanks for posting this....

I've installed a few set-ups for shooting ranges, etc. PM is on the money suggesting a solar panel. Harbor Freight sells a 45 watt unit for cheap.

[Amber Lamps]

I like it.

Yep, the motion sensors definitely work... If...more like when, I forget and walk in the door from the garage without disarming the alarm- BOOM! Busted!:lol:

[marko138]

How's this set up work with pets?

[Trip]

Solar power and some decent batteries. :)

bingo, you can actually get a cheap china panel at harbor freight that should be able to power a remote camera, find a battery that will survive at least a full night on the shortest day of the year and set it and forget it.

http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u127998/ron-popeil---showtime.jpg

[Amber Lamps]

How's this set up work with pets?

The motion sensors are >40 lbs installed normally. If your pet is larger than that there are ways to install them to keep the field of view higher off the ground. Otherwise, you could also install glass break detectors or just cover all of the doors and windows in the house. Motion sensors are really just for back up or to save money on areas with lots of windows.

[Amber Lamps]

here's a video that talks about my system....guess why I picked this one.:boobs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgZxZoX6DIA&feature=related

[Amber Lamps]

BTW I did miss one negative involving this type of "all in one" system. They are easy to defeat by snatching them off the wall. FWIW as long as you mount them in a central location in the house, you should be cool. They have a 15 second delay before they dial out. Also, it is possible to add a wireless keypad to my system that will allow you to place the main unit wherever you want or you can just use the remote. There are newer wireless systems that have addressed this problem completely with wireless keypads and wireless sirens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv65r3AO26w&feature=relmfu

[goof2]

That's a problem for most, if not all, of the all-in-one systems. You aren't getting a system that avoids it for anything near what you paid though. A wireless Ademco system like what you would have been installing for ADT with the sensors you listed would cost a hell of a lot more. There are trade offs in everything, and if someone knows what they are doing they could easily defeat the Ademco (and the system you bought) by cutting your cable anyway.:shrug:

[dubbs]

Looks pretty good.. I have a few outside cameras myself that just monitor my front and back yard (to protect my toys), all in one web interface on them that record to SD cards internally, that I can get into it with smartphone or PC. I live in a decent area so didn't think I'd need to go with the whole internal monitoring system.

My GF thinks someone is going into a barn she has w/ a couple horses and is screwing around with stuff. What budget 500gb DVR system did you get?

[Amber Lamps]

Looks pretty good.. I have a few outside cameras myself that just monitor my front and back yard (to protect my toys), all in one web interface on them that record to SD cards internally, that I can get into it with smartphone or PC. I live in a decent area so didn't think I'd need to go with the whole internal monitoring system.

My GF thinks someone is going into a barn she has w/ a couple horses and is screwing around with stuff. What budget 500gb DVR system did you get?

it's a crappy off brand set-up....

Here's a Samsung kit that is much, much better.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SHR-1041K-4CH-Surveillance-System/dp/B0026A7EQ0/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1324268317&sr=8-21

[Amber Lamps]

That's a problem for most, if not all, of the all-in-one systems. You aren't getting a system that avoids it for anything near what you paid though. A wireless Ademco system like what you would have been installing for ADT with the sensors you listed would cost a hell of a lot more. There are trade offs in everything, and if someone knows what they are doing they could easily defeat the Ademco (and the system you bought) by cutting your cable anyway.:shrug:

Exactly true, heck if I wanted to feel REALLY secure, I nice Honeywell set-up would be in order.

BTW if I became super paranoid, I can add a cell back-up.... Oh and the cable would normally not be the first item cut by a thief.:idk:

[marko138]

The motion sensors are >40 lbs installed normally. If your pet is larger than that there are ways to install them to keep the field of view higher off the ground. Otherwise, you could also install glass break detectors or just cover all of the doors and windows in the house. Motion sensors are really just for back up or to save money on areas with lots of windows.
Ya, my dog is 80 lbs and roams about the house when we aren't home. He doesn't get on furniture but he can access the entire first floor and our bedroom on the 2nd floor.

[goof2]

Exactly true, heck if I wanted to feel REALLY secure, I nice Honeywell set-up would be in order.

BTW if I became super paranoid, I can add a cell back-up.... Oh and the cable would normally not be the first item cut by a thief.:idk:

Most thieves seem to be pretty dumb, but fortunately smart enough they tend to avoid homes with any security system.

Used to be cutting the phone line was a great way to disable monitoring. With Magic Jack/Vonage/etc phones and phone over cable/phone over fiber (FIOS) cutting the phone and cable is smarter. As you said though, a cell back-up is about as close as someone can get to secure communication.

[goof2]

Ya, my dog is 80 lbs and roams about the house when we aren't home. He doesn't get on furniture but he can access the entire first floor and our bedroom on the 2nd floor.

It probably depends on the motion detector, but with some of them if you install them upside down they don't detect things closer to the floor. I think with any of them you can adjust its field of view based on the angles at which the motion detector is installed.

Some motions have a light that tells you when it senses movement. If the one you get does that then make sure it detects you and then adjust so it doesn't trip for the dog. For a week or two afterward set it with no siren or phone hooked up to see if he trips it during a normal day when you aren't home.

[marko138]

It probably depends on the motion detector, but with some of them if you install them upside down they don't detect things closer to the floor. I think with any of them you can adjust its field of view based on the angles at which the motion detector is installed.

Some motions have a light that tells you when it senses movement. If the one you get does that then make sure it detects you and then adjust so it doesn't trip for the dog. For a week or two afterward set it with no siren or phone hooked up to see if he trips it during a normal day when you aren't home.
Good plans. I should look into this shit.

[Amber Lamps]

Good plans. I should look into this shit.

Yea I mentioned that earlier. You can install the dsc motions flat at say 3 feet eliminating the dog problem. Otherwise, I suggest covering all of the windows with sensors and/or getting glass breaks.