Armory Sponsor
Posted: 8/19/2012 9:05:04 PM EDT
|
Hello All: I am looking for a do it yourself security system with smartphone interface, preferably based on cellular/digital. Internet based with a cellular backup is okay too. All the options I found are professional installs, with monitoring fees. Thanks for any and all input. Sven ETA - wireless camera capability is a plus. |
|
I installed my own. It's the same manufacturer that the big companies use. I have Alarm Relay do the monitoring for much less than ADT. My system has both POTS and cellular communications, and I paid extra for the command and control service that allows me to arm/disarm/report from my phone.
The system I designed is far more feature and sensor rich than anything I was quoted, but also I have complete control over my system. I can add sensors and sirens whenever I want. Home Security Store Alarm Relay Also check out the forums there are some really good ones out there. This was the first system I ever installed and once I understood the terminology it was really not complicated to program. I went with DSC as the manufacturer, but Honeywell is another industry standard mfr based on what I've seen and read about. |
|
I'd start with the home security store. When you get closer to a purchase, google the make model .
I'll give you a hint that confused me, a zone is a single device. In my world, a zone is an area containing like devices. Edit: I thought I could also add some more too. So, when I started I got 2 quotes, one from ADT and one from Brinks. ADT recommended only 2 sensors, front and back doors, and a single motion detector. I wanted multiple glass break sensors to protect the back door wall and the front picture window, but I was told that ADT doesn't recommend them as they have "studies" that show that most break ins are via a kicked in door...which I call bullshit on. If I'm going to have a system, I'd want it to alarm on vandalism like a rock through the window. The Brinks system was more in line with what I was looking for, sensor-wise, but I had the biggest problem with the monthly monitoring charges. When I started on this exercise, I was debating on even having the system monitored by a company. There are all kinds of options, but both ADT and Brinks said they wouldn't monitor a system I installed, so keep that in mind. Alarm Relay does and their prices are much lower. I've had my system installed for maybe 6 months now, and I had one false alarm, just 3 days ago. I wasn't more than a 1/4 mile front home when they called me. I told them not to call the cops and I turned around. I must have reopened the front door when I was exiting, but the response time was very fast. I only add that anecdote to say that so far, Alarm Relay seems every bit as responsive as you would expect. Oh, one more thing, I also added 2 24-hour on fire/smoke alarms to my system. Alarm Relay doesn't charge you extra to monitor those, but some monitoring companies do, so do some home work. As to the system, you'll need to decide what kind of system you want to install; wired or wireless sensors. Then you'll need to decide how you want the panel to notify; POTS (plain old telephone system), cellular, POTS with cell backup, or Internet. I have a POTS line at the house, so I wanted both, as backup, but more on that later. Just be aware, all of those methods use an alarm notification protocol, so don't think that your panel will send you an email or an SMS message, because they won't. You could, instead of monitoring, set up your panel to call your cellphone, but it's going to sound like a modem. That might be enough for you to know "something ain't right" but that's about it. When you program your panel, you can (should) apply labels to the sensors. That label is sent to the monitoring company and you keypads, so you can know exactly which sensor was tripped. When they called me on Monday, they said we have a Front Door alarm, which was helpful in deciding it was probably a false alarm. I have 2 keypads on my system and can add more, but one by the front door for ingress disarming and one upstairs in the bedroom. It only cost me the price of the keypad to install, but the pro companies wanted to charge an arm and a leg for that, but it's nice to arm/disarm in bed in case you forgot, but it will also tell you where to head to with(insert HD weapon here). Now, one thing i will add, I bought a DSC system with the cellular interface. DSC has built their own cell system for their products, called C24 communications, but to use it, you have to purchase access through a provider. I though I would need to get a sim card and a monthly plan, but you don't have to. You are locked into using them if you buy their product, so be aware, not that it's bad, but it was something I learned during the install that I didn't know before I ordered, so at least you know now  . This is how I have smartphone access to my panel. You setup a caller ID list of allowed numbers, then you can send SMS messages to you system. It works really well. So I hope I explain this well, but this has some implications. In order to use the cellular service from DSC, the provider (Alarm Relay in my case) has to charge you the access rate from C24, so that affected my monthly monitoring price. The cell backup price is a one time setup free, but because of the C24 monthly charge, it's not the same rate as the "free cellular backup" price on the website. This isn't AR being shifty, it's just that I bought a system that requires special care and feeding, so to say. As it turns out, the cost of my cellular backup is the same as the cost of cellular primary monitoring, so again, after the fact, I changed my monitoring to just be cell only. There is some lag when POTS fails before it swings to cell, and I didn't like that much lag (someone could find and destroy the panel before the POTS times out), so I went all cell for the same cost....if that's not clear as mud.
|
Armory Sponsor