Posted: 7/21/2005 5:47:07 PM EDT
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Greetings. I am in the market for an alarm / response system for our home. My first thought was ADT. When we moved here last April there were many marketing calls, doorbellringers, and visits that I turned away because I did not need one back then, some with free installation. The ADT rep (retired USMC) said they never had free installation, though they do have a USAA membership deal that did not seem too bad. Since we have a cat, motion sensors (PIRs ?) were out for common areas, but upstairs we have the two rooms that open to the balcony that remain closed and motion sensors there make sense. For the other rooms, he suggested audio sensors that detect breaking glass. He also said they were going away from a contracted response service to their own as soon as October. Anyone have experiences with ADT? What system / company would you recommend and please list your reasons for your choice. 
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It seems like the two majors are Monitronics and ADT. They both have contracts for a year or two. When they came around my place, not only was installation free, the first month was free. They even give $$ for referrals. I went with Monitronics. If you want to split a referral fee, IM me  ANyhow, the alarm is great for an audible warning to burglars. Options include glass break sensors, fire alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors. I thought the motion sensors were for things over 40lbs, as we have one and my dog (20lbs) doesn't set it off. When my alarm went off, a voice immediately pops on through the control paenl and asked if we were ok. I have a direct link with their monitoring service,so that was cool. I just hope they aren't listening in just for fun 
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| There are motion sensors that will ignore <50 lb or so things. Good for cats and small dogs. In lieu of motion detectors you can get screens on windows that will trigger when cut or removed and glass break sensors, which when combined with the regular door/window open sensors pretty much covers everything short of somebody tunneling into your house. |
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I know this is a long reply, but it really happened to me.... I was doing a ceramic tile job last year for a friend and I accidentally set-off his house alarm one morning (I had the keys to the house, but HE forgot to leave the damn alarm off). I tried to call him for the code but he was in a class and couldn't be reached. The chirping of the alarm was deafening and it had to be turned off because he had cats in the house. So, I called the 800 number on the yard sign and got some chick in Chicago named Shaqueequa. I identified myself as a friend that was doing work at the house and explained that I was the one that tripped the alarm. I also gave her information about the homeowner that only a close friend would know. I also told her that I was going to stand by for either their officers (they claim to have ARMED RESPONSE) or Metro. I was on the phone with this dumb Bitch for nearly 20 minutes while she kept checking with her "Supisvyzzers" for a solution. The phone conversation went something like this: ABC Alarm Co: Hello, ABC Alarm Company how may ahs helpz yoo? Me:Yes Mam, I'm doing some home remodeling work on my friend Joe Blow's house and I accidentally tripped the alarm. I have keys to the home and permission to be here, but Joe forgot to turn the alarm off before I arrived. ABC: Whut izz da address dat you be at? Me: I'm standing in front of 1234 Main Street, in Las Vegas, Nevada ABC: Whutz da zip cote? Me: Excuse me? ABC: Ah set WHUTZ da zip cote? Me: I don't know. ABC: Wheel, if it's yo frieends crib (uh, ah means house), wha donts yoo knows da zip cote? Me: Um, I don’t live in this neighborhood, but I think it's 89120. ABC: Nope! That aints da right zip cote. Hold awn whiles ahs talks too ma Supisvyzzers. Me: Ok. (In the meantime I called Metro on another cell phone to tell them about this circus. Dispatch was really cool and she laughed at the situation). ABC: Sir? Me: Yes. ABC: Ma Supisvyzzers tolt me dat we cantz do nuffun cause you isn’ts da homeowner. Me: Well, can you physically send an officer to meet with me so I can show him the keys to the house, and my tools in the house, on the back patio and in the garage? Then, hopefully you people can reset the alarm, or at least shut the alarm and standby until we locate the homeowner. ABC: Sir, ahs aints gonna sent no officer to somebotty that aint da homeowner dat donts even knowz da zip cote. Me: But Mam, my friend has two cats in the house and I am afraid the loud alarm will harm their hearing. ABC: Sir, ahs tolts yoo befoe, ma Supisvyzzers tolt me dere aint nuffin ah can do untils ah speakz to da homeowner. Me: Ok, can I please speak to your Supervisor then? ABC: Whut you needs to speak wit her fo? Me: Mam, I would just like to speak to your superior. ABC: Holt awn….. Me: Ok, thank you. ABC: Halla. Me: Hello are you the Supervisor? ABC: Yis. Me: May I have your name please? ABC: Twaneequa Me: (Oh shit) Thank you Twaneequa (I tell her the story). ABC: Sir, ah spoked wit ma Supisvyzzers and dey tolt me dat we cantz do nuffun cause you isn’ts da homeowner. Me: I thought you were the supervisor. ABC: Ah izz, but I gots Supisvyzzers too and they set dat we cantz do nuffun cause you isints da homeowner. Me: Ok, thank you. ABC: Hang up. Me: Hang up. Anyway, no one ever showed up and after about 30 minutes I finally got a hold of my friend and turned off the alarm. I figure it like this: A burglar who is smooth on the phone can keep Shaqueequa, Twaneequa, and the rest of their “Supisvyzzers” busy for at least 20 minutes while his buddies empty the house. No problem on the loud alarm, all the burglars need to do is wear hearing protection. What a bunch of Maroons. Be Safe. Joe |
Joe, You dialed the wrong number. It's obvious from the names and response you received that you contacted the NFA branch of the BATF in Washington by mistake. Sounds like the same treatment you'll receive when you contact the DC office to check on your "sheen" gun transfer status. Alarm system = dog barks, I grab Sig .45. |
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I'm not sure that I understand your question, f2. The female at the other end of the telephone line was uneducated, couldn't speak proper English, and she could have allowed a burglary to happen why she was checking with her "Supisvyzzers." I couldn't leave my friend's house unattended with that Friggin' alarm blaring, so I did the responsible thing and I called the alarm company. I could have cleaned that house out and "Shaqueequa," "Twaneequa," and all of their "Supisvyzzers" would have said that "Thayze Didnt'z Knowz Nuffun." It was a sham. Be Safe. Joe |
Just curious who not to go with. 
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| I have ADT, since the last time my home was broken into with my security system none of the bastards have been back. The response was 15 minutes for ADT to arrive at my home. I was home in 10 and the place was 100% intact. A house can be hit hard in 15 minutes, but I can't expect a security guard to sit on my porch. I am completely satisfied with my system. One thing I did add were 2 more speakers to the system. Its enough to wake the dead. |
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........I"m up with the 40 checking doors and windows.
I like the idea of extra alarm speakers.
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I had a bad experience with ADT. A house fire where their alarms (fire) never went off to notify the authorities. They had been checked 2 months earlier. First they tried to tell me that there was no fire service in the house, but after I found the original contract they told me that there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it (almost laughing, a very strange response after a fire had engulfed your house)because they can't be liable per their contract. This was my mother's house/contract and It seemed to me that they were not only extremely rude, but they basically sell a service that they don't even stand by. (not so much as a "sorry to hear your house burnt down") She paid for that service for 5 years. They also informed me that my mother would be responsible for June through August service fees even though the fire happened the 4th of June and there was no house or security system left because their system failed to work at all! It was unbelievable, nothing worth arguing about over the phone. I don't think the bill was ever paid, and litigation may be in line. So, on that note, make sure you check the system every month (not every other like I got around to doing for my mom), and know that while a service is a false sense of security, a loud, attention getting alarm, is much better than nothing at all. Luckily noone was injured in the fire and my mother was out of the house. |