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No need to get all your windows setup with sensors.  There are things called glass break sensors that go off when the sound of breaking glass occurs.  That will cover a 12X12 room with no problem and doesn't require sensors to be drilled into your windows.  Plus motion sensors will get people coming in downstairs when active.  You can sensitivity to ignore small animals such as small cats.

Most of the alarm packages from various providers are the same.  However, some places like ADT rip you off in their monthly monitoring rates.  Don't pay more than $20 a month for monitoring.  Some place charge up to $50 a month for no additional features, and just rip you off.

Don't give into the gimmicks of getting the alarm/disarm put on a cell phone app.  If some steals or hacks your phone, they can turn off your alarm.   We did get a keyfob for our house (like a car alarm) and that works great for people that watch our home and get our mail when we are on vacation.  That way we don't need to give them a code.

Alarm.com seems to offer good prices and free installation.  Key fobs are the only cost you have on top of the free install.  

Don't get a cellular backup for monitoring.  Cell phone jammers will stop them from calling, so it is better to use a landline.

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I use IWS out of Loganville.

I don't have the number handy but I'll get it for you tomorrow if you are interested.

BTW: I do recommend a cell phone BU. Very few burglars are sophisticated enough to use a cell phone signal blocker when they burglarize your home or business but all of them are capable of ripping out your phone line where it comes in your home.

TD

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i didnt even think about the lanldline i currently do not have a phone line, am i going to need to get service just for the alarm?

after looking at that website it looks like they use a wireless GSM service instead of a landline, that would definitely be a plus correct?

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I have a landline for my fax and alarm.  I don't trust cellphone backups.  GSM is a cellphone, so it is easy to block.  You can buy cell phone jammers on ebay for under $100.  Don't believe for a second it requires a top tier criminal to jam your phone before a breakin.  All they have to do is turn it on and all the phones in a 50 yard radius are dead until they turn it off.  No hacking or difficulty required.

Alarms are just another layer of security.  The first thing you should do is reinforce your door hardware on any external door.  You can replace the crappy 1 1/2 screws on your hinges and strike plates with 4 inch wood screws.  Replace the strike plate you have from your deadbolt with a four screw model instead of two.   That alone will stop most people from being able to kick in your door.  Make sure you do the hinge screws as they are a weak link too.  All in all, it will cost you about $25 per door to reinforce it.   Another cheap security measure is motion sensing flood lights in the front and rear of yoru home that turn on whenever someone approaches your entrances.   It will deter a lot of crime as people like darkness and don't want to be identified.  

Just having alarm monitoring stickers on your front and back doors is a good deterent as well.

ADT does do good work installing things, but their monitoring fee is between $40-50 a month which is 2-3 times more than you need to pay.  

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Check Clark Howard's site..

No contract is worth it! Pay for the equipment and go month to month!

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If your looking to go with a service I have no recommendations, I haven't been here long enough to know who's good and who isnt.

If your going DIY you could give me a holler if you want, I did electronic surveillance and security systems for 2 years during my break in service. There's a lot of decent systems and components that can be gotten fairly inexpensivly,

The down side being you have to set them to remote monitor on your own, and in the case of an intrusion you would have to do your own reporting.


Also, are you planning on doing just stand alone security, or do you plan on integrating some kind of area, or zone based active denial system?

A combination of a professional monitored service and denial system would likely be optimal, unless you plan on being intensivly involved in it.

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yeah my dad has been hammering clark howard on me for years most of the advice is good stuff, i only go with month to month service options i figure there is a monitoring company out there that will fit the bill while providing the services i want.

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*nodding*

He's the Nerd You Need.  

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The poster above is incorrect. A monitoring company DOES NOT KNOW when or if your phone line is cut. Generally the security system will go into "Phone Line Trouble" if it notices a voltage drop on the line connected to it.

I have never heard of a burglar jamming a cell backup...even though it would be feasible...even on the new Telguard cell units.

Most people can shield their land lines by simply placing metal conduit over their exposed wiring and placing a simple pad lock on the DMARK. I recommend to my customers to have the DMARK moved into your garage or basement so there is no exposed wiring which prevents lines being cut. AT&T will bitch and moan, but it is completely within your right to have it placed there. They will charge for this.

Here is some things I talk to my customers about:

Device                            
                                                                                             
Motion                            
Pros:
Cheap. Traps large areas. Hard to defeat.                                    
Cons:
When it trips, bad guy is in the house with you. Falses A LOT depending on installation technique and house environment. Used when away or a sleep.

Glass Break                  
Pros:
Can be used 24 hrs per day. Bad guy outside when tripped.        
Cons:
Cutting glass defeats device. Falses depending on environment.

Window Sensor            
Pros:
If chime is "ON", beeps when your teenager sneaks out.            
Cons:
Most people keep window locked so sensor is useless. It is hard to defeat the lock on a modern window.

Window Screen (My favorite)          
Pros:
VERY hard to defeat. Leave windows open. 24 hr detection.      
Cons:
Averages about $130.00 per window. What is your family's lives worth?

We usually install a combination of devices which makes for a good detection...not protection...system.

Month to month monitoring is the way to go $15-$20 per month. It cost me $7.00 per month to monitor my customers. We charge $15.95.

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i wondered if you were going to chime in here. i have been following your thread in he survival forum for a while now.

are you in Georgia?

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I never disclose that... no offense intended.

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those "you do know the south lost jokes" get old dont they

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Yes... yes they do.  Right alongside the Sherman-marching-to-the-sea jokes.

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I really want something my wife can arm when she is home by herself, and i really want my basement to be as secure as possible since that is the most likely area somebody would go for. i have three windows and one door with a half window in the basement i have been trying to find something to reinforce the windows and have considered a few low cost ideas that would make a fast smash and grab a pain in the ass.

Do the security screens go on the outside of the window? how are they secured? i really like the GSM idea since i don't not currently have a landline but i would be willing to invest in one if it would be a smart idea.

i definitely want something that can detect when a window has been broken especially in the basement, because if it was me i would probably just bust the window hop in and take what i wanted. Then again i guess if somebody was really motivated they could just cut a hole in the side of my house or something.

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I had an entirely new system put in last year during a big remodel of our home. I've been in Law Enforcement and worked hundreds of burglaries and responded to thousands of alarms. I do not recommend glass break detectors. They are the most common type of false alarm with the exception of door sensors on loose commercial metal doors during high wind. Residential false alarms are almost always glass break.

I went with every door and window having a 4" contact sensor which is slightly offset so I can crack the windows open during the summer and still set the alarm without having to bypass zones. In addition, I put motion detectors an all the intersections in the house. One of the most common ways for a good burglar to defeat most common alarm systems is to use a ladder to find an unlocked upstairs window since they know that most systems don't put sensors on upstairs windows.

I currently have a land line just for the alarm, but am considering going to cellular. Also I'd recommend putting a control panel at every door you guys commonly use as well as one in the master bedroom. I know it sounds expensive, but you'd be better off saving up for the install and just hiring a monitoring company as opposed to signing a lengthy contract. Also, you need to communicate to your alarm company who you want called in the event of an alarm. You would not believe how many alarm calls we get for locations that are not in our jurisdiction. That greatly increases the response time.

Also insist on an exterior and interior siren.

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There are numerous ways to program how a security system will go into alarm. Most systems have a "Stay" or "Away" arming feature. If your wife wants the system on when she is home, she simply hits the "Stay" mode.

Purchasing a keyfob is a great idea. You can keep it on your person and it can be programmed with a "Panic" feature. Depending on where the wireless receiver is placed, you may get some outside coverage as well.

How screens work. The security company removes your existing window screen and takes them to a specialty shop. That shop replaces the screen material with one that has alarm circuitry through it. It is VERY hard to see and looks like standard screen material. The alarm company then returns with the screens and installs them. They can be hardwired or wired to a wireless contact which reports to the panel. Now, if a bad guy cuts the screen or removes the screen to get to the window, the alarm triggers.

GSM is also a smart way to have your system communicate.

Regarding glass break detector false alarming. I have not seen this reported to be  the main cause of false alarms. Most false alarms are user error regarding entry/ exit door sensors. Glass break detectors are usualy placed in an area where they are within a specific “detection range”. The sensor is designed to monitor for special frequencies that usually occur when glass is broken. The frequencies monitored are usually from the infrasonic level (which is defined as being 20 hertz or less) to the ultrasonic level (which is above 20 kHz. Because many of these sensors have a “range”, they may not need to be placed directly in front of the window that is being monitored. This can allow a single sensor to monitor several windows, as long as they are within range of the sensor. However, this only refers to glass break detectors which have a built-in microphone that monitors for sound.

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Lol, no green hummer


And breaking the system into zones is the best way to activate areas,, but still be able to move.

That said, I don't think I would be using motion detectors while I was it the house, more intrusion oriented

Basically it all depends on what you want to do, and how many different ways you want to route your feeds. You can set up a system that will constantly feed data to a control center in the home, but won't relay and info to a month ring company till you flip a switch, punch a code, or turn a key.

It's like building and accessorising and ar

It looks like there's some pretty current pros in here, and they can probably help you better than I can, and I'm not sure exactly what state laws are concerning certain systems.   I could find out, but without a "mission" I lack the motivation

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All this information is a lot to take in but it is helping me out a lot thanks to everybody who is responding i really appreciate it.

have you installed the security screens before? i want to get something before my son is born so my wife can get used to it before the added stress of having anew born hits. how long does it usually take to install a complete system and get them monitoring service set up? and is it easy to expand a system once you have one installed?

definitely want GSM and a land line, as well as key fobs, motion sensors, and something for windows for sure.