home security systems - suggestions?

JSBE

i own a townhouse/condo and want to install a home security system. any ideas? a neighbor suggested laser shield (wireless motion sensors) but someone else suggested adt. then there's brinks.

i have two cats and a dog, so i'm not sure about the motion sensors, eventhough i know they have system enhancements to let the system "know" that it is a 10 pound cat or 30 pound dog and not an intruder.

who has what and what are the pros/cons?

Fender_Man

I would maybe think of upgrading the dog before fitting a security system.
We had an alarm system and had 2 attempted break ins in our first year at our present address. Since getting the dog 4 years ago, we haven't had a problem. Both of our neighbours have been burgled in that time and neither have a dog.
I know it's not conclusive, but the junkie scumbags around here will take a chance with an alarm but don't fancy taking on a dog.
If I was on a budget, I would spend the money on the best door and window locks I could afford before investing in an alarm system. If money is no object, I would get all your doors and windows alarmed and get security lights fitted outside. From experience motion sensers seem to be more trouble than they are worth.

pjtradeking

JSBE wrote:

i own a townhouse/condo and want to install a home security system. any ideas? a neighbor suggested laser shield (wireless motion sensors) but someone else suggested adt. then there's brinks.

i have two cats and a dog, so i'm not sure about the motion sensors, eventhough i know they have system enhancements to let the system "know" that it is a 10 pound cat or 30 pound dog and not an intruder.

who has what and what are the pros/cons?

I have a Brinks system in my home and my PJ House. I have 3 door sensors for the main entrances and a motion sensor in the house. For my PJ house, I have motion sensors in all four corners so doesnt matter where you come in, it will go off. The sensors in the house are set to only pick up things bigger than 30lbs as you said. I have 3 small dogs and have never had a problem with it going off. It has been a great system so far and I have not had any probs. I pay $30 a month for monitoring and am quite happy. Good luck.

polaris

if you talk to the cops - they'll all say to get a dog ...

upina2001

Fender_Man wrote:

If I was on a budget, I would spend the money on the best door and window locks I could afford before investing in an alarm system. If money is no object, I would get all your doors and windows alarmed and get security lights fitted outside. From experience motion sensers seem to be more trouble than they are worth.

although motion lights can be a hassle, they are a good defense. Especially if they are hooked up to some big-ass flood lights. As long as the lights dont shine in your room, no big deal.

JSBE

polaris wrote:

if you talk to the cops - they'll all say to get a dog ...

i have a dog and he barks his ass off when anyone comes near the house - me included (obviously just happy to see me). someone can't walk by our unit to get the mail or take out the trash and he's barking.

i feel comfortable in my place, the security system is more for peace of mind for my freaked out fiancee.

JSBE

pjtradeking wrote:

I have a Brinks system in my home and my PJ House. I have 3 door sensors for the main entrances and a motion sensor in the house. For my PJ house, I have motion sensors in all four corners so doesnt matter where you come in, it will go off. The sensors in the house are set to only pick up things bigger than 30lbs as you said. I have 3 small dogs and have never had a problem with it going off. It has been a great system so far and I have not had any probs. I pay $30 a month for monitoring and am quite happy. Good luck.

thanks for the info. i have adt and brinks coming out for free a walk-through and explanation just so i...er, she can get a better sense of what they offer and how everything works, so she can feel safe at home.

acoustic guy

JSBE wrote:

thanks for the info. i have adt and brinks coming out for free a walk-through and explanation just so i...er, she can get a better sense of what they offer and how everything works, so she can feel safe at home.

Be careful. I have adt and they are good. BUT, the sales guy is very pushy.
Don't sign anything until you meet with both.
They try to sell you on things you do not need.
I will say though that the key pad at the door and in the bed room is nice.

PJaddicted

Get a Doberman Pinscher....115 pounds of solid muscle!

oxc

JSBE

acoustic guy wrote:

Be careful. I have adt and they are good. BUT, the sales guy is very pushy.
Don't sign anything until you meet with both.
They try to sell you on things you do not need.
I will say though that the key pad at the door and in the bed room is nice.

i'm fully expecting either of them (or both) to try and sell me anything and everything they offer.

Snake

German Shepard. He barks at people who are walking on the sidewalk across the street, without even looking through the window. AND Hes my buddy

Stelly

I have a Guardian System at my house. No problems...I am happy with it. We have contact sensons on all doors, as well as motion sensors inside.

If you are concerned about the motion sensors, there are multiple settings so you won't set the motions sensors when you are in the house. We only use the motion sensors when we are not home.

We have 3 keypads - one by our front door, one by our door to the garage (which is in the basement), and one in our master bedroom.

The Juggler

What's everyone using these days? The wife has been bugging me to get one. Apparently my old high school Easton bat under the bed isn't enough security for her.

Jason P

cheapest solution is to hang a confederate flag in your front window. 

F Me In The Brain

The Juggler said:

What's everyone using these days? The wife has been bugging me to get one. Apparently my old high school Easton bat under the bed isn't enough security for her.

I have a personalized L.Slugger under my bed along with a Just.In.Case tonfa.

Changed from ADT (sucked fucking balls) to a Vivint system a few years back.  (Full disclosure -- I was incensed at my ADT system malfunctioning (again) and put my fist into the main control panel...so I sorta had to switch.  The Vivint installer laughed really hard at that, but said he had actually seen that happen before.)

Everything is connected to video in front/back of house...my nest attaches to it so I can control thermo and cameras/doorbell/past event video from anywhere I can connect to the cloud.  It is only $15 more p/m than the shitty ADT system. 

I love it.

Also put motion detected floods all around the house and pool area to make my wife more comfortable since I travel a lot.

She has a remote by the bed which she can do fire/police/alarm from.

Also gave her a sweet mace "gun" which would make it pretty much impossible to miss if an intruder did get in and she met him at the top of the stairs.  (Which has a gate still in place from the kiddo so the person would be slowed already even if they chose to ignore the alarm & they would get an awesome shot of pepper in the face.)

Will not keep a gun in the house - nobody other than me knows anything about them.

cp3iverson

Tons of lights.  Cameras.  Security system and guns.  

The Juggler

F Me In The Brain said:

The Juggler said:

What's everyone using these days? The wife has been bugging me to get one. Apparently my old high school Easton bat under the bed isn't enough security for her.

I have a personalized L.Slugger under my bed along with a Just.In.Case tonfa.

Changed from ADT (sucked fucking balls) to a Vivint system a few years back.  (Full disclosure -- I was incensed at my ADT system malfunctioning (again) and put my fist into the main control panel...so I sorta had to switch.  The Vivint installer laughed really hard at that, but said he had actually seen that happen before.)

Everything is connected to video in front/back of house...my nest attaches to it so I can control thermo and cameras/doorbell/past event video from anywhere I can connect to the cloud.  It is only $15 more p/m than the shitty ADT system. 

I love it.

Also put motion detected floods all around the house and pool area to make my wife more comfortable since I travel a lot.

She has a remote by the bed which she can do fire/police/alarm from.

Also gave her a sweet mace "gun" which would make it pretty much impossible to miss if an intruder did get in and she met him at the top of the stairs.  (Which has a gate still in place from the kiddo so the person would be slowed already even if they chose to ignore the alarm & they would get an awesome shot of pepper in the face.)

Will not keep a gun in the house - nobody other than me knows anything about them.

Did the motion lights come with the security plan or is that something else?

Thoughts_Arrive

I have a cricket bat and a metal pole by my bed.
Home invasions have become a regular occurrence in my city in the past two or so years.

The Juggler

Festivus year round at Thoughs_Arrive's abode!

Thoughts_Arrive

The Juggler said:

Festivus year round at Thoughs_Arrive's abode!

I'd like to air my grievances about home invaders.

Thoughts_Arrive

mickeyrat

couple signs from an alarm company can be enough in some places....

Thoughts_Arrive

HAL 9000

BLACK35

Pit Bull

Thoughts_Arrive

BLACK35 said:

Pit Bull

That guy's music would keep most home invaders/burglars away

F Me In The Brain

The Juggler said:

F Me In The Brain said:

The Juggler said:

What's everyone using these days? The wife has been bugging me to get one. Apparently my old high school Easton bat under the bed isn't enough security for her.

I have a personalized L.Slugger under my bed along with a Just.In.Case tonfa.

Changed from ADT (sucked fucking balls) to a Vivint system a few years back.  (Full disclosure -- I was incensed at my ADT system malfunctioning (again) and put my fist into the main control panel...so I sorta had to switch.  The Vivint installer laughed really hard at that, but said he had actually seen that happen before.)

Everything is connected to video in front/back of house...my nest attaches to it so I can control thermo and cameras/doorbell/past event video from anywhere I can connect to the cloud.  It is only $15 more p/m than the shitty ADT system. 

I love it.

Also put motion detected floods all around the house and pool area to make my wife more comfortable since I travel a lot.

She has a remote by the bed which she can do fire/police/alarm from.

Also gave her a sweet mace "gun" which would make it pretty much impossible to miss if an intruder did get in and she met him at the top of the stairs.  (Which has a gate still in place from the kiddo so the person would be slowed already even if they chose to ignore the alarm & they would get an awesome shot of pepper in the face.)

Will not keep a gun in the house - nobody other than me knows anything about them.

Did the motion lights come with the security plan or is that something else?

Nah I had my electrician put those in after I got them at home Depot 
The company probably would have, but charged me two times as much.

F Me In The Brain

mickeyrat said:

couple signs from an alarm company can be enough in some places....

I have a vivant or adp sticker in every ground floor window where I think people might prowl, and a sign at each area someone might approach.
We live in a nice area but it is a small amount to pay altogether for her piece of mind.

Fifthelement

People can not even park in front of my house without the dogs letting me know someone is there.  Was very comforting when the husband was deployed overseas for 13 months.

deadendp

We have cameras and a sign. It was handy when trying to figure out whether it was a neighbor or the city who left a reminder to us that we put our trash cans out a day early.

PJ_Soul

Jason P said:

cheapest solution is to hang a confederate flag in your front window. 

Ha!!

PJ_Soul

My parents' method has always worked really well: Make it look like you're home and like you have a mean dog. Keep a radio on a pretty high volume when you're out, keep a couple or lights on (ideally, have them on programmable smart plugs, so they turn on and off randomly, and all at different times) ... Also just post a scary Beware of Dog sign where it's visible, and also on any back doors. You don't even have to actually have a dog. It also helps to have visible but fake security cameras. They are cheap and still work as a deterrent.