Home security systems?

[snoluver1]

Looking for opinions/insite on a security system. I recently purchased a piece of property in the country and I'm rehabing it as time permits. It is a good hour away from where I currently live and I can't get out there as offten as I would like to. Last week the place was broken into and the bastards made off with my brand new Stihl weedwacker, a sawsall and my air compresser, plus 2 completely destroyed doors to replace.

So now I'm looking into security systems and there are so many on the market it's crazy. I'm leaning towards the wireless ones that are connected via cell service versus a hard wired system. One thing I'm not finding though is the range of these systems. I have the main house and an outbuilding that both need to be secured. The outbuilding is approximately 75-100 ft away from the house. Would I need 2 seperate control boxes to make that work?

Any opinions on which system to buy? Frontpoint seems to be one that comes out on top of most reviews? Only thing is I'm not a big fan of being locked into a multiple year contract.

Thanks for any advise!

 

[skidoolouie]

Wired security system only way to go, dig hole put pipe in ground. You need a contract because they need maintaince and will have problems at which point service is free, but at there leisure. 47.99 monthly should get it on your phone with remote access. However you do need landline internet. You could buy swann "Link" dvr from best buy and install cameras your self and have on phone in 5 minutes but still requires landline internet. Hope this helps

 

[snocrazy]

If you are a tinkerer, you have tons of options.
All sorts of home automation and monitoring can be done pretty cheap if you are willing to spend some time.
http://makezine.com/ This magazine has really opened my eyes to all the options out there.

If you just want to buy a system, I would look in to a video system with dvr that you can hide and lock.
Video cameras are a good way to protect.

As for the out building, if you go with an ip based system, you can leverage a wireless wifi link to the out building.
Can be done really cheap.

100' is not that far if you can bury cables. That distance I would think you could wire to a single controller and have "out building zone"

Sorry to hear you were broken in to. It really is not fun. Good luck with your lock down...

 

[arcticgeorge]

Im getting one for the hood too, damn pot lickin neighbors and meth heads breaking into homes around here. The night owl at Wal Mart looks good. I'm trying to find the one that records up to 24 hours a day 2 months footage (on some models). 60 ft night vision and best of all you can access all the footage on a i phone, tablet or other web browsing device. With 4 cameras but can handle 4 more for a total of 8. Im thinking of getting this one in a few weeks. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Night-Owl...MI-500GB-HDD-and-4-x-600-TVL-Cameras/34643954 PS...Of course you need Internet service to the DVR so if your camp is out there it would work but no online access.

 

[mezz]

I've disconnected my home alarm system & removed myself from the Neighborhood Watch. I've got 2 Pakistani Flags raised in the front yard, one on each corner with a HUGE Black ISIS Flag in the center. The local Police, State Police, Sheriff, FBI,CIA, NSA, Homeland Security, Secret Service among other agencies are all watching the house 24/7/365. I've never felt safer AND I'm saving $50 a month!

Sorry, I couldn't resist! LOL, Back to your regularly scheduled program which is now in progress.-Mezz

BTW, Sorry for your loss snoluver1.

 

[snocrazy]

Im getting one for the hood too, damn pot lickin neighbors and meth heads breaking into homes around here. The night owl at Wal Mart looks good. I'm trying to find the one that records up to 24 hours a day 2 months footage (on some models). 60 ft night vision and best of all you can access all the footage on a i phone, tablet or other web browsing device. With 4 cameras but can handle 4 more for a total of 8. Im thinking of getting this one in a few weeks. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Night-Owl...MI-500GB-HDD-and-4-x-600-TVL-Cameras/34643954 PS...Of course you need Internet service to the DVR so if your camp is out there it would work but no online access.

960H recording resolution (960 x 480) - Friend of mine installed one of these behind his business to catch people stealing out of their steel scrap bins. Under 50 feet and you cant even read a license plate. Having a blurry low res image is useless. Go with a high Def Camera.

 

[snoluver1]

Wired security system only way to go, dig hole put pipe in ground. You need a contract because they need maintaince and will have problems at which point service is free, but at there leisure. 47.99 monthly should get it on your phone with remote access. However you do need landline internet. You could buy swann "Link" dvr from best buy and install cameras your self and have on phone in 5 minutes but still requires landline internet. Hope this helps

Why do you say hard wired is the only way to go? Everything I'm reading so far says the wireless is better because it can't be tampered with. In other words, if your tied into a land line, all a theif has to do is cut the line to render your system useless. Or is that all just marketing hype?

 

[G]

I've disconnected my home alarm system & removed myself from the Neighborhood Watch. I've got 2 Pakistani Flags raised in the front yard, one on each corner with a HUGE Black ISIS Flag in the center. The local Police, State Police, Sheriff, FBI,CIA, NSA, Homeland Security, Secret Service among other agencies are all watching the house 24/7/365. I've never felt safer AND I'm saving $50 a month!

Sorry, I couldn't resist! LOL, Back to your regularly scheduled program which is now in progress.-Mezz

BTW, Sorry for your loss snoluver1.

Perfect!!!!!

 

[arcticgeorge]

960H recording resolution (960 x 480) - Friend of mine installed one of these behind his business to catch people stealing out of their steel scrap bins. Under 50 feet and you cant even read a license plate. Having a blurry low res image is useless. Go with a high Def Camera.

Link was just an example but thank you i will keep that in mind. I will find the best system under 300 i cant go any higher than that. HD ones are super clear but i cant spend 5 or 600 on it. Also wireless are really expensive too. I worked on a job site and the guy had them 20 feet in the air, could cut it but then your already on a DVR and an alert to your phone will let you know there has been recent activity. I got my buddy Brad searching for the best kit under $300. He's a computer tech guy.

 

[skidoolouie]

Hard wired for alarm/security devices such as drs, windows, motion, temp sensor. Yes wireless for the signal to the call center for police dispatch. No home dial tone needed but will require monthly fee for gsm cell service. Landline internet is for streaming dvr camera system and home zwave control.

 

[snoluver1]

Hard wired for alarm/security devices such as drs, windows, motion, temp sensor. Yes wireless for the signal to the call center for police dispatch. No home dial tone needed but will require monthly fee for gsm cell service. Landline internet is for streaming dvr camera system and home zwave control.

Got ya. Thanks.

 

[fishcrib]

I purchased our home system from these guys: www.safemart.com
Installed everything my self, and is easy. They monitor for $9.99/month with no contract.

They can set you up with whatever you need and are very helpful.

 

[azandy]

I recently bought a system from Simpli safe. Wireless. Super simple and easy to install . Was better price than local people. Just a thought. Went off once when kids entered wrong number. They called me before kids even could.

 

[snoluver1]

I recently bought a system from Simpli safe. Wireless. Super simple and easy to install . Was better price than local people. Just a thought. Went off once when kids entered wrong number. They called me before kids even could.

Did a bunch of reading on them today. Seems like a decent system for the money and I like that there is no contract. The only negative reviews seem to be with customer service. I think a lot of it is because people can't read and differentiate between 24/7 monitoring by an outside vender, and the customer service department's hours of operation. Have you experienced any issues with customer service?

 

[azandy]

Did a bunch of reading on them today. Seems like a decent system for the money and I like that there is no contract. The only negative reviews seem to be with customer service. I think a lot of it is because people can't read and differentiate between 24/7 monitoring by an outside vender, and the customer service department's hours of operation. Have you experienced any issues with customer service?

I had a couple questions and just called them. No problem. We had to get a different part after. They use cell phone coverage for everything. They sent us an att unit but we needed a Verizon unit for best signal where we live. Sent it next day. No charge. Good follow up by email. Very happy.
If we buy a cottage this year I will get another for it.

 

[joks79]

I've disconnected my home alarm system & removed myself from the Neighborhood Watch. I've got 2 Pakistani Flags raised in the front yard, one on each corner with a HUGE Black ISIS Flag in the center. The local Police, State Police, Sheriff, FBI,CIA, NSA, Homeland Security, Secret Service among other agencies are all watching the house 24/7/365. I've never felt safer AND I'm saving $50 a month!

Sorry, I couldn't resist! LOL, Back to your regularly scheduled program which is now in progress.-Mezz

BTW, Sorry for your loss snoluver1.

too funny!

 

[doofan1]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune

While my real job is working on fire alarm and fire suppression systems I have installed a few security systems over the years.

In my experience most of the wireless motions, door sensors, low temp etc will work in the right conditions but I've had too many problems with the wireless stuff to be reliable. GSM/Cellular dialers work well to communicate the signals to the alarm monitoring service, provided you have cell service at your place, but you will need to pay a monthly fee and possibly get locked into a contract to take advantage of it. If you have a land line or internet there are options to monitor things that way. Response time of the local PD is usually longer than it takes for the scum bags to get away. Put in a basic system with a real loud siren this is usually enough to chase the scum bags away.

If you do put CCTV in don't expect "CSI" type of results unless you spend good of money on it. Most of the Big Box store systems will be very disappointing when you play the video back especially in low light conditions. IP megapixel cameras are the way to go but it will cost you more that the prepackaged systems that are available in the big box stores.

Its sucks that there are so many people in this world that would rather steal than work

Good luck