Help from the brain trust: Alarm monitoring

[GH85Carrera]

OK guys, I know a lot of you have alarm systems for your house or business. I have been using a company that bought the business from my former alarm company. This year they want a major bump in the price and they want me to sign a contract that says it will automatically renew every year unless I give them 3 months notice. That is 100% not going to happen. For that and several other reasons I am looking for a new company to monitor my alarm.

Right now it monitors all the doors & windows and has a fire alarm monitor as well. I pay 15 bucks a month, but I just pay by the year. Since it is time for a change I would like to go to a internet or cell phone monitoring so I can dump my home phone line. I would like something that monitors the garage door and can be accessed with my iPhone to see the status of the system and remotely arm and disarm if I want.

Do you use a national company like ADT or some local company? Do you like the company you are with? What do you pay per month and are there any features you think are worth spending more to get the extras?

I have asked via email with my local friends and one guy responded:

"My alarm system cost $2000/yr. 5 guys who man the front gate, write down your tag, monitor your house every 2 hours 24/7."

That is above my budget.

[Head416]

I used ProtectionOne until I moved recently. They installed for free (up to a certain size system) and used a cellular system so I didn't need a phone line. The cost was $42/month but it was locked in at that price for life.

[stomachmonkey]

Did you see my post on our recent office break in?

Turns out we were not notified because we were, (no longer) on cellular only.

ADT's cellular monitoring is handled on a separate ATT network.

The night we got broken into the network was down nationwide, as in pretty much all of N America.

Fortunately the thief's were not aware so they left quickly assuming the cops were on their way.

Had they hung around for a few minutes they would have realized that we were blind and could have leisurely cleaned the whole place out.

I have peripherally looked into cell as a backup for my home system and what you can do is self monitor.

You can get an adaptor for your alarm system that will let you add a cell phone as a call out device. Add a second line, $9.99 with ATT, and dedicate it to that. Program it to call you.

Here's a good article.

Home security on your iPhone | TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

[CHICKS]

Wireless Home Security Systems | Burglar Alarm | Wireless Home Alarm

[schamp]

I pay 200.00 a year. The alarm company tried that contract thing. I called them up and the girl said I had to sign the contract. I explained I had another option- to get another alarm company. I asked if they wanted a customer or a contract- unsigned? They elected to have a customer.
I think when they start asking for a contract they are getting ready to sell or try to sell the business.
Thanks for the link to the iphone monitoring.

[GH85Carrera]

I am still looking for the perfect solution.

I have asked a lot of friends and they pay anywhere for 20 to 45 bucks a month for alarm monitoring. I have a nice functioning system that was installed when the house was built. All the wires and sensors are hidden in the walls. My goal is to find a system that will work with the existing sensors, and allow me to switch to a wireless or internet connection for monitoring. I want to dump the land line and save that 25 bucks per month.

I feel sure there is a reasonable system that will allow me to "see" the system and run the system with my iPhone, and even add in video monitoring if I want it. I have long wanted a video camera for my driveway. Our house has the driveway and garage on the side of the house. When guest (or pizza delivery ) arrive I can't see them until they knock on the front door.

I will continue my quest and report back my solution.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

.....My goal is to find a system that will work with the existing sensors, and allow me to switch to a wireless or internet connection for monitoring......

Sensors are really nothing more than a circuit, it's either open or closed.

I'd start at your central panel and see what you've got for a board and what can be added to it.

At worst you may need to upgrade the board but I doubt you'd need to worry about the sensors.

[911Freak]

Sub'd.
I'm doing the same, have existing system built-in when home was built, currently with ADT and w/out a contract. Looking for either less expensive them 40 a month or more services: iphone monitoring, video etc.

I've seen pricing from as low as 10 a month for straight security monitoring from a small company up to what seems to be standard @ 40 from the larger national company.

It's an area where I don't neccessarily want to get cheap with the budget.


Ymmv