Wireless Home Security Systems
Armadillo Soup
idea about some of these wireless home security systems/alarms, but frankly
I was unable to find out any useful information.
Everybody on here seems so cocky and quasi aggresive and recalcitrant. Not
everyone, of course, but lots of the posters. It sort of makes the whole
industry look bad.
Where can I go to actually find unbiased opinions on these types of systems
? The ones like the GE/ProtectAmercica and SecureHome SecureLink II
systems. Is there any site that ranks/reviews/tests these systems ? Sort of
like Consumer Reports.
Also, in general, are these systems at least somewhat reliable in real life
situations ? I'm not trying to protect the crown jewels here, just my TV,
stereo, and computer. I live in an apartment building.
I am a little worried other wireless devices will set of the alarm. I'm
also worried my cat will set off the motion detector. I've seen ones that
say they are "pet proof", but am somewhat doubtful. Does anyone have real
world experience with these motion detectors and a cat ?
Thanks for any helpful advice.
cheers,
e
Robertm
"Armadillo Soup" <louis...@yourmomma.com> wrote in message
news:Xns96F195E5FE13Clo...@140.99.99.130...
> <snip>
> Everybody on here seems so cocky and quasi aggresive and recalcitrant. Not
> everyone, of course, but lots of the posters. It sort of makes the whole
> industry look bad.
>
> cheers,
> e
All newsgroups are a reflection of the world as a whole. There are some
people who should not be permitted outside unless they have supervision.
Inevitably, some of these will find their way to a newsgroup. As you would
with anyone you meet in the world, ignore those you don't get along with,
and befriend those who will help you. Lots of nice people here.
Bob
Karl Magnus
Stay away from Protect America. They have a horrible reputation, and ,
they deserve it. The GE line is good, but only when installed
professionally.
Done.
See Top Post for Reply !
R.H.Campbell
way that Consumers Reports does.
Firstly, it pays to mention that most of these all-in-one / wireless alarm
systems were primarily designed for small apartments and trailer sites etc,
where security has to be easy to install. This would seem to be your case.
Since then, however, a large number of companies have taken to using them
because they are simple to install, require little if no wiring, and can be
used to sign more clients up to long term monitoring contracts.
That said, provided you use equipment such as the GE Simon, Ademco Lynx,
Paradox Magellan, or the DSC Envoy, you can be assured of professional level
equipment. Usually the wireless that goes along with these is the same
wireless used in hybrid systems of the same manufacture, so is professional
in quality as well. Other makes, I know nothing about, so perhaps post the
makes you are considering and someone with experience can guide you from
there.
Pet motions must be set up properly in order to work as designed. Follow the
height instructions to the letter; don't aim them at stairs, and make sure
that no animal can climb within 6 measured feet of them, and you should be
OK. (I have other information on my site about pet motions you might want
to read...,)
In my experience, it is highly unlikely that other wireless devices in the
area of your wireless devices will cause a problem. Watch out for high
powered ham transmitters within a block of your home; they can trigger
wireless devices by overloading them, and in extreme cases, can make it
impossible to reliably install wireless of most any kind in their vicinity.
Certainly, referring to the devices I have listed, set up and programmed
properly, there is no reason why you shouldn't expect them to work as well
as conventional alarms. Their weakness is that often they are installed in
situations without proper line exclusion, and walking in and unplugging them
is enough to take them off line, rendering monitoring useless. Most also
have the dialer built in, so someone trashing the main control box is also
trashing it's ability to call the station. So with no monitoring, any real
protection is gone....
R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com
"Armadillo Soup" <louis...@yourmomma.com> wrote in message
news:Xns96F195E5FE13Clo...@140.99.99.130...
Armadillo Soup
Thanks for the advice.
I guess I sort of came of aggresive myself, hee hee. I think I must have
simply stumbled on some particularly nasty old threads.
Anyway, I was looking at this system:
GE Deluxe Security Kit
http://tinyurl.com/7e3eo
long url:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=114730-43405-
71183&detail=cr&lpage=none
I wish they told you more about this system. Like if you can disarm it by
phone, for example, though this is not totally necessary.
---
and homedepot's website has this one:
Smarthome SecureLinc II Wireless Security System
I'd post the url but you guys have probably seen it.
On the surface, the SecureLinc seems to have more features and accessories,
but ultimately the bottom line is reliability, as really I don't need that
many features.
R.H.Campbell
from an online retailer would be support when you go to do programming. Even
a professional has trouble with a new panel he's never seen. That said,
perhaps someone here can assist you with specific advice on the particular
equipment in question
R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com
"Armadillo Soup" <louis...@yourmomma.com> wrote in message
news:Xns96F1A0D27CB04lo...@140.99.99.130...
Armadillo Soup
Or how about this Visonic PowerMax + Wireless Security System Kit System ?
http://www.norcoalarms.com/detail_pages/visonic_powermax.htm
I found it on the norco alarms site, though I am not sure they make it.
cctvb...@hotmail.com
fan but the wireless alarm systems from Ademco are good.
R.H.Campbell
so I'm told).
The Paradox Magellan is a nice little unit with lots of features (I bought
one to play with to learn how to crack it when locked). A new unit is coming
along soon with a remote dialer; until then, I wouldn't dream of installing
it.....
RHC
<cctvb...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1129494030.0...@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Armadillo Soup
> Armadillo Soup <louis...@yourmomma.com> wrote in
> news:Xns96F195E5FE13Clo...@140.99.99.130:
>
> Anyway, I was looking at this system:
>
> GE Deluxe Security Kit
> http://tinyurl.com/7e3eo
> long url:
> http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=114730-43
> 405- 71183&detail=cr&lpage=none
>
> ---
> and homedepot's website has this one:
> Smarthome SecureLinc II Wireless Security System
Turns out this SmartHome is just a Visonic Powermax Plus.
Apparently several companies are selling this unit under their own name,
but when you go to download the user manual it says Powermax at the top.
I guess in a way that is a good sign ... that other companies have enough
faith in the product to repackage it and sell it.
Mark Leuck
"Armadillo Soup" <louis...@yourmomma.com> wrote in message
news:Xns96F1C7D2A899Elo...@140.99.99.130...
>
> Apparently several companies are selling this unit under their own name,
> but when you go to download the user manual it says Powermax at the top.
>
> I guess in a way that is a good sign ... that other companies have enough
> faith in the product to repackage it and sell it.
Isn't working too well for General Motors
petem
My real life experience with wireless is this:
I always prefer to have an hybrid system,why? cause all the system like
Simon ,Simon 2,links and such can be defeated too easily..
On the pet immune detector..most wireless detector are less then adequate
for this..
a good PID (pet immune detector) like the one made by paradox is not
wireless
if you can wire a few detector and have a few wireless part, this can make a
good system
many company make hybrid system(wired and wireless)
DSC Ademco Paradox are a few example,DMP and Napco too but this is a bit
pricey..(here at least there is a big price difference..)
having an hybrid system in your apartment can be a solid base for a future
system in your home (when you will buy one ;-) )
Armadillo Soup" <louis...@yourmomma.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
Xns96F195E5FE13Clo...@140.99.99.130...
thesa...@sbcglobal.net
make it work right and many of them don't seem to know how to do it either.
Its NOT a do-it-yourself item if you want it to be reliable.
It also offers no security against keypad smashers and about 20% of the time
burglars do knock the keypads off the wall thinking it will silence the
alarm - it won't of course. But in the case of wireless it will make the
whole system kaput. GE has a solution for this but nobody uses it or
markets it to the public.
Home Depot offer both the ADT branded GE Simons and the SecureHome branded
Paradox - ProtectAmerica also offers the GE Simon system.
They offer these because they hope millions of stupid consumers will buy
this stuff thinking they can stick 25 wireless switches on their windows and
a couple more on the doors and then plug the box into the phone jack and
wall outlet and have a complete home security system.
The next step (and the most important one because it eliminates the high
cost of signing up accounts by eliminating the dealers) is hoodwinking them
into calling the tolllfree and signing up for monitoring while not having
any actual security because half of the window transmitters don't work and
with any luck at least one door won't work either. If a professional
installed the system, most likely he would end up having to get it to work.
The poor consumer is left with something he knows nothing about and in the
majority of cases cannot be fixed over the phone. Some of these will end up
back at Home Depot but most won't.
Many will become 'Paul' systems with a string of continuous bad references
for the security industry even though the security industry had nothing to
do with it. We get the blame for these just like we do for false alarms and
99% of false alarms are not the fault of the security industry or caused by
any security systems.
If you are willing to spend $149. on a security system and want one that is
relaible and actually works why not call several local dealers(or call
everyone in the phone book if you want) and get estimates for the same
wireless system.
Sure you can buy the Home Depot system for $149. and it covers two doors and
has one motion detector but the cost goes up real fast to add any more doors
or motions or to add all your windows.
Brinks offers a system for $199. but the actual cost is cloer to $1800. wehn
they are all done but I have seen peeps get it for just under $1000. Brinks
suckers people with an extra keypad and that low $199. come on price but ADT
does the same thing. Local companies in every area have similar bad deals
but there are good deals if you shop around.
Shop around before you buy online or at the neighnorhood home improvement
center.
"Armadillo Soup" <louis...@yourmomma.com> wrote in message
news:Xns96F195E5FE13Clo...@140.99.99.130...
cctvb...@hotmail.com
the time
burglars do knock the keypads off the wall thinking it will silence the
alarm - it won't of course. But in the case of wireless it will make
the
whole system kaput."
what wireless alarm systems have you been using where tearing down the
keypad disables the whole alarm??????????
Hmmm, Control Panel in bedroom closet, keypad downstairs by front door,
Receiver in attic. Ring a bell??
JoeRaisin
.pull.@.shoot. wrote:
> On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 22:52:53 GMT, <thesa...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>
>>The sad truth about wireless is that only professionals can install it and
>>make it work right and many of them don't seem to know how to do it either.
>
>
> Professionals you say, what can they do sooo good?
>
Install alarm systems
>
>>Its NOT a do-it-yourself item if you want it to be reliable.
>
>
> Can you explain HOW you make wireless alarm systems reliable?
>
Training and experience
> Noting can prevent radio muzzling from the outside with a low power
> wireless transmitter ON THE FREQUENCY.
> ALL Wireless alarm systems fail during Radio Frequency Interferences
> (RFI)without warning to the owner or CS and nothing can prevent it.
>
Actually most systems DO warn of loss of signal or jamming
> If you have a wireless alarm systems and are a VICTIM of wrong
> advertisements and sellers talk...
> For few box, TEST YOUR system get a FCC/CE approved transmitter on
> your wireless alarm frequency from:
> www.mipot.com
> http://www.aurel.it/
> www.rfsolutions.co.uk
>
> If there are other wireless alarm systems in the vicinity, look to the
> multiple alarms going off, a nice midnight show. The wireless RFI
> alarm night OWL will keep "you and police" awake...
Professional systems have transmitters that are coded to a specific
alarm panel. A transmitter coded into one system will Not be picked up
by another, regardless of proximity.
Sorry guys - I know we are supposed to ignore him... but this thread was
about someone asking for real information about wireless systems and he
may not know how utterly stupid Paul's post was...
Mark Leuck
<cctvb...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1129633328....@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
Umm I guess you haven't been around long enough, he's been at this for about
5 years now, here is his alarm. Tell me by looking at that how much he
really knows about wireless security
Crash Gordon
out the window?
The antenna is cute though, I guess a thief may mistake it for a clock radio
or something eh?
and only 418 E a real bargain too.
"Mark Leuck" <m..leuck@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:yqSdnYGoDoc...@comcast.com...
cctvb...@hotmail.com
Dovregubben
wrote:
From personal experience I can tell you that if you use a keyfob-device,
please make sure that it is encrypted, has coderolling and x-million
codes to choose between!
I have an "Infinite" (www.electronics-line.com) home alarm. When I returned
after being away from home one night, the alarm had gone off and the
mainboard had been taken out and remounted.
The next evening we could hear the alarm being armed - not from us but from
somewhere outside the house. Later we experienced that someone had been
in our flat on several occasiones, having switched the alarm off and on the
same way we did.
Technically I am not sure how all this was done, but I ssuspect the
keyfobs, which do not have coderolling, they have only encryption and this
is not secure if they are scanned.
If I buy a new alarm, it would be wired, no doubt about that and I will
not , repeat not, use keyfobs!
Regards
Georg Lavik
____________
"I tider med bedrag som dagens orden,
er det en revolusjonær handling å si
sannheten".
George Orwell
_____________
Viktige linker:
http://www.fomi.no
http://www.worldometers.info/
http://jihadwatch.org/
http://www.tellthechildrenthetruth.com/AminAlHusseini.htm
Crash Gordon
eyesight for the code to be scanned if that was even possible.
And someone removed and remounted the mainboard? What did you do about
that?...I woulda changed all my locks and had the alarm company that
installed the system come out immediately and find out what the heck
happened!
"Dovregubben" <dovre...@walla.com> wrote in message
news:nmdul1t0tegcovjlu...@4ax.com...
alarman
news:e1X7f.60$9V6...@news.uswest.net...
> Keyfobs have such a short range someone would probably have to within
> eyesight for the code to be scanned if that was even possible.
>
> And someone removed and remounted the mainboard? What did you do about
> that?...I woulda changed all my locks and had the alarm company that
> installed the system come out immediately and find out what the heck
> happened!
Or at least have the tin foil changed.
js
Crash Gordon
"alarman" <alarm...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3fX7f.100244$lq6.27203@fed1read01...
Dovregubben
<webm...@siriussystems.invalid> wrote:
>Keyfobs have such a short range someone would probably have to within
>eyesight for the code to be scanned if that was even possible.
>
>And someone removed and remounted the mainboard? What did you do about
>that?...I woulda changed all my locks and had the alarm company that
>installed the system come out immediately and find out what the heck
>happened!
Possibly - I cannot tell for sure, but it is possible to be nesar my door
without being seen.
Here is what I did:
(I installed the alarm myself.)
I contacted the UK group and told them about the matter. They informed
me that their keyfob has no protection against possible scanning, but the
signal is encrypted.
Hence I installed a codelock on my door and cut the alarm which I am now
going to sell. It was rather expensive, cost me about $ 500 altogether and
it goes for say $150. Used 6 months.
If I had known what I know now, I would not have bought a wireless alarm,
but a wired one ande served it from a wired codepanel inside the flat.