Any opinions on the X10 security system??
Mr So and So
Anyone have any good or bad experiences/opinions on the x10 security system
with auto dialer? (NOT the monitored one).
Also, anyone know an inexpensive/easy way to hook up an external siren for
outside?
Thanks,
Greg
>>>> NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW <<<<<
Genetically changed foods were NOT tested! Testing is done on us!
>>>>THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK<<<<<
Is the government trying to put small farmers out of business? Ask one!
Rahul Dhesi
I was wrong.
== begin saved posting ==
From c.c....@22.usenet.us.com Mon May 29 23:20:15 2000
Date: 11 May 2000 22:34:53 GMT
From: Rahul Dhesi <c.c....@22.usenet.us.com>
Newsgroups: comp.home.automation
Subject: are x-10 wireless security systems easily defeated?
A web search revealed that the remote controls used to control
X-10-based security systems have only 256 possible codes that identify
the remote to the wireless receiver. Am I correct in concluding that a
intruder could trivially disarm any such security system simply by
transmitting 256 disarm commands, containing each of the 256 possible
codes?
--
Rahul Dhesi <dh...@email.rahul.net> (spam-filtered with RSS and ORBS)
See my ORBS faq:
http://www.rahul.net/dhesi/orbs.faq.txt
== end saved posting ==
--
Rahul
Rahul Dhesi
[ about my yet-unchallended conclusion that X-10 security systems can be
disarmed by sending 256 disarm codes ]
>And you think the average entry mechanic is going to carry all this
>stuff around with him just to break in? ROTFLMAO!
What "all this stuff" were you thinking of?
A standard hand-held remote control can be made to generate a new random
code quite easily (remove batteries, reinsert, press button). It should
be easy to add a switch to the remote to cause it to generate a new
random code. Once this is done, it should take no more than a couple of
minutes of trying to disarm any nearby x-10 security system.
--
Rahul
Dan Lanciani
| "Gene Heskett" <gene_h...@iolinc.net> writes:
|
| [ about my yet-unchallended conclusion that X-10 security systems can be
| disarmed by sending 256 disarm codes ]
Your conclusion is correct. The code is only a byte, and it's not even clear
that all values are used.
| >And you think the average entry mechanic is going to carry all this
| >stuff around with him just to break in? ROTFLMAO!
|
| What "all this stuff" were you thinking of?
|
| A standard hand-held remote control can be made to generate a new random
| code quite easily (remove batteries, reinsert, press button). It should
| be easy to add a switch to the remote to cause it to generate a new
| random code. Once this is done, it should take no more than a couple of
| minutes of trying to disarm any nearby x-10 security system.
All the remotes already have the button. It's marked "code" and it makes
them pick a new "random" code without having to remove the batteries. On
the other hand, it seems to be difficult to get to some values this way. I
used to try to set all my remotes to the same code so that I wouldn't need
them all to reprogram a base after it lost its programming. I eventually
decided that the effort to get a remote back to the common code when its
batteries went dead was greater than simply gathering all the remotes for
the base reprogramming session...
Dan Lanciani
ddl@danlan.*com
Scott
security system? How would he/she know that they had disarmed it? Unless
you advertise what kind of system you have installed on your windows, doors
& front lawn, someone would have to carry a lot of "stuff" as stated before
to try and disarm an unknown system! Unlikely!
Scott
Rahul Dhesi
Isn't the X-10 security system the only wireless security ssytem that is
sold by consumer electronics stores such as Radio Shack and Fry's
Electronics? If there are others sold in the consumer market I have not
seen them. If you were a professional burglar, wouldn't you be aware of
which security systems were both popular and easy to defeat?
--
Rahul
Lumpy
Rahul Dhesi wrote:
> ...If you were a professional burglar,
> wouldn't you be aware of which security
> systems were both popular and easy to defeat?...
Not really. Burglars are VERY likely to bypass
a residence with any kind of alarm and just
go to the next house (which probably has
an unlocked door).
Here's the reasoning...
My house has the same 'stuph' as your house
and the next house, in terms of burgs. We
all have a TV, VCR, etc, etc... Ham radios,
big screen TV's, musical instruments, telescopes
etc all bring the same, relatively low, price
at the pawn shop.
Businesses are a different thing. Being able to
steal ten TV's at one place is more attractive
to the burglar than just one. Therefore defeating
an alarm at a business might be more attractive.
They won't waste time at a house when there are
such easier targets, right next door.
This opinion (mine) is based on years as a gendarme
and personally knowing many, many burglars and other
bad guys.
lumpy n0eq
--
http://www.digitalcartography.com
Dave Houston
interviewed professional burglars who were serving sentences in Ohio
prisons. Alarms are of little help. They know they'll be in and out long
before there is a response. They case a house, usually hit it in
mid-afternoon when no one is home, and are in and out in less than 15
minutes. The only thing they avoid is a house with a dog *inside*.
"Lumpy" <lu...@digitalcartography.com> wrote:
---
Dave Houston
http://Commander-X.com
Mark Lloyd
you that under REAL conditions it will be less, usually much less.
Motion sensors (PIR) often give false alarms, especially when used
outside. I used to have one on my driveway. I got tired of the
frequent alarms caused by birds, sun, wind, etc..
On Wed, 31 May 2000 07:50:17 -0400, Mark <Ma...@mail.nospam> wrote:
>Well, I had a bunch of door sensors and a few motions. It worked great for
>about a year and now the thing is all screwy. It sets off randomly.
>
>Usually it's a motion detector that goes off, but sometimes a door sensor.
>All new batteries, and I even bought a new motion sensor because I figured one
>of mine went bad, but that one falses a lot too. No pets or kids setting
>things off.
>
>I suspect that it's a distance problem. They advertise 100' which is a
>fantasy. You'll get 30' at best. Some of mine are around the 30' mark.
>
>I dunno. Like I said, it worked great for about a year and now it's just
>unreliable and we don't use it much anymore.
Dan Lawyer
of system you have or defenses you put up if he really wants in. The x10
security system, if setup with some thought so that the console isn't
obvious and can't be ripped out of the wall, and with enough flashing lights
and power sirens, will make life so miserable for the 95% of
non-professionals that are more apt to try to get into your house, that
hopefully they will leave before they take anything. If the system does
that, it has done it's job. Just try to think inside a house with an x10
system going off (assuming you have added one or two of the 110db power
horns), no fool in his right mind would stay in there, nothing is worth that
kind of pain. The one that tried to get into my house sure left in a hurry,
according to a neighbor who saw somebody running away from the house. Not a
thing was taken. I'm quite happy with it, as are a number of friends who I
have installed them for. Especially for the money, and they are really,
pretty reliable with falsing a rarity.
"Rahul Dhesi" <c.c....@04.usenet.us.com> wrote in message
news:8h2i85$rt6$1...@samba.rahul.net...
> "Scott" <nos...@mailbox.com> writes:
>
> >Just had to ask: How would the person know that you had an X-10 based
> >security system? How would he/she know that they had disarmed it?
Unless
> >you advertise what kind of system you have installed on your windows,
doors
> >& front lawn, someone would have to carry a lot of "stuff" as stated
before
> >to try and disarm an unknown system! Unlikely!
>
> Isn't the X-10 security system the only wireless security ssytem that is
> sold by consumer electronics stores such as Radio Shack and Fry's
> Electronics? If there are others sold in the consumer market I have not
> seen them. If you were a professional burglar, wouldn't you be aware of
> which security systems were both popular and easy to defeat?
> --
> Rahul
>
Mark Lloyd
On Mon, 12 Jun 2000 07:21:49 -0400, vinnie865 <vinn...@aol.com>
wrote:
>On 10 Jun 2000 23:38:02 GMT, rumy...@aol.com (Mr So and So) wrote:
>
>>>Subject: Re: Any opinions on the X10 security system??
>>>From: "Dan Lawyer" dla...@austin.rr.com
>>>Date: 06/01/2000 9:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time
>>>Message-id: <dotZ4.2820$Gh.1...@typhoon.austin.rr.com>
>>>
>>>A professional burglar is going to get into your house no matter what type
>>>of system you have or defenses you put up if he really wants in. The x10
>>>security system, if setup with some thought so that the console isn't
>>>obvious and can't be ripped out of the wall, and with enough flashing lights
>>>and power sirens, will make life so miserable for the 95% of
>>>non-professionals that are more apt to try to get into your house, that
>>>hopefully they will leave before they take anything. If the system does
>>>that, it has done it's job. Just try to think inside a house with an x10
>>>system going off (assuming you have added one or two of the 110db power
>>>horns), no fool in his right mind would stay in there, nothing is worth that
>>>kind of pain. The one that tried to get into my house sure left in a hurry,
>>>according to a neighbor who saw somebody running away from the house. Not a
>>>thing was taken. I'm quite happy with it, as are a number of friends who I
>>>have installed them for. Especially for the money, and they are really,
>>>pretty reliable with falsing a rarity.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>What happens if the electricity goes out?
>
>The x10 unit uses a 9v battery for the base and all the sensors are battery
>operated anyway. As long as the phone line works, it will still detect an
>intrusion, make nose, and dial out.
>
>The only thing that won't happen, obviously, is the lights in your house won't
>flash.
daleb098
c.c....@04.usenet.us.com (Rahul Dhesi) wrote:
>"Dan Lawyer" <dla...@austin.rr.com> writes:
>
>>A professional burglar is going to get into your house no
matter what
>>type of system you have or defenses you put up if he really
wants in.
>>The x10 security system, if setup with some thought so that
the
>>console isn't obvious and can't be ripped out of the wall, and
with
>>enough flashing lights and power sirens, will make life so
miserable
>>for the 95% of non-professionals that are more apt to try to
get into
>>your house, that hopefully they will leave before they take
>
>I think you are dividing burglars into two categories, those
who are so
>good that no alarm system will stop them, and those who are so
bad that
>they have not taken the extra 15 minutes to acquaint themselves
with the
>most popular consumer-grade home alarm system on the market in
the USA.
>It seems to me that these would be top 2% (the really good
ones) and the
>bottom 20% (the really bad ones). The remaining 78% should
ideally be
>stopped by a good alarm system, but might not be stopped by the
X-10 system.
No, Rahul, I think you got them figures wrong. I go with Dan's
estimation, less than 2% of the criminal intruders in this USA
take any interest in alarm systems. The great majority of the
burglars are really low brows. I did a year in a joint and had
more than a few words with such people; intelligent enough, but
they don't rely on intelligence, don't trust their abilities
with knowledge. Got a bad attitude for sure.
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
Me
'regular' alarms?
And are the monitoring companies any good?
"daleb098" <daleb098...@netzero.net.invalid> wrote in message
news:02e6da6f...@usw-ex0101-007.remarq.com...
p...@see_my_sig_for_address.com
excessively long time, and wrote:
>No, Rahul, I think you got them figures wrong. I go with Dan's
>estimation, less than 2% of the criminal intruders in this USA
>take any interest in alarm systems. The great majority of the
>burglars are really low brows. I did a year in a joint and had
>more than a few words with such people; intelligent enough, but
>they don't rely on intelligence, don't trust their abilities
>with knowledge. Got a bad attitude for sure.
How do they generally feel about home-owners with multiple
guns of every kind, intelligently distributed and readily available,
who know how ( and are ready if needed ) to use them ?
OK, it sounds like a sarcastic question, but really...... how
do they feel about that ?
If anyone breaks into my house while I am home, they will be
carried out to the coroners wagon.
Paul
--
>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~>~~
pjm@(remove this part )pobox.com
My WWW site is at http://www.pobox.com/~pjm, featuring free HVAC software.
daleb098
pjm@see_my_sig_for_address.com wrote:
>
> How do they generally feel about home-owners with
multiple
>guns of every kind, intelligently distributed and readily
available,
>who know how ( and are ready if needed ) to use them ?
>
> OK, it sounds like a sarcastic question, but
really...... how do they feel about that ?
Rhretorical, not sarcastic. Generally averse. But the kids
down the block know your car and habits.
daleb098
$04.10...@newsrump.sjc.telocity.net>, "Me"
<ch...@dsl.telocity.com> wrote:
>What about false alarms, are they more of a problem with x-10
then with
>'regular' alarms?
Check out the alt.security.alarms newsgroups for that. I
haven't used X10, but have had a home hard wired system up for a
couple years without a false.
With co-habitants or employees that really don't appreciate
alarm systems, false alarms are a major problem.
>And are the monitoring companies any good?
No. Too much ground to cover. Do it yourself or count on the
sirens and your neighbors.
Rahul Dhesi
>No, Rahul, I think you got them figures wrong. I go with Dan's
>estimation, less than 2% of the criminal intruders in this USA
>take any interest in alarm systems. The great majority of the
>burglars are really low brows. I did a year in a joint and had
>more than a few words with such people; intelligent enough, but
>they don't rely on intelligence, don't trust their abilities
>with knowledge. Got a bad attitude for sure.
You only talked with the ones who got caught.
--
Rahul