Home Security Systems

[xring]

Back in the day I installed custom home and business security systems. They can be effective, primarily when the audible goes off. They are useful when one comes home and can see's perimeter is secure when entering the house. They can be tactically useful when different loops are installed so the area of intrusion is known.

All of these functions do not need monitoring to function. Personally I dont think monitoring is worth the cost. He she is going to boogie when the audible goes off either from a contact switch or the panic button. If they dont ,any threat they pose will have to be dealt with far before the alarm company summons the police. Because of this i prefer custom alarm companys with history and references that have no interest in locking you into a eternal monitoring contract. Note that a dog provides all of the same functions mentioned, all that is needed is a dog, a mushroom head panic switch(s) and a high decibal alarm with ups. Additionally a dog provides companionship and a team in your absence. If you want a attack doggy well in my mind there is complete difference between a organic weapon and a team member. I prefer a team member personally.

If the threat is to your possesions i would advise more safes.

1. dog
2. more CQB training for wife scenario based armed
3. more cqb range time for wife
4. more safes for stuff
5 more scenario based training unarmed
6 simple panic button and audible horn.

No tool can substitute for individual training including a alarm system. Ultimately she must decide wether she wants to aqquire self defense skills. I see you live in the springs. I believe there is realistic effective scenario based training there. One scenario based training class that challenges her beliefs, shows her limitations, and provides her with appropriate responses will do more to keep her safe than 10 alarm systems. http://www.rmcat.com/ Ultimately skills always take work they can not be purchased. Bodyguards with skills can be purchased however. AND HAVE HER READ " THE GIFT OF FEAR"!

[airborneranger]

Back in the day I installed custom home and business security systems. They can be effective, primarily when the audible goes off. They are useful when one comes home and can see's perimeter is secure when entering the house. They can be tactically useful when different loops are installed so the area of intrusion is known.

All of these functions do not need monitoring to function. Personally I dont think monitoring is worth the cost. He she is going to boogie when the audible goes off either from a contact switch or the panic button. If they dont ,any threat they pose will have to be dealt with far before the alarm company summons the police. Because of this i prefer custom alarm companys with history and references that have no interest in locking you into a eternal monitoring contract. Note that a dog provides all of the same functions mentioned, all that is needed is a dog, a mushroom head panic switch(s) and a high decibal alarm with ups. Additionally a dog provides companionship and a team in your absence. If you want a attack doggy well in my mind there is complete difference between a organic weapon and a team member. I prefer a team member personally.

If the threat is to your possesions i would advise more safes.

1. dog
2. more CQB training for wife scenario based armed
3. more cqb range time for wife
4. more safes for stuff
5 more scenario based training unarmed
6 simple panic button and audible horn.

No tool can substitute for individual training including a alarm system. Ultimately she must decide wether she wants to aqquire self defense skills. I see you live in the springs. I believe there is realistic effective scenario based training there. One scenario based training class that challenges her beliefs, shows her limitations, and provides her with appropriate responses will do more to keep her safe than 10 alarm systems. http://www.rmcat.com/ Ultimately skills always take work they can not be purchased. Bodyguards with skills can be purchased however. AND HAVE HER READ " THE GIFT OF FEAR"!

Good advice. I appreciate the input.

[Jer]

I have nine cameras covering every possible entrance point to my house and most of the inside that are all accessible from my Android phone or any computer in the world. I get emails with 5 still photos anytime there's movement on any of these cameras. I have them DVR to a remote location so that if someone should get through my fortress and decides to steal one of my PCs thinking they got my security files... nope. I can activate 2-way audio or pan the cameras around from my Evo 4G running Android from Texas if I have a data connection of some sort. I can even check the status of my garage doors and open/close them from anywhere in the world so long as there's an internet connection. As part of my IT consulting I've installed these for both businesses and residential clients and with the crime rates and home invasions on the rise I think this is better than any alarm system although having both isn't a bad idea. With this I can not only monitor real time, get alerts real time and then call a neighbor or the cops myself but I've got gobs of video with them on it. Good wireless cameras can be had for around $100 each these days but the difficult part is the setup of the cameras and the various types of software required to do everything I just mentioned.

[ruthabagah]

I know this is a classic but it deserve a re post once in a while:

Best home theft deterrent ever.

1. Go to a second-hand store and buy a pair of men's used size 14-16 work
boots.

2. Place them on your front porch, along with several empty beer cans, a
copy of Guns & Ammo magazine and several NRA magazines.

3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazine.

4. Leave a note on your door that reads:

Hey Bubba, Big Jim, Duke and Slim,
I went to the gun shop for more ammunition. Back in an hour. Don't mess
with the pit bulls -- they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up real bad. I don't think Killer took part in it but it was hard to tell
from all the blood. PS - I locked all four of 'em in the house. Better
wait outside.

[00tec]

http://burglarbomb.com/

[xring]

I have nine cameras covering every possible entrance point to my house and most of the inside that are all accessible from my Android phone or any computer in the world. I get emails with 5 still photos anytime there's movement on any of these cameras. I have them DVR to a remote location so that if someone should get through my fortress and decides to steal one of my PCs thinking they got my security files... nope. I can activate 2-way audio or pan the cameras around from my Evo 4G running Android from Texas if I have a data connection of some sort. I can even check the status of my garage doors and open/close them from anywhere in the world so long as there's an internet connection. As part of my IT consulting I've installed these for both businesses and residential clients and with the crime rates and home invasions on the rise I think this is better than any alarm system although having both isn't a bad idea. With this I can not only monitor real time, get alerts real time and then call a neighbor or the cops myself but I've got gobs of video with them on it. Good wireless cameras can be had for around $100 each these days but the difficult part is the setup of the cameras and the various types of software required to do everything I just mentioned.

Wow... Impressive. When you are home you dont have to view monitors the vision engine does it for you and gives you the images on your android to evaluate. What vision engine software are you using?

[Jer]

Wow... Impressive. When you are home you dont have to view monitors the vision engine does it for you and gives you the images on your android to evaluate. What vision engine software are you using?

On the Android there's an app called IPCamViewer Pro that's very powerful and works very well. For home one can even use a dedicated tablet running this same app to monitor all cameras or a combination. You can have one and plug it into power where ever you are or you can mount them at various locations to be able to monitor video from anywhere. At home, I use Xbox 360's at all of my viewing locations for streaming movies as well as all my HDTV recorded via HomeRun Prime HD tuners to a central location. I wrote a program that allows me to click individual cameras from the Xbox Windows Media Center menu to have them display or even all of them at once in a nice 16:9 grid on any of my TVs. It's quite handy if we're watching TV or a movie and something goes bump in the night. A quick button press allows for an area check. Oh, the dog is on the patio and wants back in often is the cause.

[xring]

On the Android there's an app called IPCamViewer Pro that's very powerful and works very well. For home one can even use a dedicated tablet running this same app to monitor all cameras or a combination. You can have one and plug it into power where ever you are or you can mount them at various locations to be able to monitor video from anywhere. At home, I use Xbox 360's at all of my viewing locations for streaming movies as well as all my HDTV recorded via HomeRun Prime HD tuners to a central location. I wrote a program that allows me to click individual cameras from the Xbox Windows Media Center menu to have them display or even all of them at once in a nice 16:9 grid on any of my TVs. It's quite handy if we're watching TV or a movie and something goes bump in the night. A quick button press allows for an area check. Oh, the dog is on the patio and wants back in often is the cause.

So each of your cameras has its own IP and is on the web via wireless? I thought those cameras were way expensive? Excuse my ignorance this is beyond me both technically and financially, just curious.

[Jer]

So each of your cameras has its own IP and is on the web via wireless? I thought those cameras were way expensive? Excuse my ignorance this is beyond me both technically and financially, just curious.

Yeah, separate IP address for each one and they're wireless so they link up with my router and then to a secure website that allows me to access them remotely or if I'm on my home network I can just access them locally.

[xring]

Yeah, separate IP address for each one and they're wireless so they link up with my router and then to a secure website that allows me to access them remotely or if I'm on my home network I can just access them locally.

The cameras are a nice little subnet under the routers IP! Sweet!