Home Security System Questions

ksstang

Vortech'd
Established Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
722
Location
Lawrence, Kansas
So after another vehicle break-in within, I've decided it's time to go ahead and move forward with a camera that looks over my driveway, and doorbell camera, and go ahead and install a security system on my house. We live in a really decent neighborhood, but unfortunately in the last 2 years one of my vehicles has been hit twice.

I reached out to a local security company for a quote for 1 camera in the peak of my garage looking at my driveway and vehicles, a doorbell camera, and a complete system to cover the house. 3 door sensors, 1 garage door tilt sensor, and 9 window sensors. On the quote, he listed all the model numbers. It is all Honeywell products, and he marked everything up well over 50%. His quote came in at almost $1500.00 installed. I called a couple bigger companies like ADT, Brinks, etc and they weren't much cheaper.

After seeing these prices, I decided to look up the Honeywell stuff, and watch some install videos. It's crazy how easy it is to install a system. So, after pricing out all the equipment and seeing how I can get it all for around $600.00 shipped to my door, I am considering going that route and installing everything myself.

At that point, all I would need is a monitoring service for my alarm. Does anyone know if it's possible for a individual to install all their own stuff, and then call a monitoring company once finished to get on a monitoring plan? If so, what are some names of companies that do this, that support Honeywell products?

Thanks in advance!
 

sleek98

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2012
Messages
2,168
Location
Kansas City, MO
Look at SLS security, out of Belton MO, they are semi local to you. They will do just the monitoring for like 30 a month. We used them for a few years, used our system and they only got paid for the monitoring.
 

ford fanatic

Four Eyed Freak
Established Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Messages
3,658
Location
Darlington, Md
Watch what monitoring company you get, they can be bigger thieves than the people that will break into your house/cars. Been there with two different companies.
 

Junior00

Hurter Of Delicate Vaginas
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
May 20, 2005
Messages
2,574
Location
Ga
Might try calling MyAlarmCenter, I think they are nationwide with affiliations across the country. They monitored mine for I 11.95/mo and service was great honestly. We carried them across several houses and friends have them out of state. I did exactly what you are doing as my brother was the head tech at ADT here and he installed the system and I just had it monitored. Since then installed PoE cameras myself and added them as well.
 

mysticsvt

southernmustangandford
Established Member
Premium Member
Party Liquor Posse
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
8,916
Location
Charleston, SC
The peace of mind is worth every penny. We arm the system when we sleep and when we are away from the house. Camera on my Mustang and my Gun safe. My wife didn't want any in the house because one day I was at work and text her nice panties. Worried someone else would be looking in, lol.
 

ksstang

Vortech'd
Established Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
722
Location
Lawrence, Kansas
Might try calling MyAlarmCenter, I think they are nationwide with affiliations across the country. They monitored mine for I 11.95/mo and service was great honestly. We carried them across several houses and friends have them out of state. I did exactly what you are doing as my brother was the head tech at ADT here and he installed the system and I just had it monitored. Since then installed PoE cameras myself and added them as well.

Great! I will give that a try!! Thanks so much!
 

jaxbusa

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2015
Messages
688
Location
Northeast Florida
Why do you need a monitoring service? When the cameras catches motion it will send you a message on your phone and you can see what’s going on. Then you can call the police and give them the information.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com
 

SHOdown220

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
1,978
Location
North Carolina
Why do you need a monitoring service? When the cameras catches motion it will send you a message on your phone and you can see what’s going on. Then you can call the police and give them the information.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

+1. Which I get that is varies by person. For me personally, I always have my phone on me all day at work and away from the house. My family has picked up these $25 cameras on amazon (wize I think). I was watching some of their recordings last night and they are impressive quality. Cameras are dirt cheap. You can record to an SD card and I think it saves to the cloud automatic footage when it picks up something. It sends a notification to your phone when it senses motion as well.

To be fair the security does concern me if someone else was able to hack in and watch but I don't plan on putting any in my house. Would be more so for watching my front door/driveway.
 

BOOGIE MAN

Logic and Reason
Established Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Messages
7,676
Location
Under the bed
Why do you need a monitoring service? When the cameras catches motion it will send you a message on your phone and you can see what’s going on. Then you can call the police and give them the information.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com
I'm with this guy.

The only reason to have alarm monitoring is to call the police if you're not home and can't be reached.

Would it be cheaper/as safe to just set up the alarm system locally (to just trigger a siren, lights, etc) and pair that with a camera system? I got 3 wireless cameras (sound and visual) from Costco, think the brand was Arlo. Get the app on your phone and you can access the cameras live, even speak through the cameras, and go through history of when cameras were triggered (motion). If you've got the cameras and a way to see them 24/7 (from phone) you can call the cops yourself if you're not home
 

mysticsvt

southernmustangandford
Established Member
Premium Member
Party Liquor Posse
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
8,916
Location
Charleston, SC
What if you can't get to your phone to make the call for the same reason why you are installing the system in the first place? Once my phone was off as was my wife's and they couldn't reach us...Police Officer...knock knock knock. It's normally about $50.00....I like it when they call me to make sure everything is ok.
 

ksstang

Vortech'd
Established Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
722
Location
Lawrence, Kansas
What if you can't get to your phone to make the call for the same reason why you are installing the system in the first place? Once my phone was off as was my wife's and they couldn't reach us...Police Officer...knock knock knock. It's normally about $50.00....I like it when they call me to make sure everything is ok.

That's kind of why I would like the monitoring. My wife and I travel quite a bit, and sometimes to areas where cell coverage is very limited, if even at all.
 

PhoenixM3

Hello Kitty Slayer
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2012
Messages
6,343
Location
Colorado Springs
So after another vehicle break-in within, I've decided it's time to go ahead and move forward with a camera that looks over my driveway, and doorbell camera, and go ahead and install a security system on my house. We live in a really decent neighborhood, but unfortunately in the last 2 years one of my vehicles has been hit twice.

I reached out to a local security company for a quote for 1 camera in the peak of my garage looking at my driveway and vehicles, a doorbell camera, and a complete system to cover the house. 3 door sensors, 1 garage door tilt sensor, and 9 window sensors. On the quote, he listed all the model numbers. It is all Honeywell products, and he marked everything up well over 50%. His quote came in at almost $1500.00 installed. I called a couple bigger companies like ADT, Brinks, etc and they weren't much cheaper.

After seeing these prices, I decided to look up the Honeywell stuff, and watch some install videos. It's crazy how easy it is to install a system. So, after pricing out all the equipment and seeing how I can get it all for around $600.00 shipped to my door, I am considering going that route and installing everything myself.

At that point, all I would need is a monitoring service for my alarm. Does anyone know if it's possible for a individual to install all their own stuff, and then call a monitoring company once finished to get on a monitoring plan? If so, what are some names of companies that do this, that support Honeywell products?

Thanks in advance!
Guns.....lots of ‘em.
 

Junior00

Hurter Of Delicate Vaginas
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
May 20, 2005
Messages
2,574
Location
Ga
Why do you need a monitoring service? When the cameras catches motion it will send you a message on your phone and you can see what’s going on. Then you can call the police and give them the information.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

I know here the insurance company won’t allow the discount on your policy unless it’s monitored by an accredited facility, not sure in other cases. In my case I think it’s 15%.
 

ford fanatic

Four Eyed Freak
Established Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Messages
3,658
Location
Darlington, Md
Ok, what two companies were you with so I can avoid them?

Vector was one and the other is out of business. Watch for contracts with lengthy renewals hidden in small print, like automatic 5 year renewal, yes 5 years, after the first year unless you say otherwise. Or, they will want your worn out, out dated equipment back or you owe them their original fees from when they installed your equipment (think free equipment/installation with a contract). We were at about $1500 for 6 year old equipment.

We still have the alarm, but are now unmonitored. I think half the battle is putting the alarm system warning stickers on your windows and doors along with the signs in your yard. But really, if they want to get in, they will.
 
Last edited:

Machdup1

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2007
Messages
6,134
Location
U.S.
Security is about layered defenses.

External cameras that record to an Internet source. Front, sides and rear. Ring cameras work great. They are like digital snitches.

Perimeter alarm that is capable of notifying police using cellular technology. ADT is the leader in the space.

Safes to slow thieves down. Pick one. Given enough time a thief will get into a safe. The alarm should take time away from the thief.

Guns to eliminate threats that enter the perimeter. Again pick one.
 

mysticsvt

southernmustangandford
Established Member
Premium Member
Party Liquor Posse
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
8,916
Location
Charleston, SC
Security is about layered defenses.

External cameras that record to an Internet source. Front, sides and rear. Ring cameras work great. They are like digital snitches.

Perimeter alarm that is capable of notifying police using cellular technology. ADT is the leader in the space.

Safes to slow thieves down. Pick one. Given enough time a thief will get into a safe. The alarm should take time away from the thief.

Guns to eliminate threats that enter the perimeter. Again pick one.
You also lay in bed and think of ways to kill intruders and which gun to use depending on their point of entry. LOL
 

Machdup1

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2007
Messages
6,134
Location
U.S.
You also lay in bed and think of ways to kill intruders and which gun to use depending on their point of entry. LOL
Why?

I had that plan 10 minutes into real estate agent walking me through the house before I bought it, so I sleep great.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top