Home Security System Help Please

[OcRyan]

Hey guys,

I have been researching a wireless home security systems by Honeywell, called Lynx Touch (link below). Does anybody have experience with this one or others like it? I am also wanting to setup a camera system with motion detection notifications. The part that I am against is paying $30-40 per month and others having access to my cameras. I would like the security and camera system to be integrated so I don't have to "arm" both systems when I am leaving.

Here are my goals/requirements for the system:
-Wireless
-Expandable
-Phone notifications (available on Lynx touch with "total Connect" and third party monitoring for about $30/mo )
-Camera system with phone notification, can access cameras from phone, tablet and computer.

Are there any workaround to the third party monitoring? Can I get my own sim card and use that, or a land line?

Any help is much appreciated.

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/p-2076-lynxtouch-total-honeywell-lynx-touch-total-connect-starter-kit.aspx

[blakdawg]

I have used www.nextalarm.com in the past for standalone monitoring - I haven't used their camera-related services. Might be worth a look.

[OcRyan]

I have used www.nextalarm.com in the past for standalone monitoring - I haven't used their camera-related services. Might be worth a look.

Thanks! I will check them out. I don't really like the one frame every 5 seconds stored. Storage is cheap, especially at standard definition. I suppose outside monitoring has it's benefits but I feel like with all of the technology that we have available there should be other options.


There's got to be an option for what I'm looking for...

[Ninety]

People have recommended Lowe's home security systems on here IRIS i think.. I looked at a review online and it seemed good.. wireless.. text or email alerts..

[OcRyan]

People have recommended Lowe's home security systems on here IRIS i think.. I looked at a review online and it seemed good.. wireless.. text or email alerts..

That looks like a good candidate, Thanks! If only it had the cool touch screen though!

[Ninety]

Sweet. let me know when you are ready to throw a camera system in.

i think that alarm system has a package that comes with one camera.

good luck

[esy]

we recently got a FrontPoint system. it has very impressive reviews and so far has been a very good system, lots of options, and a very customizable platform.

we had BRINKS, which obviously switched to ADT, and now on FrontPoint.

[the86d]

I have it's predecessor the Lynx Plus, and the wireless devices that talk (door contacts? or whatever they are called) to it have not run out of battery-juice in about 3 years, so far...
The only thing that ran out of juice was the lady's key-fob.

I will probably get the Touch when my contract is up with my monitoring company in a few months... I want to drop the land-line here, and just go cell monitoring rather than just the backup (no monthly land-line fee with VZ should save about $50/month but I will have to cancel VZ service and re-signup for the better deal).

Honeywell has made great stuff for many years, and even with re-branding, I think ADT and others still use their stuff. If you get a system from a certain provider, it may be locked and unable to use another monitoring company with that equipment from what I have read, and what the installers told me... A $500 system is not worth a 3 year contract, if you ask me...

[boarder010]

+1 for Frontpoint...Awesome service, DIY-ish system , great features.

For cameras though, I prefer to do it myself with IP cameras vs pay for that service with my alarm.

[AGGRO]

I use swannview and am very happy with it. The smartphone app works from anywhere and you can get push notifications.

[the86d]

+1 for Frontpoint...Awesome service, DIY-ish system , great features.

For cameras though, I prefer to do it myself with IP cameras vs pay for that service with my alarm.

I think with most of the system-integrated camera services there is an additional monthly fee for access to them. I could be wrong, but VZ and others that were advertizing similar services, even Honeywell's, I have seen an additional fee associated with remote access service with their hardware.

[OcRyan]

I think with most of the system-integrated camera services there is an additional monthly fee for access to them. I could be wrong, but VZ and others that were advertizing similar services, even Honeywell's, I have seen an additional fee associated with remote access service with their hardware.

I guess if you want the complete package you gotta pay. It is not that big of a deal. Is it fairly simple to "Arm" your camera system to give you motion sensing alerts? I can live with arming the security system and camera system separately if it means I save $30/mo

[ucsdryder]

I am far from tinfoil hat guy but aren't you guys worried about the possibility of someone hacking into your system and having access to the cameras? With the new technique that allows you to watch your camera system from your computer or cell phone it seems logical that someone could hack it pretty easily.

[OcRyan]

we recently got a FrontPoint system. it has very impressive reviews and so far has been a very good system, lots of options, and a very customizable platform.

we had BRINKS, which obviously switched to ADT, and now on FrontPoint.

I like that the frontpoint uses a sim card for notifications. It seems like a nice system, I am just trying to not to pay monthly mostly because I am on a budget and I would rather spend that money on good equipment.

[Montu]

I am far from tinfoil hat guy but aren't you guys worried about the possibility of someone hacking into your system and having access to the cameras? With the new technique that allows you to watch your camera system from your computer or cell phone it seems logical that someone could hack it pretty easily.

In my case I run my own server, the logs would indicate weird connections

and then it wouldn't really be a big deal anyway..not like I have a camera in the bed room...(yet)