Home security system??

[NRai2001]

We have a general home security system at my parents home (I m not sure which company) and a few cameras from costco pointing in the backyard and front yard..

What is the best home security system? Camera system? What should you look for in both? Which ones are the easiest to "crack" or circumvent?

My uncle has a few monitors placed on his walls through out his house (kinda like the intercom systems in many houses) that display his home camera system.. that seems like a good idea.. he can even watch the footage on his iphone in realtime at anytime..

Any other good stuff? What do you guys recommend? How can you make it harder to crack a home security system? Whats good? Whats the best?

Thanks
-NRai

[ambiguous216]

How about a loaded 12 gauge?

[Nrai2020]

How about a loaded 12 gauge?

A loaded shotgun is a good start (got that covered) already.. But not like you can always have one at your side.. Plus this is for my parents home..

I was looking for a really good (willing to pay more) security system.. What is the top most uncrackable system??

[Montu]

How about a loaded 12 gauge?

till the loaded 12 gauge gets stolen when your not home.

OP,
A monitored system is the way to go although You don't have to pay adt to monitor it (you can have it call a cell or have it monitored by company's like next alarm)
make sure you have the appropriate mix of window/door sensors, glass break sensors and motion sensors.

you can also setup an alarm to use a back up battery and cell antenna to call out...I wouldn't worry about "which system is harder to crack" Just have all entry points covered and use glass break/motion sensors in addition to the regular door/window
sensors.

Also remember security is about layers..besides the system you can get security film for the windows and reinforce door's.

if there are no pets, camera's can be set to send a text/email alert on movement in certain area's.

Also a big dog but security shouldn't be your main purpose for getting a dog

check this site out

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/

[em9sredbeam]

In before get a dog..

[Montu]

In before get a dog..

beat you to it although I did say a it shouldn't be your main reason for getting a dog

[amd64]

Also remember security is about layers..

+1. Make your home an obstacle course to get into. Fencing, outdoor motion sensors, dogs, cameras, reinforced entry doors and windows, motion lights, thorny landscaping, etc.

[BigPimping]

If you live in Northern California Bay Alarm is really the only way to go. Local and family owned it is endorsed by every police agency in the Bay Area. No, I do not work for them. I have one installed at my grandmothers house.

[lanwarrior]

Try Foscam F8916W camera. Cheap and have pan tilt capabilities and motion sensor that can be controlled from your phone.

If you want drop dead simple cameras, get DropCam.

[RamonSJC]

I want a guard shark w laser beams!

[the86d]

I want a guard shark w laser beams!

The amount of water required with PH and salt-water upkeep, the feed needed, and the ramifications of a lawsuits here in California, not to mention the permitting that would be required prevents my moat-plans from becoming a reality.

Girl Scout's mutta could sue do to laser-induced blindness, especially if they aren't a citizens. This would prevent the reality of a prema'-future-trek to a free-state WITH all belongings.

[Mexican Musashi]

We have a general home security system at my parents home (I m not sure which company) and a few cameras from costco pointing in the backyard and front yard..

What is the best home security system? Camera system? What should you look for in both? Which ones are the easiest to "crack" or circumvent?

My uncle has a few monitors placed on his walls through out his house (kinda like the intercom systems in many houses) that display his home camera system.. that seems like a good idea.. he can even watch the footage on his iphone in realtime at anytime..

Any other good stuff? What do you guys recommend? How can you make it harder to crack a home security system? Whats good? Whats the best?

Thanks
-NRai

I don't know if your situation is similar to mine (I live in a bad neighborhood AND I am rarely home). But I've shopped around a bit and done some DIY work (digital shock detectors, outdoor lighting, wireless cameras, etc). I may even switch to electronic locks since I'm amazingly absent-minded and sometimes leave my door unlocked. I'm too cheap to go the full ADT route but American Home Alarms (a local installer/consultant) has a pretty good reputation (including from a friend of mine).

For the wireless cameras (which I would argue, everyone should have), I purchased a few foscam wireless cameras (FI8918W). They come with software you can install and access the camera view through the software. And it works with tablets as well (I've seen it used on an iPad--I'm assuming it would work on an Android tablet, and both types of smartphones). I've only accessed it through my PC however. By the way, the FI8918W isn't super great for outdoors/night time, but like I said, I'm cheap. Eventually I'll get better nighttime outdoor cameras and the cheapy foscams will serve as something like a baby cam.

One thing to remember: guns are one of the more commonly-stolen items. So make sure to store them somewhere safe, where a burglar would never look. I'm talking somewhere super safe, like on your couch, or on the TV!

[tekrus05]

Or you can spend very little and make it appear that you have a high end security system hahaha.

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/c-150-burglar-deterrent.aspx

[the86d]

Or you can spend very little and make it appear that you have a high end security system hahaha.
http://www.homesecuritystore.com/c-1...deterrent.aspx

Those camera-mounts look like they could used for real cameras, for 1/3 the cost...

This one looks like one of the best options for under $500. The base unit can be tucked away hidden somewhere in another room, away from intruders, and the alarm would sound on cell signal, even if the keypad EDIT: <snip>... : http://simplisafe.com/home-security-system-5-components $229 for a basic cell-monitoring system with a $24.99/month cellular monitoring plan, which is like AT LEAST $10/month cheaper for cell-monitored than ANY monitoring company that knocked on MY door. The three door-to-door monitoring salesmen that I talked to said that cell-monitored will not cost less than $35/month for their provided service.
Most systems can be defeated with a simple baseball bat, or breaker-bar EDIT: <snip>...

If you have cell-monitoring, you probably don't need the land-line @$50/month from Verizon. Cell-monitored because if the phone-line is cut, and you don't have a cell module on your system, nobody will be notified of anything.

If Verizon (or other provider) tells you that you won't save anything if you drop your land-line, check their prices in a browser that you have never used to login to their site, and check prices for new Internet-service (&TV?) MINUS the land-line and you will see the difference. If you use a browser that you logged into their site, they check for a cookie that does not let you see prices for NEW service. You might have to cancel service to get a better price on non-land-line (unless you get someone that understands logic, such as "they pay" for return shipping on equipment you return via the UPS store) and have it installed like it was new service the next day (~$60 fee for an install?) but if you are saving $50/month, you will be ahead in less than 2 months. "Cancel service" on the phone is the key, and will get you to retentions, and sometimes they can work with you, but to get a better deal, assume you will have to cancel service, as most people in retentions cannot give you NEW CUSTOMER equivalency-prices.

[the86d]

When talking to the door-to-door guys, I told them that my contract wasn't up for another month with my provider (which was true), and I couldn't afford it until "so-and-so" week. They kept lowering the price of the system, set-up, and such until it was REALLY too good to pass-up, so if you want to go with one of them, that is a way to get a cheaper system with a better/bigger monitoring company. I understand that ADT might not flex on prices, but others will, like the people who have a sub-contract with (I think it was: ) Monitronics the guy was trying to push on me. (I really wanted a specific system when talking to him, and he didn't offer it, probably because it costs more than the one he was pushing.) You WILL have a contract for monitoring for 3 years with most of the door-to-door guys I talked to, but the system can cost you less out of pocket to get setup initially.