DIY home security system?

powernoodle

powernoodle

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Jul 21, 2004
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Hey guys (and chicks). I'm considering the installation of a home security system, and want to look into do-it-yourself installation options. This would entail some kind of wireless system, probably with just an external alarm and no monitoring. I'm trying to go as cost efficient as possible, though I may wish to add video recording with a couple of cameras at some point. Anyone have any experience or advice with this? Or should I just suck it up and get a monitoring company to install a "free" system and pay the monthly fee? Honestly I'd rather avoid paying $30/month for the rest of my life, but I see the upside to monitoring as well. Thanks. :thumbup:
 
rig a staple gun and a nail gun to be automatic and make an extended mag. Line them up with lines and strings as trip wires and as connected to windows and doors. Make a kill switch inside your room. works well. (I only tried with staple gun as a prank but nail gun i think can be done)
 
I used to install these for ADT, Honeywell, Protection One. They are pretty easy to do. monitoring/contracters vs. do it your self is a personal choice both with pros and cons.
If you go the DIY method the components are plug and play so to speak they tell you best types of locations to install. the components them selves are easy to install and then its a matter of programing the system to respond as desired. obviously a wired system is a little more labor intensive but still possible for the do it yourselfer (much less visible install if done right as well).

basic tools needed:
Drill assorted bits
multi driver set (including some precision bits)
pliers (needles are handy wire strippers/cutters)
others if you go wired (or even just run into difficulty).
you will still need some wire (#22 AWG) to run a power cord ,siren and phone line jacker.

Feel free to email me with any questions.
 
Check your local police before signing up for monitoring. The police in my area won't respond unless the monitoring service gets a response- in other words, if you're not home, no response. The alarm company offered a solution - they now have a system that let's them listen in to your house (and by now, probably watch, too) - if they hear a burglar they can call in the police. I was not interested in having somebody able to listen in to my house whenever they felt like it.

When I found out the police weren't responding, I dropped them. They had gotten up to more than $30/mo. too.
 
Check with your homeowner's insurance carrier. Most give a rate discount, bu they will have requirements on what sort of system qualifies.

And do a bit of googling and you will find that you can get professional monitoring for less than $10/month.
 
I used a simple system that worked well long before wireless technology came out. It was a Radio Shack unit I installed here nearly 30 years ago, using only door switches and a large siren. The allarm went off a couple of times while we were away when the neighbor would come in to check on the house plants and the cat. It was effective as my neighbor came face to face with the other next door neighbor with his 12 gauge shotgun. He took the allarm seriously when it went off since he had been robbed before.
 
The Honeywell system ADT uses is an excellent system, I have one. But they can be purchased online and seem pretty easy to install yourself. As odd said you can subcontract monitoring.

In my case ADT's system was not really "free". ADT only includes a limited number of sensors and are happy to sell you as many as needed. The problem is ADT charges 3x what they cost online. So my free system wound up costing about $600.

Also, the monitoring service goes up in price every few years, we started at $49 ( for cellular calling ) and we were just raised for the 2nd time in 4 years to $59.

In my town the police do respond, but the response time varies ( not ADT's fault). If you live in a town where police respond to alarms, the monitoring service is worth the price. Plus ADT services the system whenever something breaks.
 
At least for regular monitoring, as long as you sign a term agreement, SCI security's price has not went up in the 12 years that I have known them. They are family owned and operated though, not sure about others. Sometimes it makes a difference, sometimes it doesn't.
 
I think you have been given alot of good advice. A dog is a better alarm than most everything else.

Motion sensors can be beat almost completely, and I am not talking about cutting the power or doing anything to the alarm at all.

Laser light sheets over the doors and windows is best because it is localized and reduces false alarms, and is about as perfect as a sensor can get for this purpose. However it is power dependent. A dog is not.

I was thinking about a red nose pit bull, and I will beat the hell out of the previous guy if his tail or ears are clipped. My son wants a dog, so I have had that on the mind lately.
 
What ever hardware you use, make sure that it is a model that the company still supports, and that has a good update track record. Then update it! There have been several collected 4chan threads of home security cameras. While most of it is innocuous, you defiantly don't want anyone watching you online. Even if you don't connect your system to the WWW, a lot of wireless systems can be easily accessed, it would suck to have someone shut down your system and walk in, or worse, use it to find out when you are not home. Paranoid, yes, paranoid enough? only you can judge.
 
Gollnick said:
Check with your homeowner's insurance carrier. Most give a rate discount, bu they will have requirements on what sort of system qualifies.

And do a bit of googling and you will find that you can get professional monitoring for less than $10/month.
Click to expand...

Both fine ideas. Thank you.

jake5713 said:
How about just buying a handgun
Click to expand...

Oh, I have that plenty covered. Trust me.

Thank you everyone.
 
Old but still fun:

New home security system.


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

2. Place them on your front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo Magazine.

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

4. Leave a note on your door that reads:



Bubba,

Big'un, Duke, Slim, & Me went for more ammo and beer. Back in an hour. Don't mess with the pit bulls -they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up bad. I don't think Killer took part, but it was hard to tell from all the blood. Anyway, I locked all four of 'em in the house. Better wait outside.

Cooter
 
Along the same lines a dog house with a large bowl of bones. It was effective when I watched the meter reader take notice and she nervously took out her pepper spray before walking past the dog house and I didn't have a dog.
 
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