I want to get a home alarm system, preferably monitored.

I don't want to spend thousands on equipment and installation. I do realize you get what you pay for, but what can I get for a much lower cost, that is still of good quality and the associated service.

My home has an existing alarm system, it was here when I got the house 8 years ago. It was DOA when I moved in, it's old and surely obsolete. It's hard wired but many of the wires were cut when I had new windows installed.

Is there a good regional or national company, of good reputation?

Thanks in advance.

Forget wires.

Simplisafe or Ring are both GTG.

I can email you a discount code for simplisafe if you’d like.

-Rob

I found a small local installer. He installed 2 motion sensors, 2 door sensors, and a control panel in a business environment. That was about $800. I own the equipment and am using but a fraction of the equipment's abilities. Monitoring with the ability to access remotely and on a cell phone costs $29.99/month from alarm.com.

This setup allows something like 64 individual users to have codes and established access times and even notifications.

This is a wireless system with no phone line to it using cellular technology for monitoring.

As the end user, you need to determine how much penetration will be allowed prior to notification. Also realize that glass breaks aren't bullet proof and could give false positives.

You also need to decide if you want wired devices or wireless.

If one were willing to dig into it themselves, my setup probably could have been purchased and installed by the user for maybe $400 (couldn't track cellular part cost).

edited to add:
Here is the thread I started on the topic at the time I purchased my setup.

edited to add more:
Amazon has these available in kits or buy what you need.

Control panel $129.99

Kit with control panel, 4 door/window, and 1 motion $299.99

Motion sensor $32.00

The cheapest I've found, with monitoring, is the Ring Alarm. You can add premium camera cloud recording for the same monhly fee.

simplisafe is anti-gun. Wouldn't give them a dime, if they were the only game in town.

I have a wireless system that pre-dates simplsafe. Lifesheild, now owned by direct TV/at&t. Worked fine for 12 years now. I have no idea how the costs compare to other systems.

RMD

I use https://www.guardianprotection...ve/austin-texas.aspx as my alarm company and they must be associated with alarm.com as the iPhone app I use is the alarm.com.

I pay $43 a month and my system is monitored via cell phone signal so worry of cut wires and they have a good method in they start dispatching the police right away on an alarm. Also there is a difference in how they dispatch police upon initial alarm compared to other companies.

I am VERY happy with my service. I can fully program or control my system from my smart device or computer.

Are you sure? I could swear I’ve seen their ads in my NRA mags?? Guess that doesn’t mean anything though.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
simplisafe is anti-gun. Wouldn't give them a dime, if they were the only game in town.

quote:

Originally posted by dry-fly:
Are you sure? I could swear I’ve seen their ads in my NRA mags?? Guess that doesn’t mean anything though.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
simplisafe is anti-gun. Wouldn't give them a dime, if they were the only game in town.

They dropped the NRA, after Parkland. https://www.bostonglobe.com/bu...KK3zhVYZJ/story.html
A few years ago, they have an article advising against the use of guns for defense, if there is a home invasion. It was discussed right on here.
So, I say, fuck them.

Hardwire every sensor. Wireless sensor batteries fail at the worst times. Alarm installers love wireless because they are easier to install. I have never had an issue with a hard wired sensor, other than non-commercial overhead door contacts.

Years after your installer is long gone, the reliability of your system will depend on the reliability of your sensors and contacts. Get commercial garage door contacts.

We’ve had a Simplisafe for about 4 years now and it’s been pretty good. Their cameras are poor, and we’ve had intermittent connection issues from time to time though.

I wouldn’t buy it again.

Hardwire is best. After 30 years - had to replace one door contact due to a replacement door (sensor was too long and would not seat properly in the new frame).

Good, inexpensive (FSVO), fast/easy: Pick two.

I chose the first two options by designing, installing and programming my own. All sensors, other than the garage door tilt and micro-barn motion, are wired. Every window and door is covered, there are two motions in the house, smoke/fire on the main floor, and flood for the sump well. I get notifications of arm, disarm, alarms and "system issues" (such as loss-of-communications) via email, text message [for critical events] and an app (which cause notifications to appear on phone, watch and tablet). The system is also monitored 24x7 by one of the major monitoring centers. The cost of that was almost exactly offset by our insurance deduction for having a monitored system.

We went with Vivint for wireless and Blink cameras. Vivint requires a 5 year commitment though

Gotcha, that’s a shame

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by dry-fly:
Are you sure? I could swear I’ve seen their ads in my NRA mags?? Guess that doesn’t mean anything though.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
simplisafe is anti-gun. Wouldn't give them a dime, if they were the only game in town.

They dropped the NRA, after Parkland. https://www.bostonglobe.com/bu...KK3zhVYZJ/story.html
A few years ago, they have an article advising against the use of guns for defense, if there is a home invasion. It was discussed right on here.
So, I say, fuck them.

Is ADT good?

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Is ADT good?

Rip-off (i.e., unnecessarily expensive).

We went wireless years ago with this company: https://www.homesecuritystore.com
Put together the system we needed based on the layout of the house.
Their monitoring is only $9 per month. I have no experience with the monitoring.

We use a company for monitoring in Florida called "The Monitoring Center". We pay
$120. per year. If you could find similar in your area, might be worthwhile
to have your system repaired/updated.
The Monitoring Center-1-866-247-4999.
Regards, Jack

I just installed a Ring system this week. Charge $100/year for monitoring. The batteries supposedly last one year. You can monitor the battery life on the app you download. I also installed their cameras in the entry ways. So far I'm really liking the system.