Home Security Systems!?

**Beautiful Disaster** · 07-15-2010 03:27 PM

I've decided this is a worthy investment for me now that I have a home and live alone (unless you count my 70lb furry friend who is FAR from a guard dog).

I've gotten a quote from one company and am in the process of scheduling an appt to get a quote from another. I do not have a land line, so my options are either purchase a cell phone unit ($199 for the unit) and pay an extra $5 monthly service fee, OR use the option that connects my security system to my broadband internet (no extra charge).

Obviously, they recommend the cell phone option as internet sometimes fails (though mine hasn't since I moved here.... cell connections fail sometimes too!).

Does anyone have any experience with security systems that could give me any advice or opinions?

**Little.Chuck** · 07-15-2010 03:31 PM

Fnnily enough, you can a get a burgalar alarm system that barks like a guard dog. I think its called a rex-10 barking dog alarm system. Not sure how it works or when it barks, but I think it has sensors and barks when someone approaches or something. Have a look for yourself

x

**LanaBear** · 07-15-2010 03:47 PM

My whole house is wired and we do have the cell unit because we don't have a land line, we use Vonage through our internet connection for a home phone.

We've had zero problems with our cell unit. However, I'd be curious to find out who you got the $199 quote from for the cell box because we were not charged for ours, but do pay the $5 per month service fee for it. This was a little over two years ago though...

I never thought about how much of a piece of mind having a security system is, but it is a HUGE sense of security now that I have one. All my doors and windows have sensors, I've got random motion detectors throughout the house and I have keypads at my front door, door to the garage and up in the master bedroom.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 07-16-2010 07:25 AM

I've heard of the barking dog thing, I'll have to check it out!

Lana, both the quotes I got were from two local companies. One quoted me like $125 for the unit, and one quoted $199. I find it absurd to have to pay that for a cell phone unit. Who do you have your service with? I'm finding that the sensors are costly and most standard packages only come with three. I have 3 doors.... but in 3 bedrooms I also have 6 windows, then 4 in the main area of the house.

**LanaBear** · 07-16-2010 10:58 AM

ADT... One thing that was apparently definitely to my advantage was that we had the system installed when the house was being built, so all the sensors are wired (and apparently cheaper), we didn't have to use the wireless sensors. We just have these little things probably the size of a dime on all our window and door frames. Not sure what we would have done if we didn't, we have 3 doors and 11 windows downstairs and 1 door and 11 windows upstairs.

Call ADT or Brinks ask them for a quote, tell them you are being quoted $125-$199 for the cell box, but you also know people who have gotten the cell box for no charge, see what they can do.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 07-16-2010 11:01 AM

ADT...

This is where it gets so confusing. I hear great things about AAA and ADT from some....and then I look up reviews and see horror stories. I know that for every good review there will be 10 bad...but it makes decision making difficult!!

Sounds like you all definitely got a good deal!

**LanaBear** · 07-16-2010 11:17 AM

I haven't had any problems with them, FWIW... I've regularly set off the alarm myself on accident (just happened again this morning). They called one time because they hadn't received a status signal from my cell box in a couple of hours and they were able to reset everything over the phone.

A couple of weekends ago, I left the house, but apparently didn't shut the door to the garage all the way and obviously didn't lock it, but it was shut enough for the sensor to allow me to set the system before I left. Well, it was windy that day and the change in pressure pushed that door open a little, enough to set my alarm. They called my cell, which I didn't hear, then they called hubby's cell, which was turned off, then finally got a hold of my mom. While they had someone on their way out within minutes according to the status report. Who then checked the whole perimeter and reset my alarm remotely.

Reading reviews is hard because it is hard to make a good decision on anything and trust me, I research the crp out of stuff before I buy.

**Jayla2251** · 07-16-2010 01:46 PM

My parents have used ADT for years and years, they use it for their bussiness too. And they've never had any problems.

I bought a house that had a security system so I just had to get it turned back on. I also didnt have a land line, but didnt get a price from them for the cell unit thing, but just chose to get a land line.

**hoops** · 11-22-2010 01:52 PM

I have used ADT for many years. I've also read about people using nextalarm.

**Colorado** · 11-22-2010 07:46 PM

We use ADT as well - never had a single problem.
Funny they want to charge you like that though, I also got my system free, just had to do the monthly thing is all.

Also note that depending on who you have for an insurance company for your home, they will usually give you a fairly good discount for having ADT installed, and this goes a long way towards offsetting the monthly fee, so check into it.