Considering putting one of those video surveillance systems around my home, the kind you can monitor on your computer.Anyone have experience with the alarm company kind or the ones you can buy on Amazon and install yourself? Haven't compared prices. Looking for experience.I know that the alarm company (ATD) can instantly call the authorities, etc. and will cost more with the monthly charge. Already have a home contract.

simpli safe.... no cameras but everything else. cheap monthly plans

I installed a system by REVO and am very pleased. I can look at my home from computer and on an iPhone or android device from anywhere. I can search recorded content from phones or computers. Sound is also recorded with the video.I'm happy with it.

I installed a security system from FrontPoint Security. I wanted the alarm system and notification of break-in or fire to the proper authorities if needed. I only installed one camera inside but could have installed more inside and out. The camera I have is night vision and, as I have set it, will start recording if an intrusion alarm is triggered. It can also be set to record on a user defined schedule.And I can view it any time remotely with a computer, smart phone, IPod, etc.FrontPoint has a very good customer rating. Easy and simple wireless installation.

todouble wrote:simpli safe.... no cameras but everything else. cheap monthly plansDitto for simpli safe. No monthly fees (if desired). You can have them activate for a few months, then have them turn it off. We just save the monthly charge & use the siren feature when we're not on a long trip. You can start off with just the basic components, then add on as you like. It is totally wireless, (bad dudes do not have a phone wire to cut outside your house before breaking in). Dave Ramsey & Glen Beck won't steer you wrong.

sealevel ram wrote:Considering putting one of those video surveillance systems around my home, the kind you can monitor on your computer.Anyone have experience with the alarm company kind or the ones you can buy on Amazon and install yourself? Haven't compared prices. Looking for experience.I know that the alarm company (ATD) can instantly call the authorities, etc. and will cost more with the monthly charge. Already have a home contract.I wouldn't assume that an alarm company will "instantly" call the authorities. the bulk of my career was spent managing a major 9-1-1 call center in suburban Chicago (28-years). our center had our own alarm panel but we also took calls from alarm companies for dispatch to police units. in virtually all cases the call to our center was the second call being made...the first call was usually to a keyholder to determine if the alarm was valid or false, a false alarm usually being caused by the owner or manager when opening or closing the business or by faulty equipment. if the keyholder could not be reached or otherwise indicated that the alarm could be valid then and only then did the alarm monitoring company call the authorities.on one occasion a jewelry store owner had two separate alarm circuits, one to our panel and another to a private monitoring company. he wanted redundancy. one evening the alarm on our panel rang and police were dispatched within 30-60 seconds. when they arrived they found a smash-and-grab had occurred...the front plate glass window had been smashed allowing the thieves to take what was in the window. detectives were called and after they had been on the scene for around 15-20 minutes then we get a call from the private monitoring service reporting activation of the alarm. after questioning they admitted that they delayed the call to us in favor of locating the owner (they never did locate him but we did). if you're considering an intrusion alarm then at least check with your local police to see if they maintain their own alarm panel and compare those costs to a private service. if you want to contract with a private service first be sure you understand what their protocols are for calling police. do they call them first or only after attempting to speak with the premise keyholder? do your local police issue fines for false alarms caused by faulty equipment? ask to see a report detailing their response times in making a call to the local police. good luck.

Alarm Company Video vs. Do It Yourself | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

gat75
Explorer
Feb 26, 2014
todouble wrote:
simpli safe.... no cameras but everything else. cheap monthly plans

Ditto for simpli safe. No monthly fees (if desired). You can have them activate for a few months, then have them turn it off. We just save the monthly charge & use the siren feature when we're not on a long trip. You can start off with just the basic components, then add on as you like. It is totally wireless, (bad dudes do not have a phone wire to cut outside your house before breaking in). Dave Ramsey & Glen Beck won't steer you wrong.
BB_TX
Nomad
Feb 26, 2014
I installed a security system from FrontPoint Security. I wanted the alarm system and notification of break-in or fire to the proper authorities if needed. I only installed one camera inside but could have installed more inside and out. The camera I have is night vision and, as I have set it, will start recording if an intrusion alarm is triggered. It can also be set to record on a user defined schedule.
And I can view it any time remotely with a computer, smart phone, IPod, etc.
FrontPoint has a very good customer rating. Easy and simple wireless installation.
BlindGuynAR
Explorer
Feb 26, 2014
I installed a system by REVO and am very pleased.

I can look at my home from computer and on an iPhone or android device from anywhere. I can search recorded content from phones or computers. Sound is also recorded with the video.

I'm happy with it.
todouble
Explorer
Feb 26, 2014
simpli safe.... no cameras but everything else. cheap monthly plans

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Alarm Company Video vs. Do It Yourself

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