Remote on a home security system

I think that is called IOT or Internet of Things. I need to get in touch with someone who want to show me how that is done.

Be advised, if you are remotely accessing devises in your home over the internet, many times this is done by port forwarding on your router. If you open ports to allow you to access your LAN you are opening that access to others as well.

The only safe way to accomplish remote access is to set up a Virtual Private Network, where entry into the LAN requires a user name and password.

Just a thought.....................

I use a regional fire protection and alarm company. I think the fire protection portion is more important than the burglary. If it senses a fire it calls the fire dept directly. The break in protection sets off an audible home alarm, notifies me by email, text and an audible alarm on my phone and calls the police.

I can remotely arm or disarm the system and monitor each zone. It will notify me by email, text and phone even when a battery needs replaced. The fee is $104 per quarter.

I use a regional fire protection and alarm company. I think the fire protection portion is more important than the burglary. If it senses a fire it calls the fire dept directly. The break in protection sets off an audible home alarm, notifies me by email, text and an audible alarm on my phone and calls the police.

I can remotely arm or disarm the system and monitor each zone. It will notify me by email, text and phone even when a battery needs replaced. The fee is $104 per quarter.

I use iSmartAlarm for the past 3 years. It is all self monitored which means you do not pay for a monitoring service. (Here you go Gonzo42-->)So I pay $0/month for monitoring. Really hard to beat that price.

Best value for the money, especially since late 2016 which gives you control over each sensor.

The downside is that they don't have smoke detectors. I use Roost for the fire, smoke, CO detectors. Those alert on my phone like iSmartAlarm does for intrusions.

One thing I found out about Roost. If the alarm doesn't use a 9 volt battery (Roost replaces that battery) you put the Roost inside or near the horn on your alarm and it will work just fine. The Roost has a microphone built into its battery and it listens for the warble of the alarm horn. Pretty clever.

I have 3,500 sqft house single story. I have about $600 invested in the entire system ($350 when I started with the basic system). As I added more sensors to better cover the house I got to where I am now. I will probably add more cameras in the future.

My iSmartAlarm has worked almost flawlessly. It has limitations and if you can live with them it is a great alarm system. It is inexpensive and is literally as easy as their videos claim it is to set up.

Some people have complained about it not having a battery backup. $50 at a Best Buy and you can add an off-the-shelf battery to your system.

This video is pretty funny, but it really is that easy to set up.
Man vs. Woman (iSmartAlarm install)

Have a SimpliSafe system. Was easy to install. I can turn monitoring on and off any time I want and have 2 different levels of monitoring to choose from. Monitoring with text/email/remote access is $25/month. Basic monitoring is $15/month. Way cheaper than daughter's $40 per month for ADT. Switch back and forth between the levels depending upon if we are traveling. Did not put the stickers on the windows. Why advertise that there might be something worth stealing.

Thank you for all the replies. I did want to avoid monthly charges if I could. I envisioned a dedicated computer with a UPS, where I could access via smart phone.

I once had an ADT system but the monthly charge was killing me, and trying to end the contract was a 3-month hassle with extra charges. All bogus, in my opinion, looked to me as a way to gouge me.

I could get one of those systems with cameras and a DVR, but as far as I know they can't be seen remotely.

I see ads for Ring, LiveWatch, and SimpliSafe and perhaps another. Any problems with any of these?

Lots of options out there. My son is somewhat of a techno geek. He gets a phone text message if someone steps up to his front door, and he can open an app an see on video who is there when he is not home. And he has audio/video cameras in the house that he drives his kids nuts by watching them on his phone from work and then saying something to them about what they are doing such as "you are supposed to be working on homework" or "get out of the snacks, almost dinner time". :B

blink cameras....also monitor temperatures.

I have a 8 camera DVR system that I can watch on the Internet. Also have a driveway alarm the I've rigged up to e mail my phone if a car passes over it. Not really a "alarm system" but how fast do you think the cops come to a alarm at a home anyway?

We live in the country so noise wouldn't bother any neighbors. My best "trick" is to play the police scanner website softly out my outdoor speakers in the back yard. When you pull into my driveway it sounds like there's a cop in the backyard.

I also tell anyone who comes to the house (contractors etc) that my "shut in" mother is in the bedroom and she'll probably never be able to leave the property again. We're "taking care of her" until she dies. I just work it into the conversation. That way they think someone is always home. You can't trust anyone.