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I have searched online for a GSM home alarm system and Visonic, Yale, Infinite Prime and CommPact seems to be the most popular ones, what are your thoughts and which one you suggest me to purchase?
I have rang two installers today and one said he installs Scantronic alarms and the other one installs Texecom alarms, I believe Scantronic is not as good as Texecom but what are your thoughts?
Is GSM more reliable than using telephone to contact you when alarm is triggered?
Also my house has all the alarm wires fitted when the house was built, should I go for a wired or wireless system?
If you are purchasing your own system, I would suggest that you go with a Honeywell LYNX system. Honeywell has been around for decades and have many patents in the home security world.
If you want a completely wireless solution, go with the following list:
a) Honeywell wireless contacts for doors/windows
b) Honeywell LYNX touch L5200 or L7000 control panel
c) Honeywell GSM and/or WiFi addon for the LYNX touch in (b)
Done!
All you need to do is to peel/stick the door/window contacts. Pop in the GSM circuit board inside the LYNX touch. Mount the LYNX touch panel near your door (or living room, since it looks great!). The Touch will walk you thro to add the wireless sensors for monitoring.
Super simple. After you do this, just call ANY Honeywell monitoring company and they can monitor your setup for NO CONTRACT and approx $20-$25 / month.
IF you do not want GSM monitoring, they can monitor the system using your home WiFi for approx $15 a month.
If you are SELF monitoring, you can do so yourself via your smartphone from anywhere in the world for approx $8 a month.
I've never heard of someone deciding on which security system to get by which was most "popular"???
Anyway I would start with your local police department - see what thieves are doing in your area. Then based on that, decide what will best protect you from that. The police may have a program to come out and look at your house and make suggestions?
And the answer may be motion lights.
Maybe a security system.
Maybe a security camera system.
Maybe physical security - bars on the windows/doors, high security locks (for very bad areas).
And for the security system, maybe you have pets (or might get pets in the future) and that would be a consideration for inside motion detection. Maybe protect all windows and doors? Maybe just doors and a couple of motion detectors inside. Maybe protect a shop or outbuilding? (Distance matters for wireless.)
Anyway once you decide what all needs protection, then realize these things can be integrated with cell phones these days. If you just have a cell phone and no land line, that is a consideration for monitoring. You can look at pictures from your security cameras on your cell phone while away from home. Lights can be turned on/off with the security system. Etc.
Might want to call them and ask for a recommendation on which systems are better.
And DO NOT sign any contracts before reading each and every word! Read the fine print. Some alarm companies are bigger crooks than the thieves breaking into your house - they lock you into multi-year costly monitoring contracts which are very difficult to get out of.
You can purchase the equipment yourself and hire an off duty alarm technician to install it - no contracts!
Search google.com for the following words to find online stores to purchase alarm equipment...
My guns (Prefer SIG) are backed up by a German Shepherd...
I am a dog lover but there are SO many ways to defeat a dog if you plan ahead it isn't funny. Better to have a 800# gun safe, keep all my weapons (other than the one I am carrying at the time), camera gear, house cash, documents, jewelry, and photos in it. So even if I'm not at home, I am still well protected. And if I am home, I am armed and sleep with my home alarm on (I sleep heavy and my hearing is in bad shape)
And everything is defeatable, its just how much effort is involved and is it really worth it.
I'm a police officer, and I think this is an excellent alarm system. You set it up yourself, it's wireless, cellular calling, text and email alerts, no subscriptions, you buy what you want up front, low monthly monitoring... I could go on and on. Check out their website.
Whatever alarm you get, put stickers and signs for a different alarm company on your house. You don't want to advertise what system you have. Layered security is also the best method. I have an alarm, motion lighting, firearms, reinforced entry points, and a german shepherd. If you appear prepared, a criminal will be more likely to pick an easier target (your neighbor).
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