Travel Technology - Which is the best deal in home security system?

I am frequently having issues with my home security system.I think I have made a wrong choice in this. I need to secure my home in a perfect way during this travel. Can anyone here help me to find a good security system I can buy for my home? I am staying in Canada. So, a dealer within my locality will be more convenient.

I am frequently having issues with my home security system.I think I have made a wrong choice in this. I need to secure my home in a perfect way during this travel. Can anyone here help me to find a good security system I can buy for my home? I am staying in Canada. So, a dealer within my locality will be more convenient.

Define 'secure my home in a perfect way'.

Do you need court admissible video/audio?
Do you require notification of 'events' example: Alarms activating, water sensors triggering?
Do you want glass breakage, water, CO2, Fire, Pressure, Motion sensors, Pool Alarm?
How many control panels? Panic Buttons?
Do you need remote access to the system?
Do you want it to automate some features? example remote turn on/off lights, tv, outlets?
How large is the house being covered?
How many Floors?
How many rooms?
Self installed? Professionally installed?
What is the budget?

My definition of perfect would be: casino style camera coverage + Alarms/sensors on everything.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images21/PitBullTerrierTiggerFetch1.jpg

^
Almost perfect!
That is until they open the door and the dog runs out to chase the cat :D

alarm.com has great functionality that is worth the price.

I think the above animal is good one ! I see alarm.com giving the best system to secure you home by iPhone App.

Hi,

This is our perfect solution for our needs .... have no idea whether it will work for you. We needed to secure two homes whilst we travel ... and naturally whilst in one home and not the other. The system is a bit more than a security system as one home is on a beach and as the house is only a couple of hours away from our main one ..... our system gives us lot's of useful function.

I have installed a dozen plug and play IP cameras over the two properties. Some are exterior infra-red cameras and therefore effectively see in the dark. The others are internal mixed standard and infra red. Both houses have a camera on the front door from the outside and another camera pointing to the door mat and rear of the front door so we can see if the post is piling up and of course photograph anyone who might gain entry. On our beach house we also have an HD camera pointing towards the bays and beach so we can see how sunny it is and how busy it is if we fancy a quick bolt to it for a few days. Other cameras are at the rear of each property. Most have microphones so sound can be captured or listened to live if you need. Although all cameras are wifi capapble instead all our cameras are connected via home plugs to a router and a selection of the cameras upload pictures to photobucket if the image is disturbed.

On photobucket there's a folder for each property and each morning as routine I check to see who has approached the houses. This is really quite reassuring. All cameras can be programmed to send an email with an image to any address if the image is disturbed - we don't bother. All cameras are viewed in a single panel on our PC's and if you don't have an ipad or PC with you, you can also view individual cameras from a manufacturers web site.

All cameras are also connected to a NAS which holds a year or two of continuous video so that if anything warrants a closer look as a result of the pictures I can access either NAS and find the film remotely if I want although to be frank I really never need to. If someone ever did break in, by the time they have got in and break the camera or router their pictures would have already been uploaded by external and internal cameras. A few weeks ago we had some petty vandalism by a utility meter reader (absolutely true) and I sent G4S some pictures and film of their employee and they sent me a cheque and fired him.

The cameras are quite cheap, easy to install, no third party is involved with them and the sophisticated software is free with the camera. It is as comprehensive as we need. There are no monthly fees, and no reliance on others. There's a great Ipad app for when we're traveling. They are also a visual deterrent ... I believe ..... even at night as the IR cameras have red IR glowing lenses.

This has provided us with tremendous reassurance whilst traveling - we use to fret a bit ... but don't now - and lowered our insurance premiums.

If you have any questions .... ask.

UK1 - can you provide a couple of links to the cameras you are talking about?
the regular ones, the IR ones, what is a NAS? what type of router/network gear you need etc?

this sounds GREAT. i just have no idea how to set it up.. where do you plug in the cameras? electrical outlet? batteries?

thanks!

I had an unused contactor on my alarm ... that included a delay feature.

I bought a doorbell that let's me record whatever "chime" I wish. I recorded the sound
of a shotgun chamber'g a round. The doorbell is wired to the contactor. Twenty [12]
seconds after the interior is breached, the doorbell [cough] chimes.

I figure we'll be able to follow the brown trail the perp(s) leave as they exit.

UK1 - can you provide a couple of links to the cameras you are talking about?
the regular ones, the IR ones, what is a NAS? what type of router/network gear you need etc?

this sounds GREAT. i just have no idea ahow to set it up.. where do you plug in the cameras? electrical outlet? batteries?

thanks!

I use Starvedia products (http://www.starvedia.com/). They sell through distributors in many countries. Easy to set up. Rather than repeat what is on the site ... Have a look. It's very easy. Connect the camera to the power adapter and plug in; I prefer to connect via home plugs to the router. Power up the software and it finds all cameras connected. Rename them into recognisable names. Do the same on whatever mobile devices you have whilst at home .... then whilst you're away something magical called dynamic dns will find and direct your cameras to your mobile devices or laptop. You do no complicated setups - it's all done for you. It sounds much more difficult than it is ... it is very easy.

They are a dream company - very attentive and helpful. They also provide firmware and software updates.

The Ipad app is app (http://www.starvedia.com/3GMobileSoftware.html#iPad) and you can have all your cameras on the left hand side of the app and drag them over to the 6 or so screens.


NAS is basically a server that the cameras record to and you can play back what happened.

Read the links and ask any further questions.

I have a DSC alarm system with an envisialink card installed so I can control the system ( and get constant alerts about openings, closings, or tripped alarms).

I have cameras as well. I use IP cameras that I find for $50 each (Dlink, zonet, etc) and blue iris software to control them. In addition to saving videos that trip the motion detection part of the software, I also get a photo to my phone as well.

These work great, and are cost effective.

If you need any info on where I get the parts from, email me......

i don't see anyone discussing how to monitor these systems. other than bowser. snakes work better than dogs, by the way. who calls the local police, and when or fire department? i called the two largest commercial companies in the dc area and asked them to do my house. neither would. then asked, who should i get? got a small local about 25 miles south of dc in southern MD called "alarm smith". i think they work out of a converted house. they sold me the equipment, and installed it. they are month to month for monitor. they have a couple thousand installs down there in nowhere.

i did both my factories in baltimore the same way, but backwards. called residential dealers and asked them to recommend a local commercial company that could, among other things monitor and control false alarms on my sprinkler system. a false alarm on the sprinkler was $500, and they appear pretty often from water pressure surges.

alarm.com has great functionality that is worth the price.

+1 and also check out front point. i dont know if they operate in Canada but they use alarm.com software in the states.

check this site: asecurelife.com for reviews

good luck

its a good thing to install a home security system nowadays because of the crimes happening. But its a best thing first to review some home security companies that are more reliable and secured for our family. try to google their company and reviews of work so you can choose the best company.