I am planning to get a home security system and after weighing on my option between a monitored system from a DIY security system, I’ve decided to go for a DIY. I thought it would be more economical for me to do it than having some company do it for me and make me pay for every sweat on their foreheads. My neighborhood is also very peaceful and has not seen crime done for quite some time now. We also live in the better part of the city. I also installed security measures like adding more locks on my doors and windows, installing light sensors to almost every corner in my home, more outdoor light fixtures, more smoke and CO2 detectors, door jambs, even timers…but I do not sleep soundly. I wake up at night worried that somebody might be breaking in. My wife told me that a security system might do the job.

I made a little research and now I am ready to go buy. I saw several ads but I really do not need expensive systems. I looked on amazon, then saw what seems to be good buys on ebay. They offer packages with several door/window alarms, motion sensors, sirens, main panel with auto dialer, etc. and they are wireless. I am refraining a bit from buying now coz I am not sure if these systems are reliable and the sellers trustworthy.

Has anyone bought home security systems from ebay? How are they? The feedback from the buyers are mostly good, but Im still holding back. Any help?
22 hours ago - 3 days left to answer.

I am planning to get a home security system and after weighing on my option between a monitored system from a DIY security system, I’ve decided to go for a DIY. I thought it would be more economical for me to do it than having some company do it for me and make me pay for every sweat on their foreheads. My neighborhood is also very peaceful and has not seen crime done for quite some time now. We also live in the better part of the city. I also installed security measures like adding more locks on my doors and windows, installing light sensors to almost every corner in my home, more outdoor light fixtures, more smoke and CO2 detectors, door jambs, even timers…but I do not sleep soundly. I wake up at night worried that somebody might be breaking in. My wife told me that a security system might do the job.

I made a little research and now I am ready to go buy. I saw several ads but I really do not need expensive systems. I looked on amazon, then saw what seems to be good buys on ebay. They offer packages with several door/window alarms, motion sensors, sirens, main panel with auto dialer, etc. and they are wireless. I am refraining a bit from buying now coz I am not sure if these systems are reliable and the sellers trustworthy.

Has anyone bought home security systems from ebay? How are they? The feedback from the buyers are mostly good, but Im still holding back. Any help?

I am looking for a system to monitor my warehouse via the internet. Ill probably need about 6-8 cameras, and they will need to have motion sensors so that they can double up as my alarm system at night. I will need IR too because i dont want to have to leave the lights on 24/7.

Any advice on the above would be appreciated. However, my main question revolves around the fact that we dont use mainline broadband in there, we have Mi-Fi. So, will a camera system be suitable for use with Mi-Fi? And how much ‘juice’ will the camera system go through….ie will the cameras constantly need to be connected and feeding data, and approximately how much? (Currently we get 15MB per month allowance….is this enough?)

Thanks for all help (i know i could ask a salesman, but as always they will only tell me YES!)

I’ve spent about 10 Grand on a Rental property I own. The house itself is nice, the neighborhood is too, its just the people in it, can sometimes be predictable. I always put an "Alarm Guard" sign and decals on the property/windows to help deter hoodlums. I’ve never had any problems. I was just wondering If I should add (on the fence) a regular sized (12×12) neighborhood watch sign…the home is vacant and I have been doing open houses so there has been some traffic. This idea spawned as I was making a sign to put near the applications that said general information such the rent, etc etc and other things pertaining to the property and that I would be back soon. Sometimes I’m gone all day because during the week days its very slow. The big open houses are on the weekend. So I thought on the paper that said "I’ll be back, take an application" I added to it about one of the ‘positives’ of the neighborhood was neighborhood watch…and then I saw online how they have decals/signs….

Do you think this would deter people from bothering the property?? Thinking "eH, lets just hit another house"… or do you think they would want to throw a rock through the window because it mentions if there are any problems, the neighborhood will call the police?? I worry a little because I have so much money invested. I also have motion sensors, and putting a real alarm on it is too extensive for now. I leave a few lights on, and a radio.

What do you think???

I’ve spent about 10 Grand on a Rental property I own. The house itself is nice, the neighborhood is too, its just the people in it, can sometimes be predictable. I always put an "Alarm Guard" sign and decals on the property/windows to help deter hoodlums. I’ve never had any problems. I was just wondering If I should add (on the fence) a regular sized (12×12) neighborhood watch sign…the home is vacant and I have been doing open houses so there has been some traffic. This idea spawned as I was making a sign to put near the applications that said general information such the rent, etc etc and other things pertaining to the property and that I would be back soon. Sometimes I’m gone all day because during the week days its very slow. The big open houses are on the weekend. So I thought on the paper that said "I’ll be back, take an application" I added to it about one of the ‘positives’ of the neighborhood was neighborhood watch…and then I saw online how they have decals/signs….

Do you think this would deter people from bothering the property?? Thinking "eH, lets just hit another house"… or do you think they would want to throw a rock through the window because it mentions if there are any problems, the neighborhood will call the police?? I worry a little because I have so much money invested. I also have motion sensors, and putting a real alarm on it is too extensive for now. I leave a few lights on, and a radio.

What do you think???

Are motion sensors able to record video at all or is it just surveillance cameras that do that?

I just bought a homeowner’s insurance policy for a house my husband and I just purchased. I bought our policy over the phone from a well respected company I will not mention because of their good service overall. The agent I dealt with was absolutely insistent that my husband and I install a monitored home security system in our house because we would get (a rather paltry) discount on our policy. I tried to explain to the rep that paying for the system, including monitoring would never pay off even if we were robbed because we don’t have many things someone would want to steal. Other than an off brand flat screen TV (that’s chained with a lock under its base to a very heavy solid wood TV console and we’re even thinking about attaching that to the floor joists), an inexpensive DVD player, a shelf of DVD’s mostly bought from the bargain bin at Wal-Mart and a couple of cheap laptops (that don’t even have Windows installed on them, we’re Linux users) there’s not much of value. She kept saying that what would we do if we were hit by ,000 in loss from a burglary. Including a motorcycle and 2 cars (all insured for theft); we would be lucky if everything we have to our name, other than the house is worth that much! Plus, we live in a rural area in Alabama with a low break-in rate; I checked county crime stats for the past 10 years and we’re well below the national average. The nosy neighbors don’t hurt either

In order to break into the house you would have to get through a standard door lock, two deadbolts on each solid core security grade entry door, various window locks and avoid setting off wireless threshold motion sensors on all exterior doors and windows that let off an ear drum bursting screech that would deafen anyone within 100 feet. I work from home so I’m literally in the house all day and anyone dumb enough to break in would run a pretty high risk of getting a .22 shoved in their face anyway. The rep was still insistent that we "needed" an alarm even after hearing all of that. I couldn’t get it through her head that it doesn’t and probably will never pay for me to own an alarm system.

She then started going over my auto policy and mentioned that it would be a wise idea to put a Lojack or Onstar system on my two vehicles because of another paltry discount! My husband and I own a 1992 Pontiac Bonneville and a 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup; which are probably the last vehicles anyone would want to steal.

She just didn’t get it that some people live frugally and only buy what they actually need. She also seemed to take great offense when I told her that I thought it was dumb to spend 00 on an alarm system, plus monitoring fees to protect a few thousand dollars worth of stuff in a low crime area in a house thats already locked tighter than Fort Knox and practically under armed guard! My dad’s obsessed with home defense so I learned how to use a gun when I was 14.

I’m 22 and this was by far the most annoying experience I’ve had in the whole home buying process! I would have hung up on her but I needed the insurance paperwork sent to my mortgage company before the end of the business day. The insurance company I’m using doesn’t even have any connection to these other companies whatsoever! I don’t get it. Is this woman completely crazy?

Well, I’m in need of extra motion sensors for my home and the subcontracted security company that installed my alarm is quoting a ridiculous price of 0 per sensor. Well I can get the sensors online for each brand new. The thing is, they wont guarantee the sensors even though I would go through them for installation. I know how to install the sensors and I would have to call ADT my monitor to tell them that new sensors were added. My question is will I have to state that I’m an installer and give some kind of special code when I call ADT telling them that new zones where added or state the company I work for if i were an installer or could I just tell them the zones with out any questions asked?
P.S: I am under a 3 year contract with ADT, but the system is mine.

Thanks
thanks for the response. These motions are wireless and I have the installer’s and I am able to program them. I have the Ademco Lynx Panel. So your saying I can just do it myself and not notify ADT? I thought that if an alarm came in to them that it showed which zone was tripped. Wouldn’t they get some kind of unknown signal if one of the motions that I were to install triggered an alarm? Thanks
hmmm ok i see. What if i put my system on disregard and program and install the sensors. I do have the code and the manuals for programming. Will ADT give me a hard time and maybe take some kind of legal action? It is MY system and the only contract I have with them is for monitoring, the system is mine I should be able to do what every I like with it. any ideas, Thanks for the response =)

Our cars are mostlikely the 2nd most expensive thing we own (after our homes). No matter what part of town you live in auto theft is a concern, expecially if you drive a nice vicheal. How do YOU keep your car safe and out of the hands of stoner 17 year old car thieves?
I personally have a aftermarket alarm that has motion sensors inside and glass shatter sensors.
How do YOU keep your car safe?

i want to buy one for the house with cameras and exterior speakers and motion sensors and glass break alarms and door sensors

What happens if you armed your home security system, which has motion senors installed, at night before you sleep, and you happened to get up for some particular reason. Will your movement activate the home security system via motion sensors? Also if anyone knows how to build your own security from small components from local electronics shops or know where to look for information please respond. Thank you :]

I am looking at deterent as much as an active system, but sound and flashy light and motion sensors are goood to have!

I really want an indoors cat but one of the reasons I am not allowed is because we have an alarm system. If we left the cat at home the alarm would go off and if we don't put the alarm we could get robbed. We don't want to make the cat an outdoors cat because we don't want wildlife getting killed.
really want an indoors cat but one of the reasons I am not allowed by my parents is because we have an alarm system. If we left the cat at home the alarm would go off and if we don't put the alarm we could get robbed. We don't want to make the cat an outdoors cat because we don't want wildlife getting killed.

We only have door sensors and the motion sensors are only in certain rooms. You can't set the motion sensors to a particular height. Does anyone have a solution
I accidentally wrote the question twice
the rooms that the motion sensors are in are basically hallways and large open rooms

I purchased a home that has a security system installed. It has motion sensors in some rooms, and door sensors on every exterior door. I know it is functional as I see it respond to the various sensors, but do not know the code to arm it. The previous owner's disconnected the service to the company that calls the police and forgot the code. I just want to use it as a passive system that sounds the alarm when breached, but cannot arm it without the code. Any guesses on how i can set it? The manufacturer of the alarm is no longer in business, but is Apollo Security.