Home security systems

Soldato
Joined
31 May 2007
Posts
2,510
Location
Bristol
I'm looking at putting in a home security system.

Can anyone give me any recommendations? Is it better to pay a subscription service and let the professionals sort everything out?

Do companies like ADT charge an installation and setup fee, or just a subscription?

Which systems seem to be regarded as the best for value and protection? ADT, Yale, others?

Thanks all!
 
Subscription fees are normally if you want the system monitored. We had one with simplisafe for years and if the alarm (smoke or intruder) went off then the monitoring center would get in touch to check if any assistance is needed. I think the Simplisafe one would also dispatch a guard to check on your property if they couldn't get a hold of you. I think they would just check for any obvious signs of a break in and then phone the police.

I guess it really depends on what you're after? Most of the market has opened up to DIY systems because they don't need an installer to do it for you. It's as easy as installing motion and contact sensors in the rooms of your choosing and that's pretty much all there is to it. Or you go the fully professional route and have them design and install a system, but you'd be expecting to pay a pretty penny for that.

I think you need to first decide exactly what you want/need, what your budget is, and whether you want it professionally monitored.
 
I don't have their products but Ajax might be worth a look:


There are various UK home security forums.

Look for local independent specialists that can help you.
 
Reolink are excellent.

I have WiFi cameras that are then hardwired in. I put a junction box in next to an outdoor light and spliced a few cameras off that. It comes off a mains fused spurr in a bedroom.

NVR is then hidden and wired into my router. I've got SD cards in the cameras as well. It means I get continous 24/7 recording to the NVR with about a 30 day memory. I also get motion alerts to the SD card that are then emailed to an inbox I've setup just for this for 'off-site' backup.

It's ran flawlessly for about 2-3 years and let me help find my neighbours cat a couple of times. I have a nest doorbell which I wouldn't recommend.

Set up an NVR or DVR system and sack off anything that asks for a subscription. Make sure you get continous recording because motion alerts are cosplay home security.
 
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