Topic: Security Systems

He mentioned that he would talk about what he has done once it is implemented. I mentioned to him, along with my suggestions, that it might make a good round table topic. I would be willing to participate as I have 30 years experience and I am an instructor in the field.

As to 'whylie or ylife' I have not heard of them. In what context has this come to your attention?

Todd mentioned this system which has cameras (mine does not - I had to set up my own around the house). Someone emailed him about that company - said he used to work for them.

I am meeting today with some security folks and I will give a run down on the next show on what I have decided to go with.

I saw a story on PBS or maybe I heard it on NPR or something awhile back about these systems. They basically suggested that most calls the Police go out on in response to these alarms going off are false alarms. They suggested two negative effects of this. 1. In areas where many people have these alarms Police spend two much time responding to false alarms taking them away from other important duties. 2. This in turn ends up wasting tax money used to pay police. It was suggested that a dog was just as effective at giving petty criminals enough of a scare or even a little false advertising and putting a sign in the window saying this house is protected is enough to scare off would be criminals. They also suggested serious thieves are not necessarily deterred by alarm systems because they either know how to subvert it or they know what the Police response time is.

Just a few things to think about. I have a 20 pound Terrier as an alarm system and I'm pretty sure he's as effective as need be as long as I'm not being robbed by serious pros. However, with all that said, a person certainly needs some peace of mind in these matters.

I had an outside alarm - which was LOUD, when I lived in Wash. DC a few blocks north of Union Station. It deterred 3 attempts at break-ins just by the noise - that was not a monitored system.

My current system IS monitored. I had the main unit of the system sitting on my countertop on day - cleaning the wall it usually hung on. A cat walked on the system and hit the panic button. The police showed up within 7 minutes. I had to show my ID and explain what happened. I didn't even realize that button meant NO calls to me before dispatching he police.

I think I found the gear that was mentioned in the #372 podcast while I was wandering the aisles at Fry's today. It is called wilife, http://www.wiflife.com, otherwise known as LukWerks. It is a video recording system that claims to be simple to install. It offers internet viewing and email or cell phone alerts if a camera detects motion. There is a catch however, read on.

One plus, but a feature that adds a lot of cost, is that it uses power line carrier technology to connect the cameras to your PC using Ethernet. This is an advantage in that you do not have to run wire from every camera back to your PC. You hang the camera and plug it into the nearest outlet to obtain power and an Ethernet connection. It does increase the cost however, by my guess, about $80-90 per camera over a hard wired camera. This system has garnered a lot of good press from PC Magazine, WSJ, Forbes, etc.

Here is the catch, remote viewing is limited to their website and to only 10 minutes per day unless you pay a monthly fee, this according to Engadget. Read the rest here. http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/15/lukwerks-video-surveillance-in-a-box/. Be sure to read the comments, some folks disagree about the time limit and charges and others have alternative suggestions. Your mileage will certainly vary.

Personally, I would still want good locks and an alarm system, however this system (or any video system) could record any bad guys who break in which may increase the chance of apprehension, unless of course the bad guy makes of with your PC! A decent geek could put something similar together for less cost and no restrictions on viewing remotely. I did as much when my house was for sale. I got an alert when a real estate agent entered the house, and then a few well placed cameras allowed me to observe them remotely.

In Hawaii a False Alarm will cost you $500.00 bucks after the second false alarm. This has resulted in a significant increase in the quality of installs and the service that goes along with them.

Todd..

That's actually a great idea...more states should adopt those standards which would significantly minimize what I talked about above.

Yes, I set up my own camera monitoring system, also. You can buy inexpensive full-time web monitoring software/website. Again, as you say, it requires your pc/laptop to be "on" while you are away. But, once, when I was in NC, I went online to monitor the viewing web log and saw that the pet sitter had not come one day. I got on the phone fast!

Todd, I have many clients in the Beverly Hills, Bel Aire area in the past. The best system is the silent alarm to the Monitoring station, getting there via landline and Cellphone. A service that will show up within minutes and who carry weapons. This is what the Bel Aire Patrol does in Southern California. They are fast. We have tested them at several installations.

If they call first and there is no answer, it is all on. If you answer and give them one of two words; one for false alarm the other for come quickly. They both will work the way they are supposed to.

The sensing systems can go as far as you want, even as also adding screen cutting technology too. Sammy Davis Jr. in Beverly Hills also had that technology as well as a meriad of others. He also had an Armed guard on the property.

Keith