Security alarms

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by hancoveguy

Quick question for anyone that knows the answer-

B.J.'s sells several security cameras that are supposed to be stand alone, night vision capable etc etc. They are moderately priced and purport to do everything a seasonal homeowner would need during their in season absences.

Question-These seem to good to be true, are they?


HCG

Yes, they are too good to be true. These cameras generally have lower resolutions that standard cameras (sometimes by a small amount, sometimes to a degree that is noticeable), and generally have poor low-light performance. Some cameras try to get around the low-light issue by adding IR LED's around the camera lens. This is almost always a sure-sign of a low-end camera. These IR LEDs aren't good for much distance, and they also attract insects, which attract spiders, which makes webs, which block the lens. Generally a bad approach.

If you want a simple indoor camera, check out Dropcam.com

If you want a good outdoor system, you're probably best off checking some place like supercircuits.com for one of their package deals with a few cameras and an NVR that you can access remotely.

The right system depends a lot on what you want to do with it, and if you want to use it to just do basic recording of people, or if you want to be able to see and record details from faces or license plates at some distance.

[BroadHopper]

Living in a neighborhood of McMansions, I can tell you one thing, even with all the alarms, montoring devices and security details. If someone wants to break in, he or she will break in. Good homeowners insurance is a must. A pit bull detail is second best. False alarms are plenty in Gilford and the PD must be making a killing in fines.

What's funny is that I have the smallest cottage on the block. Theives are not selective. They hit anybody and everybody.

Some are even bold as to stay a few nights and help themselves to the medicine cabinet!

[dpg]

"Couldn't find any negative reviews on them at all either. Looks like I will be upgrading to one of their protection and interactive systems."

Sometimes the site your reading for reviews is theirs so no bad comments ever make it on. Maybe there isn't any, just sayin...

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Living in a neighborhood of McMansions, I can tell you one thing, even with all the alarms, montoring devices and security details. If someone wants to break in, he or she will break in. Good homeowners insurance is a must. A pit bull detail is second best. False alarms are plenty in Gilford and the PD must be making a killing in fines.

What's funny is that I have the smallest cottage on the block. Theives are not selective. They hit anybody and everybody.

Some are even bold as to stay a few nights and help themselves to the medicine cabinet!

Have you ever been robbed? Even in this economy it seems like break-ins are thankfully a fairly infrequent event.

[hancoveguy]

Break ins happen way more often than you think. As a p/o in an affluent Boston suburb, I can tell you that this entire area see's break ins daily. Very large trend right now. Perp gets dropped off in a neighborhood near a highway on/off ramp but off the beaten path. Perp goes door to door knocking until noone answers. Perp leaves area for a few and then comes back, goes around the back and either smashes a window in or pry's a screen or kicks the door in and takes whatever they can grab in a few minutes. Not even uncommon for the homeowner to interupt the brazen bastards. Dogs are okay but the crooks just let the dogs out, we find them roaming the neighborhood later in the day. Alarms are good, but by the time the central station calls the house, gets no answer then calls the point of contact and then calls the police, the house is empty. I am by far no alarm expert however, we have had good luck with the combination of a loud audible exterior alarm and cooperative neighbors. The alarm goes off and while the above mentioned events take place, an alert neighbor is getting a license plate, vehicle description, personal description and direction of travel as they flee the area. Not great for prevention but gives us a fighting chance to catch the perps. Its the only way. Anyone that thinks fingerprints and DNA are gonna catch the crooks and get their belongings back is on crack. CSI/Law and Order/Criminal minds etc are all TV shows and are not even remotely reality (although all good shows in case my wife is reading this).

BTW. all this is during broad daylight with amazing audacity.

My .02, how much applies to Winni, who knows, can't be too much different...
HCG

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by hancoveguy

Break ins happen way more often than you think. As a p/o in an affluent Boston suburb, I can tell you that this entire area see's break ins daily. Alarms are good, but by the time the central station calls the house, gets no answer then calls the point of contact and then calls the police, the house is empty.
My .02, how much applies to Winni, who knows, can't be too much different...
HCG

The trend right now is towards video verification. I get a notification any time any person or vehicle (but not animal) comes on our properties. This info can be sent to a central station like a traditional alarm signal as well, though I just go by email notifications.

Most police stations will give priority response to video-verified alarm events.

You can see a couple of sample videos from one of my cameras here:
http://www.youtube.com/NotoriousBRK

That's a standard def (VGA) unit, but there is now a 2.1MP camera there that does the same thing, but with a lot more detail in the clips.