Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] DIY Wireless Home Security Systems . . .

From: Karl Vacek via Shop-talk <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 11:32:59 -0500

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We went with SimpliSafe, which DOES have proprietary components.  Not =
that I wanted proprietary components, but because the system is good and =
monitoring including wireless access to the system and cameras (and =
recording) from anywhere, is $24.95 per month total.  No additions per =
camera, no upcharge for wireless access, etc.  Doing most everything =
from my phone is one of the best features.  Turn on the system remotely =
when we realize we forgot.  Look at the cameras from anywhere while =
we=E2=80=99re away (or at home).  Decide where to put all sensors =
without the sketchy serviceman knowing too.

=20

Their prior system was limited and I had just bought one when they came =
out with the improved model.  Took almost a year to buy their new model, =
but it=E2=80=99s nice.  I bought their doorbell cams too, and although =
they DO NOT go through the system itself, they may be monitored from =
anywhere just like the system may be.  And neither Amazon nor Google =
have access like with Ring, Alexa, etc.

=20

Their tech support is OK when you get the right person, other times not, =
and their phones are always busy.  I had to figure out by myself how to =
get their doorbells to work with my electronic chime, which both they =
and the chime manufacturer said wasn=E2=80=99t possible.  How hard is =
using a relay?  Like so many other companies nowadays, they mostly rely =
on =E2=80=9Cthe community=E2=80=9D to help each other through their =
forums.  Infuriating, but very 2019=E2=80=A6

=20

Most of the alternatives I saw were either cheesy, low-performance =
systems or required THEIR installers, THEIR monitoring, and were $$$.  =
If there=E2=80=99s a way to buy standard components nowadays without =
being a =E2=80=9Cprofessional=E2=80=9D  (ahem), and there=E2=80=99s a =
good monitoring plan available for a self-installed system, that might =
be better, but really, the new Simplisafe systems (the ones introduced =
in early 2018) are pretty good.

=20

YMMV

Karl

=20

=20

From: Shop-talk [mailto:[email-masked]] On Behalf Of =
Badger Mountain Motorworks via Shop-talk
Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2019 1:39 PM
To: [email-masked]
Subject: [Shop-talk] DIY Wireless Home Security Systems . . .

=20

I have a thirty year old wireless security system I want to replace with =
an update model.  Ideally one that has non-proprietary components an =
unobtrusive design and the option for cameras.  Our place, where I need =
varying levels of security, includes a two-story house with a wrap =
around porch on three sides and two separate garages.  When i look =
online I find a variety of recommendations provided by  websites where I =
tend to question their objectivity!

Any personal experiences you'd like to share?  Pros and cons you've =
discovered?

Thanks in advance for any and all input  .  .  .

Jim in Central Arizona

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class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'>We went with SimpliSafe, which DOES have proprietary =
components.=C2=A0 Not that I wanted proprietary components, but because =
the system is good and monitoring including wireless access to the =
system and cameras (and recording) from anywhere, is $24.95 per month =
total.=C2=A0 No additions per camera, no upcharge for wireless access, =
etc.=C2=A0 Doing most everything from my phone is one of the best =
features.=C2=A0 Turn on the system remotely when we realize we =
forgot.=C2=A0 Look at the cameras from anywhere while we=E2=80=99re away =
(or at home).=C2=A0 Decide where to put all sensors without the sketchy =
serviceman knowing too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'>Their prior system was limited and I had just bought one when they =
came out with the improved model.=C2=A0 Took almost a year to buy their =
new model, but it=E2=80=99s nice.=C2=A0 I bought their doorbell cams =
too, and although they DO NOT go through the system itself, they may be =
monitored from anywhere just like the system may be.=C2=A0 And neither =
Amazon nor Google have access like with Ring, Alexa, =
etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'>Their tech support is OK when you get the right person, other times =
not, and their phones are always busy.=C2=A0 I had to figure out by =
myself how to get their doorbells to work with my electronic chime, =
which both they and the chime manufacturer said wasn=E2=80=99t =
possible.=C2=A0 How hard is using a relay?=C2=A0 Like so many other =
companies nowadays, they mostly rely on =E2=80=9Cthe community=E2=80=9D =
to help each other through their forums.=C2=A0 Infuriating, but very =
2019=E2=80=A6<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'>Most of the alternatives I saw were either cheesy, low-performance =
systems or required THEIR installers, THEIR monitoring, and were =
$$$.=C2=A0 If there=E2=80=99s a way to buy standard components nowadays =
without being a =E2=80=9Cprofessional=E2=80=9D=C2=A0 (ahem), and =
there=E2=80=99s a good monitoring plan available for a self-installed =
system, that might be better, but really, the new Simplisafe systems =
(the ones introduced in early 2018) are pretty =
good.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'>YMMV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'>Karl<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546=
A'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><div><div =
style=3D'border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in =
0in 0in'><p class=3DMsoNormal><b><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowt=
ext'>From:</span></b><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowt=
ext'> Shop-talk [mailto:[email-masked]] <b>On Behalf =
Of </b>Badger Mountain Motorworks via Shop-talk<br><b>Sent:</b> =
Saturday, April 13, 2019 1:39 PM<br><b>To:</b> =
[email-masked]<br><b>Subject:</b> [Shop-talk] DIY Wireless =
Home Security Systems . . .<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p>I have a thirty year old =
wireless security system I want to replace with an update model.&nbsp; =
Ideally one that has non-proprietary components an unobtrusive design =
and the option for cameras.&nbsp; Our place, where I need varying levels =
of security, includes a two-story house with a wrap around porch on =
three sides and two separate garages.&nbsp; When i look online I find a =
variety of recommendations provided by&nbsp; websites where I tend to =
question their objectivity!<o:p></o:p></p><p>Any personal experiences =
you'd like to share?&nbsp; Pros and cons you've =
discovered?<o:p></o:p></p><p>Thanks in advance for any and all =
input&nbsp; .&nbsp; .&nbsp; .<o:p></o:p></p><p>Jim in Central =
Arizona<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>
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From: Jeff Scarbrough via Shop-talk <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2019 15:38:01 -0400

On Tue, Apr 16, 2019 at 2:05 PM Karl Vacek via Shop-talk
<[email-masked]> wrote:
>
> If there’s a way to buy standard components nowadays without being a “professional”  (ahem), and there’s a good monitoring plan available for a self-installed system, that might be better

My local Elctric Co-op has a security monitoring business that can
work with your installed system, or one you install.  Also has
components similar to the system you mentioned, with wireless
real-time access to cameras, etc.  $17 a month without a contract.

We may be lucky around here, but we do have competition, which means choices.
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