Is A DIY Alarm System right for you?

Is a Do It Yourself Home Alarm System right for you?  

August, 2012
by John Allen

Most Home Security Companies offer equipment from just two manufacturers, GE or Honeywell. Yes there are other companies which make home security equipment. Visonic and 2gig come to mind. But most national home security companies stick with Honeywell or GE. You might find a local company which will comply with every customers request. A customer might find some information about a specific manufacturer. The customer has read its the best security system ever designed. And local company X wants to please every customer. So they purchase equipment which their technicians have never programed or installed and which none of their other customers have in their home. Who's monitoring station is not familiar with the product. And... you get the idea. In this scenario there are many opportunities for things to go wrong.

For the equipment to function properly it has to interact with the phone lines, cell towers, telecommunication carriers, as well as the central monitoring station's equipment properly. Products which are not used widely have had some challenges in the communication chain. My recommendation would be to stick with the equipment the company you are doing business uses most and who sales people, technicians, monitoring stations and local telecommunication carriers, have all come in contact with and which has a proven record of no problems.

GE and Honeywell equipment has a proven record of little to no problems in the Home Security Industry. I've been to installs where a technician have worked for hours trying to get a keypad to work. Only to switch it out for another keypad and presto everything works. These companies produce thousands upon thousands of keypads senors keyfobs etc. Very very few are manufactured with a defects. But with the two main producers of equipment if there is a problem its easy to find out and replace. Most technicians have spare equipment on them or can obtain it fast. If you are requesting equipment which the company normally uses it will be a help the technicians and yourself. Stick with what your provider knows. It will save you time and money in the long run. And if you are going to go down the DIY route. Make sure whom ever you are purchasing the equipment from has good technical support, a warranty and a good return policy. I have seen some videos from the DIY companies where they showed how to instal the equipment incorrectly. Every home security technician I have known has a horror story about some job. Things go wrong and some places have more challenges than others. Just because a company says "can be installed by a 6^th grader" does not make it so. Also some 6^th graders are more advanced than others. Know your limitations and verify claims made. I was at a trade show where a manufacturer was making claims his 16 year old daughter could install their new keypad and program all the senors and keyfobs with no help from anyone. I believed him being I'm not a technician. Afterward I spoke to a few technicians. They all had the same response, “Oh yea I've heard that before.” None of the professionals who actually installed equipment believed him for a second.

What these new home security systems can do today would have been science fiction only a few years ago. They are advanced. I know many people who can read something once understand it completely and are technically able. I am not one of them. I'm all thumbs. If you decide to install a system yourself contact the provider. Ask a lot of questions first. You can never ask too many questions. And also contact companies which install systems. You might learn something about the whole process. You can never learn too much. You will be more informed. You have have any questions contact me at John Allen in the Richmond area (804) 723-1315 

 Central Virginia  

Richmond (804) 723-1315