IS this overkill

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I just would like some opinions. I am a paranoid person by nature and I
am always worried that the phoned line will be cut and hence the CMS
will not get the alarm call. I was going to buy radio backup from
Robert Bass but he said it was probably a bit of overkill. He told me
that the radio backup itself would be a few hundred bucks and then my
CMS would then charge me another 10 or 20 bucks a month on top of my
basic charge to monitor the radio backup. He suggested instead to get a
hardened case and pipe for the phone box and wire that lead into the
house. Since Mr Bass has not steered my wrong yet I didn't buy the
radio backup but I am curious what others may think.

Do I need a radio backup or is it overkill?
Is the hardened box enough?

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Crash Gordon®]

Depends on the level of your paranoia...or comfort level. If you want to make sure that the CS gets your signals you should go with the radio...and depending on which system you buy...you most likely will NOT be able to program or install it yourself. Let your alarm co. do this.

Hardened case...that's good too...but this is not an end-all solution...telco line can still be cut down the block, on the pole, or just plain be out of service. I have hardened case and Uplink Radio on my house.

 

[R.H.Campbell]

That depends ! If the phone line can be armoured properly ( I do it all the
time...), that may well be enough to guard the line. Sometimes it can be
quite difficult depending upon 1- where the line is in relation to the
electrical stack...and 2- how much is actually exposed outside ie: an old
style drop from a pole, down the side of the house and into the basement can
be impossible to secure properly. However, depending upon your level of
concern, you may want to opt for one of the cellular backup devices (and
resultant extra monthly communication costs). A professional can tell you
what you need; it's up to you to tell him what you want after discussing the
varioius options available.

Nothing in security is ever 100% effective. You're strictly playing the odds
! Anyone who tells you differently is either a liar or a fool !!! Someone
can always get around just about anything if they really want to make the
effort. Luckily for us, most thieves are neither very ambitious or very
clever, and won't go to much effort to get in. However, what you have to ask
yourself is whether the extra effort and costs is worth it for you in YOUR
SITUATION. For example, in our area, kids rarely cut phone wires simply
because the nature of residential robberies in our area is simply
"opportunistic". They ring the doorbell, and if no one answers, they kick
the door in !! They don't plan to get into a particular house; it just
presents an immediate opportunity that they seize upon !

But some major cities in Canada, such as Toronto and Montreal, it is
becoming more common to cut phone lines. This was helped along nicely by one
of the large alarmco's in Toronto (Alarmforce) advertising their solution
for this so called "problem" with conventional alarms (so much for caring
about things other than the bottom line...).

Personally, I have gone to an Uplink cellular backup solution for those that
need it or want it. There are several others as well. But phone line
armouring works well when it fits the situation.....

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com

 

[Jim]

I just would like some opinions. I am a paranoid person by nature and I
am always worried that the phoned line will be cut and hence the CMS
will not get the alarm call. I was going to buy radio backup from
Robert Bass but he said it was probably a bit of overkill. He told me
that the radio backup itself would be a few hundred bucks and then my
CMS would then charge me another 10 or 20 bucks a month on top of my
basic charge to monitor the radio backup. He suggested instead to get a
hardened case and pipe for the phone box and wire that lead into the
house. Since Mr Bass has not steered my wrong yet I didn't buy the
radio backup but I am curious what others may think.

Do I need a radio backup or is it overkill?
Is the hardened box enough?

Thanks for the replies.

You are the one that has to decide if it's "worth it" or not. In my
opinion "hardning" the line had better be pretty darn hard, where I
live. Take a look at you telephone service and telephone box on the
outside of your home. Do you have overhead service our underground? If
overhead, in my opinion, any kind "hardning" that's ever been suggested
in this group wouldn't work here. If someone wanted to eliminate the
telephone line in pipe all that's needed is a good size axe or wrap a
rope around the pipe and pull it right off the side of the house. Or
.....Throw a rope up over the wire coming from the telephone pole and
pull it down. Climb up the pole and cut it. Go down the street to the
telephone pole with the junction box and cut every wire in the
neighborhood. The real question is ........ how far do you think
someone will go to get into your house?

If you've got underground telephone service to your home, and if you
have a basement, you can route the telephone wire through your
foundation below the ground level and keep your connections in the
basement. This could cause your telephone company some grief, but
usually not. Worse case is you'd have to make sure you were home if you
ever needed any telephone service to allow them access.

If no underground telephone service, I'd go with some sort of back up
transmitting device. It's going to have to be what ever is in use and
popular with the alarm installation companies in your area. As far as I
know, the wireless service providers won't do business directly with
the end user. But that may vary in different areas.

 

[Mel]

I just would like some opinions. I am a paranoid person by nature and I
am always worried that the phoned line will be cut and hence the CMS
will not get the alarm call. I was going to buy radio backup from
Robert Bass but he said it was probably a bit of overkill. He told me
that the radio backup itself would be a few hundred bucks and then my
CMS would then charge me another 10 or 20 bucks a month on top of my
basic charge to monitor the radio backup. He suggested instead to get a
hardened case and pipe for the phone box and wire that lead into the
house. Since Mr Bass has not steered my wrong yet I didn't buy the
radio backup but I am curious what others may think.

Do I need a radio backup or is it overkill?
Is the hardened box enough?

Thanks for the replies.

I look at an alarm system as a deterrence. If someone breaks in while I'm
gone, well, that's why I buy insurance. If they break in while I'm home,
they'll leave in a pine box whether they cut the phone line or not.

Bob

 

[PJS7]

It still won't resolve the problem of the cut connection to the central
station, but some security enhancement can be achieved by bundling (ideally
in one jacket) a 24 hr-zoned loop wire together with the phone line. Now,
if the combined phone/loop wire is cut it will set off the alarm
immediately.

 

[Bob Worthy]

It is overkill 99% of the time. It is that 1% when it is not.
BobbyD

We are talking the security of you and your family, not whether to buy the
leather seats or settle for the cloth ones. Your best judgement should be
the deciding factor.

Bob4Secur