Need Advice For Packaged Home Alarm Purchase

[Robert L Bass]

it appears the Honeywell Lynx System panel and keypad

are in one piece. what are the pros/cons of that design?

It's an extremely weak design. Unless the installer adds a
separate keypad and siren and defeats the on board ones, the
thief can follow the pre-alarm warning signal when he comes in
the door and smash the panel or just pull it off the wall,
completely defeating it before the siren triggers or any signal
is sent out.

The edge for alarm companies installing this system is it
requires almost no skill and can be accomplished in an hour or
so. Some of the folks who install these systems don't even
bother with line seizure, disabling the alarm report if the thief
simply knocks a phone off the hook or unplugs phone cord from the
box.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com

 

[alarman]

Most of the companies I talked with say movement sensors are enough. What's
your opinion?

That's because they don't really care about doing it right, they just want
the monitoring account. Will you use your motion detectors at night?
Imagine having to turn off the system if you want to walk around the house.
That will get old quick, and you'll stop using the system. Don't you want to
know if someone forces a window while you're sleeping? Eliminate those guys,
and keep looking for a real alarm installer. Hint: You'll probably have to
find a local company to get a professional job.
js

 

[Frank Olson]

They're the functional equivalent of an ADT "authorized dealer"
except that the monitoring is being done by Monitronix. I know
of at least one Moni dealer who operated for years without a
license with Monitronix' full knowledge and consent. During that
time the dealer ripped off hundreds of families in Connecticut.

Ummmm.... When exactly did you start your company in CT?? When did you
get your CT license?? How many years did *you* operate *without a
license*?? And who monitored your accounts in that time "with full
knowledge and consent"?

He actually signed on with Protection 1 at first, just to get
Honeywell's distributor to sell to him (they at first refused as
he had no credentials and no experience). Once he got in he
quickly switched to Moni where he was allowed to continue
defrauding people in CT until he skipped out.

And how exactly did you get ADI to sell to you?? Unlicensed!! In Florida!

Based on that dealers actions, of which Monitronix was fully
aware, I could not recommend them.

Based on your own performance (both in the past and the present), I
wouldn't take anything you say as particularly meaningful or even "good
advice"...

Be very careful.

I'm sure he will...

 

[Doug L]

It depends on what you hope to achieve and on your budget, a complete
perimeter system and motion detectors is the better way to go, however if
you plan to use the alarm only when you are absent from the house and/or the
budget is tight then sensors on the main entry doors and a couple of
strategically placed motion sensors will help to detect an intruder when the
house is unoccupied but only after they are actually in the house and moving
around. If you plan to use the alarm when you are home and/or you want the
alarm to activate before someone is inside your home then you really need to
consider sensors on all the accessible perimeter openings since the motion
detectors would normally be automatically bypassed when the house is
occupied.

Doug L

--

 

[alarman]

Easy there, grams.
js

 

[alarman]

Jack,

You still online???

I got your e-mail last nite.

js

 

[news01]

Makes sense to me. How do people buy this stuff? I can't imagine what
would've happened had I not check ed this group first.

Mike

 

[news01]

I'm getting alarms on the windows.

Mike

 

[alarman]

Makes sense to me. How do people buy this stuff? I can't imagine what
would've happened had I not check ed this group first.

You'd end up just another sucker, putting money in the pockets of some
a**holes who flunked out of toll-booth school.
js

 

[news01]

the rep CANNOT change ANYTHING in the contract...

DO NOT let him tell you that he can!!!!

fwiw, he called back stating the reinstall will be writen into the
contract but I don't believe
I'm going with Brinks.

Mike

 

[news01]

Robert, I'm thinking hardwired is the way to go for all doors and first
floor windows with motion sensor in basement, fire alarm on first
floor. What do glass breakers do? If the windows are hardwired are
glass breakers still needed? No shrubs obstacting view to front
basement windows.

correct job of installing line exclusion

What does it mean? Installing separate line for alarm?
What's to stop somebody from breaking through a hard wired door or
window then pulling the keypad off the wall?
Wil;l that disable the alarm? Some months ago I was stunned watching a
show where professional buglars broke into
houses then they came back pointing out what needed to be fixed to
make the house secure meanwhile every yahoo
who watched the show learned professional burglar techniques, actually
that show motivated me to get an alarm.
If I'm watching that show I'm sure a lot of neer do wells watched it
too.

Mike

 

[Mike]

Writing off the Lynx

Mike

The "pro" is that it's easier for the installer. The "con" is that all you
need to do is rip it off the wall and it's disabled.
Are they f**king kidding with that shit?
js

 

[Mike]

Monitronix is off my dance card unless they'll install another system.

Mike

 

[Mike]

Excellent points. I'm alarming the windows.

Mike

 

[Mike]

How are windows wired for alarms these days?
They don't use tape anymore?

Mike

 

[Mike]

interesting questions, Russ. I started thinking I want to protect the house
while I'm away.
After thinking about it some and reading your postsa and others I believe I
need .to protect the occupants
and what's inside the house. Window and door alarms are a must.

Mike

 

[Mike]

I've got it now I think I know what I need.

Mike

 

[Mike]

It depends on what you hope to achieve and on your budget, a complete
perimeter system and motion detectors is the better way to go, however if
you plan to use the alarm only when you are absent from the house and/or
the budget is tight then sensors on the main entry doors and a couple of
strategically placed motion sensors will help to detect an intruder when
the house is unoccupied but only after they are actually in the house and
moving around. If you plan to use the alarm when you are home and/or you
want the alarm to activate before someone is inside your home then you
really need to consider sensors on all the accessible perimeter openings
since the motion detectors would normally be automatically bypassed when
the house is occupied.

Doug L

 

[Mike]

The Honeywell Lynx System is no longer an option for me.

Mike

 

[Mike]

Mike, I'm going to wade into the fray again ! These "all in one" systems
such as the Ademco Lynx, DSC Envoy and Paradox Magellan were originally
designed for smaller locations like apartment buildings and trailers. They
are easy to install and as such, often used. There is usually only
capacity for one or two hardwired zones, with the balance being wireless
zones. The whole alarm is in one box, keypad, motherboard, enemic siren,
and dialer. As such, destroy the unit and the whole alarm is kaput !

Probably the biggest thing to watch out for is that the installing company
doesn't just plug the panel into a telephone jack rather do the correct
job of installing line exclusion. Either way though, simply pull the jack
out and the panel is off line. Bottom line, they are much more
"vulnerable" than a conventional hardwired alarm to being disabled by
someone with few skills. However, in any "real world" situation, I have to
wonder how often this sort of thing would actually happen, given the
"smarts" of the average home burglar.

There is one unit made by GE with the dialer mounted as a separate unit in
the basement, which provides the panel the opportunity to dial out the
alarm signals even as the wall mounted unit is disabled. Speaking only for
myself, that is the only one of the units I would even consider installing
for a client !!

Personally, I still believe the best system design is a full, hardwired,
conventional, perimeter system backed up with motions and glassbreaks,
using wireless components only when absolutely needed. Unfortunately, it
is also the most expensive !

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




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