ADT Home Security Sucks - Anybody can recommend a competitor?

[lemko]

The rumor mill in my neighborhood has already spread out the word that I'm a "gun nut".

To help encourage that rumor, I went ahead and pressed an NRA decal on my front window, next to the alarm stickers.


I got full door/window sensors on the first floor and motion in the front/back/stairs. If someone does break in through the roof, they're going to have to take all my crap and leave through the roof because if you so much as step one foot down the stairs from the second floor the motions go off. I've gotten alarm warnings on my cell phone even when the batteries are low, or the sensors have lost their signal with the base station for more than a minute, and the alarm company calls me to tell me what's up--no matter what time of day it is. If they can't get a hold of me then they'll call the 26th out.

My dog does not trip the motions.


I can set my alarm to trigger instantly or to give me some time. I can also arm it from my phone or from a keyfob. I usually arm it from my keyfob like you'd arm your car when you shut the door.

Sometimes at night when I am up on the 3rd floor I will arm everything with instant-alarm if I'm gonna be using headphones for a long period and I can't hear downstairs. I have no egress from the 3rd floor since my house doesn't have setbacks, so I want it to go off if anything is going on down below me to give me plenty of time to grab a gun and head downstairs, the crazy "gun-nut" that I am.

Don't have the rep of being a "gun nut" but my friends Smith and Wesson and Glock are always with me. Any burglar scumbags will have to get past my surveillance, alarm system, and a two furry friends to get my stuff.

[NJbound]

You are right. I checked into mine and its the same as yours. Back door and windows are instant. Only the front door is delay.

Wrong.
All but my front door are on "instant" alarm.
Front door's got the "enter/exit" delay.

But highly unlikely a crook would use my front door to break in.
Back door/garage likely.

And, as I stated clearly in my post before, my neighbors are a backup to calling the cops in the (rare) event I'm too far or unavailable.
Being single, if my cellphone rings saying "HOME" on the display, I KNOW the alarm went off.
There is always someone around.

I told y'all - it's foolproof - and FREE.

[jettore]

I fail to understand the use of "motion detectors" in residential settings, particularly with people who have pets.
I suppose it's the lazy alarm installers answer to the time-consuming job of installing perimeter sensors (door/window switches)
And sneaky hidden additional fees arise as listed below....

Consider this: They create false alarms caused by drapes blowing due to forced-air heating/cooling running.
They obviously trigger alarms due to pets.
This causes organizations (the city) to profit by enacting "false alarm (mandatory) fees", just adding to your monthly monitoring fees.
And finally, the crook(s) are already IN your home, now tripping the motion sensor.....and reaching for that laptop, etc. on your table....because nothing tripped/sounded when they popped open the (unprotected) window.
That makes a lot of sense - not having a door/window sensor to scare them off before they get in. (assuming the alarm triggers instantly)
Why bother having a system at all?

I'd much rather pay for a broken window/lock than an expensive item in my home.

Well the lazy installer was myself, thanks! I have basement, first and second floor hardwired. Third and fourth floor are wireless sensors on entryways/windows. Motion detectors are just in the first/second floor halls. Added them in case of someone breaking one of the sliders. I also use the motions to trigger lights when entering the house so I'd say the motions can be used for convenience and as additional security.

Also the pet was a friends that my wife left inside and went out without thinking about it. She never had an alarm before.

[loveisnoise]

Does anyone have one of those new systems that is wireless and goes by gsm and cellular signals instead of a landline? I've been considering one, but reviews are inconsistent.

[NE19149]

"Wireless" anything is prone to electical interference.... and sophisticated "jammers" used by crooks.

Thank you, I'll stick to good old-fashioned "old school" hard wiring.

[loveisnoise]

"Wireless" anything is prone to electical interference.... and sophisticated "jammers" used by crooks.

Thank you, I'll stick to good old-fashioned "old school" hard wiring.

And cat burglary 101 taught me that a snip of the line gives 15 minutes of time- and in your situation without monitoring, would give someone forever.

Now- if you want to tell me that your phone lines are buried under the ground, you'd have a fighting chance.

[ArcticSplash]

Does anyone have one of those new systems that is wireless and goes by gsm and cellular signals instead of a landline? I've been considering one, but reviews are inconsistent.

If you have an AT&T cell phone you should be able to tell right away whether you should get it or not. If your AT&T (GSM) phone has almost no signal or only 1 bar, then get wired instead of wireless. If you normally answer AT&T cell phone calls in your house, then you're fine. The installer will test the alarm base with the alarm office to make sure it trips and communicates with the alarm company.

The reason why I like my wireless system is that I can move the base station around. I'm paranoid about someone taking a sledgehammer to it to try to disable it, and since I can arm it remotely, I put it away from the doors and windows and when I'm away, I can hide it in the basement or upstairs.



I strongly recommend if you have a system and you go on vacation, especially up in the 15th District, you set your alarm to silent trigger. You don't want to alert the burglars that the alarm has been tripped unless you don't want them to get caught in the act.


Police response times to alarm trips is very bad in the 15th, so either you get the LOUDEST alarm possible that wakes up the whole fuhkin neighborhood so everyone and their mother gets to hear the klaxons going off (20 people reporting the same call to the PPD gets the problem bumped up the roster), or you go silent... so the burglars will still be in the house when PPD rolls up.

You can't really trust the average block neighbor to carry a call in to PPD for you unless you REALLY know 'em, so I'd opt for the silent alarm and hope the PPD rolls up with their dome lights off so they'll get caught in the middle of taking out your stuff.

[NE19149]

And cat burglary 101 taught me that a snip of the line gives 15 minutes of time- and in your situation without monitoring, would give someone forever.

Now- if you want to tell me that your phone lines are buried under the ground, you'd have a fighting chance.

Well, actually, my main phone line and interface is up kinda high on the back of the house.
You'd need a ladder to reach it.
Plus, since the backyard is fenced-in and locked, this makes it difficult to even get into the yard.
All this, along with the fact the common driveway and the homes across the driveway, makes it kinda obvious if someone invades my property.
Ya gotta love living in Mayfair - everybody's nosy and see's what's going on around here.

I'm quite of the thinking that crooks would opt for an easier home to invade - the alarm's just to add a bit of security and peace of mind.

As for Chris's mention of neighbors, my next-door folks are reliable - someone is always home, and know to be suspicious of my alarm sounding.

I think I'm covered nicely.

[Aewyatt7]

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[Volanova]

Hi NE19,
You are absolutely right. Any thing is not perfect for all, it is totally depends on the requirement and most recommended conditions. Some things are best suitable for some while for other not. My friend is using ADT but I never herd to him such as scam he always says It is best.
Thanks

Seriously, this spam is just getting more entertaining daily...