Home Security Systems Blog

Landscaping can have dual purposes in benefiting your home: aesthetically improving its appearance and an advantageous component to your security plan. Combined with your traditional home alarm security system, developing simple landscaping techniques that are sometimes overlooked by homeowners will effectively deter potential burglars and thieves from choosing your home as their next target.

• Mow the lawn regularly. An overgrown lawn suggests that the property is unoccupied or the owners are away on vacation-the ideal time for an easy burglary.

• Trees are beautiful but also need to be maintained. Any tree branches that are close to the home, porch, windows, or balcony should be trimmed so that intruders cannot climb or use the branches as aid to gain access to your secure home.

• Keep yard tools, such as ladders, locked securely in a backyard shed or garage. Do not leave them lying in the yard or under the deck-doing so is basically an invite for thieves!

• Opt for buried utilities, rather than exposed. Buried utilities are less-likely to be interrupted by storms and criminals alike. The last thing a home owner wants in the case of an emergency is for the phones to be disconnected due to the work of a crafty criminal. If your utilities are exposed, locate their generation point and verify that it is protected by a fenced-in area.

• Shrubs that offer privacy can also breed hiding spaces for thieves. Keep shrubs, especially those near the doors and windows, short so the views to these entrance ways are not obstructed. If neighbors can see the front and back doors, they can also see burglary attempts.

• Bushes, vines, and cacti with plenty of thorns are especially effective in deterring intruders. Ouch! Grow these near windows and along fences throughout the backyard.

• Video surveillance security systems can be added to monitor sheds, gates, and doors.

• Protect first floor windows from disturbance by choosing to landscape with gravel instead of mulch as it is noisier and will call attention to any uninvited guests.

• The yard should be well-lit and can be done so cost-effectively by installing lights with motion detecting sensors that will only turn on when activated by a movement in the yard.

• Place a security company sign at the end of your driveway and put the stickers in your windows so that your home security precautions are both visible from the street and up close.

Following through with these landscaping techniques decreases the likelihood that your home will be broken into-thieves and burglars are not looking to do more work than they need to gain access. Your home will be protected and your yard will look well kept, a win-win situation-a little neighbor jealousy isn’t a bad thing!

Economy Down, Crime Rates Up

Throughout history a pattern has developed in our country: when the economy is down, crime rates go up. Particularly, the crimes related to home security seem to increase the most. Theft, burglary and robbery become progressively more tempting as more people lose their jobs and need to make ends meet. Local governments need to cut back on costs eliminating police patrols and other security features, and business owners may be more lenient on security features to save a little money. This is the time to install a home security system if you haven’t already-why put your family’s well being at risk in this already tumultuous time?

A security system should include these features to decrease the chances of property crime:

• Digital Keypad: Contacts the Fire Department, Paramedics, and Police Department with one button.
• Loud Home Burglar Alarm Siren
• Backup Power Supply: Your home security system will continue to monitor your property even if the power goes out.
• Home Security Signs and Stickers

Consider these other home security system features that add to your protection, despite the state of the economy:

• Fire Monitoring: Smoke detectors and automatic Fire Department alerts.
• Wireless Door Sensors: Alerts to any entrance of the home.
• Flood Detection: Sensors can notify the security provider of rising water in the home whether it’s from a broken pipe, an overflowing washer or external source.
• Motion Detectors for Interior Protection of Your Home: Notifies you of any suspicious motion, yet is smart enough to ignore motion from pets or children under 50 pounds.
• Carbon Monoxide Monitoring: Protects against poisoning from the deadly gas.
• Video Surveillance
• Remote Key chain Control: Turn your home alarm system on or off easily from car, house, or yard.

While budgets may be tight, investing in a home security system is a sound way to spend your paycheck. Additional protection for your home and belongings may be the crucial factor in keeping your family afloat in the economical downturn.

The Neighborhood Watch Program started in the 1970s and spread throughout the nation in hopes of reducing the crime rate—and did just that. Its continuing success is reason to start or become involved with your local Neighborhood Watch. Of course, the program does not require that citizens take any unnecessary risks that may endanger them. It is simply a neighborhood alliance between residents who learn to look out for each others safety, and the local law enforcement. By working together, relationships strengthen with neighbors and police officials, bettering the fight against crime.

Benefits to joining or establishing a Neighborhood Watch in your area:

Discourages Crime: Participants are taught precautionary measures, like keeping all doors locked and the lawn groomed, that help prevent the likelihood of exposure to crime.

Diminishes Fear: Participants are instructed on how to observe and report suspicious activities in the community, so that in times of need residents are well-prepared.

Builds Friendship Among Neighbors: The Neighborhood Watch Program encourages meetings both concerning safety and social matters. As neighbors develop stronger relationships, the importance of their well-being becomes of greater concern for the community.

Advances Resident-Police Relations: Community leaders of your program will have direct contact with a representing officer. Police are glad to help any neighborhood taking the initiative to prevent crime, its beneficial for both parties!

Allows for Addressing Other Neighborhood Concerns: Meetings are open forums, bring up any issues you are concerned about—child safety, getting the sidewalk fixed, planning a block party, or improving the community’s quality of life.

To get involved or start your own Neighborhood Watch Program, the first move would be to contact your local police department. If a program is already established, the officer will have the means to connect you with the neighborhood representative in charge of planning meetings and gathering new members. If not, that officer will have the needed information for getting the program started.

Remember, participating in a Neighborhood Watch is a piece to your total home security plan. Integrate the program with your home security alarm, fire prevention, carbon monoxide detectors, and flood monitors and you and your family should remain healthy, happy, and safe. Get the community involved and keep the community secure!

August is arguably the best month of the summer, full of sunshine and steamy weather. Maybe you prefer the less-scorching months of June and July, but regardless summer is definitely in full-swing! Your vacation home has undoubtedly been put to good use, the location for family cook-outs, swimming, or simply relaxing. Yet, the summer can’t last forever and while you’re squeezing in all the beach days you can before the summer slips away, you mustn’t forget to plan ahead for closing and protecting your vacation home until the warm weather returns again next year.
In preparation of closing your vacation home, remember to:

• Clean the home both inside and out, especially the gutters. Clean gutters will ensure that water will remain away from the home, protecting the foundation and eliminating the chance of flooding and mold damage. If your vacation home is located in an area particularly prone to flooding, installing a flood monitoring sensor system is a good precaution, and a simple investment that can save you money in the future.
• Empty the cabinets and fridge to protect against uninvited animal visitors attracted by the smell of food. So that food doesn’t go to waste, throw an end of the summer party with all the neighbors! Don’t forget to take out the trash, and it’s best to unplug the fridge before leaving.
• Keep up with landscaping—trim any tree branches that are near the home to protect from damage in case of a bad storm
• Close your pool properly; it’s plenty of fun while you are there to use it, but it’s a safety hazard when left unmonitored.
• Contact your utility provider to have your water and gas turned off from the main line. If you chose to have your utilities remain on while you are away, unplug everything to prevent a fire. Security systems with fire monitoring capabilities, where the local fire station is notified in the case of an emergency even when you are away, can give peace of mind.
• During cold months, your empty vacation home is susceptible to freezing pipes. To prevent this costly mishap, hire a professional to winterize your home. There are also low-temperature monitoring systems that can notify you of dangerously low temperatures in your home—before your pipes freeze.
• Arrange with the postal service to again have your mail delivered to your full-time residence.

The cleaning is done, utilities arranged to be shut off, and your bathing suits packed in the car—do these last minute precautions to ensure your vacation home remains secure while you’re away:

• Place all outdoor summer fun items, the grill, bikes, patio furniture, boogie boards, and whatever else you have, in a secure shed. Make sure the lock is working properly before heading ou
• Take with you any electronics, including stereos and televisions that you can, and hide what has to be left behind. The less tempting your vacation home looks for thieves, the better.
• Program your automatic flood light over the drive-way to turn on at any sign of motion. Burglars, unlike the rest of us, do not like being in the spot light. If you do not already have a flood light installed, consider one, it can easily protect the home while you are away.
• Lock all doors and windows as you are about to leave, checking twice to be sure.
• Finally, have a local friend stop by your property periodically to guarantee your vacation home remains safe and secure. Remember to exchange updated contact information each summer so you can be reached if there is a problem.

So while summer is still here—enjoy your fruity cocktails, the sand between your toes, and that tan you’ve been working on. But when it starts to get a little cooler, and the nights a little shorter, prepare your vacation home properly so that it remains a place of fun for many summers to come. Before you know it, it will be time to for ski lodges and hot chocolate, happy vacationing!

If you are a fan of Westerns, the name Brinks will not be unfamiliar to you; this home security company has furnished security services to big business (primarily banks, governments and jewelers) for 160 years. It is a relative newcomer to the home security, and in fact the corporation’s Home Security division was recently spun off and separated from the parent company and is now its own independent publicly traded entity.

Brink’s Home Security Division was formed in 1983 with corporate offices in Irving, Texas and support services based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Currently, the company provides services to 1.3 million homes in North America. Services provided include burglar/intruder alerts, smoke and fire detection and carbon monoxide monitoring; system installation starts at under $50, making it a relative bargain; the company’s top-of-the-line home security system is currently priced at $155.

There are few customer complaints about Brink’s services, and most of these are directed not at the company itself but rather locally based dealers. Unlike many home security companies, Brink’s Home Security uses its own local dealerships, all of whom are employees of - and thus accountable to - the main office in Texas. These dealers have been screened and their personnel trained by Brinks. Most local authorized dealers are conscientious and dedicated to providing the best possible service, but as with any large organization, there are invariably a few “bad apples.”  One Brinks employee recommends that prospective customers “research the local dealer to make sure they are behaving with professionalism and excellence.” If there are concerns, customers should contact the Brinks head office and inquire about the authorized dealer before committing to the purchase of a home security system.

According to independent sources, all Brinks monitoring centers are certified by Underwriter’s Laboratories and has been recognized for excellence in customer service by JD Power and Associates for the past five years.

(See GE Concord Express Owners Manual for Full Features List)

Whether you are building your dream home or retrofitting an older home with a home security system, the Concord Express^TM by General Electric is one of the most affordable and user-friendly home security systems available when it comes to intruder alert as well as fire protection.

GE Concord Express^TM Features

Concord Express^TM integrates hardwired and wireless security devices across as many as 24 zones. Six of these zones are hardwired, and the simple installation allows the user to set up one of these as a double-wired smoke detector loop, capable of handling up to ten detectors. In addition, the Concord Express^TM features an integrated radio receiver that is capable of handling up to 16 wireless zone; this permits easy expansion of your system with GE’s proprietary LearnMode^TM sensors as well as the use of remote keychain touchpads. This LearnMode technology is used to encrypt all remote touchpad transmissions, protecting your alarm codes from would-be thieves who may be using nearby cell phones to eavesdrop.

Finally, two programmable built-in output devices can be set up to activate external devices such as lights should a system event occur.

If you need more than 24 zones of security, the GE SnapCard^TM allows you to expand your hardwire zones by as many as six, plus two double-wired smoke detection loops. These cards are easily connected to the system circuit board, and can be expanded even further with the SuperBus 2000 8Z input module, making for a total of 38 zones.

GE Concord Express^TM Remote & Multiuser Access

The Concord Express^TM allows for up to 16 user-programmable codes so that everyone in the household can have their own level of access privileges. On-site programming is fast and easily accomplished using standard alphanumeric touch keypads that can be used to access a menu-driven interface. Should you need to do remote programming, GE Security’s ToolBox® downloader software can be installed on any PC, enabling the user to enter code safely and securely over the World Wide Web - one of the most recent and most exciting developments in home security system technology.

GE Concord Express^TM Price is Affordable

With prices starting as low as $120, the Concord Express^TM by General Electric represents a small investment in peace of mind for you and your family, monitoring your home 24/7 for intruders, fire danger and even environmental damage.  Its powerful range of high-tech features give the Concord Express^TM the most “bang for the buck” of any other home security system in its class.

The Ademco 4110 Vantage Series Home Security System consists of a wall-mounted security control contained in a shoebox-sized, lockable metal cabinet that can readily be mounted against any wall. Powered by a microprocessor, the Ademco 4110 control can be accessed using a console that is equipped with a standard 12-key multifunction numeric keypad with LCD display. The Ademco 4110 security system allows for up to 6 wired zones in the home or place of business.

The Ademco 4110 control interface consists of a 21 terminal connector block, allowing for interface with peripherals that include a plug-in transformer, phone line, remote controls and external alarms. The central control is easily accessed and can be programmed from any remote control console. Because of the special memory storage function, the Ademco 4110 can be reprogrammed over and over again; however, this function also protects any current programming should there be a power failure.

The Ademco 4110 is fully compatible with, and communicates readily with any personal computer over standard phone lines; programming data can be uploaded and downloaded to such a modem-equipped PC as well (not currently compatible with the Macintosh OS).  Since only two commands are used - one for uploading and the other for downloading - communications between the Ademco 4110 and the PC are simple, and a complete security instruction set can be transferred in less than a minute.

Each of the six wired zones can be set up for any one of nine different functions, including Entry or Exit Burglary, Fire, 24 Hour Silent or Audible Alarms and Intruder.

There are some limitations to the Ademco 4110. Although programming will not be affected by a power outage, passive intrusion detectors and smoke detectors will not function in the absence of power unless some type of external backup is in place. Because some passive detectors operate with infrared light, they may also fail to provide warning if they have been blocked or tampered with. Alarms that are installed on floors other than those in which people are present may not be heard by those located on different levels. Honeywell, the manufacturer of the Ademco 4110, also advises consumers that telephone lines that are required for the transmission of alarm signals to a central monitor may be blocked if said lines are out of service or have been tampered with. Finally, any of the electronic components may be subject to failure, although Honeywell reports that such components are designed to last up to 20 years; regular system tests of the Ademco 4110 Home Security System are therefore strongly recommended.

View the Ademco 4110 Owners Manual for additional information.

The Simon XT Wireless Security System is a product of General Electric.  The Simon XT replaces the older Simon 3 home security system, which has now been discontinued, and features several significant upgrades over its predecessor.

The Simon XT Security System is a full-featured home security solution representing the latest in home security technology, yet is easily installed and is priced significantly less than similar home security systems costing hundreds of dollars more. Wireless alarm capability means that the user will not need to run unsightly wires to detectors and sensors in and around the home.

Simon XT Features

GE’s Simon XT Security System offers numerous improvements over the old Simon 3 system, which include the following:

• Support for 40 Wireless Zones
• Large backlit alpha-numeric LCD display with customizable text
• Simple menu-driven settings for timers, latchkey, and pass code options
• High-decibel siren
• Backup power supply
• User-friendly arm, disarm, and status buttons
• Emergency fast-action keys
• Microphone for emergency two-way communication
• Speaker for voice audio status messages, prompts and live communication
• Fully programmable and configurable “voice chimes”
• One-touch silence and sensor bypass buttons
• 100-event buffer with time and date stamp

(See Simon XT Manual for Full Features List)

All functions can be controlled by a small key-fob remote mechanism.

Simon XT Connectivity

One of the most advanced features of the Simon XT Security System is an integrated voice dialer that is capable of connecting to the user’s home telephone connection and calling in alerts to any telephone number in the world. This feature, which is usually an expensive option, is standard on the XT. These connectivity and communication features go far beyond standard telephone lines, however. The Simon XT Security System is one of the first such systems to have online Internet capability. This means that users can receive notifications not only by phone, but via e-mail. A sophisticated camera system also allows users to monitor events at home from any computer monitor connected to the World Wide Web. Of course, all control functions can be accessed online as well; this capability makes the Simon XT exceptionally useful for those who which to monitor conditions at any second homes or rental properties they may own.

Simon XT Complete Package

The Simon XT Security System comes with everything you need in order to be up and running within minutes. In addition to the control panel, the system comes with its own power supply, telephone jack and flat cord and a rechargeable 24-hour backup battery in case of power failure.

The Ademco Lynx is a wireless home security system manufactured in Mexico under license and authority of Honeywell, Inc., one of the largest security and defense companies in the United States.  This particular home security system is quite user-friendly and easily installed; the control panel incorporates the functions of a siren, dialer and speakerphone, all of which is accessed and controlled from the standard numeric keypad. Featuring state-of-the-art security technology, the Ademco Lynx wireless home security system features a new voice prompt programming method that guides the user through the installation process, step-by-step. This allows even those with little or no experience in such installations to easily put the unit into place and configure it for their own needs and circumstances.

Ademco Lynx Features

The Ademco Lynx wireless home security system offers powerful features for the most demanding home security needs. Some of the features supported include:

• 24 wireless zones of protection and one hardwired zone
• Full 16-button keypad with easy to read LCD display and status LEDs
• Lack of usage notification
• Four wireless keys that don’t require zones
• Real-time clock
• Wall or optional desk-top mounting
• 85db internal sounder with voice siren
• Internal speaker and microphone
• Eight user codes
• 84 event log
• Rechargeable battery backup
• Scheduling
• Voice siren
• Speaks zone descriptors during programming

(See Ademco Lynx Manual for Full Features List)

In addition, the Ademco Lynx wireless home security system supports as many as eight X-10 devices. X-10 is the international standard for wireless operation of a range of home appliances, and has been recognized as being among the most reliable such protocols for over thirty years. This advanced home security system also supports 5804WATCH, a remarkable device that permits operation of the wireless Ademco Lynx security system from a wristwatch - thus eliminating the need to carry a separate control device.

Parents especially will appreciate the Ademco Lynx’s sophisticated, yet user-friendly control features. In addition to an automated “Follow Me” alarm and voice reminders, this home security system provides full voice response, a family message center which members of the household can use in order to record and access voice messages, and the unique Ademco Paging feature, which provides spoken notifications whenever someone enters of leaves the building - making it much easier for parents to monitor their children’s whereabouts. However, the motion detector will ignore the movements of anything under 40 pounds - meaning that alarms and alerts will not be constantly activated by the movements of pets.

Ademco Lynx Price is Affordable

The Ademco Lynx Wireless Home Security System has a manufacturer suggested retail price of $549.

Motion detectors are an important part of any well-designed business or home security system. The best home security systems use a variety of techniques and technologies to detect an unwanted intruder, and motion detection is an additional layer of security that greatly enhances the efficacy of any home security system, without greatly increasing its price.

Although the technology is constantly advancing, and there are any number of niche solutions that rely on a variety of underlying theoretical models, motion detectors can be broadly grouped into three different classifications:

Passive Infrared motion detectors work by detecting the heat of a human body. This a highly effective detection system but it can generate false positives, whether from a pet, sunshine streaming in on a particularly hot day, a space heater activating when its thermostat drops below a certain point, and so on. However, passive infrared systems can be tuned to avoid false positives by requiring a certain magnitude of heat change before the alarm is triggered. For example, a sensor can be tuned to not go off when a pet enters the room, by excluding heat signatures below a certain size.

Ultrasonic motion detectors work by bouncing ultrasonic waves around a room or space, and detecting changes in the contents of the space by changes in the reflected waves that return to the sensor. This type of sensor is difficult to defeat, but is also difficult to program to ignore pet entry into a home area, making it better suited for areas where there is no legitimate traffic which the system must ignore.

Microwave motion detectors bounce microwaves around the area, much like the radar guns used by the traffic police. Like ultrasonic systems, they are effective and hard to defeat, but also hard to customize.

Image recognition motion detectors work by assigning a computer to continually process the input from a digital video camera. The computer algorithm constantly scans the pixels of the transmitted image, and triggers an alert when enough pixels change in value, indicating an intruder or major change to the monitored space. This is a high-end solution.

Laser motion detectors send a laser beam (or a photoelectric light beam) across an area and detect interruptions to the beam from a sensor located across the space from the beam source. These forms of detectors are somewhat out of date, because they are relatively easy to evade if an intruder knows of their presence.

A motion detector can be wired into the business or home security system and programmed to perform a wide range of tasks in response to an intrusion. The system can call a designated phone number with an alert message, send a signal to a monitoring office (which can then dispatch an investigative team), turn on a light, sound an audible or silent alarm in your home security system.