Home burglar Alarm questions

[Dicksan Mendiondo]

Hello all, I am new to home alarm systems. I read the info on bass-home and
it was great. I am planning on installing a system in my home and have some
basic questions.
1) What brand name should I be looking into?
2) What brands are better than others and which ones to stay away from?
I called ADT for an estimate and they guy wanted an arm a leg and a first
born for a mediocre system ( 4 contacts and I motion). The guy went on about
how their equipment is not the same third party or " Authorized dealers"
install. That leads me to my third question:
3) Is ADT equipment better or is it worse with a fancy name.
I am a involved with computers and entertain the idea of some home
automation in the future.
That leads to my fourth question:
4) Which system is capable interfacing with a pc app like HomeSeer ( Serial
Port)?

These are my requirements:
14 windows
4 Doors
2 Motion Sensors

Here are my optional requirements:
Wireless capabilities for a few additonal sensors in places wires are
impractical or impossible.
Home Automation PC (software) integration.
Voice (Front Door yada yada yada)

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
DM

 

[Frank Olson]

Hello all, I am new to home alarm systems. I read the info on bass-home and
it was great. I am planning on installing a system in my home and have some
basic questions.
1) What brand name should I be looking into?

The range of professional grade equipment is staggering. The answer depends
on what you want to accomplish.

2) What brands are better than others and which ones to stay away from?

Stay away from LOXXON.

I called ADT for an estimate and they guy wanted an arm a leg and a first
born for a mediocre system ( 4 contacts and I motion). The guy went on about
how their equipment is not the same third party or " Authorized dealers"
install.

ADT uses OEM equipment. They don't manufacture their own (for standard home
alarms).

That leads me to my third question:

3) Is ADT equipment better or is it worse with a fancy name.
I am a involved with computers and entertain the idea of some home
automation in the future.

ADT won't allow you access to end user programming and very rarely sell
"local" (unmonitored) systems.

That leads to my fourth question:
4) Which system is capable interfacing with a pc app like HomeSeer ( Serial
Port)?

I'm actually surprised you have these questions after visiting RLB's
website.

Napco or CADDX offer excellent HA support, with Napco actually capable of
interfacing with HomeSeer. Check out the 9600.

These are my requirements:
14 windows
4 Doors
2 Motion Sensors

Here are my optional requirements:
Wireless capabilities for a few additonal sensors in places wires are
impractical or impossible.
Home Automation PC (software) integration.
Voice (Front Door yada yada yada)

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Take a few moments to read through
http://www.yoursecuritysource.com/buyingonline.htm.

Also take a look at http://www.yoursecuritysource.com/faqs.htm.

Good luck!!

 

[thesatguy]

The currently advertised on tv special is $0. for the basic system - 3 doors
and 1 motion and they use plain ole Ademco equipment unless you get the
Focus system which is a bunch of bucks for nothing.

 

[Mark Leuck]

Many Focus panels are plain ole (proprietary) Ademco equipment, I have a
Focus 75 which I believe is a Vista-50

 

[schism]

Many Focus panels are plain ole (proprietary) Ademco equipment, I have a
Focus 75 which I believe is a Vista-50

They are close but not the same. At one time ADT manufactured there
own panels and now the focus line is manufactured by ADEMCO for ADT to
there specs.


Bill

 

[Dicksan Mendiondo]

I appreciate all the help. I'll be sure to post once it is all up and
running.

Thanks,
DM