16 replies to this topic

[rusty789]

Has anyone got a home security system that they'd recommend? There's a lot out there to chose from!

 

I'm after something fairly simple to set-up, ideally wireless and only really need 2 cameras.

 

It can be cloud based (probably easiest set-up wise), it doesn't really need to be backed up physically.

 

And no I do not want to get a big dog!

 

[Miniminx71]

If you are getting CCTV, the police were saying this week that people should mount the cameras lower down. Most automatically put them up too high - but then only get a useless image of the tops of heads. Common sense really but everyone seems to do it - even shops and stuff.

[djdanmk]

I fitted a swann cctv kit over the weekend. It was a wired system though. It was very easy to install and set up and can be viewed from your smart phone as well as a pc or tv. I would think carefully about where you put the cameras and maybe consider placing a couple that can view the places you want to protect from a couple of angles to make sure you get good recordings should anything ever happen.

[ANON]

i just live in a really really nice area

[Daz1968]

I use ip cameras, they upload images to a cloud based service and one inside is set to send me an email to my phone, I can also use an app to view at any time, you can even get ones that are moveable from the app, easy to set up and cheap to buy, if you have a nas you can record video to that

[Black.Ghost]

Just remember that this is a forum that you can read without joining, so I would advise people to be very careful of going into detail with regards security at home/for cars etc. Most of it works better if people don't know it is there! If they know what it is/make/locations it makes it a hell of a lot easier to defeat it. 

 

A camera will do nothing other than maybe help the police afterwards - and if they are wearing a mask it's unlikely it will do anything at all! It may alert you of an intruder if you are away, but not a great deal you can do other than call the Police! 

 

A loud audible alarm is better as it will scare people away if activated. Not leaving anything valuable on display is also a good bet as well. 

[Bubblebobble]

Good to have something you can view on your phone so if you hear something in the night.

[mr3speed]

I asuume its for front and rear? I work for ADT fire and Security, you looking to have a HDD at home or just a cloud system? You will get some free cloud storage but these systems are usually suscription based, id also reccomend an intruder alarm system to compliment a CCTV system. Visonic brand is a good place to start

Edited by mr3speed, 11 March 2015 - 07:21 PM.

[Ben_O]

I have always wondered about siren alarms on cars and houses. How many times do you sit in you house in the evening, feet up watching TV only to hear a house or car alarm going off out in the street??

 

I often do and personally, i never get up and go outside to see if my neighbours are being robbed because they never are. It's always a false alarm because people buy alarm systems that go off for no reason or they set them off themselves.

I don't know anyone else that does either.

 

I can't see anything wrong with good quality double glazing with decent security bolts that are fixed more securely than with 4 weedy 1/4" screws.

[mr3speed]

I have always wondered about siren alarms on cars and houses. How many times do you sit in you house in the evening, feet up watching TV only to hear a house or car alarm going off out in the street??
 
I often do and personally, i never get up and go outside to see if my neighbours are being robbed because they never are. It's always a false alarm because people buy alarm systems that go off for no reason or they set them off themselves.
I don't know anyone else that does either.
 
I can't see anything wrong with good quality double glazing with decent security bolts that are fixed more securely than with 4 weedy 1/4" screws.

An external, or live sounder is a old idea.
It worked in the 50s and 60s when people knew their neighbours and mobile phone technology was non existent but these days its a dated concept.
Most intruder systems have internal sounders 100Db+ inside with the intruder with the home owner alerted on a mobile phone. Its far more important the home owner or keyholder is notified rather than a pointless noise outside that no one responds to.
Most councils also restrict live sounders to 10-15 minutes of sounder time, some areas even less.

Double glazing wont keep intruders out, may reduce your heating bills. I work with it everyday in and around London down as far as the south coast.. See it everyday. The best thing you can do is fit a well branded alarm to deter potential intruders. Why go to the house with the alarm?, its far easier to go to the house with the old shabby looking alarm or known DIY system or no alarm at all.

Edited by mr3speed, 18 March 2015 - 05:36 PM.

[Ben_O]

 

I have always wondered about siren alarms on cars and houses. How many times do you sit in you house in the evening, feet up watching TV only to hear a house or car alarm going off out in the street??
 
I often do and personally, i never get up and go outside to see if my neighbours are being robbed because they never are. It's always a false alarm because people buy alarm systems that go off for no reason or they set them off themselves.
I don't know anyone else that does either.
 
I can't see anything wrong with good quality double glazing with decent security bolts that are fixed more securely than with 4 weedy 1/4" screws.

An external, or live sounder is a old idea.
It worked in the 50s and 60s when people knew their neighbours and mobile phone technology was non existent but these days its a dated concept.
Most intruder systems have internal sounders 100Db+ inside with the intruder with the home owner alerted on a mobile phone. Its far more important the home owner or keyholder is notified rather than a pointless noise outside that no one responds to.
Most councils also restrict live sounders to 10-15 minutes of sounder time, some areas even less.

Double glazing wont keep intruders out, may reduce your heating bills. I work with it everyday in and around London down as far as the south coast.. See it everyday. The best thing you can do is fit a well branded alarm to deter potential intruders. Why go to the house with the alarm?, its far easier to go to the house with the old shabby looking alarm or known DIY system or no alarm at all.

 

That's interesting.

 

I know nothing about home alarms at all. I zone out when they are on the TV adverts

 

I was just thinking about all the times i have heard alarms going off and thought nothing about it.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[minisilverbullet]

not sure if it exists in the UK but we have a securitas system, sensors on both doors, downstairs windows, camera in the basement and audio alarm. If any thing disturbs the sensors it goes straight to an alarm centre and some security guards drive out. they also call to see if you are ok/ if it was a false alarm, we even have a password. 

 

Not bad price at 25 pounds a month. 

 

It was in the house when we moved in so we just took over the contract. 

 

We also have 3 border collies :) 

[1984mini25]

I have always wondered about siren alarms on cars and houses. How many times do you sit in you house in the evening, feet up watching TV only to hear a house or car alarm going off out in the street??

 

I often do and personally, i never get up and go outside to see if my neighbours are being robbed because they never are. It's always a false alarm because people buy alarm systems that go off for no reason or they set them off themselves.

I don't know anyone else that does either.

 

I can't see anything wrong with good quality double glazing with decent security bolts that are fixed more securely than with 4 weedy 1/4" screws.

 

If an alarm of any type is going off for more than 20 minutes, it's then classed as an environmental nuisance and the police can be called...  

[Carlos W]

The issue with cameras which can be reached by the criminals is that they can move them, the same with security lights.

 

I know my neighbours well, and if I heard their alarm sounding I'd wander up the garden and check to see that all the windows at the back of the property were in tact.

 

Talk to your neighbours, and tell them if you're going away, try to make the house look occupied. If you've got a UPVC front door lift the handle AND TURN THE KEY otherwise the handle often pushes down on the outside and it takes seconds to push the door and frame apart with a screwdriver. 

 

Audible alarms do work. 

[Carlos W]

 

I have always wondered about siren alarms on cars and houses. How many times do you sit in you house in the evening, feet up watching TV only to hear a house or car alarm going off out in the street??

 

I often do and personally, i never get up and go outside to see if my neighbours are being robbed because they never are. It's always a false alarm because people buy alarm systems that go off for no reason or they set them off themselves.

I don't know anyone else that does either.

 

I can't see anything wrong with good quality double glazing with decent security bolts that are fixed more securely than with 4 weedy 1/4" screws.

 

If an alarm of any type is going off for more than 20 minutes, it's then classed as an environmental nuisance and the police can be called...  

 

If an alarm is going off and something looks suspicious, call the police and they will try to come out and check it out