Simply Safe (Alarm System)

[carolinarider09]

I have an alarm system I personally installed some ten years ago when I was building the house.  It has worked well, no issues for those 10 or so years. 

Never had an issue until last night.  While I will investigate having the system repaired or checked out, the price for replacement components (in this case control panels) seem a bit high compared to what I remember in 2010.  And besides they "don't make them any more". 

So, one of the options is to simply replace the system (its a combination of wired and wireless devices).  I like wired for some things because you cannot easily interfere with them. 

The other option is to replace with entire system with a wireless system.  Simply Safe is one such system.

The question is, does anyone have a Simply Safe system in use and what is your opinion of the system.

Thanks. 

[Chrisj CMA]

I don’t have simply safe or any other system. So, my opinion is probably not valuable to your question. I feel like my Westec security sticker is the most effective part of a Westec security system which I don’t have because I think the sticker keeps the most common burglar Away. The rif raf. The pros know how to defeat your system. The electronic gizmos may make you feel better but if a pro wants in, he knows how. 

[carolinarider09]

You know, funny thing, no stickers here.

And yes, if a pro wants in, he will get in. 

Security systems and monitoring devices are basically for the "non pro" types.  They are the most dangerous, in my opinion, since the pros know that causing bodily harm carries more jail time (if caught). 

Still,  I like the idea of being notified when something happens and, in my small town, the police are (or were) pretty responsive. 

[Dave Ritsema]

The last house I built 20 years ago, I installed a hardwired system before the wall board went up and it served me well for about 16 years, then a few sensors went bad and it was a PITA to fix things without doing dry wall surgery.

This year  we built a new home and after a fair amount of research I discovered nearly everything was wireless now. After getting a quote from ADT for $2800 I decided I would do it myself. I ended up going with Simplisafe and it was just what the name suggests. Super simple installation, wireless, all sensors have the pull tab adhesive so it won't harm your paint if you want to remove them and the batteries (round watch type) are supposed to last better than 5 years. I already bought 10 batteries for under $15 just in case I need them.

I also installed some motion, glass break, smoke and fire detectors as well as 6 cameras. All in I think I am at about $1100. I do pay the monthly monitoring charge but you are not required to. I can arm/disarm via key pad or my phone or a device on your key ring. My only complaint is the night vision on the cameras isn't the best but daylight they are really good. I would have no hesitation recommending them.

[carolinarider09]

Thanks Dave,  that is the kind of information I wanted.

My current system is a combination of wired and wireless (on purpose).  Funny thing, the wired part is now the issue.

I like the fact that my current system is hardwired to the AT&T land line and therefore, when there is an "event", contact is made using wires not wifi.

That is the only issue I see with the Simplisafe system is that its all wifi and the cloud.   I would like to have a landline option. 

[Robert]

Honeywell Lyric Controller Dual-Path Wireless Security System Kit (for AT&T LTE Network)

https://www.geoarm.com/honeywell-lyric-dual-path-att-lte-wireless-security-system-kit.html

Has dual path wi fi plus LTE same system professionally installers use. Can be added to and change to any monitoring  company all the features you want.

[Dave Ritsema]

I get what your saying in regards to the landline and most new construction is not using it anymore. I felt the same way and at the new house ultimately decided to go without it as AT&T is pricing themselves out of the market because not many people are using them anymore so it is driving up the rates.

On the Simplisafe system it does have a cellular back up built in so if it loses WiFi (power outage, internet issue) it still protects assuming you have cell coverage in your area. I had my WIFI go out a few months ago for about 4 hours due to a Comcast issue and I got an alert that it was out but still protected.

[Jess from VA]

Especially out in the country, I think these guys are a great security system.  Yes there are food and vet bills and cleanup issues.

If I was looking for a house to break in, I'm pretty sure I'd pass this one (and any other within line of sight or sound to these guys).  I just can't run as fast or as far as I used to (and it's harder to run with a load in your pants). 

Look, there's a stranger.

[carolinarider09]

Thanks for the additional comments.  Still considering. 

Zoe is a good watch dog, gives excellent warning barks.  Dogs, cats, people, deer, rabbits........

Enough warning time to do what is needed. 

[Dave Ritsema]

Especially out in the country, I think these guys are a great security system.  Yes there are food and vet bills and cleanup issues.

If I was looking for a house to break in, I'm pretty sure I'd pass this one (and any other within line of sight or sound to these guys).  I just can't run as fast or as far as I used to (and it's harder to run with a load in your pants).  

Look, there's a stranger.

Reminds me of "The Lads" from the original Magnum PI series.  

[Jess from VA]

I'm as low tech (and unskilled in this area) as anyone.

I've been thinking that some solar sensor (night-time only) super bright LED spotlights on motion sensors, mounted above easy reach and placed out away from the home, but in the most obvious approach fields to the home would be a very good deterrent.  Even if you did not have an in-home alarm or a camera mated with them, how could any intruder count on that?  

The theory is to turn them around before they even get to the home.

But hard wiring them (out in the trees) would be a problem, and I don't know if batteries are adequate.

I live in suburbia where this would not work as well as out in the country, but I have one particular weak spot in my home defense plan where I would anticipate any thoughtful evil doer would come at me (corner lot back yard, where code required me to drop my fence to 4 feet).

Cameras are great, but who is watching their monitor all the time?      

[Ramie]

I've installed a Ring security system and integrated my Ring door bell to it.  Fairly easy to install, $100 a year for monitoring and that includes the video storage for my door bell.  I can also arm and disarm with my Echo or remotely via the app.  Had it for a year and so far no problems other than my wife letting the dogs out in the morning with out turning off the alarm first.

[Dave Ritsema]

I'm as low tech (and unskilled in this area) as anyone.

I've been thinking that some solar sensor (night-time only) super bright LED spotlights on motion sensors, mounted above easy reach and placed out away from the home, but in the most obvious approach fields to the home would be a very good deterrent.  Even if you did not have an in-home alarm or a camera mated with them, how could any intruder count on that?  

The theory is to turn them around before they even get to the home.

But hard wiring them (out in the trees) would be a problem, and I don't know if batteries are adequate.

I live in suburbia where this would not work as well as out in the country, but I have one particular weak spot in my home defense plan where I would anticipate any thoughtful evil doer would come at me (corner lot back yard, where code required me to drop my fence to 4 feet).

Cameras are great, but who is watching their monitor all the time?      

Regarding Cameras, I admit that I have never had them before now and the fact that they are soo easy to set up and install I may have gone a bit overboard but the reality is all they are going to do is record what happened. I consider them a passive device that just records the act but will in no way prevent the act from happening.

They could have some advantages after the fact regarding evidence of the event but other than that and the novelty of being able to talk to people who ring my doorbell and talk to them when I am 50 miles away or seeing who pulled into my driveway via an alert from my phone they are largely a technical novelty.   I do very much like the alarm system however not only for when we are away but should someone attempt to break in during the night it gives me a heads up and hopefully a bit of a tactical advantage rather than waking up with someone standing over me in my bedroom.

[Robert]

Like clothing in the cold, layers are the best. Same with alarms, perimeter sensors, lights, then alarm. If they get through the first two you know they are serious and you are already aware of their presence and hopefully police are on their way.

[Dave Ritsema]

Like clothing in the cold, layers are the best. Same with alarms, perimeter sensors, lights, then alarm. If they get through the first two you know they are serious and you are already aware of their presence and hopefully police are on their way.

Agreed. 

[JimC]

I agree with the above about layers also.
However there is much to be said about having the face of a burglar saved to the cloud.

Most areas have police or sheriffs departments that already know who the burglars are, having them in action in most cases will assure that they will be arrested and found guilty.

Jim

[Doug1952]

I upgraded my origin Simplisafe system with their current offering and like upgraded version.    My installation is fully wireless, entry, motion, glass sensors, no cameras.  You will appreciate the phone app that enables you to manage and check the alarm system status remotely

[DGS65]

I own an alarm company let me know what parts you are having trouble finding I may be able to help.
As someone else stated  I would go with a system like Honeywell that can be professionally serviced or repaired and monitored by any number of companies.

[carolinarider09]

DGS65,

Thanks.  I will send you a PM with more information. 

[Rams]

We recently completed a home renovation and addition.   The wife requested we get a home security system with cameras.   She had heard from Simply Safe how good, easy to install and cheap it was.

While I didn't really care about cost, I wanted a hard wired system and since we were (at that time) moving walls, putting up new sheet rock and doing major electrical work, now was the time to do a hard wired system.   I definitely wanted something that didn't require batteries (unless they were back up systems).   So, we had a fairly large but local security company come in and install a system.   So far, so good.

All entrances are covered and window alarms are in place.   After installation, I began to realize that everything I do within the camera's eye shot was being recorded.   This is not a good thing.   I'm one of those free sprits that lives in the country for a reason.   I like being able to do the things that living in the country allow without the neighbors calling for SWAT Team assistance.   

Now, it seems my "activities" are somewhat limited.  Should have thought of that before........

The other things that kind of surprised me is, my wife didn't want any interior cameras.   Makes me wonder what she's up to when I'm not there.......   

Rams

[Dave Ritsema]

We recently completed a home renovation and addition.   The wife requested we get a home security system with cameras.   She had heard from Simply Safe how good, easy to install and cheap it was.

While I didn't really care about cost, I wanted a hard wired system and since we were (at that time) moving walls, putting up new sheet rock and doing major electrical work, now was the time to do a hard wired system.   I definitely wanted something that didn't require batteries (unless they were back up systems).   So, we had a fairly large but local security company come in and install a system.   So far, so good.

All entrances are covered and window alarms are in place.   After installation, I began to realize that everything I do within the camera's eye shot was being recorded.   This is not a good thing.   I'm one of those free sprits that lives in the country for a reason.   I like being able to do the things that living in the country allow without the neighbors calling for SWAT Team assistance.   

Now, it seems my "activities" are somewhat limited.  Should have thought of that before........

The other things that kind of surprised me is, my wife didn't want any interior cameras.   Makes me wonder what she's up to when I'm not there.......   

Rams

I must be up to the same things as your wife, I refused to have interior cameras as well. 
Actually I have one "rover" camera that I can move around wherever I want it, inside or out. I figured if we go on vacation I will put it in a main living area so we can look into the house while we are gone if we get an alert.

[carolinarider09]

I found, through some light research, a device made by Netgear. 

Its only drawback is that the main module has to be connected by wire to the net.

It appears to only record when it is commanded to.

It appears to be able to be seen anytime someone with the correct user ID and password logs in.

https://www.arlo.com/en-us/default.aspx

[Rams]

We recently completed a home renovation and addition.   The wife requested we get a home security system with cameras.   She had heard from Simply Safe how good, easy to install and cheap it was.

While I didn't really care about cost, I wanted a hard wired system and since we were (at that time) moving walls, putting up new sheet rock and doing major electrical work, now was the time to do a hard wired system.   I definitely wanted something that didn't require batteries (unless they were back up systems).   So, we had a fairly large but local security company come in and install a system.   So far, so good.

All entrances are covered and window alarms are in place.   After installation, I began to realize that everything I do within the camera's eye shot was being recorded.   This is not a good thing.   I'm one of those free sprits that lives in the country for a reason.   I like being able to do the things that living in the country allow without the neighbors calling for SWAT Team assistance.   

Now, it seems my "activities" are somewhat limited.  Should have thought of that before........

The other things that kind of surprised me is, my wife didn't want any interior cameras.   Makes me wonder what she's up to when I'm not there.......   

Rams

I must be up to the same things as your wife, I refused to have interior cameras as well. 

When did you last pass through Hattiesburg?   Checking cameras now.   

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Now, it seems my "activities" are somewhat limited.  Should have thought of that before........

All that high tech and money and work..... and it doesn't even have a mute button?   

[Rams]

Now, it seems my "activities" are somewhat limited.  Should have thought of that before........

All that high tech and money and work..... and it doesn't even have a mute button?   

Not to my knowledge but, it will record anyone wearing a dress......... 

Rams

[DGS65]

I found, through some light research, a device made by Netgear. 

Its only drawback is that the main module has to be connected by wire to the net.

It appears to only record when it is commanded to.

It appears to be able to be seen anytime someone with the correct user ID and password logs in.

https://www.arlo.com/en-us/default.aspx

The Arlo pro is an OK DIY setup just be prepared to charge batteries every couple of months.
If you have electric flood lights around the house I would recommend using  ring they work fairly well and you don't have to change / charge batteries.   I have installed many of these for customers. However if I have access to run wires I prefer to install a local NVR which doesn't record to the cloud.

[Robert]

The Arlo pro is an OK DIY setup just be prepared to charge batteries every couple of months.
If you have electric flood lights around the house I would recommend using  ring they work fairly well and you don't have to change / charge batteries.   I have installed many of these for customers. However if I have access to run wires I prefer to install a local NVR which doesn't record to the cloud.

About the Ring and a couple of fyi's, you can download the videos to your computer and the portable battery Rings work really well with a plug in power supply you can buy off of Amazon at around 11.00 Otherwise I have found the batteries only last about 2 months at most. I have both the Ring cams and floods along with the portables and love them. Mounting separate flood lights and the Ring cams seem to work well and you can full coverage with lighting the whole area.

I like the ability of the battery cams to be able to change location to anywhere you may have a problem. When we go away I put a couple in the house to have inside surveillance without having it there all the time. You probably already know this but with the WiFi on battery backup along with having the battery in the Ring even when the power goes down most of the time I still have cams of the house. The regular powered Ring products you do not have that ability. Another plus to the battery powered Ring products.

The alerts they provide along with the ability to view and talk through them is really great and I use this quite alot. The app for Iphone has come along way and is really good also. What I really like is the Cloud is 100.00 per year with all the cams you want.

[carolinarider09]

I agree with both comments above. 

Security its a layered thing.   

[carolinarider09]

Just an update.  Thanks to a member of this board, I have gotten some very new and nice items that have corrected the issue with my current security system.

So...... I will keep the idea of replacement on the shelf for the time being.  One never knows about tomorrow. 

[Rams]

My own update:

Our system is up and doing what it’s supposed to do.  Yesterday we left to go somewhere, all of a sudden my wife says she forgot to lock the house up.   She went to her cell phone,  brought up the appropriate app and locked the house up from 30 miles away.  We both thought that was pretty cool.

Now, she thinks we might want to add two additional cameras.  One in our garage and one for the family living room.   Not sure I want to go there.  I’m kind of use to getting up (when ever) and moving about the house however I see fit.   This is gonna cramp my style... 
TMI?

Rams

[carolinarider09]

Some of the camera systems, Arlo by Netgear for example, allow you to set the devices into "Armed" mode. 

That means any motion on the cameras is recorded and stored. 

In the "normal" mode the cameras only show you stuff when you ask for it but then who knows who is watching since it is on the net but then there is something between the cameras and the net....

[Rams]

Some of the camera systems, Arlo by Netgear for example, allow you to set the devices into "Armed" mode.  

That means any motion on the cameras is recorded and stored.  

In the "normal" mode the cameras only show you stuff when you ask for it but then who knows who is watching since it is on the net but then there is something between the cameras and the net....

Per the installer of our system, we have to grant someone the ability to view our cameras and then (in addition) they must have the appropriate password (which is supposedly in one that you'd have to be very good to crack or extremely lucky).  

Honestly, I'm not too worried, the system is mostly for her emotional security.   I don't have much worth stealing.   What I do have that might be worth stealing is too damn heavy and cumbersome, I really doubt it's worth the effort.   But, it makes her feel better and you know what they say about a happy wife.  

I'm still considering those additional cameras, it's not that I don't want to spend the money, I'm just not sure I want to get dressed just to pass through the living room so I can get a cup of coffee in the mornings.   It is, what it is.

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Just be proud in your nakedness Ron. 

It's only viewable by you two, so nothing new there.  And no need to ever look at all if there's never a break-in anyway.

Just don't share with us is all we ask. 

[Rams]

Just be proud in your nakedness Ron.  

It's only viewable by you two, so nothing new there.  And no need to ever look at all if there's never a break-in anyway.

Just don't share with us is all we ask.  

Jess,
You were the one person I was going to share all the info with.  Cause, I knew you wouldn't be peaking.    Or, is that peeking?  Shrug.   

Rams

[DGS65]

Just an update.  Thanks to a member of this board, I have gotten some very new and nice items that have corrected the issue with my current security system.

So...... I will keep the idea of replacement on the shelf for the time being.  One never knows about tomorrow. 

I was happy to help!