[no subject]

Anyway, I was just thinking of the camera because i was under the
impression these systems had far more false alarms. So I feel better
about that too.

Thanks for the info.

I've just never used any of these, so don't really know much about them.
It's good to know I won't be having to head home every other week over a
false alarm ... at least more than likely I won't.

Of course, I certainly don't expect this system to guard against a
sophisticated burgler ... but I would think such a burgler would be far
better off spending his energies in a more well to do part of town !

> I think you're gonna go overbudget.
>
> If you're on the second level of apt building it shouldn't be too
> expensive to install a wireless alarm, one door a motion, maybe a
> glassbreak. If you're on the ground level you'll need more.
>
>
>
>
> "Armadillo Soup" <louispoint@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:Xns96F27B995157Elouispointyourmommac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>| Like a lot of people that pop up in all of a sudden, I was just
>| broken into last Thursday. They stole my digital camera and my
>| headphones. Apparently the guy broke into 6 places within a few block
>| radius.
>|
>| Anyway ... I realize all security is a balance between cost and
>| convenience. Just how much money, time, and effort are you willing to
>| put into being secure ?
>|
>| I live in a crappy apartment and probably will continue to for a long
>| time to come. Basically I have a TV, stereo, and computer. Anything
>| that was small and valuable this thief took last Thursday. So in
>| short, it wouldn't make a lot of sense to spend a fortune on securing
>| my place ... it obviously makes no sense to spend more than your
>| stuff is worth !
>|
>| As far as the threat model I would like to defend against ... I think
>| the most realistic scenario is something like what happened last
>| Thursday. A realitively unplanned, fairly random break in. I can't
>| see burglars spending a lot of time and energy planning for an
>| eleaborate breakin where I live.
>|
>| I am almost 100% confident that had ANY alarm sounded last Thursday,
>| I would still have my digital camera. This guy didn't want
>| confrontation, and he didn't want a lot of razzle dazzle, bright
>| lights, or loud noises I can tell you. If he is breaking into 6
>| places in a day, he doesn't have time for sirens.
>|
>| So ... considering all that, I was thinking of getting the Powermax+,
>| partly because it comes all ready to go, and I don't want to mess
>| with a monitoring service. The Paradox Magellan looks really cool but
>| seems to be a bit out of my price range. Also, it looks harder to set
>| up. As for the PowerMax+, I'd like to add one of the hardwired sirens
>| to the unit if I could, simply to add confusion and throw off the
>| crook, in case he has the nerve to try and disarm/yank it off the
>| wall. I am confident (considering I live in a cramped apartment
>| complex) that the siren will immediately scare off 80% of intruders
>| in this area. Like I said, I do not live in an area where carefully
>| planned burglaries really make much sense.
>|
>| My only reservation is relying on wireless completely. The Powermax+
>| says it can connect to 2 hardwired devices. One will hopefully be a
>| siren. It would be ideal if the other was a motion detector, but I
>| don't see a hardwired motion detector as a module.
>|
>| Are these wireless units that easily jammed and disabled ? You think
>| an amatuer "crackhead" style thief would have the means to do so ?
>| Some of these crackheads are more talented than you might think !
>| Breaking into 6 places in a day shows at least some talent.
>|
>| Anyway, if anyone has any last minute recommendations for me, I'll
>| take them. Right now my only security is a radio I left on today when
>| I went to work ! Far from Ideal.
>|
>| Things I consider important:
>| 1) No monitoring service required.
>| 2) Ability to disarm via telephone ? I think I'd like to do this. I'm
>| considering setting up a camera that can post images/video to an
>| external website via my Linksys wireless router.
>| 3) Cost and ease of use ... proportionate to what I am trying to
>| protect: $600 TV/DVD player
>| $400 stereo
>| $1500 computer
>| These are the only things I own of value in the world. All my clothes
>| are from the thrift store.  :)
>|
>| Lastly, just how common/frequently do you get false alarms ? Is this
>| from flakey units ?  Wild exotic radio transmissions on your units
>| frequency ? I will be using 3 door sensors and 1 motion detector. I
>| am a little worried about the false alarms.
>|
>| Cheers, and thanks for any final advice.
>
>
>