Re: Most Reliable DYI Home Alarm System

[Jim <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at 2:11:06 PM UTC-5, tomz wrote:
> Not sure if it's okay to ask this question:
> What do you recommend for system with 16 window/door sensors, 5 smoke det=
ectors, and 1 heat sensor?  ADT system is 22 years old and yearly monitorin=
g bill is almost $600.
>=20
> Thanks.
>=20
> TomC, homeowner.

Ask 5 different alarm installers and get 5 different answers.

I like Napco equipment but most DIY'ers find the keypad programming more di=
fficult than others. If you get the Quickloader program however, it's prett=
y straight forward. You have to study the instructions for any/every panel =
so it's no harder than any other (IMHO). I've got Napco products installed =
for close to 40 years and still working. But .... that's just my experience=
. Others may care to differ.

It seems as if most DIY'ers wind up using DSC because it's very accessible,=
 cheap, and easy to program. Many installers do use it also but (again IMHO=
) it's very cheaply made and I think their Tech support sucks. Bad attitude=
 and they seem to have a history of not notifying anyone when they know the=
re's a product problem. Their policy seems to be, .... if the customer does=
n't complain, then don't tell them that there's a problem with a product.=
=20

Honeywell has a pretty good response along with GE products from what I see=
 on the DIY web sites.=20

YMMV
=20