Re: leaving next alarm for the envisalink

[JoeRaisin <joeraisin2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 11/3/2015 11:40 AM, Windesmear wrote:
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I've been mostly content with my lynx and abn from nextalarm. However
> lately the abn has been even more wonky than usual. It goes offline often
> and has to be manually reset by unplugging the unit.
>
> So I finally got around to ordering a vista and envisalink module.
> Shouldn't this be far more reliable? From my understanding the alarm sees
> the evisalink like a hardwired keypad? This sounds much better than the
> panel trying to dial out through a abn adapter. Everything should pay for
> itself also without the nextalarm fee.
>
> It surprises me that more alarms don't have all the functions of a common
> ip camera but thats still cool if you can add on a module to do it. I
> think there is a module for hooking up to a raspberry pi as well.
>
> Another thing that I don't get is why so many people want cameras instead
> of a alarm system? I have a small cctv setup with blue iris. It has its
> uses but I'm not sure if I will keep it going once the hardware fails. A
> single indoor cam to check on pets and such when I'm away is about all
> that I need. Our vehicle is kept in the attached garage which can be
> protected with a alarm.
>

I won't go into brands, but there are better all in one units - the one
I'm thinking of could use all your existing alarm devices and can also
do lights, thermostats door locks as well as cameras- snapshots, not
streaming.  The cam will snap several pics when there is an alarm or
when you ask for one on your phone app.

That said, IMHO, using cameras in addition to alarms is just prudent.  I
see three phases of security:

1. Keep them out.
2. Let the world know if they get in.
3. Get some pictures (video) in case they don't get caught in the act.

Cameras will not only help identify culprits and vehicles, but one small
business owner also used the video to see where they went and it helped
him identify missing stuff he might not have noticed.

I don't know if you've done any physical security upgrades to your house
but there are several folks here who can offer advice on it.  You can
pay someone for the job or you can, like all other things, DIY it if you
are confident you can set a door properly, handle drills, hammers, pry
bars, screwdrivers and metal saws.  Welding or a high level of metalwork
experience isn't necessary, but always a plus.

Basically you wrap your doorway rough openings in steel and use deep
screws and deadbolts which makes prying or kicking open the door
difficult, if not impossible if you have a good steel door.  Window
frames are not commonly a point of attack so I don't recommend going
through all the hassle on your windows.

Then you ensure you have the level of electronic protection you desire,
  You have to (Okay- technically you don't- but it's stupid not to) have
at least one door contacted to act at the trigger for the entry delay.
Ideally all your doors will be contacted.

The next part of the perimeter if often ignored by the homeowner - the
windows.  Just as in your computer, windows are convenient but a
security nightmare.  Windows usually take two devices to cover well- a
contact sensor and a glass break sensor AND you can add wired screens if
you want your windows open while the system is armed is since there are
usually a whole lot of them so it can get expensive just through sheer
volume.  The majority of folks simply opt for the less expensive network
of motion detectors.  Place them strategically so that anyone breaking
in will have to pass at least one of them in order to move around the
house - while you can put a motion in every room there is a window, that
(again) can add up pretty quick.  Thoroughly covering the common areas
will generally do the trick -- if there is a room where you keep your
extensive Tiffany's collection... then, yeah... put one there.

If the thieves succeed in getting in, hopefully they've set off the
alarm and have limited time to grab what they can before the cops get
there.

This is called a smash and grab (or crash and smash)- they kick in a
delay door and can comfortably figure on thirty seconds or more before
the alarm goes out.  This gives them 30secs to grab shit, or thirty
seconds to find the alarm panel and disable it.  The older systems would
have the panel relatively inaccessible but, with the new all in ones,
the important part is also the one making the noise and asking to be
disarmed - so find one that sends out a pre-alarm.  This feature sends a
signal to central station when any delayed zone is initially tripped.
If the monitoring station doesn't receive any signals (either an alarm
or a disarm) after 30secs(or whatever the entry delay is) they know the
panel has been destroyed and will treat it as a burglar alarm.

So the cops arrive to find the thieves have vanished - good thing the
the high quality, see in the dark type cameras surrounding the house not
only shows the nefarious ne'er-do-wells, but their vehicle as well. With
their pictures in the hands of the authorities you maybe have a decent
chance of maybe getting Grampa's pocket watch back.

So you see - thinking that you don't need /that/ because you have /this/
is not really thinking things through.

If you don't /want/ certain aspects.  That's fine, your property, your
money and to be frank, I don't have a camera nor have I gone to the
trouble of physically beefing up my structure - I've never laid claim to
either prudence or intelligence. I have not made the choice to leave
these things out because I think I don't /need/ them - it's because I
have chosen not to include them.

I haven't discussed smoke detectors because if you are using an all in
one panel for fire coverage I'm just gonna look at you funny and walk
away - don't do that.

Good luck



--
Narcissistic control freaks always consider their perceptions and
opinions to be obvious and true.
- Frank "Socrates"