Episode 2/10/2011 Now Available

[Shane R. Monroe]

Topics:

- The Home Security Episode

[rush2112]

For a few months I worked as an operator at a local security 'ADT' type of place. We did call the police if there was an alarm and the point of contact did not answer or did not have the correct password. There were two passwords. The won they tell us and a different one we tell them so they know we are really the security place. We handled a lot of the businesses in the area. With the businesses we knew when they opened and closed. They had a 15 minutes window to deactivate the alarm when they opened and to activate the alarm when they closed. When they did that we got the notification and I would log the times the alarms were turned on and off. I would call if they did this earlier or later than the time the stores gave us in their accounts. I will say that was one boring and lonely job. I had the 12am - 8am on the weekends and I was the only one in this small space with no windows. I could not leave the building, if I did their alarm would go off. I was the only one there on the late shift. These guys were very cheap in that way. God for bid if there were multiple issues at once there could be a delay in me calling the police or 911 for that house or business. I had very little training other than to log the times in the books. Most of these guys working at the 'ADT' places are poorly paid and probably not trained very well. I would put these people through the same training as a 911 phone operator. The company I worked with did not charge for false alarms. I do not know the initial install cost. I was not an installer.

[Patbb]

Thanks for the show Shane.

I was looking at the X10 myself a few months ago.
I was wondering about the build quality?
At that price I had some doubts.

I need a camera for my driveway, almost every month the cars get burglarized, they even takes the penny from the ashtray!
I was wondering if a camera install outside can handle -30f ... I know that you're not the good person to ask that!!
But in Montreal we often get this cold weather.
I asked the tech support at X10 but they were not very clear with there answer.

Regarding the unit that can upload pictures via FTP, does it have to go through a computer or it can be directly connected to a router?
Can video and sound be send by a web feed instead of phone?

Thanks.

[Shane R. Monroe]

I was looking at the X10 myself a few months ago.
I was wondering about the build quality?
At that price I had some doubts.

You know, I was concerned about that too. And the stuff is on par with all the other stuff I've laid my hands on - the Swann, the ADT stuff ... it all feels about the same.

I need a camera for my driveway, almost every month the cars get burglarized, they even takes the penny from the ashtray!
I was wondering if a camera install outside can handle -30f ... I know that you're not the good person to ask that!!
But in Montreal we often get this cold weather.
I asked the tech support at X10 but they were not very clear with there answer.

Yeah, I wouldn't be able to tell you that. However, they have floodlight / camera combos. The lights might keep the area around the camera warm enough. It would be worth trying.

Regarding the unit that can upload pictures via FTP, does it have to go through a computer or it can be directly connected to a router?

All functions require a computer.

Can video and sound be send by a web feed instead of phone?

They have several packages for software monitoring. You would have to check them out.

[Shane R. Monroe]

Here are the images I promised ... amazingly small box ...

[Patbb]

Thanks for the info.

I will definitely try the Floodlight/camera ... when the snow will be all melted!

[goody]

I've been looking into getting an X10 security system but I've got a lot of questions and can't find the answers on the x10 site. If you or anyone know the answers that would be great.
1. Are the window sensors tamper proof?
2. When your listening in to the house does the siren shut off so you can hear what's going on?
3. Can you access the system (turn off/on, monitor) from the internet/smart phone?
4. Did you get the wireless camera? How do you find the reception/video quality?

Thanks

[Shane R. Monroe]

1. Not sure what you mean ... example?
2. Yes, as I recall (makes sense, right?)
3. Not with the one I have - they just released a brand new "core" unit that replaces the one I have that you can do EXACTLY that - including controlling all your X10 equipment from your phone or web.
4. The wireless camera isn't the quality I had hoped. My goal, though, was to be able to a) verify someone is in the house that shouldn't be and b) have half a chance at a positive ID if they weren't immediately caught. I believe they are "good enough" for that need. Obviously, you want as much light as possible, which is why you have the Eagle Eye sensor kick on the lights in the room where your camera is looking.

[Shane R. Monroe]

Check out the new core unit here:

http://www.x10.com/promotions/sc1200....html?TWENTY11

I will be upgrading.

[goody]

Thanks for the answers Shane.
By tamper proof I mean if you remove the batteries from the windows sensor while armed the system will alarm.
Which by the looks of it the new system has exactly that. I'm going to give that system a try.