12.17.2012

a system of security


Whelp, we need to make a (quick!) decision on what to do about security. After all, what if that dude up there breaks into our house and steals our beloved bowling trophy as well?

I have to confess that I have mixed feelings about security systems. I think the national systems are just as likely to steal from you as a burglar. At our previous house, we had ADT for awhile. After a remodel essentially wrecked the system, we tried to cancel the service. Despite repeated calls and letters, the bills kept coming. After our credit card number changed, we refused to tell them the new number, which finally got us dropped. But they still wanted to charge us. Later, we signed up with Brinks (who was somewhat recently bought up by ADT). You sign up for Brinks (without really knowing it...) in one year increments. Therefore, if you move one month after your one-year "renewal" or you fail to navigate the somewhat tricky cancellation process, you are stuck paying for their proprietary service for the rest of the year. Perhaps the robbers aren't wearing masks? (Note that in both of these situations the system was paid for.)

We could go local, but who? And is there any guarantee of not getting robbed by a local firm rather than a national one?

So what are we going to do?

(1) Install a wireless system.
(2) Install a video system.
(3) Install CAT5 to the doors in case we want to go wired.

As far as the wireless system goes, we're thinking the Iris System looks cool (both functionally and aesthetically):




But it is a basic system, and it still (essentially) requires a monthly fee (a bit of a scam since the device could easily handle the "premium" services locally).

As far as video goes, we're thinking an Axis camera that can be powered via ethernet (CAT5) cable.


Beaker's Bro turned me onto Legrand products, and they make some gorgeous stuff, including several CAT5 powered cameras, such as this ball camera:

and this bullet camera:



The other thing we can do? Lock the bowling trophy in the safe...

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