Alarm System

**Flip** · 20th April 2012, 12:07

I have just installed a new monitored alarm system in my man cave and home, given the number of bikes that have been stolen recently you might consider one for yourself espcially given the relatively low cost.

I got one from TradeMe and a second from Turtle products ltd in Nelson but they are both the same alarm system. The alarm only cost $160 each for the basic unit but I also connected up a monitored smoke detector and a vibrational detector for the safe and an extra PIR's where necessary. It system sends me a text if it goes off. The prepaid sim cost $30. It took me a little while to sort out how to program it correctly. So far both units have been 100%. I have had a couple of false alarms probably inscets or birds flying around in the man cave. I have now set the PIR's up as a silent alarm, but if someone opens the wrong door or window, the safe is tampered with or the smoke detector goes off the hooter sounds.

So far its been the best $160 I have spent in a long time.

**Warr** · 20th April 2012, 12:47

Can you post a link to your TM purchase. Sounds all good

**iYRe** · 20th April 2012, 13:10

technically that's not "monitored".

For insurance purposes that means a contract with a company that responds to your alarm. Getting an SMS is a bit like the siren going off - not much good if you are in the 'tron for the day and your house is in kaiwaka.

I've been getting quotes for internet based monitored alarms - some have iphone/android apps even.. but the "monitoring" contract always costs another $20-30/mnth. So, you can get it to send you an sms, an email, an alert to your app, and an alert to your monitoring company who then send out a guard. The decent alarms are about $650 + $200 to install.

I've gone for the big black hairy dog alarm. He sleeps next to my bikes - and he nuts off if anyone comes anywhere near the driveway, let alone into the property. Cheaps Security alarms (and expensive dogs) are easily disabled these days anyway.. but at least the dog makes noise before he gets disabled.

**ckai** · 20th April 2012, 15:46

Originally Posted by iYRe

I've gone for the big black hairy dog alarm. He sleeps next to my bikes - and he nuts off if anyone comes anywhere near the driveway, let alone into the property. Cheaps Security alarms (and expensive dogs) are easily disabled these days anyway.. but at least the dog makes noise before he gets disabled.

We've got the super deluxe version of this: We have 2 medium gray hairy dogs. If that don't work then the big black hairy dog jumps in. They live behind the garage, fenced off, but shit it's funny seeing the look on peoples faces when they all jump the fence and chase things that aren't meant to be in the property.

I made the fence just high enough so they know where they should be, but low enough they can get out if the need.

$160 for a SMS alarm sounds reasonable if you use it within it's means.

**iYRe** · 20th April 2012, 15:51

LOL Ckai..

We had one of those door knockers come around.. "Please dont let your dog kill me" - dont worry he's locked up in the yard - "Yes but I am afraid he will kill me" - yeah well bugger off and dont try and sell me a home ventilation system then.

**neels** · 20th April 2012, 15:57

Just about finished installing the alarm in my man cave, doesn't have a phone line at the moment but otherwise fully functioning. I figure a siren of around ear bleeding volume, maybe some outside floodlights that are switched on with the alarm, and filling the room with some sort of poisionous gas should be a sufficient deterrent.

**Flip** · 20th April 2012, 17:24

My dog is more valueable than the sum of all of my vehicles, so using him as an alarm system is not an option.

I looked into the alarm company doing the monitoring, but either the alarm and contract fee was cheap but the callouts were expensive or vice versa. I know heaps of lads around home that don't mind having a look if I am out of town.

I believe the alarm would be hard to disable as it has a internal battery, it uses the cell network so its coms are hard to interupt, it has a tamper switch and it is installed in a IP56 box under a PIR. I am sure some hacker might know how to get in, but hey their knecks snap relatively easily.

Mostly I like the idea of catching the twits in the house, I can't do that if only a rent a cop turns up.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/services/tr...-435678311.htm