recommendation for a "simple" home invasion alarm...

I'm strictly a DIY type of guy...

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Ok, well here's a response that goes the geek road. You could always build this system yourself.

For my senior design project for my Bachelor's Degree I built an ad-hoc wireless sensor grid. I tied an infrared trip sensor ($14), a motorola 6812HC microcontroller ($50) and a transceiver (free) to make a small wireless sensor unit.

I set up 4 of these units on a floor of a building (IE windows and doorways) and had one unit connected to the serial port of a computer to be the base station. I wrote some basic networking protocols such that when one of the sensors on a unit went off, the others would relay the data until it reached the unit connected to the computer. At that point I could make the computer do almost anything from setting off a sound, post it on the internet or broadcast back to the network with an alarm (IE turn on the lights).

One of the uses I cited for this project was home security. You could set up dozens of these in a 100 yard radius. As long as there is a path along the network such that a signal can hop all the way to the base station you can monitor a multi-level office building. The difference between this and current home security systems is that you have the freedom to configure it to more situations. You can place the units wherever you wanted, you can replace the infrared trip sensor with longer/shorter ranges, a laser sensor (IE monitor a door from far away), a microphone to detect noise, a pressure switch for windows/doors or even a combination of sensors. I made it such that each unit can take on a 9 V source from a wall jack or a battery so that you can have permanent units inside the house connected to a wall jack, but also have ones outside as well.

I still have my prototypes from this project, so if you ever wanted to build this yourself I can certainly help direct you. From my research 2-3 years ago I couldn't find any commercial product like it. Most are set it and leave it type of systems that are very rigid in terms of configuration.

I have heard other places the best thing to do is ask local PD for good contractors so you dont end up with some crackhead wiring your home.

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Haha, wouldn't that be bum luck, getting robbed by the guys wiring your security system.

ChCx2744 said:

Get a doberman with nicely cropped ears. Nothing will make a BG bowel himself more than the sillouette of a devil dog in the darkness charging at him and calling all sorts of oh hell mary along with the sound of me stroking my 12 gauge's foreskin. THAT'LL LEARN EM.

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I prefer dogs that act rather than threaten, as they are the ones that solve the problem rather than just send the problem off for someone else to deal with

I am going to have to say nothing makes my wife feel safe when I am gone more than our Dog. He barks if anyone steps on the property. Dont ask me how he knows from inside the house. He just knows.

Gives her plenty warning that someone is coming up the driveway, standing outside a window at night....

I know because I call her from time to time when I am coming home and tell her I am right down the street and I am going to try and sneak up ton the dog.

I am never able to successfully stand out side a window for more than 5 seconds before he alerts her

why was my post deleted?

I second Aaryq's post. I've got a fox terrier and anytime someone pulls into the drive or even walks into our yard he knows about it before i do, and barks non-stop until i calm him down.

I have a German Shorthaired Pointer that is more of a family pet, although I do hunt with him. He sleeps on a dog bed in our bedroom. If he hears a noise that is abnormal he starts with a low growl, if the noise becomes persistant the growl gets louder. If he thinks there is a threat he will bark.

Dogs are the best early warning systems going.

Everyone should own a dog. Mine farts a lot, has bad breath, snores like a chainsaw, and won't stay off the furniture. But when he senses something's not right he turns from a big doofy baby into a growling maniac. That's enough for me to overlook everything else.

he will yank your electric meter to cut your power

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A lock on the meter box will cure that.

get yourself a small hiper yappie dog. it will bark even when the power goes out

I love golden retrievers. They are great, some, not all, will bark as someone comes up, then the welcome mat is out.

We have Silky Terriers in the house. I am not a little dog guy, but this is a pretty good breed. They look like Yorkies on steriods, but they are not hyper or yappy for the most part. They have hair, not fur, so there is no shedding. They are athletic, playful, but all my male dogs have been willing to bark at and nip a stranger. They are a good alarm system. Excellent hearing and sense of smell.

If ever I suspect a break-in, "Little Bear", the Silky, will be first out the bedroom door because he will take off straight to the bad guy, and heaven help him if the BG hurts the dog or makes a wrong move.

Keep it simple, folks! AQll of the "High Tech" stuff is neither infallible nor necessary.

Dogs, geese and peacocks are good, but must be fed & cared for.

I like beer cans, partialy filled with lead shot or pebbles. It's fun to prepare the cans for use, nothing burns out or has to be fed.

Believe me, when that can hits the floor, you'l be 'up & ready' pretty darn fast!

Imagine a beer can or two falling to the floor from a height of seven feet when a door is opened:

The same thing can be rigged at windows.

If you're a sound sleeper, use beer bottles instead of beer cans.

Get yourself a good dog, any of the protective breeds would be great.

Then get yourself a couple of good books on how to raise and train it right, and take it to a few good obediance classes.

+2 on the Akita

a good dog! their hearing is something like 15 times more sensitive than yours. (i will never be able to understand how they can sit next to you when you are shooting) most will allert you if a cat stomps on the grass 2 doors down. at least until you train them. but seriously, i have never had someone even pull into the driveway that the dog didnt tell me about. there is a reason that dog is mans best freind.

+1000 on the dog. I've got two, and they let me know when anyone comes within 100 - 200 yards of the house.

Yep the ankle biters are the best alarms you can get. Companionship and a high strung friend who will let you know everytime a door handle is jiggled. Plus you only gotta pay for that alarm every 14 or 15 years...lol