Home security systems

[foghornl]

A tiny bit of info on my stuff...

I use the "X-10" cams & motion detectors. When someone breaks the perimeter on my property line, the X-10 system turns on the VCR in record mode, and sounds a chime in the Master Bedroom & Kitchen. I can switch on the TV and see who is roaming about, and it is on tape, in the vcr hidden in between the ground-level floor joists in the basement.

My cams are the 1 or 2 Lux (don't remeber the specs right now) very low-light B&W models. The city street lights are plenty to give a crisp picture.

 

[odysseus]

I use the "X-10" cams & motion detectors

One note on x-10 cameras. They have no security protocol to them. Essentially, because they use the power lines - from what I have heard one can tap into x-10 gear easily. There are people out there that do this to see what is on the cameras. Maybe not a big issue to some, but it is to me. Do a web search about it and you will read more on it.

 

[foghornl]

The X-10's as odysseus pointed out, are not secure. However, I have added the device to my breaker box to prevent extraneous X-10 commands from coming in from the outside, or from mine going out.

 

[Tinker]

Well, looks like you got a bunch of good pointers. The dogs, alarms, etc.

Now, if you want to have some fun with the burglars....

Dixie Gun Works sells these little screw in black powder poppers. When the window goes up the hammer springs setting off a #11 cap which fires a blank charge of black powder. Nothing harmful, just something to make him fudge his pants when the window goes up.

Another idea... A buddy of mine (for Halloween events) makes these really realistic corpses and body parts from styrofoam, liquid latex, paint and fake hair. These things are absolutely aweful looking. You could partially bury such things near dark burlgar enty points around your house. You know, he steps on something while jimmying your rear bedroom window and discovers he's breaking into Ted Bundy's house.

 

[rcm]

Placement of outside lights are very important. I have all our lights either very low or very high. This way when they are on and the inside of the house is dark and you have the perimeter lit up like daylight you have no glare on your windows. Also because of placement no one can see in and figure where you are. My perimeter lights come on from three places in the house manually. I do not like auto lights unless you are away.

 

[Tokugawa]

lots of good advice here, and don't forget nice strong solid 1 3/4" thick doors with topline dead bolts and 3 1/2" hinge screws for the INTERIOR doors. Slow 'em down and have a place to hide behind.

 

[Shrinkmd]

Wire the 2nd floor too?

What do people think of getting glassbreak or window contacts for the second floor? I can imagine some jackass like John Belushi in Animal House up on a ladder trying to open a locked window from the outside and it not going too well, but if they did, I wouldn't have much notice to deal with the problem.

Is this a realistic worry?

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I thought he was just there for the view?!

Interesting view it was, too.