Posts Tagged ‘doorbell’
October 27th, 2009 | 
Author: A vital part of securing your home is the installation of a home security system. Home security systems come in many different forms and levels of protection. Whether you like to do it yourself, or are hiring a professional security installation company, there are critical elements that must be considered that are covered here.
To begin with you need to decide what your budget is for your system. Most alarm monitoring companies offer a free or reduced installation of their basic package which usually includes 3 door contacts, 1 keypad, 1 passive infrared motion detector, 1 back-up battery, 1 siren, and yard sign if you agree to their monitoring agreement. For many homeowners, this is a very cost effective way to have a basic system installed. However, if you are willing to spend a little additional money, you can add devices and contact points that really beef up your home security system.
The most important areas of the house to cover is the back and the sides. Burglars do not want to be caught, so they will look for the point of entry that gives them the most cover. When a burglar approaches a home, they will usually ring the doorbell to see if anyone answers or stirs in the home. If they do not hear any activity inside, they will kick in the door and close it behind them. It is hard to tell that anything is going on from the street. But your neighbors can easily tell that something is not quite right if they were to see a broken window on the front of your home.
Most burglaries occur through the doors. The doors most often targeted are the back and side doors. Windows can also be an easy entry point. If you are concerned about protecting your home and providing a warning of possible intrusion while you are at home, then you should consider contacting the windows. If however, you are primarily interested in protecting your property while you are away, then it may be more cost effective to consider using passive infrared motion detectors and glass break detectors. The reason is that even if the windows are contacted, it is possible on most windows to simply break the glass and climb in. If the window is never opened, the contact never goes off.
An interior trap of some sort is a critical part of an effective home security system. The most popular interior trap is a motion detector placed in the living room or hall as a back up to the perimeter protection. Pet motion detectors are available which filter out animals but still pick up humans. However, these pet motions are absolutely not recommended for homeowners with cats. Most cats are notorious for jumping on counters and tables. When the cat jumps, it jumps so quick that the motion thinks it is a person standing up. A good alternative in this case is to use an interior door contact on a closet or bedroom door that is kept shut. Should the burglar open the interior contacted door, then the alarm will sound. But if the system is armed in the stay mode, the interior contact is bypassed so that you may open the door if necessary.
Homeowners with animals often request glass break detectors for their home security system. Before spending your hard earned money on glass break detectors, it is important to understand their limitations and what they were truly designed to cover. Glass break detectors are designed to be a line of sight type product. The glass break detector is listening for the sound and vibration of breaking glass, and it has to occur within milliseconds of each other. This dual technology is designed to cut down on false alarms. A glass break detector likely will not work properly if the windows you are trying to protect are covered with heavy draperies, shutters, or even faux wood blinds. In most homes the areas where a glass break can do the most good is around the glass above the master tub and back door glass.
Another thing you might consider if you are going to have your security system monitored is to add a cell back up.The cell back-up unit will transmit an alarm signal in the event of a burglar cutting the home phone line. Many homeowners skip this option due to the cost of the unit and monthly airtime. However, it is the absolute best means of alarm communications available today.
In summary, when you are looking at installing a home security system, at a minimum you should contact all of the exterior doors, and install an interior trap of some sort as discussed earlier. Since all of the keypads on the market today are easy to operate, you should never be afraid of using your alarm system. As I tell my customers all the time, “It will not do you any good sitting on the wall”.
Lonnie Sallas is a 13 year veteran of the security industry and president of Texstar Alarm Systems in Houston Texas. Texstar Alarm Systems is a leading provider of Houston home security systems as well as surround sound, CCTV, and wireless web cameras. Feel free to browse our site for more security tips to protect you and your family as well as your business.
Article Source: Home Security System Design Tips
Home invasions are growing in numbers all over the country. Unlike regular burglaries, where property theft is the main objective, home invasions usually occur when the residents are home and can have much more serious consequences.
While most burglaries occur between 9 am and 5 pm when people are at work, home invasions occur between 6 pm and 6 am.
Creating a secure environment for your home is becoming easier with products and information available to the community. Police often hold seminars on protecting your loved ones and belongings. These offer a good insight into the ways to deal with this horrendous crime, should it occur to you.
Here are some tips to help avoid a home invasion:
1. Before you open your door to anyone, use the peephole. Many varieties today have wide-angle vision. If you do not see anyone, DO NOT ANSWER IT.
2. Install an intercom system at the front door so you can speak with the person who is knocking or ringing your doorbell.
3. Use automatic indoor lighting devices that turn on lights at a pre-set time. Some versions will randomly rotate the “on” time within a short period to fool thieves that are watching your home for activity.
4. Upgrade locks on doors and windows. Deadbolts should have a reinforced strike plate, with two- or three-inch bolts.
5. Make sure you have a cordless phone so you can move around the home. Ensure it is fully charged at all times for emergencies. Have a cell phone available in case phone lines are cut.
6. Set up a speed dial on your phone for 911. If available, use speakerphone mode so emergency dispatchers can hear what is going on in the background.
7. Install a reputable home-alarm monitoring system. Have the company’s decals displayed prominently on your doors and windows. This may deter would-be thieves who are looking for an easy target.
8. Practice an escape plan with your family, and know what to do when you get away from your house.
9. Install motion sensor lighting on all four sides of the house.
10. Always keep your window coverings closed, especially at night.
The intention of these tips is to create layers of protection for your home. If a criminal has to spend a lot of time and effort getting inside your house, he may be persuaded to move on to another location.
One unique addition to your home security plan would be the virtual dog, or an Electronic Secure Dog. Once plugged in, this device can be set to create the sound of an angry and protective watchdog or even a warning siren.
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Article Source: Updating Your House to Avoid a Home Invasion
Video intercom systems for home security are increasingly becoming more cheaply available and now can be found in many average homes. While audio intercoms have long been popular devices, video intercoms until recently were the territory of only wealthy and advantages homeowners; no longer is this the case.
The concept behind video intercoms is that by your buzzer or doorbell, you have a small camera which allows you to check who exactly it is outside before you decide to let them in. Essentially then it’s similar to having a spy-hole built into your door but for longer ranges and so is particularly useful for those who have a long front drive with gates, or those who live in flats, both of which would make it difficult to see the visitor through a window. This can be useful for many reasons and can highly improve the safety of you and your family.
Firstly, video intercoms allow you to check the appearance of your visitors before you decide to let them in. While they say never to judge a book by its cover, this can mean that you don’t let in large gangs of youths when you’re not expecting them or it’s late at night. Furthermore it allows you to check that the visitor is who they say they are, and you can even ask them to show ID to the camera before you let them in.
Normally to do either of these things you would be forced to present yourself by going outside and seeing or speaking to your guest – even with audio intercom systems you are required to answer the phone system in order to speak with them which will alert them to your presence. Similarly, attempting to spy guests through the window can be risky if it means they might see you.
Once you’ve alerted people waiting outside to your presence, it can make them quite agitated if you then refuse to answer the door or let them in. For the elderly particularly, or those in rough areas, this can then lead to trouble. Fortunately, all that can be avoided with a video intercom which allows the user to simply look at the screen in order to see who’s waiting outside before deciding whether or not to speak to them.
Video intercoms have many other uses however, particularly for the unsociable (guilty!). Sometimes it may simply be the case that you don’t feel like visitors, or talking to that annoying neighbour, in which case video intercoms can be a real Godsend.
Making them even more practical today is the fact that many of the video intercom systems available on the market now come as do-it-yourself style packages that require some basic construction upon delivery. This saves on costs and also means that you can adapt them to the layout of your front door and gates without having to pay for hired professionals.
Overall then, video intercoms make an affordable and highly useful part of any home security plan that many of the general public simply do not consider. If you’re looking to revamp your home security then they are a great option that will also look high-tech to impress your guests… if they ever get inside that is.
To learn more about video intercoms and other home security solution visit author’s site. You can also buy home security products from the site.
Article Source: Video Intercoms for Home Security
How would you like to get up in the middle of the night from a sound sleep and bump into a menacing looking guy in dark clothing, sunglasses and a scarf over his face wielding a pry bar. It could potentially give you nightmares for a while and shake up your faith that your home is a safe haven. This type of thing happens frequently when people become victims of burglary and inadvertently confront the intruder inside their home. Many community members don’t think about installing home security equipment until after the fact – most people tend to think it just could not happen to them.
This scenario actually happened to a home owner in New York State. The victim woke up to the sound of his doorbell ringing several times in a row but when he got out of bed and looked out the window he saw nobody at his door. Suddenly he heard noises coming from his basement and upon investigation was shocked by an angry intruder threatening him with a steel bar while demanding his cash and other valuables.
The victim had his wits about him enough to cooperate with the thief and led him up the stairs to where he kept a box with jewelry. The burglar demanded the victim go back down the stairs, and while he proceeded to fill a pillowcase with loot, the home owner dialed 911. When the police arrived on the scene the burglar attempted to flee but was not so lucky. He ran directly into the officers investigating the call and was promptly arrested.
Law enforcement agencies advise members of the community that it is never a wise idea to confront an intruder attempting to commit burglary, but if it happens, total cooperation is the best course of action. The victim in this case was lucky – others have not been so fortunate. A home security system creates a barrier that most intruders don’t want to cross because of the high risk involved. Typically it will notify the authorities that something is amiss long before you become suspect.
Article Source: Home Security Equipment Will Prevent Burglar Confrontation
Who doesn’t love nice looking and function-rich gadgets and perhaps that’s the reason aside from time, gadget is considered the best gift that one human can offer to other humans as well as to those whom one loves.
Pets have significance importance in our lives, they can’t speak, but the way they console us with their nice loving moves in the moments of distress, even a billion words can’t do so. Your pets deserve your love and the way you love them you need to show it and gifts are the things that you can offer to them to show your love.
Many may wonders and say pets can’t sense what gifts are, but you believe it or not they have a lot better sense to sense what gifts really are. Whether you have a fluffy cat or a sturdy and vigilant dog, there is a wide array of tech-gadgets for your four-legged friends.
Here is the list of some nice high-tech gifts for your loving pets.
1) Pet Sensing Doorbell
There are many who do not want or can’t a dog or car flap and the Pet Sensing Doorbell is a real gift for them. A smart tag is attached to the color of your dog or cat that your system automatically detects and rings the bell. According to the manufacturers of this Pet sensing doorbell it can support more than five smart tags and it will set you back in just $79.95 an amount that your loving pet deserves to be spent.
2. Litter Robot
It feels somewhat uncouth if you let your dog or cat dig a hole to do their business, the best solution lies in an automated toilet. Unlike different other available liter cleaners, there is no rake attached to the Litter Robot. It runs by 12v adapter and can easily accommodate cats with up to 6kg of weight. It has the price tag of just £311.
3. Automatic Pet Feeder
These automatic pet feeders can serve your purpose best if you are out at work and working for the weekend. It has a rotating top that swivels automatically around to get food and other stuff for your pet. There is a voice recorder in it that allows you to leave more than 20 seconds of encouraging messages and allow you to reduce your stress that occurs due to separation of your pet. If you want to get this for your pet, all you need to pay is just the amount of £29.95.
4). The Canine Treadmill
Many say that they love their dog, but when it comes to take them out for a walk, it is really a painful experience especially in those days when gale blows outside and you dog like to spend more and more time outside to sniff each and every lamppost of the way. In such conditions, the thing that can really serve your purpose best is the canine treadmill that allow you and pet to spend some nice time inside without wandering here and there and just reap the benefits of it.
5). Critter Cruiser and Hamtrack
This is, indeed, a nice track car for you hamster that allows to track around safely and perfectly. The critter cruiser and Hamtrack will set you back in just £311.
The author writes articles on Tech News. For more information visit Technology Updates
Article Source: high-tech gifts for the pets
You can never be too sure about safety, even at home. It is not even about paranoia, it is just making sure that you and your loved ones are secured and protected from any unfortunate events. One way to do this is through a video surveillance system. These days, homes are becoming more equipped with digital surveillance systems too, because the prices have become more affordable. Now, everyone can feel safer with surveillance cameras, even at home.
Home security surveillance systems have become more common among modern households. Homeowners can use concealed or those visible home security cameras and install them in strategic areas within the house. Home security monitoring is also possible even outside the house since there are products that are weatherproof too.
There are several reasons why there is a huge demand for the best home security system:
• Videos captured from the surveillance cameras are evidence against any crime that might have been committed inside the house.
• Home security systems deter people from doing anything criminal.
• Spy cams or nanny cams can be used to discreetly monitor the babysitters when the parents are out of the house for work.
• The kids can be monitored through the home video surveillance systems
• Digital surveillance works for teenagers, elderly, or sick stuck at home. The cameras can be placed at the porch so they can easily spot the person ringing the doorbell. Any suspicious movements can be easily viewed through a monitor if the person is a stranger and call for help immediately.
Before you go out shopping for your home surveillance system, you should first learn about the basic concepts. This will help you understand what the salesman will be talking about when you meet him face-to-face. It will help to arm yourself with some technical information so you can also choose properly according to your needs at home.
There are so many choices for video surveillance systems. There is one for every need and for every kind of budget. If you are looking for more sophisticated options, it shouldn’t be hard since a lot of these security systems are available in the market. It is just a matter of matching the requirements with the products.
There was a time when only businesses and public areas have these kinds of security installations. Schools, liquor stores, 24×7 marts, gas stations, banks, ATMs, and fast food drive-through lanes are usually equipped with digital surveillance systems. Casinos, huge and small need to install these to catch thieves and cheaters.
At home, some may think it would be over-reacting but, you can never be too sure about safety even at home. In fact, this should be the safest place for everyone and it is just right to properly equip it with the right home surveillance system.
It could be wired, or a wireless home alarm that sounds off when motion is detected at the doorway during the night. It could be a simple spy camera that lets you monitor what’s going on inside the house while you are out. Home surveillance is important and it should be a standard safety precaution.
If you are looking for a home surveillance system to protect your family, you should consider using the MOIE Digital Surveillance System. It will be available for purchase in March of 09.
Article Source: Digital Surveillance Systems: Protect and monitor your home