One of the great benefits of a wireless home alarm system is that you can easily add devices without the mess and annoyance – or expense – of running wires when you want additional protection. It’s even easier if you set up your own system in the first place, since now you don’t even need to schedule a technician to come to your home.

What Does Wireless Really Mean?

Wireless home alarm systems are easier to set up, and easier to use. And when I say “wireless,” I meanit both ways: wireless alarm sensors have become the norm, and wireless communication (which means safer cellular monitoring) is now offered by more alarm companies. Both of these technology advances have created alarm systems that are simple for anyone to install. In fact, these days you can purchase a “real” alarm system (meaning a system that meets national standards from Underwriters Laboratories) that’s fully programmed and can be set up in about half an hour, with no tools or wires. That also means you can start with the basics, and build the perfect home alarm on your budget and schedule. Read More »

Tradition has it that home security is built around door/window sensors and motion sensors, and that’s been true – just about every system includes both of these devices. But we also find more and more customers selecting glass break sensors to enhance a system, as an effective cost-saving device when protecting a group of windows in one room. And, unlike motions sensors, glass breaks are active in both the “Stay” and “Away” modes. For more detail on that important topic, here’s a link to my post on How to Arm Your Alarm System. Since folks are increasingly arming their systems when home at night, glass breaks could be the key. Today I’ll explain glass break technology – and why using these sensors could make sense for you.

The Right Design

Plenty of alarm companies try to fit you into a “one-size-fits-most” solution, instead of customizing your system to your specific needs. For instance, few of them focus on safer cellular monitoring.  Our handy video on alarm system design touches on each device and how it is used, to help you make the right choice. Another thing to bear in mind is that our lives change – and so do our neighborhoods! You may want to add devices to your system to increase your peace of mind, or use your system differently – and having a system that is flexible and grows with you can be a real asset. This is another area where an easily self-installed alarm system offers a definite benefit: allowing you to add any device, at any time, easily and affordably. Read More »

May 162012

Imagine this scenario: while you’re away, an intruder breaks into your home when your alarm system is armed. After the entry delay (usually 30 seconds), the siren sounds. The intruder hunts down the alarm system – and these guys know where to look. He smashes the alarm control panel before it can dial out to the monitoring center. The police never come, and he gets clean away, with your cash, jewelry, and electronics.This really happens – and when it does, it’s called “Crash and Smash.”

I left out the part about your phone line being cut, since we have already covered that in my post on cellular monitoring – and that doesn’t stop a FrontPoint system!Today I’m focused on Crash and Smash, and what happens with a traditional alarm system, vs. a system with Smash and Crash protection. The good news? Someone figured a way to beat Crash and Smash, and that someone is Alarm.com, FrontPoint’s technology partner. Through its patented Interactive Monitoring services, the Alarm.com radio sends a cellular signal as soon as the first sensor is triggered, and treats the signal like an intrusion – so it doesn’t matter if the panel gets smashed or not. Your home is still protected. Read More »

May 152012

Revised with Updated Information

The online chatter continues over ADT’s Pulse product, so I did a “deep dive” on some of the more confusing aspects of the three service offerings: “Select,” “Advantage,” and “Premier.” Put aside ADT’s absolute and bewildering online silence on equipment and service pricing – it turns out that just peeling back the layers to understand the different Pulse service levels is a full-time job. The latest tip-off was a grid on the ADT Pulse web site, which shows a GSM cellular radio included with only the “lowest” service level – the least expensive one. That seemed weird, and triggered a flurry of research, resulting in my own comparison grid, based on my interpretation of the information. Comments and explanations follow the grid. Note: the grid below is NOT the grid from the ADT web site, but my own interpretation! Read More »

OK, some of you may be asking, who is Zynga? Well, they are one of the hottest social game developers in the world. Remember last December, when actor Alec Baldwin was kicked off an American Airlines flight at Los Angeles International Airport because he wouldn’t turn off his cell phone? Reportedly he was playing one of the most popular Zynga games – Words with Friends. I know all about this web-based application that resembles Scrabble, since my wife is also addicted. And Zynga has other popular games you may have heard of: FarmVille, CityVille, and Zynga Poker, to name a few. Active monthly users total about 250 million! But the company has been in the news for other reasons, as this recent story indicates.

As expected, Zynga filed today to raise an additional $400 million in a secondary stock offering. One thing that caught my eye was a reference to founder and CEO Mark Pincus under the section of employee benefits:

“In addition, in 2011, due to specific threats relating to the personal security of Mr. Pincus and his family, we provided Mr. Pincus with certain security protection.” Read More »

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