Wireless Home Security | Home Security Blog

Crash & Smash Protection

Posted by Peter M. Rogers at 10:00 am 1 Response »

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 »

Understanding Your Alarm Contract

Posted by Peter M. Rogers at 10:00 am 1 Response »

May 082012

You might think the primary purpose of your alarm company’s contract (aka “Subscriber Monitoring Agreement”) is to hold you to a payment schedule for a prescribed period – but that’s just part of it. Lots of services with a monthly fee require a contract: cell phones and cable are good examples. However, your home security subscriber agreement deserves a closer look, because there’s a lot more to it. Not all alarm companies take the same approach, so I’ve compiled a short list of the issues that you should research in advance. But first, here’s a link to a story of an alarm customer who was snared by a contract detail.

Adams is the first to admit that he should have read over that contract more thoroughly before signing on with another company. But, what he says really pushed his buttons is the way the company responded to his request for cancellation. “They told me if I didn’t pay it within 10 days they would send it to a collection agency, very inappropriate,” said Adams. “People need to really read their contract thoroughly and understand how the renewal process is going to occur and maybe they can avoid these extra fees,” he said. Read More »

Wireless Home Security – Top 5 Reasons Why Setting up Your Own Home Alarm System Makes Sense

Posted by Peter M. Rogers at 9:49 pm No Responses »

Apr 092012

Alarm systems have evolved, and today the best companies offer “next-generation” features that give you a lot more. These systems are more reliable and user-friendly, and may even cost less, and look at what they can do:

Remote arm/disarm
Text and email event notifications
Free mobile apps
On-demand and motion-activated video services
Remote control of lights, locks, and thermostats Read More »

Why FrontPoint is Better than ADT

Posted by Peter M. Rogers at 10:11 am 2 Responses »

Dec 162011

When you’re shopping for home security, one brand often springs to mind: ADT. After all, nationwide TV advertising, lots of blue yard signs, and over a hundred years in the business should count for something. Most people don’t know that ADT stands for “American District Telegraph” – which is actually the way alarm signals were transmitted way back when. It’s ironic that today ADT is still struggling to catch up with current home security technology. They may not be using telegraph lines, but the huge majority of their systems (even most of the ADT systems being installed today) continue to rely on a vulnerable phone line. That’s scary, considering the rate at which traditional phones lines are going away – and the frequency with which burglars are cutting those phone lines to take out your home alarm. Today’s blog post highlights the key differences between FrontPoint and ADT – and will provide plenty of food for thought if you’re still searching for the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home and family are truly protected. Read More »

Shopping for Home Security - FrontPoint is a Great Price and a Great Value

Posted by Peter M. Rogers at 11:08 am No Responses »

Aug 102011

Those of you who know FrontPoint are probably familiar with the key benefits that make us different – and we think better – than other alarm companies: “Safer, Smarter, Simpler, and More Affordable.” Sometimes we add a fifth element, “Virtually Impossible to Defeat,” in reference to the patented Crash and Smash protection our systems provide. Today I’d like to expand on the “More Affordable” aspect of FrontPoint, since in these economic times everyone is concerned not simply about price, but total value, even when shopping for peace of mind.

I like to say that price is what you pay, but value is what something is worth – and in the long run, value is the more important. FrontPoint compares extremely well to other alarm companies in in both regards, which has made us the leader in wireless home security. But if we focus just on price, there are two elements to compare when shopping for an alarm system: