Do-it-yourself security is all the rage. For best results, however, consider a comprehensive, professionally monitored alarm system that ensures emergency crews will reach your residence fast. This will also help you save on your homeowner’s insurance. Here’s a look at the key elements of a security system, and what each entails. (Sequel Technologies contributed to this article): CENTRAL ALARM MONITORING A central station monitoring service verifies alarms before dispatching authorities.… View this story
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When is the best time to have full electronic control over your house? Often it’s when you’re away. It’s easy to control your home while you’re there, but when you’re at work or on the road, it’s tough to know which electronics have been left on, sucking up electricity, when they really should be off. “Turning things off is the basic tenet of saving energy,” says Jay McClellan, president of… View this story
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Over the past several weeks the yard at my friend’s home has been the target of teenage horseplay. Toilet paper has been tossed among the trees and egg yolks have stained the finish off their siding. Needless to say, they’ve had it—so much so that they’ve decided to invest in a surveillance camera. It’s something they’d rather not have to buy … I wish they didn’t, too, but the unfortunate… View this story
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Having a decked out home theater and audio and video spread throughout the house is always fun. But does that ever make you wonder if anything bad will happen to your house when you’re not around? If someone knows about your electronics obsession? What about when the family is gathered around the theater, the surround sound blasting, popcorn popping. Do you want to scare away intruders? Security products may never… View this story
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You won’t see a single touchpanel on the walls of this home. Nor will you run across big, beefy speakers or keypads blanketed with a bazillion buttons. With the exception of a 100-inch screen in the media room, this home doesn’t appear to be very high-tech at all. But when you pick up one of the family’s six remotes, the true sophistication of the electronic systems becomes apparent. From any… View this story
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Glass-break detectors are designed to “hear” the sound of breaking windows, creating a “first line of defense” for your home. The technology has improved immensely over the past several years. But do they really work and are they right for your home? Here are 4 things you need to know about glass-break detectors before you choose them as part of your security system. 1. Why Do I Need a Glass-break… View this story
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We’ve all had that sinking feeling that something bad is happening to our home while we’re at work, on the road or on vacation. Call it paranoia, but there’s no denying that disasters can and do strike when you least expect it. It happened to my family and just a few months ago. Arriving home from a weekend ski trip, we were welcomed to standing water in our rec room.… View this story
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Security may not be as sexy as home theater or even lighting control, but your home automation system wouldn’t be complete without it. Neither would your peace of mind. If you have a system from Colorado vNet, your home security options have been expanded, because the company has added integration of DSC and GE offerings to go with the Honeywell Vista models already included. The new offerings feature integrated security… View this story
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D-Link has added three new web-enabled home monitoring products to its security line. The D-Life Internet Surveillance Camera Starter Kit (DHA-390), D-Life Internet Surveillance Camera Expansion Kit (DHA-310), and D-Life Internet Surveillance Video Player (DHA-330) are now shipping to dealers. The DHA-390 is a surveillance camera that can monitor rooms from anywhere over the Internet. It has two color-coded Powerline adapters that use existing wiring to connect to the Internet.… View this story
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History of Motion Sensors Motion sensors have been used with alarm systems since the 1970s. Back then, motion sensors were based on ultrasonic technology. Sound waves were emitted from a sensor, and the resulting reflected sounds were analyzed to detect changes. When a change was detected, the motion sensor notified the alarm system’s control panel (or whatever it was connected to). These ultrasonic sensors were frequently blamed for triggering false… View this story
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