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Honest answers to your questions
October 23, 2011 | 70 Comments »
Unfortunately, many people have incorrect information about home or business security systems, which cause them to make decisions that are not in their best interest. In my blog I offer an opportunity to get the true answers to questions you have about electronic security equipment or central station monitoring of security alarm equipment. Just fill out the information on the right and ask your question. I will reply as quickly as possible, and if your question and answer might be helpful to others it will be posted on the blog. STAY SAFE, KEITH
Beware of long contract renewal terms!!
February 17, 2012 | No Comments »
I was on a sales call yesterday for someone who was disappointed with the service that they were receiving from their national alarm company and they were looking for a local alternative. She called on Alarm2000 because of our great reviews on Yelp.com
She told me that she not only signed up for an initial term of five (5) years, but that she did not read the contract to learn that the contract automatically reviewed for five (5) more years at the end of the initial term.
It sounds silly to have to remind everyone to read the contract before signing anything… but, READ THE CONTRACT BEFORE SIGNING ANYTHING!!
At Alarm2000 our initial term is just two (2) years, and renews for one (1) year terms. You should never enter an alarm monitoring agreement that is for more that three (3) years, and should not renew for more that one (1) year at a time. If you are being asked to commit for a longer period, it is a bad deal.
Alarm2000 made CSG Top Ten Dealer!!
February 4, 2012 | No Comments »
Central Security Group has over 300 Security Alarm Dealers nation wide, and for the first time in almost a decade of using them as one of our three central monitoring stations, Alarm2000 was recognized as being one of their Top 10 Dealers, based on the number of new clients.
We are very proud of this accomplishment, and would like to thank all of the home and business owners in San Diego that have trusted Alarm2000 to provide them with our security services, and especially to those who have referred us to their friends, co-workers, relatives and neighbors. We get a majority of our new business from referrals, and we sincerely appreciate your support.
As a matter of fact, if you have someone to refer to Alarm2000 for a home or business security system, and mention this BLOG entry, and we will send you a $75 cash reward when we sign up your referral.
Smart Phone App for Security Alarm Systems
January 29, 2012 | No Comments »
Sandra C. wrote into the site wanting information on adding the feature of controlling her security system through her “Smart Phone”.
The big national security alarm monitoring company, let’s call them “Another Darn Television commercial“, is spending $100 million dollars advertising this feature, and give the impression that they are the only company possessing this exciting capability.
Alarm2000, and just about any other reputable alarm company in San Diego can offer this feature to anyone with a reasonably current Honeywell or GE alarm panel. Platforms are under development for other panels and should be available very soon.
With a Honeywell Vista or Lynx panel, the owner needs to add a Global Satellite Module or “GSM” to their system and sign up for “Total Connect” service. For a demo you can go to www.mytotalconnect.com
With a GE NX, Concord, or Simon XT panel, the owner needs to add a Global Satellite Module to their system as well, and sign up for service with “Alarm.com”, which by no surprise you can learn more about at www.alarm.com
Alarm2000 has the experience of having installed both products and have the relationships with the U/L Listed Central Monitoring Stations to add this service to anyone who would like it.
Carbon Monoxide detectors
January 1, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Cameron L. wrote in to ask if the new California law requiring all homeowners to have carbon monoxide detectors in their house means that he needs to add a CO devise to his monitored security alarm system.
The answer is NO.
Carbon Monoxide is a gas produced by combustion and when household appliances that produce CO are properly vented, the gas escapes the hope and dissipates into the atmosphere. If your ventilation becomes compromised, the gas can accumulate in your home with potentially harmful results including death. A local alarm only detector will set of a siren to alert home residents when CO levels go above normal levels so that the occupants can open windows to ventilate the home and evacuate until the problem can be resolved.
A Carbon Monoxide detector that is tied into your monitored security alarm system will send a signal to your central monitoring station who will dispatch the fire department to your home. Most homeowners (including me) do not feel that this is a necessary response and therefor elect not to have CO detection as part of their system.
Holiday WARNING
December 21, 2011 | 1 Comment »
As much as I love doing a lot of business, I prefer to install monitored security alarm systems before people need them, not after. Unfortunately, my phone has been ringing off the hook with burglary victims.
There is always a spike of home burglaries around the holiday season due to travel, and a bunch of new merchandise conveniently kept together and clearly marked under a bright tree in the house.
Please be sure to make sure that your home is locked up and your security alarm system is armed whenever you leave your home, even for a quick errand. Have a safe and happy holiday! Cheers!!
Traveling during the Holidays
December 7, 2011 | No Comments »
Barbara A. contacting me because she is traveling during the holidays and wants to arm her security alarm system, but needs to allow someone to enter her home while she is out of town.
Home burglaries are at their highest during the holiday season due to homes being vacant more while homeowners are shopping and traveling, and the collection of new merchandise with gift receipts nicely collected under the tree. Arming your monitored security system during the holidays is especially important, but it is NOT a good idea to give anyone your alarm system code. All systems allow for multiple user codes. Depending on the system you typically can have between 6 and 32 user codes. Ask the person who needs access to your home what they want their code to be. Do not make up a code for the person as they are likely to write it on something since it is not a number that means anything to them. Add that code so they can arm and disarm your system while you are traveling, and when you return from your trip, delete the code that was assigned and that person will no longer have the ability to control your system.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Motion Detection vs. Window Sensors
November 27, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Greg B. wrote in asking about the benefit of window sensors for a monitored security system that he is planning for his new home in Carmel Valley. In my opinion, the benefit is little or none.
In a modern home with modern double pane windows, it is virtually impossible to open those closed and locked windows from the outside. A window sensor can ONLY detect a window going from closed to open, so if you can not open it from the outside there is not anything to detect. Most window break-ins occur through open windows. If your window is open even an inch, you would have to bypass that sensor before you could arm your system, so entry through an open window would not set off the alarm. The other way that a burglar would enter through a window, which is much more rare, is to break or cut the glass. If the burglar then enters through the hole that is created, the window frame is not moved and the window sensor and magnet are not separated, so the alarm is not tripped.
So long as you have at least one motion detector as part of your security alarm system, an intruder entering through a window will trip the alarm when they pass through the area covered by the motion detector. Modern motion detectors are “pet immune”, so even people with animals roaming in their home can effectively use motion detection to secure their property. Electronic security systems are designed to instantly go into alarm if the motion detector picks up human movement in the home and an entry door was not open first, so their is no delay in the siren sounding and scaring the intruder out of the property.
The only practical use for window sensors are for windows that you like to leave open a few inches to allow fresh air to enter your home. In that instance, you can get a “vented window” sensor where two magnets are installed. One magnet lines up with the sensor when the window is closed, and the second magnet lines up with the window open a few inches. Now you can arm your system with the window open to the vented position, and if any of those open windows are opened further by a would be intruder, the system instantly goes into alarm. This can be done on just two or three windows in the house, which is very affordable. To put sensors on all of your windows is very costly, and can make for a cumbersome system that is difficult to use. Typically when a system is difficult to use, people do not get in the habit of arming their system and all of that money they spent on window sensors is a complete waste!
Keep it simple and create the habit of arming your system, and your home will be secure.
Monitored Fire Detection
November 10, 2011 | 43 Comments »
Sarah G. asked if adding a smoke detector to her security system is a good idea.
I believe that it is an excellent idea, and have both smoke detection and heat detection in my own home. Heat detectors are appropriate for kitchen and garage applications, and smoke detectors are suitable for all other locations in your home. If a fire breaks out in your home while the home is vacant, the detector will trip and the appropriate signal will be sent to your monitoring company to have them dispatch your local fire department to your home to hopefully put out the fire before there is extensive damage.
Many Homeowner Insurance companies give an extra discount on their premiums for having monitored fire detection. The devices made for monitored fire detection use a different technology than the non monitored devices that you purchase and install yourself in your home. Because of this, and other reasons, you can not tie in your Home Depot smoke detectors to your monitored home or business security system. Fire detection devices for monitored systems do not deploy at the first sign of smoke, and generally do not go off unless there is an actual fire, so false alarms are quite minimal.
If you pay for the fire detection device, your monitoring rate should not be any higher with fire detection than without it. If you are paying more for this service, you are being taken advantage of, and I would advise that you find a new monitoring service. I work with three.
VOIP for Security System communication to Central Station
October 27, 2011 | 100 Comments »
Brian C. was told by ADT that if he has VOIP phones, he is required to have a cell back-up for his system to communicate to the central station. He asked if this is true for all central monitoring stations.
It is not true for any of the monitoring stations that my company and thousands of other alarm companies use. I believe that ADT does see themselves as having an especially high vulnerability to big lawsuits due to their deep pockets, so part of the reason that they take this position is on the advise of their legal council. Mostly, it is so they can justify charging a higher rate for the GSM communication.
Your system’s ability to communicate signals to the central station is dependent on a reliable telephone line. AT&T, Cox, Time/Warner, Vonage, and several other companies offer reliable service. Cheap VOIP options like Magic Jack do not work for alarm system communications. If not provided by your telephone service provider, it is a good idea to purchase a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) for all of the equipment that must have power for your phones to operate in the event of a power outage.