Home security monitoring service

[HR]

I was looking around for a home security monitoring service.
The house in RDU, NC has ADT equipment installed by the previous owner.
I called CPI and they offered me a 36 mo contract at $30/mo & I could use a
cell phone instead of a land line.
I could use their standard package without any additional fees.
I was wondering if I could get a better deal elsewhere, without the
contract?
Do phone companies (e.g. Verizon) offer alarm monitoring?

 

[HR]

I found two cheap monitoring systems, but was wondering about their quality
or other catches in their advertisement.
has anyone tried these.
Are there any product evaluation web sites for thsm??

www.homesecuritystore.com/home_alarm_monitoring.htm
www.myhomealarm.com

http://www.smarthome.com/alarm.html

www.911alarm.com/

 

[HR]

I have a DCS pc1555.
Should this not work with any and all monitoring systems?

 

[Crash Gordon]

Pretty much yes.
You cannot use a regular cellphone
30 bucks a month is a tad high...actually more than a "tad" unless that
included the special cellular phone you willl need.

Find a local alarm company to take care of you, forget the cheapies online
some of them aren't real.

Phone companies don't offer alarm monitoring...we've been fighting that
battle for years.




|I have a DCS pc1555.
| Should this not work with any and all monitoring systems?
|
|

 

[tourman]

Effectively yes, the 1555 has a number of common communication formats
available. As Crash says, find yourself a smaller local dealer,
preferably one who will give you a measure of service and warranty
included with the monitoring at a fair market price.

Pure low end monitoring is available from a number of places. One that
I know of that is also very good is" www.themonitoringcentre.ca".
However, it pays to remember that these discount outfits generally
give you nothing but the monitoring itself which is fine as long as
you can service the panel yourself. Service will be by referral to an
independant dealer in your locale, who will charge you a premium price
for his services. One service call could easily eat up any difference
between the discount rate of these suppliers and a local independant
for several or more years. Plus they often charge you for a year in
advance, which can be non refundable.

Discount monitoring services are a crap shoot.......like everything in
life, you generally get what you pay for......( penny ante
philosophical mode...."off"...).

RHC