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We are about to change from ADT to Smith Thompson Security for our home. I like the cell connection and battery backup--an of course the savings. Does anyone know a reason why that is not a good idea? Has anyone had a bad experience with STS?

If you have the equipment already, and just need monitoring -- I don't think NextAlarm can be beat. http://www.nextalarm.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We have those features, but from DFW Security, and our account was set up by a friend of ours. The monitoring is through Alarm.com, and we control our system by means of an iPhone app. The system does not rely on a landline and it has a battery backup that, we've found out during power failures of hours length, keeps the system running.

We really like this system much better than the old-school one we had before.

I made the same switch and don't regret it at all. Their customer service is excellent. Plus you get a month free if you pay for the year up front.

I used Simplisafe and installed it myself. You have to pay for the equipment but monitoring is fairy cheap and it works on a cell signal.

mrvmax wrote:I used Simplisafe and installed it myself. You have to pay for the equipment but monitoring is fairy cheap and it works on a cell signal.

I looked at them. Is your keypad backlit? I never could tell.

jbarn wrote:

mrvmax wrote:I used Simplisafe and installed it myself. You have to pay for the equipment but monitoring is fairy cheap and it works on a cell signal.

I looked at them. Is your keypad backlit? I never could tell.

The worse thing about it, the LCD display is but the keypad is not. The only other complaint is that my old system had a feature called "quick exit". It would allow me to exit when going to work in the morning and arm the alarm when the door shuts. Now I have to turn it off, leave and arm it in the "home" mode from my phone.

mrvmax wrote:

jbarn wrote:

mrvmax wrote:I used Simplisafe and installed it myself. You have to pay for the equipment but monitoring is fairy cheap and it works on a cell signal.

I looked at them. Is your keypad backlit? I never could tell.

The worse thing about it, the LCD display is but the keypad is not. The only other complaint is that my old system had a feature called "quick exit". It would allow me to exit when going to work in the morning and arm the alarm when the door shuts. Now I have to turn it off, leave and arm it in the "home" mode from my phone.

Thanks.

I bought a 2Gig system from an Ebay dealer. I already several Ademco wireless transmitters, so I just purchased more. I installed it myself. It speaks, identifies each point in the system, and is handled through Alarm.com. I can arm it in home mode with an exit delay when I leave, or away mode. I can do so from the keypad, keychain remote or smartphone. It also has Zwave for home control features.

jbarn wrote:
I bought a 2Gig system from an Ebay dealer. I already several Ademco wireless transmitters, so I just purchased more. I installed it myself. It speaks, identifies each point in the system, and is handled through Alarm.com. I can arm it in home mode with an exit delay when I leave, or away mode. I can do so from the keypad, keychain remote or smartphone. It also has Zwave for home control features.

That is pretty slick. I'll be doing something similar in my next home, especially if its not pre-wired already.

jbarn wrote:

mrvmax wrote:

jbarn wrote:

mrvmax wrote:I used Simplisafe and installed it myself. You have to pay for the equipment but monitoring is fairy cheap and it works on a cell signal.

I looked at them. Is your keypad backlit? I never could tell.

The worse thing about it, the LCD display is but the keypad is not. The only other complaint is that my old system had a feature called "quick exit". It would allow me to exit when going to work in the morning and arm the alarm when the door shuts. Now I have to turn it off, leave and arm it in the "home" mode from my phone.

Thanks.

I bought a 2Gig system from an Ebay dealer. I already several Ademco wireless transmitters, so I just purchased more. I installed it myself. It speaks, identifies each point in the system, and is handled through Alarm.com. I can arm it in home mode with an exit delay when I leave, or away mode. I can do so from the keypad, keychain remote or smartphone. It also has Zwave for home control features.

I would have liked to try something like that but I was under a time crunch (I switched over to U-Verse and never stopped to think about how my alarm would work. The AT&T people had problems with my phone line so I could not use it for my old alarm. My previous alarm company wanted about $450 to switch it over to a cell signal). Since I needed something quick I ordered the Simplisafe system. How much did your 2Gig system cost?

Do home alarm systems do more than provide piece of mind?

Any statistics that prove it?

Abraham wrote:Do home alarm systems do more than provide piece of mind?

Any statistics that prove it?

Yes they do. Our alarm is loud enough to wake the neighbors,alerting them to trouble, we have a 4 to 5 min. response from the police.
Our neighborhood is proactive, an alarm gets everyone up on their toes.

Plus a homeowners discount on insurence .

Bill

Back on topic I have two systems monitored by ST

NO issues - professional and good value

Would like a iphone app but dont expect one for $17 a month

92f-fan wrote:Back on topic I have two systems monitored by ST

NO issues - professional and good value

Would like a iphone app but dont expect one for $17 a month

Thanks for responding to my original question. I agree that the $17 app is something I may do some day.

We made the same switch from ADT to Smith Thompson several years ago. Never any regrets. Great company and the owner is very much pro gun!!