Consumer Guide:
Home Security Systems; Here's
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| It's 2 a.m., the dog is growling at the back door, and somebody's jiggling the doorknob. That home security system you've been thinking about is starting to sound like a darn good idea right about now.The time to consider a system, though, is before you need one. And do it in the light of day, with a clear idea of what you want, because there are thousands of systems and options out there in what is now a $20-billion industry. "The days of the simple burglar alarm are long gone," said Rick Ostopowicz, communications manager for the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, a trade organization that tracks trends in the security business. The industry is growing about $2 billion a year, in part because security systems, once the purview of the wealthy, are now available to anybody with $100 of credit left on their charge card. About 18 percent of American homes have professionally-installed security systems, up from just 2 percent 20 years ago. And there are hundreds of thousands more home owners installed themselves, using kits available at places like RadioShack, Lowe's Home Improvement Center and Web sites like www.homesecuritystore.com "I think these days that there is a heightened sense of security, that people want to feel safe in their homes," Ostopowicz said. "And the technology is better than it's ever been, so you're seeing more sophisticated systems that are giving a wider range of options." Among the latest gadgets available to consumers, an intercom system that rings your phone when somebody pushes your doorbell, allowing you to talk to the visitor before opening the door.Another system, using mini- cams, lets you peek into your living room from your laptop at work. Then there are new motion sensors that will sound the alarm if someone moves about your home, but are sophisticated enough to ignore the family dog. Another system allows you to deactivate sensors with a remote control attached to your key ring, and then flips on the lights and turns on your television or stereo to your favorite station to welcome you home. "The sky is the limit," said Tom Bailey, vice president of Alarm Services Network of Auburn Hills. The company installs about 750 systems in homes and businesses each year. The systems start at a $99 door alarm and can reach $500,000 to outfit a large estate. His clients are looking for "peace of mind," he said. "I think there is this sense out there, why not protect yourself, especially since there are products out there available at a reasonable cost." There are basically three kinds of home security systems: wireless, hardwire and portable.Wireless systems, often the choice of home owners in existing houses, rely on radio transmissions, so the installation cost is minimal. It's the choice of do-it-yourselfers. There are no wires snaking through the walls. Cameras placed in strategic locations, motion monitors and sensors on doors and windows will notify the control panel -- via radio -- of an intruder. The systems can be designed to detect carbon monoxide, fire and sump pump failures. Hardwire systems are installed most often in new homes because it's cost effective to install wiring in the walls during construction, similar to telephone and cable television lines. What happens after the alarm is triggered depends on the home owners' desires -- and pocketbook. Inexpensive systems will simply sound a loud alarm, or trigger a flashing light, enough to scare off an intruder and wake a home owner. Monitored systems automatically dial a security company -- and there are dozens to chose from. Some systems will page as many as four telephone numbers, so that you might get a call at work from your home security system reporting a break-in. As a last resort, they'll call the police. Monitoring services are above and beyond the cost of installation. In metro Detroit, such services run between $24.99 and $40 a month, and are usually available through the installation company. For people who want to protect their property while they're away, but are not concerned much about break-ins while they're home, a simple motion detection system may be enough. The monitors detect changes in temperature in a room, signifying body heat and movement. A basic, professionally installed hardwired system for a moderately sized new home will cost less than $1,000.People concerned about security while they are home can expect to spend at least $1,000, and probably more for a professionally installed hardwire system. Door and window sensors that sound the alarm before an intruder actually enters, drive the price up. Sensors cost about $50 to $100 each. And for those who want their grounds monitored with outdoor surveillance cameras, driveway alarms, gate controls and motion-sensing lights, the price can climb into the thousands. Handy home owners, though, can save big time by installing systems themselves.RadioShack carries a basic $149 wireless home security system with a console that plugs into any standard AC outlet. It comes with motion detectors and window and door sensors that trigger a loud alarm, flash the lights and call as many as four telephone numbers with a prerecorded message. The system can be upgraded with devices like a phony surveillance camera complete with red blinking light. The whole thing can be controlled via a small remote control device that can be carried on a key ring. Lowe's Home Improvement Center carries several security devices that are easy to install, such as the Remington Security 900MHZ wireless video surveillance camera. It comes with a black and white monitor and sounds an alarm. The system retails for $99. For pet owners who don't want alarms going off every time Rover or Whiskers goes through a room, Visonic carries the Powermax Video Alarm kit for $210. The wireless system has a motion detector that ignores bodies that weigh less than 40 pounds. It's available at www.homesecuritystore.com
Copyright 2003 Detroit Free Press All Rights Reserved |
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| Detroit Free Press May
25, 2003 Sunday EDITION, BYLINE: BY L.L. BRASIER; FREE |
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