I am looking to buy a x10 45 peice home security set off ebay...?

Question

Anyone know if they are any good or not? I'm hoping someone might actually have one to let me know? I can't spend more then 200 dollars. However i do need to get a security system due to there being 3 thefts on my block alone in the last 8 days! With my window a/c running upstairs in my room, i wouldn't hear anyone down stairs stealing my whole living room set! Please let me know! thanks!

Answer 1

I have lived in a bunch of different (sometimes scary) areas and have used a bunch of different home security systems.  The first one I bought was an X10 system.  It was crappy. The components are very cheaply made and it was unreliable.  I was lucky and no one broke in... but on a number of occasions when I would walk into a room to test the system, it just didn't work right.

I would also NOT bother with one of those companies (ADT, Brinks, etc.) to come and install the "free" system.  Their equipment and components are good.  Much better than X10. However, they nail you on all kind of setup fees, police department connection fee, etc. etc.  Then they nail you every month for the monitoring fee.  You'll eat through $200 fast.  While they're monitoring your house, they steal $50 from you each month to pay a bunch of clowns that work in the monitoring call centers.  We had these services for several offices that I worked in and I found the service to be lousy.

So, I took matters into my own hands and purchased a bunch of security compenents from www.aesecurity.com and built my own system.  No monthly monitoring.  When there is a problem (smoke, burglar, etc.) it calls my cell phone, and several trusted neighbors.  We can phone 911 if needed.  Basic kits start a bit above $200 and you'll need to be handy to interpret the often cryptic instructions that accompany this stuff.  To outfit a decent sized home will cost closer to a grand if you go nuts like me and have it sniff for CO gas, water in the basement, excessive heat in the attic, glass break, motion, wild temperature swings in the basement, etc.  Ah, piece of mind.

So, for $200... where does that leave you?   There is a bunch of things you can do for well under $200 to make your home a lot less attractive to a burglar.  Here's how you avoid being a victim...

1. Got a back fence?  Put a big 'ol lock on the fence door. Not easy to scale fence with stolen goods in hand.

2. Leave perimeter lights on. Back door light.  Front door light.  Leave them on at night... all night.  Put them on timers.

3. Just purchased a new XBOX (or other light-weight shiny valuable gadget)?   Do not place the empty box in your trash. Dispose of wrappings more discretely.  They're otherwise advertisements.

4. Radio Shack sells "Security System" decals for $5.  Don't use them. People know about them and they look cheesy.  Instead, search of ADT Decal or Brinks Yard Sign on ebay.  For $30 or so, you can have a sign for the yard and a bunch of window decals.  I've never bothered with a yard sign.  Put decals in windows most likely to be targetted.  Back and Front doors, basement windows, etc.   Thief will look for an easier target than your home.  

5. Make sure you've got decent locks on the target doors and windows.  

That's it!   Good luck.

Answer 2

save your money and get a security service to install and monitor it