House Alarm

[scrapgal123]

Anyone have their home alarm without a house phone? I currently am paying $38 per month for the monitoring service plus $20 per month for a home phone which I don't use. I would liketo reduce this expense, any suggestions?

 

[kaytieeldr]

A really loud dog? Always having somebody home? Very seriously, how do you expect your alarm system to communicate with the alarm company without a phone line?
Anyway, call the alarm company for advice. They'll let you know if it's even possible, and if it's cost-effective. Or just consider the cost of being secure as $58 per month.

 

[TrixieB]

My alarm company came out last year with the option to have the alarm on your cell phone instead of through a land line. Initially they came out and installed something on the main alarm box that allowed it to run through the cell instead. That cost $250 nut in the long run it was worth it versus the expense of the land line.

I agree with the PP, call your alarm company and see what they say. My company sent out a letter to their customers letting us know it was an option, otherwise I wouldn't have thought it was an option!

 

[AmandaRG]

Have you checked into your cheapest option through your phone company? We don't have long distance at all, and no frills (no call waiting, etc). Our alarm company also has the wireless option, but we didn't do it as it was pretty new when we installed our system.

Good luck!

 

[Disneefun]

We looked into this and the guy came out and looked everything over, etc. Ultimately he said it was possible to use the alarm with a cell phone, but that he wouldn't recommend it because it wasn't as much of a "sure thing" as with the landline. There are too many variables and things that can go wrong that make using a cell phone iffy. If the cell network is down or overloaded (as would be the case in a disaster, for example), quality of signal, etc. He advised us to stick with the landline if we wanted to be certain it would work no matter what, so that's what we've done. Of course, YMMV.

 

[jedijill]

My bf just installed my alarm yesterday and it is wireless (fed through TMobile). Equipment cost was about $225 total and monitoring is $25 (I pay less due to the friends and family discount!) He owns a local security company here in Denver. ADT and the national companies are really overpriced.

Jill in CO

 

[moonpie85]

Wonder if it would work with a Magic Jack?

 

[disneychic2]

We looked into this and the guy came out and looked everything over, etc. Ultimately he said it was possible to use the alarm with a cell phone, but that he wouldn't recommend it because it wasn't as much of a "sure thing" as with the landline. There are too many variables and things that can go wrong that make using a cell phone iffy. If the cell network is down or overloaded (as would be the case in a disaster, for example), quality of signal, etc. He advised us to stick with the landline if we wanted to be certain it would work no matter what, so that's what we've done. Of course, YMMV.

This.

We built our house nearly to two years ago and we had the option of a cell phone, but were also counseled against it. So, for the first time in a decade, we got a land line. DH and I find it's worth the extra expense for the peace of mind of knowing we're covered either way. So, I'd say go with what you feel the most comfortable with.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Wonder if it would work with a Magic Jack?

Not if the thief steals your computer...

 

[travelbug]

Maybe you could shop around for a lower cost monitoring company. I only pay $16.50 per month for monitoring, and I've been very pleased with the service I receive.

 

[BoogasMom]

We have our home alarm system going to our cell phones and are very pleased with it. We no longer have a land line and don't miss it one bit. The only people who called on it were sales people anyway. The cost to upgrade our system was free to us because we had a competitor who was trying to sell us a new system and our current alarm company upgraded us for free with no increase in monthly monitoring fees to keep us as current customers.

We had the alarm go off late one night (loonng story) and the alarm company's response time to my husband's cell phone was flawless. More importantly, the response time of the police was just as quick as it would have been had the alarm been routed through our land line.

Having said that, I would call your alarm company and discuss it because every area is certainly different. We live in an established neighborhood and not in the "country" which may make a difference to the response time of the police and fire with a cell line only.

You are the only one who can weigh the pros and cons to your particular sense of security. You could always call the non-emergency line in your area and speak to someone there and get their thoughts on it too.

 

[moonpie85]

Not if the thief steals your computer...

Okay now I feel like an idiot! But isn't the purpose of the line to alert company when there is a break in? I just assumed there would be time but maybe not hahaha

 

[bettymae1121]

Maybe you could shop around for a lower cost monitoring company. I only pay $16.50 per month for monitoring, and I've been very pleased with the service I receive.

Do you mind sharing who you use? I have an alarm system but don't have monitoring (the alarm goes off to alert us to an intruder and hopfully scare them away, but police aren't called, obviously). For $16 a month I'd be willing to add it though (I already have a land line due to working from home so that's a non-issue).

 

[01spirit750]

Actually land lines for alarms are less safe. A thief just has to cut the phone line leaving your house. With a cell phone system the thief would need an expense cell phone jammer.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay now I feel like an idiot! But isn't the purpose of the line to alert company when there is a break in? I just assumed there would be time but maybe not hahaha

Sorry, couldn't help it. Don't trust me on Magic Jack questions. Check with various alarm companies, both national and local, and see what they say.

 

[Melynny]

I really want to purchase the Simplisafe system.. just type that and .com on and that's it. It uses a cell signal and you can install it yourself. I don't have a land line and I also have an RV on a camping lot that needs an alarm system. I think this would work for both (I'd have to buy 2). good luck... I found this and it looks like it's flexible and cost effective.

 

[msmama]

I have a landline, but my alarm isn't connected to it (long complicated story that would have involved several new holes in my house and wires everywhere). I pay extra per month to rent some thing that sits in my attic and connects my house to the alarm company wirelessly.

I pay about $60/month but I don't know what of that is for service and what is renting the wireless thing. (Long story short, it might be cheaper to keep your landline than add onto your bill). Oh, I'm with ADT.

 

[sookie]

we do not use a landline.
ours has a cell phone assigned to it and it calls out immediately - it does not go to us. we get a call from the security company if it goes off and it automatically goes to the 911 / police station or fire station, ect.

 

[Tony P. IL.]

I use http://www.alarm.com/
Does not use phone line,cell phone or computer.
I bought the system from them and installed it myself. All the sensors take batteries. The main panel plugs in to any outlet and if power is lost it has battery back-up. I self monitor thru them for $25.00 a month. They do offer a plan where they call police.
If there is an alarm they call me on my cell (and 4 other people) and sends message to my email to let me know which sensor has opened. They will also text message if you want them to.

 

[travelbug]

Do you mind sharing who you use? I have an alarm system but don't have monitoring (the alarm goes off to alert us to an intruder and hopfully scare them away, but police aren't called, obviously). For $16 a month I'd be willing to add it though (I already have a land line due to working from home so that's a non-issue).

Sure, the company I use is Concealed Security Systems out of Plymouth, MI. They've provided my service for 18 years now.