Home Security News

Audiovox Rampage AA929 Car Alarm Review

If you're looking for a cheap car alarm that does the job, you may want to check out the Audiovox Rampage AA929 review over at epinions.  The user got the alarm for $22 from eBay and said it only took 10 minutes to install. "This unit has lots of great features! It has a very loud alarm also. I recommend this alarm if your as cheap as me. I do plan on buying a more expensive unit to install on my Car and will put this one on my truck, eventually. My next alarm will have a pager so I know when it is going off. But for now it is a great little helper and makes me feel much better about leaving my car somewhere." A list of features (what the alarm does) is listed in the review too.

Full review: Audiovox Rampage Car Alarm Review

iLock Fingerprint Door Lock

The iLock is a biometric door lock system that has a fingerprint sensor located on the knob. It eliminates the need for house keys.  The lock can be programmed to open for multiple people (anyone who lives in the house), including visitors such as pet sitters if you go on vacation.  You can delete those temporary entries once you return home and ensure that person no longer has access to the house (whereas if you give someone a spare set of keys to use, you can never be sure they didn't make copies while you were gone).  The iLock fingerprint door lock system is priced at $599.

http://www.tychisystems.com/

Video Surveillance, a Profitable New Trend?

The Public Eye blog reports that more and more companies than ever are delving into video surveillance cameras, making it a hot new business: "With recent events like 9/11 and the London bombings fueling terrorism fears nationwide, we're seeing an increased interest in security and surveillance products. Video surveillance cameras are a huge part of that trend: Consulting firm Frost & Sullivan estimates surveillance cameras will be a $4.09 billion market by 2010."  Let's hope that means good things for the consumer.  With so many people out there competing for your dollar, the cost of equiping your home with video surveillance cameras should drop.

Original Post: 29 Hot Businesses to Start in 2006

Burglar Alarm That Calls You When Triggered

Home security can be a pricy investment.  Though no one is going to argue that it's a good one, you may not be ready to spend thousands on a state-of-the-art monitored system.  If you just want a way to get your feet wet (and you've invested in the basics like strong window and door locks along with good outdoor lighting), X10 sells a do-it-yourself burglar alarm siren system that you can program to call up to four phone numbers if it goes off. The system only costs $100, so it's a decent way to decide if an alarm system is good for you or whether you're the kind of person who always forgets to turn it on or triggers it because you forget to turn it off when you come home (let's hope that's not the case, but if it is, maybe we can recommend a big dog instead...:)

Protector Plus Dial-Up Home Security System

Personal Safety Alarms

Personal Safety Alarms are good for runners and dog walkers who are out before dawn or after dark or anyone who might have to cross through a dark parking lot or parking garage alone.  It has an LED beam that can be used as a flashlight and easy-to-reach buttons that sound a 100-decibel alarm if you feel threatened by someone. 

The Doberman personal safety alarm is available via http://www.HerringtonCatalog.com starting at $30.

Panasonic Wired Network Camera Review

Jimmy left a short review of the Panasonic Wired Network Camera in the comments section on another page, but I figured it was interesting enough to make a post of (with his permission), since lots of people are interested in buying do-it-yourself home surveillance equipment/web cams that take pictures while you're gone.  So without further ado:

Panasonic Wired Network Camera Review

I received this Panasonic web camera as a birthday day present last summer which was pretty cool. My family wasnt thinking about home security at first. They just thought it would be a fun techy toy for me. Something I could tap into and access from work. This is because the camera can be operated over the Internet. I can tell it to pan and tilt so I can get pictures from any angle. The pictures get uploaded to the family web server so we can all log in and check on the house. It was nice this summer when we were on vacation. We positioned it in the living room and were able to check on the kid who came in to feed our cats. Not that we expected anything to happen but it is just piece of mind, you know?

The camera was pretty easy to set up for someone who knows how to changes settings and poke around on their computer and web space but might be a little more complicated for someone who isnt web savy.  There are directions though so if you're patient you could probably do ok. 

After a few months the Panasonic web camera is still working well.  Even though the cats have knocked it to the floor a couple times (make sure to secure it or put it someplace high if you have pets) it is still working fine.  We're actually going to order a couple more for Christmas so we can monitor more of the house.  That's all I have to say.  There are some longer reviews at amazon for people who are thinking of buying.

--Jimmy Foxworth

The Panasonic network camera is available on Amazon for under $200: Panasonic Wired Network Camera

Outdoor Lighting Cheap Way to Fight Off Burglars

Got good outdoor lighting?  Why not?

It's easy to spend thousands on a high-tech home security system, and I'm not going to argue that it isn't money well spent, but you don't want to forget the simple things as you're setting up that expensive 8-camera home surveillance system.  Sturdy doors and locks will keep burglars from gaining access in the first place.  Locks for your windows are likewise important.  According to a recent article called "Ten Steps to Home Security," adding outdoor lighting is a home improvement with a small cost that can make a big difference. 

"Burglars don't like to be seen and are more likely to avoid areas where they risk being spotted, such as well-lighted places. Consider installing an outdoor lighting system, especially if your yard is concealed by a lot of foliage. Some lights work on a timer, engaging when it begins to darken; others are activated through motion. Motion lights near walkways and doorways can provide important visibility of approaching persons."

From ClickOnDetroit.com