There is a new updated version to Honeywell’s Lynx security system coming soon. The new system will be called Lynx Plus. I just read Honeywell’s press release about it last week. While I do not yet have the details about it’s feature set or how it differs from the LynxR2, which is the current generation, I do know that the Lynx Plus is smaller. It’s size has been reduced by about a third. This is good news because as it stands now against it’s total wireless  competition, the LynxR2 is the largest among DSC’s Power 9047 and GE’s Simon XT, which are it’s chief competition.

I called around to several online dealers last week to find out if anyone had this Lynx Plus yet or if any knew when they would get it. All of the people I talked to were not even aware of it and none had any in stock as of Friday. Most said I’d see it on their site when it became available.

AlarmSystemStore.com offered to check with Honeywell and see when they’d get them. A call back an hour later and I was advised that they expect to have some by the second week of February.

No firm pricing yet, but not surprisingly the Lynx Plus are expected to be pricier than the LynxR2. Some numbers we heard thrown around were as much as 35% more than the current generation. If that is the case, there better be more brought to the table for that than a simple size reduction. That is quite a premium. We’ll keep you posted, the fellow at AlarmSystemStore promised to shoot me an email when they get them and have firm pricing from Honeywell.

With the addition of our latest quickstart programming guide for the Honeywell Lynx security system and the revelation the the this system has a built in voice dialer, the difficulty in choosing a wireless security system has really gotten harder. Not only this, but DSC just launched their Alexor wireless security system widening and cluttering up your choices more.

It is for these reasons I have decided that we should have a wireless security system showdown to give everyone some insight on picking a wireless security system. As a tech, myself and the other contributors to this site have worked with all of the major brands on the market today, including the newest one, Alexor from DSC. While I consider all of the top brands to be acceptable systems, there are some that are better suited for particular applications.

I think we will include the big three manufacturers in this showdown. DSC, Honeywell and GE Security. Yes there are others out there, but these are the top sellers nationwide. To do a quality comparison with strengths and weaknesses for these will take a little time. Add to that the holiday season and we are probably looking at having this done and posted sometime in early January. Sorry, we have day jobs and this site is more of a hobby for us Plus, we only want to post a quality well thought out comparison, not slap something together in a day. So keep and eye out for it and Happy Holidays in case we don’t make a post again before Christmas!

Hello all,

I have finally posted the Honeywell Lynx R2 Programming Guide in the “pages’ section! I got a little busy and it took longer than I expected, but I think it was work the wait. AlarmSystemStore.com who generously supplied us with the simplified programming guide for this system sent it to us in DOC format so it required some re formatting before I could get it posted here on HomeSecurityGuys.org blog.

Between the time that they sent me the guide and last week they actually sent me an additional addendum for programming this system to call you directly for alarms. I did go ahead and combine this addendum to the bottom of the posted program guide. I was sceptical of this new claim since everyone else that sells this system and even Honeywell says that the Lynx R2 cannot call you directly for alarms, but I tried it out on a system last week and it works!

To my surprise not only does it call you for alarms or even trouble conditions, but you even hear the female voice of the Lynx that announces over the phone for what zone or trouble condition she is calling about! I am not sure how AlarmSystemStore.com stumbled onto this, but it is sure a big plus for the Honeywell Lynx R2 . Note, this trick does not appear to work on previous versions of the Lynx.

Very few alarm systems on the market have the capability to call you directly with a voice message of alarm. In fact, to my knowledge the GE Simon XT is the only other one that can do this out of the box, but it generally $100 more than the Honeywell Lynx R2. And to add on a voice dialer to most alarm systems also runs an extra $100. The revelation of the Lynx having this capability really makes it a much more attractive system, especially for those on a tight budget.

One of our sponsors has just advised us that they are currently working on quick start programming guides for the Ademco Honeywell Vista and Lynx series of alarm systems. Ademco Honeywell is an extremely popular alarm system brand, so we are certainly happy to add these valuable quick start guides to our site. Anyone who has worked with Ademco Honeywell knows that they are certainly good quality and very capable alarm systems. That said though, like most of the pro grade systems being often installed by do it yourselfers their manuals are a bit cumbersome and not easy to follow.

The quick start programming guides that our sponsors create make the setup and programming of a system a ton easier. They are designed to enable a complete novice the capabilty to setup the system. The contents of a 50 to 100 page clumsy manual are condensed into a one to three page step by step guide that allows for a fast and easy setup.  We have in fact tested several of these quick start programming guides ourselves with complete newbies to see if a total novice can in fact get the system setup and programmed from the simplified programming guides. So far our results have been very good.

The Ademco Honeywell Lynx programming guide will be the first to go up in the next week. The Ademco Honeywell Vista programming guide will follow by about a week later.

The Alexor is a DSC Wireless Alarm, model PC9155, which is a huge step up from the DSC 9047.  Like all DSC products, this new system has continuously been pushed back a few times, but I have received word that it is hitting distribution centers as we speak.  The DSC Alexor is easy to setup and program. The programming is very identical to the current DSC Power Series alarms.

What sets the Alexor apart from the 9047 is the options you have to mount and place the individual components.  The main console, brain, of the system is able to be placed out of sight, such as a closet.  The Alexor is bi-directional which allows for a wireless siren and completely wireless keypads.  The keypad is much like the fully programmable aplha 5500 keypads. Since the system is bi-directional that means signals can be sent to and from the brain, which will also allow the WT4989 key fob to actually show the status of your alarm (armed, disarmed, troubles, etc..) with its LCD Graphic display.  This system will be more reliable and much harder for an intruder to damage the system.  Many other alarm systems are self contained which means if an intruder breaks in, they can simply rip a unit off the wall and the keypad, siren, and power can all be affected.  The Alexor’s keypad, siren, and power are all separated from each other, which keeps the alarm functioning properly if someone wants to rip the keypad off the wall or even take down the siren.  By far, The DSC Alexor PC9155 will be one of the most reliable, if not the most reliable, wireless alarm system on the market.

Here’s a link to DSC’s website about this system: http://www.dsc.com/index.php?o=show_page&id=alexor

DSC has been touting a new wireless system for some time now. Like all DSC products, this new system has continuously been pushed back a few times, but I have received word that it is hitting distribution centers as we speak. This new system is called DSC Alexor and from the literature and programming sheets I’ve seen it’s setup and programming is nearly identical to all DSC Power Series Systems. We will do a complete review on the system once our demo arrives, but till then here are a few tidbits.

This wireless system is unique in that it is designed to be installed more like a traditional hardwared system in the sense that the brain of the system is installed in a tucked away out of sight location. As such, this is one of a few systems that features a wireless siren. The wireless keypad is bi directional and looks just like the 5500 alpha models. Keyfobs are also bidirectional and feature an LCD graphic display. All in all, first looks at this system are favorable, though some old school hardwire only guys will still laugh at it. For those concerned about the vulnerability of the all in one wireless systems, yet till attracted to a wireless system, this might be a good fit.

Here’s a link to DSC’s website about this system: http://www.dsc.com/index.php?o=show_page&id=alexor

Times are hard and the rates of crimes will rise. Are you prepared? With the economy failing and people being hard up for money robbery and murder rates will rise again. People will do whatever it takes to survive. This is where safety comes in. Make sure your home is protected. There are several ways to do so, with an alarm system. Having an alarm system will help you feel safe in these hard times. If you don’t already have one, you should think about it. You can add so many features to alarm systems. You can even monitor your own. Windows and doors open if you don’t have an alarm you may not know it. With window and door sensors and or glass break detectors any tampering with the window or door will set your alarm off and contact your monitoring company which will notify police. Video cameras and DVRs can also be added to the system so you can view whats going on in any particular location you wish to place the camera in. You can record what you see as well helping to catch predators if they try to break in. There are more ways that I have not mentioned to protect your home. In this day and age the only safe way to go is to secure your home, protect it and your family and get an alarm system.

You might have seen the commercial in which a man tries to break into a house, but the security system goes off and the burglar runs away. While the home security system is blaring, an operator from the home’s security system monitoring company calls the house to make sure everything is alright. That commercial communicates a powerful message about home security: an alarm isn’t always enough. You also need someone to monitor your home security system.

Many individuals do not think they need to be monitored.  Well they are wrong IMHO and it’s gotten so affordable if you use an online company that it’s ridiculous not to have your security system monitored. You can now get UL listed alarm system monitoring for as little as $8.75 a month. This meager amount is often gained back 100% in the form of an insurance discount for having the service.

So who needs security system monitoring? Seniors, single parents, kids home alone, families, small businesses, and anyone who has a security system. Lets say your kids are at home alone and they set the alarm, but there is no monitoring. What would happen if someone broke in the house and activate the alarm, but no one see or knows anything is happening?  No one knows because no one is monitoring or watching for anything.

Finally, if you are going to have a security system be sure to actually turn them on and use them.  What good is a security system if you do not even turn it on.Test your system monthly (weekly is recommended).

So security system monitoring is greatly encouraged and will give you the peace of mind that your property is being watched, even when you are not there.

Will a burglar strike at day or night? Statistics and law enforcement agencies indicate residential burglaries happen more during the day than at night. Police are reporting a rash of daytime burglaries and are reminding people to lock their doors at all times, even during the day and when you are home. Security at home can be achieved with some simple security solutions. You do not have to break the bank to provide a deterrent. With today’s economy and crime rates on the rise, you have to be proactive about your security at home. Find you a security system today. If you have no budget, there are many places online that will allow you to purchase stickers and yard signs, that can be used as a possible deterrant. Any effort is better than no effort!