Home Security System Reviews

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!

The title says it all. Sorry for the delay. The DSC wire guide is up next and a much easier edit, so it should be up soon too.

Just added another paragraph to the GE Simon XT Programming guide to expand on the programming phone numbers section. This is for those of you that want to self monitor with the Simon and have it call you for alarm conditions…

The GE Simon XT is what is commonly called an “all-in-one” Home Security System. It allows you to protect up to forty different zones, meaning you can use up to forty different wireless transmitters, including a wide selection of Door and Windows transmitters from “micro contacts to standard contacts and even recessed contacts”, Motion Detectors, Carbon Monoxide Detectors, Freeze Detectors, Smoke Detectors, Glass Break Detectors, Panic Buttons, and Wireless Key chain Remotes called “Key fobs”, the list goes on and on.

There are two different common kits for the GE Simon XT Home Security System. The “the Deluxe Kit” or the “Starter Kit”. The Starter Kit is just a basic Security System with the core required components, but no sensors.

The Starter Kit includes:
1) – GE Simon XT alarm system main console
1) – Plug in power transformer
1) – Transformer cord with terminals
1) – 24 hour system backup battery
1) – RJ31X telephone jack and cord set
Installation manual, user manual and user DVD

The deluxe kit has everything that the starter kit does, plus includes several sensor and a remote.

The Deluxe Kit includes:
1) – GE Simon XT alarm system main console
1) – Plug in power transformer
1) – Transformer cord with terminals
1) – 24 hour system backup battery
1) – RJ31X telephone jack and cord set
1) – Wireless Pet Immune Motion Sensor (60-807-95r / NX-481
3) – Wireless Door / Window Transmitters (60-670-95R / NX-450
1) – Four button keychain remote (60-659-95R / NX-470)
Installation manual, user manual and user DVD

Unless you are just dead set on using different door / window sensors than those that come in the deluxe kit, such as the recessed type, the Deluxe Kit it is definitely going to save you a lot of money and is probably the way to go.

My impressions…
I’ve been playing with one of these Simon XT Deluxe Kits for a couple months now and I have to tell you, I am impressed! I normally prefer a hardwired system and have had a preference for DSC ever since the Power Series came out about 12 years ago, but I must say I like this little wireless alarm system! Not only is setup and installation a breeze, I expected that, but this system has some very nice features.

Before I get into the installation and setup portion of this review, I want to discuss features and basic specs. Firstly, the GE Simon XT will do everything any other security system will do and then some. It features up to 40 wireless zones and up to two can be hardwired. Wireless range in open air is rated at 500 feet without repeaters. It can be professionally monitored by any central station and includes two way voice capability.

Unique to the Simon XT, it also has a built in voice dialer that can call you directly if you want to forgo monitoring fees and self monitor. This is a huge positive to many people as it can save you $20 or $30 a month in monitoring service fees. The Simon XT also features voice prompted menus and you can even call into this system remotely to check status and arm or disarm the system.

Other features include one master code and eight user codes, a chime feature for monitoring opening and closing of doors and windows while in disarmed state and it has a built in siren with the capability to add an external hardwired siren. Also, new to the XT from previous Simon versions is the addition of an LCD display which is very informative and looks great.

So what sets it apart from other systems on the market? The built in voice dialer for self monitoring for one. I don’t know of any other system at this writing that has that capability out of the box. Other nice features that many systems don’t have out of the box is the voice prompting menus and the ability to remotely call into the system and control it from any touch tone phone. And no dedicated line is needed to do this I might add.

What’s missing? Very little really. GE has done an excellent job with the Simon XT overall and I find it plenty capable for any home or small business that doesn’t want or have the ability to use a hardwired system. The only missing thing I can see is X10 home automation support. This is not a security feature, but is an option on most security systems these days. That said though, GE does have plans for adding this feature in the near future. Next up, Installation and setup…

Because it’s all wireless installation is really a snap. More important than that however is that programming and setup is a snap too. You can literally install this system start to finish in less than an hour. I find that the manuals are excellent compared to other systems, however if you want to dive right in and skip the wordy manual, see our quickstart programming guide here on our site, courtesy of AlarmSystemStore.com.

This really is a system that anyone can install and setup. To prove that theory I had my wife try programming it without any help from me. Now, let me preface this by saying that my wife is not technical at all and can barely use her cell phone. It’s not because she’s dumb, but she just lacks interest in gadgets in general and certainly doesn’t care to take the time to read a manual! As such, I gave her a copy of the quick start programming guide and a promise of dinner out as an incentive to peek her interest and to help me evaluate the true easy install and setup claims that are commonly stated for this system.

I did not have her mount any of the sensors because we all know anyone can do that. You can use double sided tape if a drill scares you… My instructions to her were, set one sensor to have a 30 second delay, the other two to be instant and the motion to be as a bypassable motion and of course the remote to work as the buttons indicate. I also told her to change the default master code to a number of my choosing.

So how did she do? Well, better than expected really. From the moment that she picked up the quick start program guide to completion I clocked her at a little over 15 minutes. But did she have it right…. YES, she did! I checked her work and found everything done as it was supposed to be. Conclusion – So easy a caveman can do it… or your wife, LOL.

All in all I really like the new GE Simon XT and I can’t say that I was a fan of earlier versions of this system. The new XT version is a hit though. I have to say, if I was installing a system in my home today, I would probably go with this system based on it’s rich features out of the box more than anything else. The only caveat being that wireless is more expensive than hardwired. That said though, I think I’m done crawling in attics and crawl spaces. To me at this point and age in my life the extra expense of wireless would be worth it.

Many people worry about the reliability of a wireless alarm system, but as a security professional and former installer, I can tell you from experience, don’t. Sure wireless 15 years ago was of poor quality and I wouldn’t use it then, and that’s why UL wouldn’t approve it then either, but today’s wireless security systems and sensors are a whole different animal than they were then. The data sent back and forth is encrypted and the sensors all send in periodic “health” and status checks to the main console to insure that they are alive and kicking as they should be. I can tamper with a wire nowadays easier than I can an encrypted and supervised wireless signal. The GE Simon XT is a fine system and I have no problem in recommending it to friends and family.

Well for the last month there’s been a lull in posts and updates to this site, partly due to the holidays and partly due to us moving our offices, but we’re about to get back to expanding and growing the Home Security resource portal.

I do have several draft posts and support pages in the queue and almost ready to be posted. I am commited to having one published on the site today. We have a DSC Programming quickstart guide in final edit and a GE Simon XT review in the works. We’ll probably follow that up with a DSC Power Series review as well eventually so keep us bookmarked for updates, or better yet register for the site and you’ll get an email when when make a new post to the blog.

Another popular system, the DSC Security Power Series 1616, 1832 and 1864 models could use a simplified programming guide. Anyone that’s installed one of these knows that they are actually one of the easier security systems to install and program, second only to GE’s Simon probably. The problem however is that the manuals that come with the systems are very poorly written and make an easy task look extremely difficult. We aim to fix that.

SecuritySystemsPro.com has stepped up to the plate to sponsor a new simplified quickstart programming guide for the DSC Security Power Series security systems. We hope to have the file within a day or two and will have it edited and formatted here for the site by the end of the week.

SecuritySystemsPro.com is one of a few online stores that have an extensive line of DSC Security Systems and accessories and offer excellent prices. Another good reason to consider them for your next DSC Security System or accessory purchase is that they offer first class toll free tech support to their customers.

Look for the DSC Security Programming Guide by end of the week

Hi,

I am currently doing the final edit on a quick start programming guide for the GE Simon XT alarm system we received from the folks at alarmsystemstore.com I should have the editing finished and formatted here for the site in a day or two. In the mean time here are a few things to consider before reading the quick start guide.

The GE Simon XT is among the easiest wireless alarm systems on the market today to install and setup. In fact the Quick Start Programming Guide for the GE Simon XT is a shorter read that this precursor article. That should give you some indication to how easy it is to set up.. This system is often installed by professionals, but let me tell you first hand, this is a system any do it yourselfer can handle if they’ll just sit down and set aside an hour or so. It’s so easy in fact that I would not be surprised to find out that GE Security has made it to target the growing DIY market. Some of the features just scream that in fact, such as the built in voice dialer for self monitoring…

First, we strongly recommended you thoroughly read your instruction and application manual to become acquainted with documentation, instructions, tables and diagrams provided by the SIMON XT engineers before starting the process of programming and subsequent installation of the components you have chosen for your special application. For those of you that want to get your system operating with a minimum of reading, some “minimum” steps in the Quick Start Programming document to allow you to do so, The procedures included also illustrate how really simple it is to get your system up and operating quickly, but do not take the place of the full installation manual.

The GE SIMON XT WIRELESS ALARM SYSTEM offers a wide range of components and options to satisfy the most demanding of security, fire, safety and emergency applications. Don’t hesitate to ask your online dealer of choice for all the wireless options available for this system.

The “deluxe package”, (GE-805173NXT), that AlarmSystemStore.com sells (among others) contains all the necessary wireless components for a small home or business application and the quick start programming presentation will be centered about that package. (We understand the system you purchase may have additional key-chain operators, maybe a couple of extra motion detectors, a glass break detector or two and possibly smoke and or carbon monoxide detection?) It’s also nice to know that you can start with the basic package and add / remove components and or services as your requirements and needs grow.

A few suggestions to consider prior to installation:

Location of the main control panel – Since the main “intrusion alarm” is located in the main control panel, you will want to give a great deal of thought to placement of the main control panel and how you intend to operate your system. Is the INTENT of the alarm to alert YOU or scare off an intruder or both? (You may need to consider adding a remote “siren” ( part number 13-950 ) in order to do both?) Locate your main control panel for easy connection to power, telephone and an easy pathway to hardwire a remote siren if you elect to add one to your system. If you elect to locate your main control panel near your personal protection safe zone (say your upstairs bedroom to make sure you are alerted to a problem ) you may want to consider adding a remote control panel near your exit door in addition to a remote siren to assist in scaring off an intruder and or alert you when you are further away from the main control panel and allow you to alarm the system on exit without going all the way upstairs?

The designed expected use of the main control panel is to place it near your most regularly used exit door.  It is further presumed you will choose to program your motion detectors using the minimum 30 second delay time ( group 10 – table 4 ) to allow you to get out the door before the system completes it’s arming sequence. When the door-windows arming button is pushed only once, you must open a door so a door sensor can report back to the main control panel that you have exited.  If you do NOT open a door, the motion sensors will fail to arm because the system assumes you have not left and has therefore armed in STAY mode.  If you are staying in for the night and have your door/window detectors programmed with the delay exit feature, your application/use manual as well as the video CD indicate you should push the door/window sensor TWICE ,  then the motion sensor once to fully arm all your installed components. Remember, you can arm and disarm your system with one of your 4 button keychain operators from anywhere and it automatically assumes you are already outside the building and or in for the night so pushing the arming button twice ( once for doors/windows and once for motion detectors ) is all that is required to arm the entire system.

If you have an area of your home or business which is vulnerable because of many panes of glass or windows ( such as a glass enclosed patio at the rear of your house ) you may want to consider using a well placed glass break detector or two to cover this type of zone. A glass break detector would normally be programmed under group 10 – with delay or group 13 no delay so you could have coverage and still be able to move freely within the premises without nuisance alarms.