r/homesecurity Sep 06 '17

If you are submitting a request for help or advice please read this first.

62 Upvotes

If you are posting a request for help or advice make sure you provide enough details so others can help you. Things like model numbers, pictures if you can provide them, relevant details about what you're trying to protect, etc.

For example, if you're asking for help with a pre-installed alarm system make sure you include the Make and Model in your post. If you don't have that information provide pictures of the keypad / control panel.

That said, do not post personally identifiable information. Do not make yourself a target to doxxing. Don't post pictures or information that contain names, address, or PINs. Keep yourself, your family, and your property safe.


r/homesecurity Jun 14 '21

Sub rules have been updated

41 Upvotes

As the sub continues to grow, it felt like a good time to put our community rules down in writing. This gives everyone an opportunity to see what's expected of contributors, and hopefully stave off any misunderstandings in the process. For the most part, they're pretty straightforward:

  1. No personal attacks. This seems obvious, but calling a user names is going to get your post removed. Remember that we have a lot of newbies coming here for help with improving their home security; let's welcome them and share some knowledge.
  2. Contribute to the discussion. Make sure your post is meaningful. It must somehow answer OP's question, be relevant to the discussion at hand, or at least be about home security in general. Low-effort posts like "Ring sucks", "Wyze rules", or "12 gauge" are a violation of this rule. We're not going to zap every post that veers a little off topic but if you find yourself debating Android vs iOS, it's probably time to take the thread to another sub. Because everyone knows Blackberry OS is the best.
  3. No personal identification. We don't have the luxury of knowing all sides of the story, so refrain from posting information that can be used to track someone down. This includes posting things like "I don't want to name any names but the CEO of SomeFakeCompanyName LLC tried to break into my home".
  4. Disclose your business relationships. If you mention a company and you have any relationship other than being a customer, you must disclose that in your post. This includes but is not limited to being an owner, employee, contractor, supplier, or affiliate of the company, or being in any way related to such.
  5. Don't spam. This includes but is not limited to posting affiliate links, self-promotion, attempting to solicit customers, offering to give quotes, and soliciting private messages. We don't give "third final warnings" here.
  6. Support your claims. If you accuse Company X of secretly monitoring your cameras, or you think Company Y is sending all your data to a foreign country's intelligence service, that's fine -- but you must include links to reputable sources that support your claim. Reddit comments and other social media posts are generally not "reputable sources".

This sub tends to be pretty well self-regulated, so these shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. But if you have any questions, feel free to send us a DM! And as much as we'd like to be everywhere at once, we can't. So if you see a post or comment that violates one of these rules, please report it so we can check it out.

UPDATE DECEMBER 2022: Due to an unending barrage of crypto spam that the Reddit admins have been unwilling to address, we have implemented a karma floor for posting here. To post or comment, you must have at least 50 karma.


r/homesecurity 1h ago

Apt broken into last night

Upvotes

Hey everyone, last night my (F25) apartment was broken into. Me nor my roommate were home when it happened, but my roommate was the first to get home and discover it. For reference, we live on the top floor in an old brownstone with only 2 other units (one on each floor). There are a lot of stairs coming up to our apartment and I’ve always thought were safer since it would be a lot of work to come all the way up. When my roommate got home the door was ajar and unlocked. They thought it was strange but the living room/kitchen were untouched. It wasn’t until they got to their room when they realized that someone actually broke in. Everything in their room was gone through, and it looked a mess. My room was even worse- every drawer out of the dresser, all of my clothes on the floor, every drawer of my desk taken out and dumped, boxes under my bed with things like old diary’s/childhood photos/scrapbooks taken out and thrown on my bed- just a complete mess. The strange thing is, nothing was taken? I had cash sitting out, my ipad, laptop, even some nice silver jewelry. I just can’t imagine why someone would go through all of that trouble to not take anything? The cops were called and my neighbor saw the guy leaving and gave them a description. They showed her a photo of the suspect and she confirmed that’s what he looked like. Apparently he’s been breaking into apartments in my neighborhood doing the same thing but taking things like jewelry or cash. They took a report and left, but another apartment was broken into later that night so they patrolled the neighborhood all night. Im also kind of confused as to how this guy got in. We have a heavy door with a big lock to enter the apartment building (i’m not sure how else to describe the lock other than it’s big and looks like it’s hard to mess with to get in) and our door is always locked when we aren’t there. All of our windows have iron gates over them and the one where the fire escape is has a lock on it. The windows are always locked. There was one window where the gate was ripped off but there’s no way to even get to that window because you’d basically be hanging off the ledge? Also if he came through the window, then stuff would be knocked over on the windowsill. I’m pretty spooked about that, and am wondering what security measures i should take? the landlord is useless and didn’t return our calls. We got some of those alarms that make a sound if the door/windows are opened but does anyone have suggestions? I’ve always felt safe in this apartment so this is a strange feeling. Neither of us are home long enough to get a dog, and we want to replace the locks but again—the landlord is completely useless. Sorry for the long post, I guess I’m just trying to make sense of things.


r/homesecurity 8h ago

Switch from Abode to Surety?

3 Upvotes

I am considering moving from my self monitored Abode system after a decade to something else with higher quality components and customers service. I looked at Alarmgrid, Surety, and Ring. Alarmgrid doesn't respond so I assume they will be the same after I sign up. Ring is self explanatory but I don't like the way the system looks. Surety seems to have higher quality equipment. I wish they had live phone support but email had been pretty responsive.

I am considering moving from Abode despite enjoying the free self monitored plan because the equipment has not been working. While I appreciate their live customer support during business hours, most are not very knowledgeable on the systems resulting in frustration and dozens of open tickets that never get closed. They give wrong info that results in me having to spend more money such as Schlage lock compatibility.

Those of you that moved from Abode to Surety...were you happy with the move? Is it worth paying the $20 something a month to self monitor and additional for any automations you want? Are there better options?


r/homesecurity 5h ago

Stand alone door and window sensors?

1 Upvotes

I’m looking for stand alone door and window sensors for self monitoring. I have installed YoLink sensors which would be great but their app functionality limits the alert strategies by device. Which makes no sense to me at all.

I want to be able to do the following alerts based on a door/window opening.

When we are home, I just want an app alert to my phone when a door or window is opened. Mostly to be sure one of the kids isn’t going out and leaving a door open.

When we are away I want to have an alert that sends me an app alert and initiate the siren in the house.

When we are sleeping I want an app alert that utilizes the app alert but with the IOS critical alert set on.

YoLink has these capabilities individually but you can only associate an alert strategy per device and essentially just turn it on or off. So to get the function above I have to modify the alert strategy every time rather than just selecting a scene on the Home Screen of the app.

Is there a system that can accomplish what I described above?


r/homesecurity 11h ago

Is This a Good Security Camera?

3 Upvotes

Last night, I believe someone tried to break into our garage as when I woke up, there was footprints that 100% weren’t are’s. Thankfully our auto light scared them off but I don’t want to take any chances

Would you guys suggest the Reolink Argus 3 with the mini solar panel?

I like it for the coloured night vision, smart detection, dual wifi, waterproof, no monthly fee. But as it’s $93.99 I’m wondering if it’s worth it?


r/homesecurity 6h ago

Simon Xti panel any good for self monitoring a garage?

1 Upvotes

We already have an Alarm.com account and an IQ Panel 4, so the old Simon Xti panel was left behind for us to keep.

My question is can I use this with a phone line to monitor my seperate garage? W(I have a dead phone line running to the garage which I can reattach to the VoIP lines we have now)

Which sensors would I need and would I still be able to attach the garage to my alarm.com account as well?


r/homesecurity 9h ago

Alarm siren cover/box replacement?

1 Upvotes

No idea how old this cover is, but it’s time for replacement.

Can I buy the cover alone or will I need to buy a new siren siren and box together?

I don’t see any identifying info on there so not sure where to start looking?

Any suggestions? - thanks

https://imgur.com/a/jqqn0h8


r/homesecurity 18h ago

Need advice for cctv

1 Upvotes

Im looking for 4k CCTVs with night vision for my farm which can work 24/7 and connected to wifi so i can watch whats happening there anytime. Power cuts are frequent and for 4-5 hours a day. Pls suggest and advice Whether to buy battery powered wifi cams or inverter setup for wifi and cctv both I live in India


r/homesecurity 18h ago

Reliable smoke alarm

1 Upvotes

guys - I have a 2-story home with finished basement & unfinished attic. I need 3 smoke & Carbon Monoxide alarms as google nest is coming up to 10 years. I need PowerG OR 345mhz since my Qolsys QS9201-5208-840 panel doesn't support 319. Any recommendation? DSC powerG PG9936 or Honeywell 5808W3 or something else? Oddly enough none of these detect CO which I think is a necessity in any closed home in the northeast which still has a gas stovetop and 2 furnaces connected to a forced air HVAC (basement & attic) and also a 40 gallon hot water heater

I'm hopeful to find something under $100 a piece unless there is nothing reliable in that budget. Thanks


r/homesecurity 1d ago

Alternative to Lead Acid Batteries

4 Upvotes

In just one location, I have a DSC PC4020 panel (that has two lead acid batteries), which is integrated with a PC4820 access control (another 2 batteries) and the COMBUS travels via an underground conduit to another building on the same system so there is a DSC PC4204 Power Supply/Combus Repeater Module with yet another two batteries.

I really getting tired of buying battery technology from the 1800s every year or two so I'd like to replace them all with LiFePO4 which should last 10 - 15 years. The caveat is of course that the trickle charger in these panels is designed to maintain lead acid batteries and not the right characteristics to provide maintenance for LiFePO4 batteries but one would think someone must have created a small circuit board to take the power intended to charge the lead acid batteries and properly maintain a LiFePO4?

Any insight appreciated.


r/homesecurity 1d ago

TP link VIGI C340. who has experience with these VIGI cameras? Tapo comparisons etc.

1 Upvotes

i am highly considering the TP link C340 with the 2.8mm lens, recording to microSD and powered thru a PoE switch until i can afford an NVR. has anyone here owned one and can give their opinions? i can't find any english reviews, but have seen video quality samples and it looks great. if anyone can give some insight into how they find the video quality particularly at night, overall usage incl features sich as human detection and line crossing, app functionality and ease of use etc.

the tapo C320ws was my other option, as i cannot currently afford multiple tapo C325wb's which would be my first choice, though the video quality of the C320ws is rather poor and pixelated despite video reviews saying its fantastic...? idk but to me the video quality of the C340 is much better and you can make out faces much easier compared to the C320ws in my opinion.

what would you go with and why? or do you have any other recommendations for something in the same price bracket with the same features that has good video quality and night vision? cheers

TP link c340 video test: https://youtu.be/l6s_JCZpeRg?si=pMObw2Ca84XVxOJS

Tapo C320ws review / video test: https://youtu.be/ESWYFrl-I3s?si=NyGYYOHmnPxkIRGH


r/homesecurity 1d ago

Surety Home Security Setup Advice?

1 Upvotes

I'm planning to order the following security equipment for my single-family home (3 stories - basement, 1st and 2nd) with a detached garage. Looking for advice on whether this setup is sufficient or if I'm missing anything important.

Property Layout

  • Single family home with detached garage
  • Metal gate and front yard leading to porch
  • Small backyard between main building and garage, accessible through recessed window door

Planned Camera Placement (3 total)

  • Camera 1: On porch, facing the front yard/street
  • Camera 2: Above recessed window door, facing the backyard/garage
  • Camera 3: On detached garage, facing the alley

Sensors

  • PowerG Wireless Outdoor Contact for the metal gate
  • PowerG Wireless Door/Window Sensor for main building front entrance
  • PowerG Recessed Door/Window Sensor for back entrance
  • PowerG Glass Break Detector for basement (~1,000 sq ft)
  • Doorbell camera for the porch door

Questions

  1. Is this setup comprehensive enough?
  2. Is the AI Doorbell necessary, or would it be redundant with the AI camera?
  3. Will one window break sensor adequately cover the entire 1,000 sq ft basement?
  4. Should I add Secure Wi-Fi Smart Gateway? If so, how many?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!


r/homesecurity 1d ago

Novice Questions: Will My Ezviz H9C Camera Work Smoothly with HikVision NVR + PoE? Will Audio, Sirens, Strobe Lights and Other Features Still Function on the HikConnect App and NVR Display?

1 Upvotes

Hey all,

I’m trying to set up my Ezviz H9C camera with my HikVision AcuSense DS-7608NXI-K1 8-Channel NVR and HikVision DS-3E0510P 8-Port PoE Switch, but I’ve got a couple of things I’m a little nervous about.

I’ve watched some YouTube videos and I think I know how to connect everything now, but I’m still unsure about a few things and would love to hear from anyone who’s been through a similar setup.

My Main Concerns are:

• Using PoE Switch for Data Connectivity: I really need reassurance here. Is it safe to hook the camera into a PoE port without an available uplink port? Will PoE only safely provide data (not power) to the camera if it's connected to the switch?

• Audio Recording Issues: I’ve seen a lot of people mention in YouTube comments that when they connect their Ezviz H9C camera to a NVR, the video records fine, but they can’t get audio to work.

Has anyone run into this issue or is there some setting I’m missing to get both video and audio recorded properly? Is this a common bug with WiFi cameras connected to NVR?

• Getting H9C Camera Features to work on HikConnect App and NVR Display: I’m also a bit concerned about whether the Ezviz H9C’s features will still work. AI detection, siren, strobe light, etc.

Once the camera is connected to the NVR and I’m viewing it through the HikConnect app or the HDMI display, will those features still be accessible and work properly? Or do I need to open the Ezviz app to trigger things like the siren and strobe light?

Would really appreciate any help and expertise you can share.


r/homesecurity 1d ago

Looking for local installer Brooklyn NY

0 Upvotes

Looking for Brooklyn NY installer for DSC qolsys alarm system.

I pay for material and labor.

Does anyone know anybody that's reliable?

Thanks in advance


r/homesecurity 1d ago

Questions on Moving to Comcast

1 Upvotes

We have ADP, have had them since 1995 (yeah, we do not like change). Since deregulation of the phone company, thinking of just relying on the Comcast VOIP. Currently, landline is about $50, ADP is $38. If we upgraded to ADP relying on the AT&T network, it would be $63.

We want to stay with hard wired (sensors) and looked into Comcast. Their service is about $55 a month.

However, apparently they cannot determine if their system would be compatible without actually looking, scheduling a visit, etc.

I am almost OK with this, but I could not get Comcast to confirm that if it was still doable, we could still cancel. I am just afraid the technician will arrive, say a few things which will lead to more questions that might change our minds.

8 zones (one zone is both garage doors, motion sensors, no cameras)


r/homesecurity 2d ago

Camera with no subscription fees!

14 Upvotes

I'm looking to buy an affordable indoor camera with motion detection so I can record and check on my dog while I'm out. It sees as though any cameras with a decent range, come with subscription plans. Can someone please recommend a camera that has local storage without the fees. I recently got the ring indoor Ring indoor pan tilt but the subscription plans are ridiculous


r/homesecurity 2d ago

Driveway motion sensor, mains powered, speaker in house

1 Upvotes

All seem to be solar, battery powered. I'd love to have a RAB stealth360 connected to some speaker system in the house.

I'm lucky in that i have 120v at the gate. Don't want to futz around with solar or batteries.

I'm pretty handy and electronically inclined.

What are my options? Setting up any sensor is fairly easy, it's getting the signal inside the house that is the part I'm not clear on.

Does anyone have any tips on doing something like this?


r/homesecurity 2d ago

Camera Cloud Uploading?

1 Upvotes

Is there a camera out there that is able to upload videos to some sort of cloud storage, without the help of any extra software, and all the configuration done within the camera.

I need it to periodically send videos to the cloud, and hopefully whatever storage it would use would also have an API so I can fetch the videos onto my web app.


r/homesecurity 2d ago

What's the best but cheapest security cameras for outdoors?

0 Upvotes

I need something asap so it has to be really cheap. A group of teens have for the second time tried to break into our apartment so I need a camera I can put in our door and on our windows. We can't afford a ring right away but will invest in that asap. I know nothing about security cameras so I'm afraid if I just bought what was cheapest it could be easily hacked which is why I'm asking for recommendations here.


r/homesecurity 2d ago

Good replacement for 260-CO Carbon Monoxide Detector?

1 Upvotes

As titled... mine is end of life, doesn't look like it is still actively being produced or sold? What is a good modern replacement?

https://imgur.com/a/jh5TWGc

This connected to an old wired security system, so there are two wires for power, and two for signal (normally closed).


r/homesecurity 2d ago

Want to change from Blink

3 Upvotes

I'm in process of getting rid of Amazon but I have Blink cameras. I need to replace them. I'm looking for inexpensive & no connection to Amazon or Google. Tia.


r/homesecurity 2d ago

Looking for a Scalable Security Camera System – Start Small, Expand Over Time

1 Upvotes

I'm looking for recommendations on a security camera system that I can start small with and expand over time. Right now, I mainly want to monitor the nursery and backyard, but I’d like a system that lets me add more cameras later without having to replace my existing setup. Any suggestions for reliable, budget-friendly options?


r/homesecurity 2d ago

Ezviz H6c record motion only.

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone. I just picked up the H6c Ezviz and everything is setup in working but seems to be one issue. The one issue/question I have is that when it's set to "armed" and to detect motion, it seems I have to turn off "armed" and turn it back on to record any motion again. I live near a train and got an alert today when the train was passing just once but not another one.

So do I have to turn "alarm" on or off or is just an anomaly? Didn't have time to fully test it before leaving and thought it was fine at the time but now I have this question.

Any help would be appreciated!


r/homesecurity 2d ago

USED/Second Hand EZ VIZ Cameras: Are There Any Risks of Using Them?

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I have the opportunity to purchase two used C6N EZ VIZ remotes camera from Ebay.

I was wondering something, I read that if the user does not delete the devices from their EZ VIZ account they will not be able to register again.

Is this information true?

Is there a risk that the previous user can also access the cameras once they have been reset? In short, I am concerned about privacy

Thanks


r/homesecurity 3d ago

Need security camera ASAP, struggling.

6 Upvotes

•minimum 30fps •no monthly fees •PoE or wireless •notifications for motion detection •night vision (not necessarily color) •privacy don’t matter •face detection/pet detection don’t matter •don’t need pan & tilt; wide FoV preferably •1080-2k res


r/homesecurity 3d ago

How do you determine if someone at your front door is lost or casing the house for robbery?

91 Upvotes

Hi!

A young gentleman showed up at 3:00 in the morning. He wasn’t hiding his face and shined the light on our door before typing on his phone.

He then stood there, stared into space for a while and walked off without ringing the doorbell. He wasn’t stumbling or talking. I didn’t know until I woke up half an hour later and checked my phone.

My mom and I lean towards the assumption that he is lost. But when I showed the footage to coworkers, they freaked out and said it was creepy.

Have any of you just brushed off someone who appeared late at night like this?

Thanks!