Home Security System

We have Bigelow in Sylvania. Low-cost, great customer service and local.

http://www.bigelowaudiovideo.com/Safety-Security.aspx

I'd be interested in suggestions as well. Preferably a company who won't do a two hour high pressure sales pitch.

I use ADT, but from what I understand their monthly bills are a bit higher than local options. We only went with them, because they offer a "cell" option that doesn't require a landline (which we don't have)

Same as upso. Have an ADT system. Went with them for several reasons one of them being how comfortable ADT was about using wireless devices in our home. We also liked their radio back up notification system over others. Haven't had any problems with either.

Can't speak for upso's setup, but our "higher cost" monthly fee includes the additional cost for the radio backup and also includes service/warranty cost on all system components.

One word of caution about ADT - go with their local corporate office - not the "local" licensee who is actually out of Cleveland. The rep from the licensee was a nightmare. Couldn't get that person out of our home fast enough.

If you want a contact name and number, I can look it up for you later and post back here. I can remember only my salesperson's first name - Mitch. We were very comfortable with him and thought he did a great job for us. He's required to "give the pitch" but if you tell him up front to forget the pitch and just give you the best system you can afford, he'll do that.

Do some research and homework up front if possible. As with any major purchase, the more you know before you speak with the sales person, the better.

Call APC (Asset Protection Corporation) 419-531-3400. Not high pressure, monthly monitoring $14.95 per month. Was formerly known as CPS a few years ago.

What is the monthly cost for ADT?

Mine is $42. Again, though, built into my monthly fee is extra cost for the radio backup and service/maintenance.

I don't know if service and/or maintenance are part of the monthly fee charged by other companies.

The Centenarian had ADT. After many problems with the system the service was discontinued but the alarm system remained in place and unused, or so we thought. At three in the morning the warning siren went off alerting everyone within a ten mile radius and causing five quiescent people at Toledo Memorial Park to sit up and take notice. Why? The batteries were low, of course, so the emergency system went into overdrive. This isn't a bug, it's a feature.

The Sylvania PD and Fire Department got hold of ADT and forced them to reveal the location of the battery and the means to deactivate the security system. ADT was reluctant to cooperate, but eventually saw the light.

Me, I use a combination of dog, panic button and firearm. Your mileage may vary. I think the first step is to decide what you want the system to do, as in 'if X happens, then perform y procedure'. Also consider ease of use versus who is going to be using it. The Centenarian, bless her, is comfortable with a light switch, but keying in an access code and reading a cryptic LED display is beyond her.

My final note is that the system ADT provided was so cryptic that all family members had trouble with it, including yours truly. By comparison, the dog is very simple to operate, as is the shotgun.

My ADT system has touchscreen pads making it very simple to use - as long as one can remember the code to disarm it. Arming is simply two touches.

Forgot to add that ADT was able to provide me with two "partitions." My detached garage can be armed/disarmed independently of the house.