ADT or Brinks Security System?

[BMWE90]

As the title states: which one do you guys think is better?

[sillygoat]

I don't know but we have adt and it seems pretty good and easy to use.

[ironjw]

yea which one is good? we dont have an alarm in our house and are planning to get one!!

[garyhgaryh]

ADT uses different control panels, like GE. so when you say ADT, which control panel or alarm system are you referring to? Or are you referring to the ADT alarm monitoring service?

[E(@M#]

adt

[BMWE90]

Originally Posted by garyhgaryh

ADT uses different control panels, like GE. so when you say ADT, which control panel or alarm system are you referring to? Or are you referring to the ADT alarm monitoring service?

I'm just wondering about the service in general- customer service, monitoring service, etc. I understand ADT is a bit more expensive than Brinks and higher upfront cost since you're buying the equipment as opposed to renting with Brinks. I just want to know which one people would choose between the two in regards to response, dependability, etc.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

I'm just wondering about the service in general- customer service, monitoring service, etc. I understand ADT is a bit more expensive than Brinks and higher upfront cost since you're buying the equipment as opposed to renting with Brinks. I just want to know which one people would choose between the two in regards to response, dependability, etc.

I had no choice. bought a new home back in 2000 and they only offered
ADT. The equipment was wired and they had a basic package with free
hardware. So you only had to start paying the monthly fee.
2 digital displays and monitors for 4 doors and a bunch of windows.
2 motion sensors. Smoke detectors.

Dependable... Yes
Response time... great!

My alarm went off a few times (my mistake, I forgot to deactivate before opening a door). They give you a few seconds to disarm it before calling.
Else, they start calling.

One time, my front door was not closed properly. We left the house and
the wind push it open. Alarm went off. I was in a meeting so I could not
get the phone call. They called my second contact and they could not reach
him either. They sent the cops.
The cops went in the house and did a sweep (weapons in hands).
found nothing and just locked the front door and left.
I think you are allowed a couple of false alarms a year.

It's a monthly expense that seems to be a waste of $$$
But to me, it's better to know that I have some sort of protection.

Whichever way you go, make sure your telephone panel is inside the house.

No experience with Brinks.

Hope that helps.

[derek0480]

I have an ADT wireless system and have never had any problems with it.

Never had Brinks so it's hard to say.

[Dmitriy@AUTOcouture]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

I had no choice. bought a new home back in 2000 and they only offered
ADT. The equipment was wired and they had a basic package with free
hardware. So you only had to start paying the monthly fee.
2 digital displays and monitors for 4 doors and a bunch of windows.
2 motion sensors. Smoke detectors.

Dependable... Yes
Response time... great!

My alarm went off a few times (my mistake, I forgot to deactivate before opening a door). They give you a few seconds to disarm it before calling.
Else, they start calling.

One time, my front door was not closed properly. We left the house and
the wind push it open. Alarm went off. I was in a meeting so I could not
get the phone call. They called my second contact and they could not reach
him either. They sent the cops.
The cops went in the house and did a sweep (weapons in hands).
found nothing and just locked the front door and left.
I think you are allowed a couple of false alarms a year.

It's a monthly expense that seems to be a waste of $$$
But to me, it's better to know that I have some sort of protection.

Whichever way you go, make sure your telephone panel is inside the house.

No experience with Brinks.

Hope that helps.

Just out of curiosity, what happens after you go over your limit of allowed false alarms per year?

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by shpuntik

Just out of curiosity, what happens after you go over your limit of allowed false alarms per year?

You get a bill. I forgot how much they charge you.
Now, if I recall correctly, this is only when you make the cops come to your house for a false alarm.

[BMWE90]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

I had no choice. bought a new home back in 2000 and they only offered
ADT. The equipment was wired and they had a basic package with free
hardware. So you only had to start paying the monthly fee.
2 digital displays and monitors for 4 doors and a bunch of windows.
2 motion sensors. Smoke detectors.

Dependable... Yes
Response time... great!

My alarm went off a few times (my mistake, I forgot to deactivate before opening a door). They give you a few seconds to disarm it before calling.
Else, they start calling.

One time, my front door was not closed properly. We left the house and
the wind push it open. Alarm went off. I was in a meeting so I could not
get the phone call. They called my second contact and they could not reach
him either. They sent the cops.
The cops went in the house and did a sweep (weapons in hands).
found nothing and just locked the front door and left.
I think you are allowed a couple of false alarms a year.

It's a monthly expense that seems to be a waste of $$$
But to me, it's better to know that I have some sort of protection.

Whichever way you go, make sure your telephone panel is inside the house.

No experience with Brinks.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Frank, that really does help! ADT it is.


Quick question- what do you mean have the telephone panel inside the house. Are you talking about the main panel??

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

Thanks Frank, that really does help! ADT it is.


Quick question- what do you mean have the telephone panel inside the house. Are you talking about the main panel??

Back in 2000, the alarm was wired to the telephone line to notify ADT in case that the alarm went off. In this case, having the telephone panel inside the house makes a big difference. If outside the house, a burglar could just go cut the telephone line before braking in.
Fortunately, my house had the phone panel in the basement.

These days, I have to assume they could be using cellular so the alarm does not depend on your phone lines to send an alert. But, I guess that is something for you to ask when you shop around.

If they still use the house phone lines and your panel box is outside, you might want to consider moving it inside the house.

Also, if you have an existing house (no new construction), you will likely get a wireless system. Check with them to make sure the alarm does not interference with your other wireless devices.

[AndrewAZ]

12 gauge with #4 buckshot. Dont buy slugs they overpenetrate.

[BMWE90]

Originally Posted by AndrewAZ

12 gauge with #4 buckshot. Dont buy slugs they overpenetrate.

Nobody's gonna be home all the time dude.

Imagine yourself sitting on the front porch 24/7. lol

[BMWE90]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

Back in 2000, the alarm was wired to the telephone line to notify ADT in case that the alarm went off. In this case, having the telephone panel inside the house makes a big difference. If outside the house, a burglar could just go cut the telephone line before braking in.
Fortunately, my house had the phone panel in the basement.

These days, I have to assume they could be using cellular so the alarm does not depend on your phone lines to send an alert. But, I guess that is something for you to ask when you shop around.

If they still use the house phone lines and your panel box is outside, you might want to consider moving it inside the house.

Also, if you have an existing house (no new construction), you will likely get a wireless system. Check with them to make sure the alarm does not interference with your other wireless devices.

Oh i see. No worries, everything is taken care of. Thanks for your help Frank- I really appreciate it!

[sinnet112]

I had ADT, but no false alarms, then I deactivated it because I didn't use it. Switched over to Brinks because it's cheaper, and the one time I had suspicious activity they sent a car over to check it out, so I'm fairly satisfied with it.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by sinnet112

I had ADT, but no false alarms, then I deactivated it because I didn't use it. Switched over to Brinks because it's cheaper, and the one time I had suspicious activity they sent a car over to check it out, so I'm fairly satisfied with it.

Did you reuse the ADT hardware or got new hardware from Brinks?

[sinnet112]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

Did you reuse the ADT hardware or got new hardware from Brinks?

Got new hardware from Brinks. Good thing too, the ADT was 15 years old.

[garyhgaryh]

ADT is very good about calling you when there are alarm events like low battery on a wireless sensor or even when one sensor could not be contacted (a wireless sensor does a supervisory check every 64 minutes and if the main panel does not hear from the sensor, it will send a supervisory alert to adt. ADT has called me everytime. If they don't reach me, they call people on my call list (which they ask you for when you sign up). I was at my sister's party once and she told me: "Hey your alarm company called and wants to get ahold of you. Said it had to do with your alarm in zone 11." I had either left my cell phone in the car or battery ran out.

I was going to cancel after 2 years, but still have their service.

If you have hardware problems, they'll charge a 25 visit fee and everything else is free. Not too bad.

[Dleo]

Theres your 24 hour security right there!

[FrankoQ]

nice pooch

[garyhgaryh]

Now that's security. Why you put it in the dirt?!