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Dropping Your Alarm Monitoring

There's a growing trend in today's economy to cut alarm monitoring from the family budget. But there is a way to monitor your home security system yourself.


Would you get a guard dog that doesn’t bark?

That’s a silly question, I know, but it does illustrate what a home security system is without being monitored. As a local alarm dealer, I’ve noticed a growing trend of home owners opting out of this important 24/7 service.  For an alarm company that’s a disturbing trend, yet it’s understandable. 

Reasons to Drop Monitoring

There are good reasons for people to discontinue their alarm monitoring service. First and foremost is the economy.  Family budgets are what they are and decisions have to be made on cutting back on expenses.  Alarm monitoring service is often one of the items on the chopping block.

False alarm fines are another cause, especially for those trying to get by on a tight budget.  Consider what cutting $75, 125 or more out of your weekly grocery budget would do, and it easily understood why people decide to drop monitoring altogether after being assessed a fine.

And then there is the contract that many alarm companies use to trap their customers. When the warm glow of a great deal has worn off and the monthly payment grinds on, and on, and on, many are ready to jump ship when the term of the contract is up. 

As an alarm dealer, I am very aware of the situation – don’t like it – but understand it.  You see, monitored alarm customers are the ‘holy grail’ to an alarm company.  It is the reoccurring income that keeps the company ship afloat.

Do-It-Yourself

With that in mind, it might surprise you when I say, “There is a way, for you to monitor your existing home security system yourself and give your guard dog its bark.”  To learn more, go to: www.diy-monitoring.com.  

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nick mastick April 28, 2013 at 09:34 pm
Of all the concerns in our society, I put this just about dead last.
Steven Murphy April 17, 2013 at 02:25 am
Hmm. So I think you're telling me I need to add the countdown timers to the long list of BerkeleyRead More idiosyncrasies I need to ignore? I guess can do that. Thanks. --Murph
Alexander Sinclair Merenkov April 15, 2013 at 04:34 pm
This is very interesting. I bicycle and walk a lot around Berkeley. I think i know exactly whatRead More signal is being referred to the walk sign across Bancroft at MLK specifically will reset itself. many of the walk signals rely on induction loops which are loops placed in the ground that can detect Bicycles and Cars when the Bicycles or cars pass over them disrupting the current. You can often see these loops as they look like hexagonal saw cuts in the ground. Anyways the intersection detects traffic with these devices & if it doesn't detect anything then it assumes nothing is there and gives right of way to the major throughway in this case being MLK. So the reason the counter to cross Bancroft resets itself is totally logical because the intersection suspects no one is there and since that side of Bancroft is more or less residential there would be no point in setting that intersection to a timer where it gives priority to one light then the other & switches based on that & not on wether it detects any bicycles or cars passing over the induction loops. Also this is Berkeley and we are rather quirky and always have been so nobody exactly fallows the rules or knows about them its funny how simple crossing the street really is but its anything but simple in reality. Many people choose to jay walk if its safe to do so, this is typical on Shattuck at alston especially and makes sense for efficiency but isn't very safe or lawful. If the hand is flashing/Counting down dont cross!