Thread: Advice Needed: Wireless Home Security Systems (DSC Alexor or GE Simon XT)

We're interested in adding a security system to one of our properties that remains vacant most of the year. We want to do the install ourselves and want something that will call our mobile phones if something/someone trips the alarm without going through a monitoring plan. We were recommended two systems:

- DSC Alexor
- GE Simon XT

Any experiences with either one? Any other suggestions? The DSC looks easier to install but the GE looks like it has more features.

Sorry to get your hopes up with a response... Hopefully someone qualified chimes in. Very cool systems though! I had no idea things like this existed, sans monthly fees to a monitoring company.

Thanks for the info, good luck!

I will suggest, dont get a wireless system, they are super easy to disrupt. Any high powered frequency jammer can disable almost all of it or cause it to go off.
There are lots of wired solutions that offer the ability to have an email or call sent out if something is activated.
With a wired system go for the option of 1 or more IP (connects to a network or internet connection) PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera added so that you can monitor the place whenever you want. You can even have the cameras send the video feed to an offsite or onsite server.

We had a camera installed literally 4 days before someone broke into one of our condos (it is vacant most of the time) and it was key for IDing those responsible....it didnt really help that the response time for police was super delayed by the people who manage our alarm system...they waited to get a hold of us (which took like 5 calls and over 20min) until they called the police.

Or if you are set on a wireless system get a smaller wired security system/wired IP PTZ camera just in case. Even if it only monitors 1 or 2 main doors it could make a difference.