Car alarm for my flat?
July 11, 2009 10:48 AM Subscribe
Security alarm: I'm looking for a portable, battery operated house/office alarm system which can watch the only entrance of a flat. It's a concrete building and the front door is the only way in, unless somebody scales a balcony which would definitely be noticed. This should function much like a car alarm, with a remote key fob to arm and disarm, motion sensor and a opening sensor on the door, and make a very loud noise if it's disturbed.
I'll try to describe the ideal form of what I'm looking for, and see if metafilter can recommend anything similar.
It should be about the size of a large paperback book, or hardcover book, and designed to sit near the front door of a premises that has a single entrance (example, concrete condo tower). It should have a sensor to detect if the door has been opened, and/ a shock sensor, with a motion sensor that uses similar technology to the motion sensors that go in the corners of rooms. It should not be reliant on 110V/240V wall electricity, but run on its own battery, or have a backup battery for when wall power is not available. Should be armed and disarmed by a remote key fob similarly to a good car alarm. If it is disturbed when armed, it should make a ridiculously loud noise and attract attention to itself.
(BONUS): If it has the ability to put a GSM SIM in it and program it to send a SMS or dial a number and play a message when it is triggered that would be excellent. This is for use in a third world country where police response is nearly nonexistant, the wired phone network is unreliable, and third party alarm monitoring services (such as ADT) don't really exist. If something makes a really loud noise that's good enough to attract the neighbors' attention since car alarms are still very rare here. If an apartment makes a horrible screeching noise it will bring people running.
I'm thinking of something kind of like this but with connections to attach a door-opening or glass breakage sensor, and possibly an external speaker horn for a louder screech.
http://www.amazon.com/Streetwise-MA795-Strobe-Motion-Remote/dp/B000WDPPD2
I'll try to describe the ideal form of what I'm looking for, and see if metafilter can recommend anything similar.
It should be about the size of a large paperback book, or hardcover book, and designed to sit near the front door of a premises that has a single entrance (example, concrete condo tower). It should have a sensor to detect if the door has been opened, and/ a shock sensor, with a motion sensor that uses similar technology to the motion sensors that go in the corners of rooms. It should not be reliant on 110V/240V wall electricity, but run on its own battery, or have a backup battery for when wall power is not available. Should be armed and disarmed by a remote key fob similarly to a good car alarm. If it is disturbed when armed, it should make a ridiculously loud noise and attract attention to itself.
(BONUS): If it has the ability to put a GSM SIM in it and program it to send a SMS or dial a number and play a message when it is triggered that would be excellent. This is for use in a third world country where police response is nearly nonexistant, the wired phone network is unreliable, and third party alarm monitoring services (such as ADT) don't really exist. If something makes a really loud noise that's good enough to attract the neighbors' attention since car alarms are still very rare here. If an apartment makes a horrible screeching noise it will bring people running.
I'm thinking of something kind of like this but with connections to attach a door-opening or glass breakage sensor, and possibly an external speaker horn for a louder screech.
http://www.amazon.com/Streetwise-MA795-Strobe-Motion-Remote/dp/B000WDPPD2
Response by poster: Same if somebody steals your keys+fob and disarms your car, then drives your car away...
posted by thewalrus at 12:25 PM on July 11, 2009
posted by thewalrus at 12:25 PM on July 11, 2009
Check dealextreme. I'd start linking, but there's no point because they have dozens of products matching your description (yes, even with GSM support).
Just to note, yes, it's all very cheap, and lot of it is junk. But, that being said, I've only had the occasional problem with stuff from there and it's always been stuff so cheap I didn't really care and fixed it myself.
posted by shepd at 6:42 PM on July 11, 2009
Just to note, yes, it's all very cheap, and lot of it is junk. But, that being said, I've only had the occasional problem with stuff from there and it's always been stuff so cheap I didn't really care and fixed it myself.
posted by shepd at 6:42 PM on July 11, 2009
Ebay has these starting at about $150 and up. Search for GSM alarm, and search internationally (many are from Hong Kong).
I suspect some might be a bit junky, but you can probably find something suitable.
posted by bystander at 9:20 PM on July 12, 2009
I suspect some might be a bit junky, but you can probably find something suitable.
posted by bystander at 9:20 PM on July 12, 2009
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posted by Lolie at 12:22 PM on July 11, 2009