pete_c
Guru
Writing this morning about a few national alarm monitoring companies.
I have used one for the last 4-5 years and decided to look some more at the different pricing.
Not sure if this is the appropiate place to post..
The structure / charges / features of the one's I looked at were similiar. These are all companies that offer "dealer" and "DIY" services. I am guessing that today many of the DIY folks here are using one of these national companies, Most folks probably would be intererested in central station monitoring.
1 - Alarm Relay - advertise $8.95 per month
Actual cost for first year is $107.40 + $35.00 (one time installation fee) = $142.40 or $11.87 per month.
http://www.alarmrelay.com/best-alarm-monitoring-service-pricing/
Email notifications, monitored openings and closings, cellular monitoring and internet monitoring are al la carte extras.
I did get a quote with the additional a la carte monthly charges and will add it here.
2 - Geoarm dot com - advertise $8.00 per month with a $1.00 activation fee
Not sure on much of the details and will add to this post. DIY is mentioned a lot on their web site.
http://www.geoarm.com/diy-alarm-monitoring.html
3 - DIY monitoring dot com - advertise $6.95 a month with the purchase of their internet device called With the Aegis BAT (Broadband Alarm Transmitter) at around $95.00. Not too much more info on the wiring of the BAT box.
http://www.diy-monitoring.com/How-It-Works.html
4 - Alarm grid dot com - advertise self monitoring for $10.00 per month and UL listed central station monitoring for $15.00 per month. They have a chart relating to what they offer for the price.
https://www.alarmgrid.com/monitoring
5 - PhantomLink dot com - this is just a DIY self monitoring solution and does not do UL listed central station monitoring. It is a simple USB / ethernet device that plugs into your alarm panel. Two of them are offered: a USB connector for a PC at $39 and an ethernet device plugged into your alarm panel for $89.99
http://www.phantomlink.com/store.aspx
6 - Next alarm dot com - self monitoring $11.95 per month. UL listed central station monitoring with E-mail notifications at $17.95 per month. I am most familiar with this one. Using it today. Current lock in rate is $14.95 per month.
http://info.nextalarm.com/services
7 - American Digital - American Monitoring Services
http://www.alarmmonitoringservices.com/ourrates.html
This one is $5.95 per month. $35.00 set up fee. There are a few negative reviews about this one. They do charge for alarm signs and an Insurance certificate. Also an up front fee $19.95 for a leased digital diverter. I decided to try this one service keeping the next alarm service on another home. Set up was easy. I did request a refund for the leased digital diverter which was done within a couple of hours of request. I also forwarded the invoice statement and company info to my homeowners insurance agent and my agent said that would suffice (rather than a paid for "Insurance certificate"). There is a renewal clause stating that if you do not renew they they will auto bill your CC acount with a rate of $19.95 per month unless you prepay a term billing period. The total charge for one year with set up fee of $35 is $106.40 which is $8.87 per month. This does include an emailing to text or email setup similiar to next alarm dot com. The web site info is similiar to next alarm dot com but a bit primitive.
8. ....still checking out other companies....
I have used one for the last 4-5 years and decided to look some more at the different pricing.
Not sure if this is the appropiate place to post..
The structure / charges / features of the one's I looked at were similiar. These are all companies that offer "dealer" and "DIY" services. I am guessing that today many of the DIY folks here are using one of these national companies, Most folks probably would be intererested in central station monitoring.
1 - Alarm Relay - advertise $8.95 per month
Actual cost for first year is $107.40 + $35.00 (one time installation fee) = $142.40 or $11.87 per month.
http://www.alarmrelay.com/best-alarm-monitoring-service-pricing/
Email notifications, monitored openings and closings, cellular monitoring and internet monitoring are al la carte extras.
I did get a quote with the additional a la carte monthly charges and will add it here.
2 - Geoarm dot com - advertise $8.00 per month with a $1.00 activation fee
Not sure on much of the details and will add to this post. DIY is mentioned a lot on their web site.
http://www.geoarm.com/diy-alarm-monitoring.html
3 - DIY monitoring dot com - advertise $6.95 a month with the purchase of their internet device called With the Aegis BAT (Broadband Alarm Transmitter) at around $95.00. Not too much more info on the wiring of the BAT box.
http://www.diy-monitoring.com/How-It-Works.html
4 - Alarm grid dot com - advertise self monitoring for $10.00 per month and UL listed central station monitoring for $15.00 per month. They have a chart relating to what they offer for the price.
https://www.alarmgrid.com/monitoring
5 - PhantomLink dot com - this is just a DIY self monitoring solution and does not do UL listed central station monitoring. It is a simple USB / ethernet device that plugs into your alarm panel. Two of them are offered: a USB connector for a PC at $39 and an ethernet device plugged into your alarm panel for $89.99
http://www.phantomlink.com/store.aspx
6 - Next alarm dot com - self monitoring $11.95 per month. UL listed central station monitoring with E-mail notifications at $17.95 per month. I am most familiar with this one. Using it today. Current lock in rate is $14.95 per month.
http://info.nextalarm.com/services
7 - American Digital - American Monitoring Services
http://www.alarmmonitoringservices.com/ourrates.html
This one is $5.95 per month. $35.00 set up fee. There are a few negative reviews about this one. They do charge for alarm signs and an Insurance certificate. Also an up front fee $19.95 for a leased digital diverter. I decided to try this one service keeping the next alarm service on another home. Set up was easy. I did request a refund for the leased digital diverter which was done within a couple of hours of request. I also forwarded the invoice statement and company info to my homeowners insurance agent and my agent said that would suffice (rather than a paid for "Insurance certificate"). There is a renewal clause stating that if you do not renew they they will auto bill your CC acount with a rate of $19.95 per month unless you prepay a term billing period. The total charge for one year with set up fee of $35 is $106.40 which is $8.87 per month. This does include an emailing to text or email setup similiar to next alarm dot com. The web site info is similiar to next alarm dot com but a bit primitive.
8. ....still checking out other companies....