IncrdblHulk9
Member
This is my first post to the forum - so please bear with me!
I recently (last week) closed on an old 3-story 2500sq/ft victorian house (~90 years old) bordering a not-so-good neighborhood. The house was completely gutted and remodeled/renovated about 4 years ago. There is an existing ADT system in the basement, keypad by backdoor, 2 smoke alarms (1st floor), motion sensor (1st floor), and glass break sensor (first floor). I contacted ADT and they wanted $$$ to add proximity sensors and ~$38/month for monitoring service. So that is what brings me here.
I was thinking about buying the ELK M1Gold w/Insteon support from SmartHome.com. It seems like it is a great system and can do all sorts of stuff. Here are some questions I had ...
1) Should I be looking at any alternatives to Elk M1 Gold?
2) Does the Insteon interface work well? Does it support all Insteon devices? I would really like to be able to come home, push a button on a keyfob (Caddx wireless???), have the outside lights come on, and the alarm deactivate. Any advice on what Insteon switches to buy for just single exterior light control?
3) ADT shot down my Comcast Digital Phone deal. I read in the forum that Elk M1 will work with Comcast Digital Phone. Is there a down side to this? Should I just get the Analog phone service?
4) I am experienced with doing small-scale wiring - but never house in-wall wiring. The house has an unfinished open basement - easy to run wires around. I want to add door and window magnet sensors - the wireless route is not an option because I am trying to reduce cost. From what I have read so far, it would consist of drilling a hole for the sensor in the frame (door or window) and then using one of those long flexible drill bits to drill through to the basement. From there I could fish the wire up to the sensor. How should I avoid hitting any existing in-wall wiring? Is there usually any wiring/plumbing next to the door/window frames? Should I be worried about complying with electrical codes? (I would hate to install all this, go to sell the house in 5 years, and find that I have to rip it all out!) Are there any references that could help me with the sensor install into a finished wall?
5) Any suggestions with the Monitoring services? Do they all qualify as alarm companies in the eyes of my home insurance provider - or should I be looking for something in particular? I am looking for both burglary and fire monitoring.
Thanks
Matt
I recently (last week) closed on an old 3-story 2500sq/ft victorian house (~90 years old) bordering a not-so-good neighborhood. The house was completely gutted and remodeled/renovated about 4 years ago. There is an existing ADT system in the basement, keypad by backdoor, 2 smoke alarms (1st floor), motion sensor (1st floor), and glass break sensor (first floor). I contacted ADT and they wanted $$$ to add proximity sensors and ~$38/month for monitoring service. So that is what brings me here.
I was thinking about buying the ELK M1Gold w/Insteon support from SmartHome.com. It seems like it is a great system and can do all sorts of stuff. Here are some questions I had ...
1) Should I be looking at any alternatives to Elk M1 Gold?
2) Does the Insteon interface work well? Does it support all Insteon devices? I would really like to be able to come home, push a button on a keyfob (Caddx wireless???), have the outside lights come on, and the alarm deactivate. Any advice on what Insteon switches to buy for just single exterior light control?
3) ADT shot down my Comcast Digital Phone deal. I read in the forum that Elk M1 will work with Comcast Digital Phone. Is there a down side to this? Should I just get the Analog phone service?
4) I am experienced with doing small-scale wiring - but never house in-wall wiring. The house has an unfinished open basement - easy to run wires around. I want to add door and window magnet sensors - the wireless route is not an option because I am trying to reduce cost. From what I have read so far, it would consist of drilling a hole for the sensor in the frame (door or window) and then using one of those long flexible drill bits to drill through to the basement. From there I could fish the wire up to the sensor. How should I avoid hitting any existing in-wall wiring? Is there usually any wiring/plumbing next to the door/window frames? Should I be worried about complying with electrical codes? (I would hate to install all this, go to sell the house in 5 years, and find that I have to rip it all out!) Are there any references that could help me with the sensor install into a finished wall?
5) Any suggestions with the Monitoring services? Do they all qualify as alarm companies in the eyes of my home insurance provider - or should I be looking for something in particular? I am looking for both burglary and fire monitoring.
Thanks
Matt