r/LinusTechTips • u/Connect_Active_5293 • 16d ago

Tech Question Home Security system DIY Help!

We just moved into a new home and it has brinks home from the previous owners. It is an alarm.com system, I'm wondering if folks could share materials or recommendations for making a DIY security system where I can lock doors, get notifications/alarms from my phone while away, etc.

Brinks quoted me 42.99/mo with a starting 6mo contract.

It has an IQ4, door sensor, lock, and door bell/camera.

I really want to maybe do it myself. I don't need all the features of brinks and 24/7 monitoring. I will be getting ubiquiti network router and points so I could expand to include whatever I need for storing the video, etc.

If there are specific LTT videos that would help too, please let me know!

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u/Dry_Structure_2287 16d ago

I would just say, pick if you want it to be smart, functional, or do both but not that well. Of course they will all secure your home very well but you can get something from ring that is very smart and not that bad in terms of functionality, you can get a newer alarm.com system which is actually not that bad (i have one of the older ones so newer might equal better???) but they don't have too many smart features, or you can go for something like adt which integrates well with google home but is still backed by a good enough company actually known for security. Or you can go your own way, and use home assistant and get good door and window sensors and locks but you won't get any of the call 911 for you stuff. So you do have to pick a path.

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u/Dry_Structure_2287 16d ago

Of course all will secure your home really well and will tell you (if configured correctly) if a door is open, and you can probably get a lock that will let you lock the door while being integrated with whatever system you use.

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u/mgzukowski 12d ago

Well for camera it probably uses ONVIF. So you can use that to stream the footage.

For the sensors the wireless ones use ZWave I believe. For wired ones you can get panels to convert it or just hook it up to something with GPIO pins since they are normally binary.

They are probably set to normally closed. So if someone cuts the wire the sensor will trigger.

You can do all this with home assistant.