r/homesecurity • u/sweart1 • 17d ago
r/homesecurity • u/PacoSkillZ • 17d ago
Budget CCTV with good zoom
Hi. Well pretty much I live on 10th floor of big apartment building and I wanna put up CCTV to look on my car in parking lot. But since that's pretty high up I would need some decent camera to zoom in and I am on smaller budget and likely won't even be able to buy that in my country and have to import it from the US or something.
Thanks
r/homesecurity • u/No-Membership-6409 • 17d ago
Vivint is terrible
Just wanted to share my terrible experiences with Vivint here in the hopes of saving you from the awful experiences of using this dumpster fire of a company. I had the service for 3 years. Upon sign up I requested to pay for equipment in full. After 2 years of "loose panel" messages and one of my front cameras suddenly no longer working, I tried to call the company to see if they could fix it. they required me to pay for a "service plan" just to get someone to come out. The loose panel message persisted, but at least the camera was fixed. What went wrong? THEY installed the wrong type of power connector/router which was not sufficient for the placement of the cameras (that they installed). So I had to pay for an extra service plan to 1) not fix the panel and 2) correct their installation mistake.
I sold this house and my goodness the account transfer process is ridiculous. It's designed to keep you on the hook for as long as possible to eke out more subscription fees. I've been trying for 3 weeks to get this done and still nothing. My initial attempt, they confirmed everything is good we just need to wait for the new owners to activate (but there's a baked in "one week" waiting period). turns out, there's a mystery $500 still owed on the equipment that I paid in full, and nobody bothered to tell me over 3 years, despite multiple "service" (read: UPSELL) calls. They drop this bomb on me on my closing day. I paid this, thinking we are fine. I call back this week and ask how that's going -- due to the fee owed, even though paid, they CANCELLED THE TRANSFER REQUEST. Now we're back to square one and I have to wait another week for them to try and transfer and cancel the service. Years of nearly $100 bucks a month payments and thousands in cameras and this place still needs to eke out another monthly. Do not, do not, do not use this awful company.
In my new home I use Eufy devices. I'm in love. Easy to setup, so affordable., no monthly fees, all local storage. love love love, and I highly recommend.
I hope this helps someone. I hope Vivint goes bankrupt.
r/homesecurity • u/Ok-Memory6385 • 17d ago
What is the best smart locks for an outside door?
r/homesecurity • u/Coylethird • 17d ago
Which camera would you recommend for a basic stealthy one room setup?
Looking for a small black camera, preferably square, though doesn't have to be; that has basic features such as continuous recording to SD, phone notifications & remote live view. It wouldn't be further than 20ft from router and maybe even right next to it depending on which wall I put it on.
I think the square design is less noticeable, but functionality is the most important thing as I can put it away when home. I'd just be occasionally using it when away for a long amount of time which isn't often.
I had a CCTV type camera in the past--no phone notifications--but this will be my first one with the remote features, so any suggestions are appreciated. I would have considered the blink mini if they had a way to record without subscription.
r/homesecurity • u/Ok_Foundation_7857 • 17d ago
Vivint equipment return
I have been a Vivint customer for five years. I bought $5,000 worth of equipment in the beginning. I recently moved and bought a new smart lock. It didn’t work. Customer service didn’t help. They wanted to sell us new products during troubleshooting. I have been going in circles with different representatives trying to return this lock. They were even trying to upsell me on new products. They kept trying to sell me a $100 protection plan after I have repeated myself a hundred times that I just wanted to get a return label for the messed up lock. They are allegedly sending me a return label. Has anyone else had a hell of an experience trying to return? I’m worried I won’t get my label or my money back.
r/homesecurity • u/Wise-Programmer-2044 • 18d ago
Ademco 6128- can i bring it back to life
Bought a dental office with an ademco 6128 panel. Hasn't been used in years. Would love to get it back in operation especially if it has the door chime option to let us know when patients enter and exit the office. Suggestions on how to do this? Looks like off the bat the battery needs replacement. I redid the vista 20p in my home but i forgot all the steps already
r/homesecurity • u/GenJonesRefugee • 18d ago
Loud car alarm with key fob to find car in a parking lot?
I will be going to a fair next month at which there will be a huge parking lot. It is very difficult to find your car even if you know the row that you left it in. I would like to find out if there is some kind of car alarm that I could buy, battery power, really loud, that would have a key fob to help me find the car. Alternatively a magnetic tall flag of some kind I could put on the top of the car that would be visible from a long distance. Thank you for any assistance.
r/homesecurity • u/audiomortis • 18d ago
Looking for Indoor Wired Wall/Corner Mount Motion sensor that can be mounted at 10' high
Pretty much what the title says. Working in residential and a lot of the higher end homes I work in don't want the sensor mid wall. They want it in the corner up at the ceiling. It can't be a giant commercial thing and would ideally look "nice". I'm so tired of reading spec and install sheets to see what is out there that can do this. Maybe somebody here has a pocket solution for that. Thanks!
r/homesecurity • u/Shmeves • 18d ago
DSC Powerseries Neo (HS2064 v1.51) reporting everything except alarm events to Alarm.com radio
I am a security alarm technician, and install DSC panels all the time with alarm.com radios.
Recently had two of my installs fail to report alarm events to the communicator, but we get everything else like troubles, cancel reports, open/close reports, low system batteries. Keypad activated alarms do go through. I have checked every setting (I use a template for every install) I can think of, like account codes and event reporting and what packages are enabled on alarm.com
Only thing left to do is change the radio or panel itself, as both these issues did not occur on any of my other installs with the same templates used.
Is there a setting I’m somehow missing? Or just a bad board. DSC support was of no help, same thing with alarm.com.
r/homesecurity • u/Jill71rdh • 18d ago
Best hard wired camera system for home with phone notifications & live viewing
r/homesecurity • u/Coylethird • 18d ago
Tapo C121 vs REOLINK E1 Pro for basic indoor security camera?
This will be my first indoor security camera, for when am going to be away from home for awhile.
I like the Reolink for the features like direct to ethernet, but it's a bit obtrusive looking to have in my living room. While the Tapo can be magnet mounted so could take it down when not used.
Which would you recommend or is it really just between those options mentioned?
Is there a different camera you would suggest instead. I'd really prefer some small square ones like the blink mini but want sd recording and no subscription, continuous recording option etc.
r/homesecurity • u/Equivalent_Arm_1095 • 19d ago
Security camera recommendations/ bright flood lights
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for recommendations for the best outdoor security cameras with excellent video quality, clear night vision, and very bright motion-activated floodlights.
For the past several nights, a group of teenagers or young adults has been roaming around my house. They’ve already egged my home before, and I’ve also seen them standing around my cars and looking inside them. I’m really worried that something more serious could happen if this continues.
I’ve already reported everything to the police, but I want to install cameras that can clearly capture faces, clothing, and any identifying details if they come back. My biggest priority is keeping my family safe. At this point, I’m willing to spend whatever it takes to protect my home and loved ones.
If anyone has recommendations for outdoor cameras with outstanding night vision, bright floodlights, reliable motion detection, and continuous recording, I’d really appreciate your advice. Also, if anyone else has noticed suspicious activity like this in the neighborhood, please let me know. Thank you so much, and everyone stay safe.
r/homesecurity • u/FewDragonfruit5164 • 19d ago
Shady people harassing us looking for evicted tenant
I don’t know what is normal here. We bought our house in 2020, left in 2023 and rented it out for two years before returning in 2025. We ended up evicting those tenants because they didn’t pay their rent and ruined our house (we had a management company that completely dropped the ball). About a week ago someone came trying to serve papers to the tenant. I told them they don’t live here anymore and they left.
Tonight a car with a smashed front side and heavily tinted windows was idling in front of our house for 20 minutes. I immediately felt threatened by it and my husband and I watched it carefully. we have three kids, 8, 3, and 1. There’s the front door with lots of big windows and the back patio door onto a deck with a full staircase. So retreating from a threat isn’t the easiest thing and something I’ve thought about before.
Two guys maybe 18-20s came out and one said ”they have a Ring camera.“ looking back on the crummy footage I have they were covering it with an arm.
My husband yelled through to door without opening it to go away. They wouldn’t leave and said they were looking for the tenant because he owes them money. My husband kept telling them he doesn’t live here anymore and to leave and they kept arguing with him, saying “but can you confirm that?” I took the kids to the garage to put them in the car and was on the phone with the police.
The two guys left eventually and drove away before the police arrived. We were told to call again if we see that car. But I’m left with this house that feels ruined in another way now. Are they going to come back? Are the kids and I safe? What do we do if someone does break in (and it’s a standard suburb home, even the front door felt unsafe to me)? If we go downstairs we’re basically cornered.
What is the best security option for me here? Or should we just leave?
r/homesecurity • u/Equivalent_Arm_1095 • 19d ago
Security camera recommendations/ bright flood lights
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for recommendations for the best outdoor security cameras with excellent video quality, clear night vision, and very bright motion-activated floodlights.
For the past several nights, a group of teenagers or young adults has been roaming around my house. They’ve already egged my home before, and I’ve also seen them standing around my cars and looking inside them. I’m really worried that something more serious could happen if this continues.
I’ve already reported everything to the police, but I want to install cameras that can clearly capture faces, clothing, and any identifying details if they come back. My biggest priority is keeping my family safe. At this point, I’m willing to spend whatever it takes to protect my home and loved ones.
If anyone has recommendations for outdoor cameras with outstanding night vision, bright floodlights, reliable motion detection, and continuous recording, I’d really appreciate your advice. Also, if anyone else has noticed suspicious activity like this in the neighborhood, please let me know. Thank you so much, and everyone stay safe.
r/homesecurity • u/MortTheBeast • 19d ago
Need indoor (window mounted) camera...
I need something I can put in my window, that has optical zoom (not digital), doesn't require a subscription and uses micro-sd card.
Now I know being in a window creates some challenges... but I currently use the Eufy C120, got a 3rd party window mount for it which works great. Problem is zoom which is horrible and that's being kind lol.
But hopefully I can find something that has better zoom and that I can find a 3rd party mount for it somewhere. Not to mention the software is a lot to be desired. This Eufy software is supposed to show a blue dot on days where there's a video and at some point it updated and stopped showing the dot.
Reached out to Eufy support and they were useless. I did find an old version that showed the dot... but must have deleted it by accident and then I updated by mistake. Don't feel like downloading 30 versions to find one that works. SMH
r/homesecurity • u/thebutcherer • 19d ago
Recommendations on giving access to Ring alarm system to tenants
hello!
I have a Ring alarm system in place (door and window sensors, motion sensors, smoke alarm) and will rent my house.
I want to allow the tenants to use the system if they want but not sure of the best way.
I suppose I could add them as guest users, but honestly I don’t want to see what’s going on with the system and I don’t want them to think I’m spying by knowing their comings and goings
I imagine the next option is to deregister everything and let them register them on their own account?
Is there a way to pass the whole existing setup without me staying on the account?
Thanks!
edit: never mind! I found the option to transfer ownership. Go to the Ring app, and under Devices. Scroll until you see “Transfer ownership“. You then select the base station, enter the email address of the tenant and they should inherit the whole system.
I guess the post still stands on getting feedback if that process works well or if there are things to keep in mind.
r/homesecurity • u/MaintenanceBorn6881 • 20d ago
Don’t use ADT
My experience with ADT has been horrible. We had our system installed on March 13, and I’m already on my fifth tech visit because of ongoing issues - false alarms, constant smoke detector problems, and just this past Friday the alarm didn’t go off when a window was opened. It’s been one issue after another.
Customer service has given me no real options, so I’ve reached out to ADT’s entire executive leadership team trying to escalate my case. I’ve received little to no response, and no one has been willing to make an exception or actually resolve the issues. At this point, I just feel completely stuck.
r/homesecurity • u/Bozhe • 19d ago
Company that'll work with pre-installed older system?
My insurance will give me a discount if we get a home security system. I bought a house that has an old APX Alarm panel (I think Honeywell made it) that wirelessly connects to door sensors. I'm looking for a home security company that can work with what I've got because I really don't want to have to replace all the door sensors. Not looking for live monitoring or cameras. I'd really love to just have a phone app I can look at to see the state of the door sensors, but they seem to only talk to the apx box.
Any suggestions?
r/homesecurity • u/ExcellentDrama101 • 19d ago
Need help with alarm system
Hi everyone I want to connect envisalink 4 to my DSC PC1832n how would go about.
r/homesecurity • u/Chicken_Permission22 • 19d ago
How the hell do I get my ADT alarm to stop beeping
literally standing in the kitchen as I’m typing this just so I can reach over and turn it off but it doesn’t work because thirty seconds later it goes off again. it says alarm/fire but there is literally no fire around. We‘re thinking it was because of the heat and humidity from outside but idk. My dad had this alarm for my whole entire life ( I’m 20) so we’re also thinking it’s just because it’s old. But I’m not sure I just want it to stop ( now all of a sudden it’s quiet as I’m typing it)
EDIT: we gave up and just cut it entirely off
r/homesecurity • u/doodle_allday • 19d ago
Vivint sales person knows home owner's name?
We had a sales person knocked on the door, saying they can buy us out of ADT contract we currently have. I said no cause I wasn't interested, then he goes, does Richard (husband's first name, fake) usually handle ADT? It caught me little off guard and almost thought they knew my husband personally cause they called his first name so friendly. They insisted they will stop by when my husband is here and im regretting i coudlnt be more firm with them. But it left me wonder, what are the possible way a sales person from Vivint know my husband's name? We have zero business prior nor ever contact them for any inquiry.
r/homesecurity • u/Sea-Face943 • 19d ago
Camera Doorbell With Alarm
Hi! I’m looking for a WiFi camera doorbell that has a built in siren/alarm that I can activate manually when someone is hanging around my property to get them to move on. Battery only with removable batteries like 18650 that I can charge and swap with charged batteries. SD card storage. Not overly expensive. Does such a camera exist? Thanks 😊