New Home Alarm Security Questions

The FG-730's are one of the best glass break detectors I've used.

That's difficult to answer. First of all, do you have the C&K glass break tester? If not, I'm certain you can contact a "friendly local professional" that will lend one to you. If you're having problems with even that, email me and I'll loan you one of ours (or you can purchase one for around $120 CDN). The best way to set up any glass break is to have the tester. Mounting them on the ceiling is good, but the distances you mentioned would largely depend on the window treatment (heavy drapes, mini-blinds, or what-ever). What I would suggest is using your existing house as a "test bed" (if you intend to use the same window treatment). Power the FG-730 with a 12 volt battery (fully charged), and have someone hold it at the appropriate height and distance. You can then utilize the tester to determine the best distance from your windows.

Ditch the contacts. Use alarm screens.

Contacts: GRI

Breaks: FG-730

That depends on what you want to "view" (and under what conditions). I can recommend some good cameras, but the FOV (Field of View) will determine what kind of lens.

Stick with glassbreaks, screens can be a PITA.

Only time I put screens in is if someone really (really) wants to have a window opened with system armed. They're a pain to get in and out when you want to wash the windows, and if you have dogs that like to jump up on the windows...you'll be joining the "screen of the month club". Personally...I wouldn't attempt at making an alarm screen myself.

| > The FG-730's are one of the best glass break detectors I've used. | >

| >

| > > What do you guys recommend, I have the back | > > of the home all covered by casement windows side by side. If my glass | > > breaks are good should I put them abve the windows centrally or 15-20 | > > ft away to cover all from a ceiling mount fg-730? | >

| > That's difficult to answer. First of all, do you have the C&K glass | > break tester? If not, I'm certain you can contact a "friendly local | > professional" that will lend one to you. If you're having problems with | > even that, email me and I'll loan you one of ours (or you can purchase | > one for around $120 CDN). The best way to set up any glass break is to | > have the tester. Mounting them on the ceiling is good, but the | > distances you mentioned would largely depend on the window treatment | > (heavy drapes, mini-blinds, or what-ever). What I would suggest is | > using your existing house as a "test bed" (if you intend to use the same | > window treatment). Power the FG-730 with a 12 volt battery (fully | > charged), and have someone hold it at the appropriate height and | > distance. You can then utilize the tester to determine the best | > distance from your windows. | >

| >

| >

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| > > What is the best way to protect casement windows, contacts or glass | > > breaks.? | >

| > Ditch the contacts. Use alarm screens. | >

| >

| > > Which contacts and glass breaks come highly recommended? | >

| > Contacts: GRI

| > Glass Breaks: FG-730 | >

| >

| > > Any suggestions for outdoor security cameras for soffit install, about | > > 25ft off ground and one front door camera(Southern Ontario climate). | >

| > That depends on what you want to "view" (and under what conditions). I | > can recommend some good cameras, but the FOV (Field of View) will | > determine what kind of lens. |

Alarm screens can be custom fit for any size of opening window. Contact these nice people. They've been in business for years.

As for the larger area windows, the FG-730 is more than up to the challenge. It looks to me as if you have all the tools now.

Good luck!!

If they're a "pain" then you haven't designed them properly. Alarm screens are one of the best ways of protecting an opening window. Once you've installed them, you'll never go back to contacts.

It depends on the quality of the creen build. I used alarm screens for many years. I installed them on most of my windows in my own home in CT. After 18 years they were all working perfectly. During that time I had two screens repaired.

I no longer offer screens only because it's a hassle shipping them. However, I still refer clients to my old screen builder if they want to use them.

I'd kind-a agree.

In my opinion, screens are OK for some windows, if a client really-really wants to leave a window open with the alarm on. But I'd never install outside alarm screens. Some companies do and they say they last but I just would put my self in the position of telling my clients that they'd last and then find out I was replacing screens at no charge because I'd told them they'd last and they didn't. But ...... again, in my opinion screens leaves the opportunity for the homeowner to leave the house and forget to close the windows. An open window is an invitation for someone to try to get in. Even if the intruder doesn't notice the screen and attempts to break in, and the alarm trips, at that point they may very well decide to grab and run. Whereas, if the window wasn't open in the first place, they wouldn't have even tried.

Secondly, anyone who wants to, can cut a screen between the "loops" and depending upon how the window is wired, possibly short the wires or bypass the magnet. Once, long ago, someone slit the alarm screen of a casement window by the bedside table of one of my clients (who had insisted I install them) and took jewelry they had left there. They presume that they weren't home at the time and had gone out and left the window open. They had no idea how long the jewlery was missing.

I've used them and probably will in the future, but it's not something that I'd ever recommend unless there was no other choice or unless the client wanted them ....in spite of the warnings. I put a note in the bill of sale "alarm screens in bedroom, at clients request" etc.

Will he get the required vibration with someone holding it this way or is it just testing the distance on the frequency? With construction down here we have to be careful with location for both features. Problem is that only one is adjustable. They are good sensors though. Use a ton of them.

Then you're clients never clean their windows.

I have the bottom slotted for the wires with plug connectors and usually a contact/magnet at the top in the frame...what's to design? The dog jumps up on the window tears the screen...where's the design flaw? Shoot the dog? The maid removes the screen and can never get the wires back up into the slot...again where's the flaw? Have Pella redesign their windows maybe, but alarm screens around here are pretty standard...unless your clients are willing to accept visable wires I can't see any other way to do them...you?

| > Only time I put screens in is if someone really (really) wants to have a | > window opened with system armed. They're a pain to get in and out when you | > want to wash the windows, and if you have dogs that like to jump up on the | > windows...you'll be joining the "screen of the month club". Personally...I | > wouldn't attempt at making an alarm screen myself. | >

| | If they're a "pain" then you haven't designed them properly. Alarm | screens are one of the best ways of protecting an opening window. Once | you've installed them, you'll never go back to contacts.