NextAlarm vs. Alarm.com

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 13, 2005 Posts: 1

I am interested in why Vonage went with Alarm.com versus NextAlarm. What are the relative pros and cons of each? I know NextAalrm is cheaper, but is it as good or better than Alarm.com?

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:37 am Post subject:

I can't speak for Alarm.com, but I wrote a long piece about NextAlarm on this thread:

http://www.vonage-forum.com/sutra64502.html#64502

Posts: 101 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jun 05, 2005 Posts: 101

I use nextalarm and they are great.

Alarm.com is totally wireless, which means more money. If you have an alarm already and want to go with alarm.com, you will have to replace some of your equipment.

If you loose your Internet connection, nextalarm.com can't be reached which means no alarm monitoring; where as alarm.com can still be reached due to being a wireless callout system (cell phone).

You just have to decide.... My thoughts were that:
1) My Internet has about 99.99% uptime
2) If the Internet is offline and I am home, and someone tries to break in, I will still know due to the siren. If I am not home, oh well, it's only material items.
3) The odds of someone attempting a break in while the Net is down are slim to none.
4) I live in a gated community, restricted access to all houses as well as a guard at the entrance.

So, whatever fits your needs is what is best. Just because Vonage chooses them dosent mean that there aren't options (and I know that is not what you were saying, but its my closing line Smile

)

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 30, 2006 Posts: 2

Nextalarm looked pretty good as a basic and inexpensive voip-compatible alarm system, but I ended up getting alarm.com b/c of their good Vonage promo (www.alarm.com/vonage) and b/c I wanted to monitor everything that's going on in the house - not just get notified in the event of an alarm. The alarm.com interface is really smart and easy to use, and I can see every time a door is opened or any other sensor is activiated- doesn't matter if the system is armed or not. Plus, I still don't trust internet connections to transmit something as important as an alarm signal. In addition to there being reliability issues, a cable line is easy for any burglar to cut - that's bad news for any broadband-based security system. Finally, (and probably most importantly), I have to give a plug for Alarm.com's customer service - they are very friendly and responsive any time i have a question.

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject:

Just curious, what sort of equipment does Alarm.com use? I didn't have to buy any new equipment with NextAlarm and I could use the alarm system of my choosing.

Also keep in mind that alarm.com's signals go over the cellular network. Ever drop a call before? Just keep that in mind. Pretty much every communications method has its downsides, which is why you'll see some commercial alarms with 2 different methods, in hopes of overcoming the problems associated with each method.

Posts: 101 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jun 05, 2005 Posts: 101

Alarm.com uses all wireless equipment and it must be their equipment.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 30, 2006 Posts: 2

Alarm.com actually offers an upgrade option for people who already have compatible security systems- that's what I went with - my old ADT panel had to be replaced, but all my old sensors were able to be used so I didn't have to buy new ones.) I'm pretty sure all of their equipment is made by GE Security.

Posts: 37 · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:55 pm Post subject:

Voip4ever wrote:

Alarm.com actually offers an upgrade option for people who already have compatible security systems- that's what I went with - my old ADT panel had to be replaced, but all my old sensors were able to be used so I didn't have to buy new ones.) I'm pretty sure all of their equipment is made by GE Security.

No mistake about it. If one goes with Alarm.com, they replace your entire alarm system with one of theirs. The sensors are just switches. As long as they are hardwired, they work with any system, but Alarm.com has to replace the panel and the keypads, in other words replacing what constitutes the alarm system. Besides the ridiculous $40 a month for monitoring my alarm system, I went with NextAlarm, because I just bought a brand new house with an Ademco Vista installed. I wasn't gonna shell out $200 to throw out a brand new alarm system that I just bought. I'm going to contact NextAlarm about wireless backup. According to their FAQ, they support Uplink, Ademco AlarmNet-C and AlarmPath for an additional $7.50 a month. I need to see how much the hardware costs for any of these wireless solutions, but I'm pretty sure it's less than the Alarm.com upgrade kit and $8.95 + $7.50 sure beats Alarm.com in monthly fees.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 25, 2005 Posts: 4

i went with alarm.com a few months ago i'm very happy. here's my take - if you want the least expensive way to get your old security system to work with Voip & you're not looking for any new features or increased reliability, nextalarm would be ok. it is the cheaper no-frills solution. alarm.com is an all-around better system though. Reasons: 1 - it is easy to cut the cable that provides your internet service. you don't want your alarms going out through a cable unless you have some sort of backup; alarm.com sends signals wirelessly (not through voice cell channel -- they use the two-way radio -- you don't "drop a call") 2 - nextalarm only reports alarms -- alarms are rare and something like 99% of alarms are false, so you're basically getting insurance (no one likes paying for insurance); alarm.com reports all the activity your sensors report so you can keep track of kids, pets, visitors and get notified for specific events (i have a sensor on my liquor cabinet -- good stories... ); 3 - alarm.com is remotely controllable-- i can log into my system from the web or my Treo and see current status, activity, i can arm the system, turn the lights on, etc. (my husband and i went away last week and i logged in from the hotel computer every day to make sure my mother-in-law came over to feed our cat, strangely the liquor cabinet also opened once...) i pay $24.95/month (no contract) for their "self monitored" service. if there's an alarm 6 people get called simultaneously but not the police -- i chose no central monitoring -- this way i don't have to register my alarm with the county or pay false alarm fines. alarm.com gets 2 thumbs up.

Posts: 101 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jun 05, 2005 Posts: 101

Nice review. I am not knocking alarm.com, but here's a compaison to what you stated.

born4soc wrote:

1 - it is easy to cut the cable that provides your internet service.

How many thieves think about cutting the cable wire before breaking in? Could happen, but the odds are slim. I have a privacy fence, and my cable comes into the house on the side of the house; on the "street" side of the fence so anyone could see a person trying to cut a cabel. It comes in from the ground and goes up the wall in piece of metal conduit. ....Better bring a hacksaw to cut the cable.