Building an Outdoor Home Security System

This weekend, a neighborhood resident,  approached me about my recent home security related posts on the Westview Community Yahoo group.  He was specifically interested in getting started with an outdoor home security system.  The following is what I have suggested would be a good list of items to start with.

• Honeywell/Ademco Lynx Plus wireless system.  These can be found on ebay for around $100.  I got mine from ebay seller “securityneeded” .  This is the brain of the alarm system.  It requires just an AC power source to function and therefore can be placed anywhere that’s close to an outlet.  Since the power cable is self-made, you can make it as long or as short as you need it.
• Honeywell/Ademco 5800Wave Wireless Siren.  This device is only wireless in the sense that it can transmit/receive signals wirelessly to/from the security system.  It does require an AC power source to function and therefore can only be placed somewhere where a power outlet in present.  I purchased mine from www.homesecuritystore.com.
• Optex VX-402R or Optex BX-80NR wireless outdoor motion sensor.   These are truly wireless since they run on batteries.  These can be purchased from www.homesecuritystore.com for about $150.   To make these work with the Honeywell system, you also need to purchase an Ademco wireless transmitter which runs about $50.
• Honeywell/Ademco 5804BDV Two-Way Wireless Key with Voice Status.  With an outdoor security system, it’s likely that one need to cross one of the security zone areas when leaving or returning to the house.  As such, one needs to be able to arm and disarm the system without triggering the alarm.  I had originally bought a Honeywell/Ademco 5804 for this but soon found it lacking due to the lack of feedback on whether a button press successfully armed or disarmed the system.  I looked around and found that there was another model, the 5804BDV, which does provide feedback.  I’ve since gotten the 5804BDV off ebay for about $80 and am very pleased with it.  I later found that there’s yet another model, the 5804BD, which also provides feedback (but without voice recording).  The 5804BD can be found on ebay for around $40.

The items above provides a bare minimum, fully working outdoor wireless system with a one-time cost of around $450.  Once one is comfortable with the system, they can add additional motion sensors as they see fit based on the layout of their property.

Outdoor Home Security System

Conventional home security strategy focuses on detection of security breach into the home.  However,  this approach has several faults:

• Focus is on being reactive to a breach rather than proactive preventing one.  Focusing on prevention decreases the likelihood of property damage and loss and also increases the likelihood of apprehension.  If the alarm sounded when the criminals are outside the house they are much more likely to leave the scene immediately.  Even if they stay, the advance warning means that there’s more time for law enforcemnt to respond.
• As soon as a criminal breaks in to your house, they are afforded protection from the views of your neighbors and can no longer be seen. 
• A resident’s property includes their home and the lot their home sits on.  As such safety and security is just as important outside one’s home as it is inside.  Wouldn’t you want to know if someone is hiding on your front porch ready to assault you upon your return?  When you are at home, wouldn’t you want to know when an intruder is outside your home rather than once they are inside your home?

These thoughts led me to the idea of creating an outdoor home security system.  The general idea was to have outdoor motion sensors outside the house trigger the alarm when motion is detected outside the house.  This would offer a preliminary line of defense around the house, much like the use of moats around castles in medieval times.

I started pursuing the idea of an outdoor home security system several years ago but did not have many successes.  Outdoor conditions present a unique set of challenges.  Conditions are much more dynamic (sunlight, small animals, moving trees, etc.) and are therefore much more likely to create false alarms.  In addition, outdoor motion sensors require power and also require wiring to transmit signals back to the alarm system.  Lastly, electronic devices don’t typically do well in wet, outdoor environments.

After several failed attempts, I thought that I lacked the expertise and industry knowledge to make this happen.  However, when I ask my alarm system company to implement this solution they were just as clueless as I was.   Fortunately, technology has progressed over the years and this idea is now truly feasible. 

Stay tuned.

At the trailhead of my journey…

In late 2007 I moved into the West End area of southwest Atlanta.  The area is conveniently located with downtown Atlanta just a few miles away and with easy access to all the major freeways.  The downside of living in this transitional area is the higher than normal crime rate.  I soon learned that law enforcement could not be depended on for the protection of private property and that in this area, it was up to every resident to defend their own home.  Due to my background, I naturally gravitated towards technological solutions to this crime problem.  I hope that by sharing what I’ve learned, I can help other better defend their homes.