I don't have that one, but I'm interested in this thread. We'd like a home security system but my husband is not crazy about the idea of having installers do it. I think he's a little paranoid but it is what it is! They have many self-installed ones like the SimpliSafe.

My security system is wired into the phone box though the interior wall. There is a "dummy wire" going into the box on the exterior. I was not happy at first with installers coming in but I have had contractors, plumbers etc over the years so I guess it isn't much different.

I have one. Just got it in December. What do you want to know?

How does it work, Magic?

We have the same set up as Elizabeth. Our phone line comes into the house underground but we still have the original exterior line showing - it's our decoy.

Our house was built in 1990, and it was wired for the security system during construction. We have two landlines here at the house (one of which is used for the alarm system monitoring), and although all of the utilities are underground (no overhead wires of any sort), the phone lines come into the house via a box on the side of the garage. I think we put a lock on it a long time ago, but I can't say for certain because it's been a long time since I've needed to check anything on the side wall of the garage. :-)

Many wired security systems have box (also on the side of the garage in most cases) where all of the wires terminate. I guess it's because it's close to where the phone line could come into the house and they can easily connect everything there.

Our system, on the other hand, has the box with all the wires in the master walk-in closet. It's a very large walk-in, and the box is up high -- just under the roof line.

Magic -- please, if you don't mind, tell me why you decided on the SimpliSafe system; how easy/difficult was it to install; and whether you've had any issues/problems with it. Any and all info you can provide would be helpful. Hubs has reached the conclusion that he doesn't want to spend $45 per month for monitoring any longer...

Have you set up (or do you know how easy/difficult it would be to set up) temporary codes for relatives/repair people, etc.?

If you prefer to send into via a private message, you can send me a message via my page here on Houzz.

Thanks!

I wonder how hard would it be to hack into one of these? I'm not comfortable with any 'ether' controls for anything. (wouldn't a severed phone line immediately alert your wired security system?)

I can see the use of systems to monitor fire or flood. They can't save your valuables from a burglar or save you from an intruder bent on harming you. (Those people are in and out long before police can respond.)

I am interested in this system as well - looking forward to your comments, Magic.

It was pretty easy to install, did it in an afternoon. We did have some questions but we got on the phone with them and they walked us through it. We had another company come out and quote us on a hard wired system and they wanted almost 3,000.00 dollars and the $45.00 dollars a month. We paid around 500.00 for the Simpli safe. You can construct your system to meet your specific needs. For example, we have heavy steel doors into the garage and our front door. No one is going to get in those doors but we have a lot of windows and sliders. A lot! We mostly bought Glass shattering monitors for every room. That is what we felt we needed and what I was most concerned about. If someone were to break a window or glass door on the other side of the house, I wouldn't hear a thing if I was sleeping. Now I will. I did not want a bunch of un-needed things like motion detectors and such, I just wanted to know an intruder entered the house by breaking the glass.

I have not actually set different codes for guests or service people yet but it's very easy. There is also a "HOME" setting and an "Away" setting. since I leave through my garage. I just leave it on home all the time and I don't have to mess with it, it is always on.

We have recently had a breakin and several attempted breakins in our neighborhood, so security systems have been the topic of conversation on our Nextdoor site. A handful of neighbors have Simplisafe and all highly recommended it. I don't know much beyond that, but we are now looking into it, and prefer the idea of a system that isn't connected to land lines.