By DWIGHT BARNETT
December 3, 2001
Q: I'm looking for reasonably priced home security. Are there any do-it-yourself installations that work?
A: There are several. But before investing in one, take a look at what you want to protect. Do you want protection against intruders? Or do you want to know what's going on in and around your home when you're not there? Do you have outbuildings or swimming pools that need to be protected from intruders?
Make a list of your needs, then put together a system that will meet those needs. Browse the Smarthome catalog and www.smarthome.com online. The toll-free number for ordering a catalog is (800) 762-7846.
The SeaView is a black-and-white TV camera disguised as a floodlight. What I like about SeaView over other surveillance systems is that no additional wiring is required. Simply plug the camera/light into any 110-volt outside lighting fixture, and the video image is transmitted through the home's wiring to a compact receiver that attaches to any TV. SeaView retails for $330 and is available online at www.sevu.com or by calling toll-free, (888) 727-7388.
So I don't have to sit and watch the TV screen all the time, I also use the Voice Alert wireless notification system. When I place a wireless infrared detector near the SeaView camera, Voice Alert warns me in my own recorded voice when someone approaches the home. I can then either blindly answer the door or check the TV to see if it's someone I know.
The Voice Alert would also be great to protect swimming pools, when there are children or vehicles parked in your driveway. The transmitter and receiver can be set side by side to make announcements or warnings when someone approaches a restricted area. Voice Alert is $249 for a two-transmitter set or $199 for a one-transmitter set. Additional transmitters are $69.99 each. To order online, go to www.voicealert.com or call (760) 633-3737.
(C. Dwight Barnett is a master inspector certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors. Questions may be addressed to him at P.O. Box 14091, Evansville, IN 47728, or e-mail dbarnett(at)evansville.net.)