GeoArm's DIY Security Systems Blog » Security Trends and Tips

Life Sentry Medical Alert PERS System

Jacob — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:57:31 +0000

Whether you or someone you love is living alone, or just for the peace of mind, a PERS or Personal Emergency Response System can make sure that help is always just a moment away. LogicMark’s Life Sentry Medical Alert System is an easy and cost effective way to ensure that you or your loved one is taken care of. Life Sentry comes equipped with a 2-Way Voice pendant, that allows the user to be in contact with a central station operator even when not physically near the base station unit. Accidents and medical emergencies often occurr in bedrooms, bathrooms, and even out in the yard, and the Life Sentry system allows you to be connected from anywhere on your property. Life Sentry is also easy to install, by simply plugging the system into a phone jack.

The Life Sentry Medical Alert PERS System is simple to install!

You can get the LogicMark Life Sentry Medical Alert System from GeoArm for just $249.99. Medical Alert Monitoring from the UL central station starts at just $10 per month.

See the full line of Life Sentry Medical Alert products at GeoArm:

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A Safe Place for Your Valuables

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:14:04 +0000

A safe and secure home is the first line of protection against personal injury and damage to important property. Houses and apartments face an infinite number of threats at all times. From common burglaries to termites, the protection of loved ones and important possessions are consistently at risk. For many homeowners who fear fire, flooding, or other disaster the best line of defense against total loss is to purchase a personal safe to keep within their home. Your home security system is meaningless if the most important of your belongings don’t have extra protection. So which safe is right for you?

After you’ve decided to purchase a safe, you need to analyze what you’ll put into the safe, how much room you’ll have to store the safe and just what level of security you intend to keep. Almost every safe you purchase will come with a rating fro three categories: Fire Protection, Data Protection, or Security rating. Read these to be sure you are protecting yourself from whatever threatens your contents.

Multimedia: The world has less paper, which means that more of our important information is being stored electronically. Protecting that data requires a safe that can prevent humidity, electromagnetic damage, and keep the internal temperature of the safe below 50 degrees Celsius. These can also include your DVD of Christmas, or an external hard drive of all your family photos. These can the more expensive safes but with more of data ending up as megabytes, it is typically worth the investment.

Fire: Typically a safe used to house important family documents like birth certificates, titles, deeds, wills and family photos. They are lightweight and meant to be snatched in case of fire emergency. Should something go awry and you can’t reach the box, the documents should be protected, thought they do nothing to prevent someone from stealing the entire box. The boxes are rated on the VDMA scale which allows the consumer to know how long the box will last before the documents inside combust. For example a VDMA/90 will last 90 minutes before reaching 200 degrees Celsius, the point of ruination.

Burglary: This is the safe you buy when Mom gets you a gold chain you don’t want to lose to clepto-cleaning people. They are typically the cheapest on the market but provide you little more than a combination code and basic protection against water damage, etc.

All: The Do-it-All safe can protect from fire, water, and humidity. These safes are typically more expensive but can you give you unquestioned dependability.

All of these models come in several styles of keyless options. Fingerprint, biometric and keypad entry sometimes come at a higher cost but will also give the right owner a feeling of increased security with the most important or valuable items. These more elaborate entry systems have been utilized by some gun owners to prevent the mishandling of firearms by family members.

No matter which type of safe you choose be sure that you are thinking about the safety of your family and loved ones at all times. By protecting your documents you shield your family’s financial security from fire and burglary. Be sure to choose the right model.

Thanks to Homesecuritysystems.net for the post about Home Security Safes. Check out GeoArm’s full line of Sentry Home Security Safes.
Options include:
Media Safes
Fire Safes
Waterproof Safes
Electronic Safes
Hidden Safes
Biometric Safes
Commercial Safes
Key Safes

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GeoArm Goes Above & Beyond

Jacob — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:39:33 +0000

At GeoArm, providing excellent DIY security solutions is only the beginning. We strive to make sure that every customer is fully satisfied with their system and alarm monitoring service. Below is a letter that one customer took the time to write us, after having experienced the level of customer service provided by both GeoArm, and one of our competitors.

To the staff at GeoArm:

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and the folks at GeoArm for helping me work through and correct a hardware issue that was ultimately not your problem.

Two months ago I purchased a mixed wired and wireless Vista 21IP system from Watchdog Superstore. I looked around online, made some local calls and found that their prices were the lowest for what I was looking for. Unfortunately for me I failed to recognize cheaper isn’t always better. After a month or so of correcting issues with the hardware purchase (an incompatible item, I was sold a less optimal device for my system and in one case given bad info and just made it work for me) I had tested the systsem enough to be sure I was ready to move on with monitoring.

I found GeoArm both through just searching for a monitoring company that worked with DIY installations and from a few folks in some online forums that had used your monitoring and were happy with the service. After signing up I was almost immediately contacted by your general manager to go over a few specifics and the next night I was working with one of your techs to get the panel programmed for IP/GSM monitoring. After the initial hiccup, we got the system registered and the technician finished the few details I missed and uploaded the final configuration to me, way past the time his shift was over on a Friday I’d like to add.

That night I plugged in my 5828V and was unable to get status from the system. It was late so I figured I’d fix it in the morning. The next morning I was woken by my phone, it was the central station calling me to alert me to a check condition on my system. It turned out that the 6160RF I used for the wireless receiver was no longer seeing any of the wireless sensors. After restarting the alarm system, they all came back up. The next morning the same thing happened. I also took some time to look at my 5828V and each time I tried to use it, one command would get to the system but subsequent ones were ignored and it turns out that using the wireless keypad would actually hang input to the panel so i could no longer do anything but restart it.

I called the GeoArm technician that i had been working with on Monday, explained what was going on and he agreed that the coincidence of just having programmed the panel and this problem was odd and started looking into it. After downloading a fresh copy of my configuration and going over it with Honeywell, they didn’t understand why it was happeneing. I then called Watchdog Superstore to see if they had seen anything like this. Immediately they pointed out that the system had been working fine until the programming was done and went on the defensive. They danced around my questions and I never got the feeling that they had any interest in helping me diagnose the problem. At one point they did offer to sell me a new 6160RF and send in the old one. Then if it did turn out to test bad they’d give me a credit on the second purchase. Unfortunately you can’t convey a person’s tone in a letter; let’s just say they didn’t give me the impression they cared or would have found a problem when they ‘tested’ the returned keypad. They then questioned why I was trusting a monitoring company that I found online of all things (forgetting how I found them apparently). At that point the call got heated and I hung up as they were not interested in helping me actually work through the problem, only deflect and be vague.

Then I gave the GeoArm technician another call, explained what the guys at Watchdog said and he wasn’t sure what could be programmed that would cause the system to stop recieving wireless. He asked for some more time and spoke with Honeywell again to give them my added info with no luck. During this the panel was losing the wireless sensors (sometimes all of them, sometimes a portion of them) roughly on 12 hour increments.

After that I tried turning off the low battery report field which GeoArm had turned on initially. For whatever reason, the RF check conditions stopped by the 5828V still would manage to hang the whole system. I then turned the low battery report back on and strangely the problem did not come back. Theat made me the most nervous as a problem that magically vanishes is never a good thing.

At this point I had spoken with a customer service representative about possibly having you do a warranty part swap for me. Since you hadn’t sold me the equipment, this was at your discretion. After speaking with Honeywell, you offered to get and send me a new 6160RF to swap with the one I had. I was unsure if that was the acse now since one problem had seemingly disappeared but decided to go with it.

After receiving the replacement 6160RF from you, I installed it and all the wireless sensors tested out fine with a go/no go. The big test was when I fired up the 5828V to which I was able to get status back from the panel, arm and disarm the system repeatedly with no issues.

I’m not sure exactly what happened, but without changing any other programming, swapping out a piece of hardware fixed my wireless keypad problem and I’m willing to bet the RF supervisory won’t come back either until I really do need to change my batteries.

So again let me thank you for helping me fix something that wasn’t yours to fix. I’m very happy I chose you for my monitoring.

Regards,
Happy Customer, Virginia

Read more GeoArm customer testimonials and see what we can do for you!

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Home Security Tips and Links

Jacob — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:07:38 +0000

Today we have a few home security tips for you. Often overlooked but simple home security fixes can sometimes mean the difference between a vulnerable and secure residence.

1. Remember the basics. Besides your alarm system and other security gadgets, security door locks, strong doorframes, and locked windows need to be the foundation of a well protected home. Even with a top notch alarm system and monitoring service, you can still be vulnerable to an old fashioned smash & grab break in. Strong barriers to entry (as well as well positioned security signs and decals) are always your first line of defense.

2. Lighting & Landscaping. Why would you want to provide potential criminals with cover? Now we know that everybody’s botanical tastes are different, and some prefer a more lush yard, but it is important to not provide areas on your property where a burglar could easily hide or feel safe. Keep trees and bushes trimmed when possible, and provide plenty of lighting! A criminal would aways prefer to approach a target with the cover of darkness than when exposed by outdoor lighting.

3. Environmental Protection. Maybe you have a good handle on the security of your home, but safety is about more than preventing a burglary. Don’t forget fire protection! Monitored smoke detectors can often bring an extra discount from your homeowner’s insurance provider. Other devices such as temperature sensors and flood detectors can help save you money and aggrivation by alerting you to potential problem areas. Carbon Monoxide detectors are valuable for personal safety, especially in areas that could have ventillation close to a grage or generator site.

4. Plan ahead. Before you are in an emergency, whether a home intrusion, burglary or fire, you should have though ahead about potential contingency plans. Know your evacuation routes and have fire extinguishers available to everyone in the household. Wireless panic buttons can provide additional protection. for both intrusion and life safety. Have a kit of emergency supplies that is well stocked and accessible.

5. Remember vulnrable areas. People often forget to protect their garages, and even leave their garage doors unlocked. There are often many valuable items stored in garages, power tools, car radios etc, besides the easy home access. A security safe can also be a great item to store important documents or valuables and jewelry.

We will be sure to update with more tips for you soon! In the meantime, for additional reading, check out these links:

Home Security Tips from GeoArm.
Home Security Systems – Counting the Cost to You.
How to Install Wireless Home Security Systems for DIYers.
Home Alarm Monitoring Tips – Choosing Monitoring Company.

Keep safe!

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Customer Testimonials & GeoArm Reviews

Jacob — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:44:04 +0000

Check out the new Alarm System Reviews & Customer Testimonials over at GeoArm. Customer response is usually a good indicator of how well a company is doing its job, and according to these GeoArm customers, they are doing a fantastic job:

“I would like to thank you and your team at GeoArm for your exceptional customer service.”

“I take pride in my DIY projects and GeoArm has enabled my success in the home security arena.”

“I am very impressed with the service that I have received.”

“I won’t hesitate to recommend your service.”

“The customer service I received is unheard of these days.”

“The technicians are very knowledgable and helpful.”

“I now have peace of mind in regards to my home security/safety needs for my family.”

Read the rest and see why you should transfer your alarm service to GeoArm.

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eSecure users can save money with Total Connect from GeoArm

Jacob — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:51:29 +0000

eSecure is a branded version of Honeywell’s Total Connect Interactive services provided by Protection One. Users who have eSecure service can switch to GeoArm’s AlarmNet service with the Total Connect option and sometimes save more that 50% on monitoring services. Signing up for GeoArm’s AlarmNet monitoring service online is easy, and our technicians are experienced with all the available Honeywell AlarmNet radios and serivices. Internet AlarmNet service with Total Connect is only $17 per month, while Cellular AlarmNet service with Total Connect is only $25 per month. GeoArm’s central station is UL listed and has an excellent track record of customer service and timely response. Why pay more to Protection One when all they are doing is rebranding the same service with their logos?

Honeywell’s Total Connect App provides all the interactive security services available with your equipment, without the protection one brand. Dowload Total Connect from the Itunes store for free! There is no need to be paying Protection One’s high rates when you can get the same service without the private branding from GeoArm!

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GS3060 Universal Cellular Alarm Monitoring

Jacob — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:12:16 +0000

With GeoArm’s new low prices, you can now add cellular alarm monitoring to your system with the GS3060 for only $199.99. DSC’s GS3060 Cellular Alarm Communicator is universal to any control panel that has Contact ID as a communication option. Most modern control panel’s can be connected to the GS3060 with a simple 2-wire connection, and all signals will then be transmitted to GeoArm’s central station over AT&T’s cellular GSM network.

DSC GS3060 Universal Cellular Alarm Communicator

Cellular alarm monitoring service from GeoArm starts at just $20 per month! Don’t have a phone line for your alarm system? Want to protect your system from phone line cut? The GS3060 is an excellent fit to transition most existing alarm systems to cellular service. GeoArm’s experienced alarm technicians pre-program and pre-wire all cellular alarm communicators before they are shipped to provide clients with the easiest possible installation. For just $199.99 and $20 per month, you can get your system communicating to GeoArm’s central station over the most reliable communication path!

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City of Oakland May not Respond to Some Crimes

Jacob — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:24:03 +0000

In an alarming statement, Oakland, CA police cheif Anthony Batts has announced that if the city continues with its plans to lay off as much as 10% of police officers, that the department may not be able to respond to a laundry list of crimes. Amongst many others, the list of potential crimes inludes:

grand theft
embezzlement
extortion
vandalism
and of course: burglary!

If the chief is correct in his assumption, residents of Oakland will have to report these crimes online at the departments webpage. Now, there has been no mention of whether the department will continue to respond to burglar alarm dispatches from central stations, but based on the city’s extensive permitting plan and false alarm fees, it seems that they will.

It seems imprudent for an officer, let along a chief to let everyone (including criminals) know that his police department will no longer respond to certain crimes. Having a permitted and monitored alarm system in Oakland may have just become a little more important.

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Lower Prices on AlarmNet Cellular and Internet Radios

Jacob — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:48:41 +0000

GeoArm has reduced prices on the entire line of Honeywell AlarmNet cellular and internet alarm communicators. Enjoy the benefits of eliminating your phone line, or having your system communicate wirelessly with an AlarmNet radio that has been reduced in price by 20%-30%!

The 7847i internet communicator, 7845i-GSM internet & cellular communicator, and 7845GSMR cellular communicator are now available from between $157.99 and $238.99. These radios can be added to the Honeywell Vista series of alarm control panels to provide alternative central station monitoring service, and are also capable of providing Total Connect remote services. The 7847i-L, GSMVLP, and GSML have the same functionality, but are built specifically for installation with the Honeywell LYNX wireless security system. These radios actually fit inside the LYNX Plus and LYNXR2 all-in-one control panels.

AlarmNet monitoring service for these security system communicators is available from GeoArm at excellent rates. AlarmNet internet service starts at just $12, and cellular service is just $20 per month. Total Connect interactive services are an additional $5 per month.

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Apartments easy to protect with Wireless Alarm Systems

Jacob — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:32:52 +0000

Many home security companies are averse to installing or monitoring security systems for a renter or tenant in an apartment. Wireless security systems by GeoArm Security and other primarily DIY alarm companies are making it easier for apartment dwellers to get the same kind of advanced security that condo owners and homeowners enjoy. An apartment security system can easily be installed by a tenant, and the wireless system can even be easily moved if the renter changes apartments. In many instances, apartment settings have higher burglary & crime rates, as criminals know that these properties are oftem left without traditional home security options.

Apartment buildings can give you a sense of saftey in numbers, but in reality you should be more vigilant of your home security situation. Read these security tips for apartments and condos and remember, always lock your balcoy doors, even if you dont see how a criminal could reach your balcony. If you want an easy solution for your apartment, check out GeoArm’s wireless security system kits. These security systems can be easily installed in an apartment setting and you can even choose options that do not require a phone line. If your lease is up and you are moving, no big deal, simply move your wireless security system with you!

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