I’ve been putting off this review for a while because I was afraid it would be too complex to install a full home security system. Boy, was I wrong.
The LaserShield system is actually quite easy to use and install. It has three parts — a base station, a sensor, and two remotes. These devices all work in concert, wirelessly, and have a battery back-up in case power goes out. The sensor is about as big as a portable hard drive and the base station is acceptably small enough, although the fact that it screams at you when things change in the system might be a giveaway to thieves.
To set it up you connect the base to a phone line and power and pair it with the sensor and the keychain remotes. The system needs a landline but you can use the battery-powered Cyclone GSM device or the VoIP Sparrow — basically a rebadged Linksys VoIP terminal — to connect it to Ethernet. I initially tried to do this but it didn’t quite work so I just used our old Vonage line.
You then create an online account, pay $25 for activation and $19.95 a month for service, and you’re set. There are huge panic buttons on all of the devices and you can call your house to activate it or deactivate it from the road.
It also comes with a “pet shield” to keep Fido from setting things off with his constant wagging.
The $199 kit comes with only one sensor, which is bad news for folks in big houses. However, you can upgrade the system with sensors for $59.99 each. The Bluetooth-like pairing system is quite simple.
Overall, I’d say LaserShield is a strong, entry-level security system for folks who might be interested in protecting their precious but don’t want to go all OCD. It is available now at Best Buy and even Home Depot.
I need this. Thanks!
Then get it.
I looked into this recently when we moved from an apartment to a house and wanted an alarm system. Looks good if you have one door and no accessible windows (i.e. live in an apartment building). But if you’ve got more than one entry point any burglar worth his/her salt would PWN this thing in minutes flat.
Just by way of reference, we wound up getting a full-house system with three door sensors, two window sensors, a glass break sensor, and a motion sensor with professional install from a local company for around $600. Monthly monitoring is around $34. Yeah, that’s a lot more than $200 + $20/mo. But it’s not thousands of dollars more.
Don’t mean this to knock LaserShield, but just to mention that if you’re in a bigger-than-apartment-sized space, getting a proper system with pro install and local monitoring might be cheaper than you think.
Granted you got a much better system for a large house but let’s look at what you had to do to get this system. One, you had to sign a three year or longer monitoring agreement. Two you had to pass a credit check with a score of 600 or higher. Three you had to be a “home owner”. This is exactly why Lasershield was created, to eliminate these blocks to the millions of “renters” and others that are not willing to sign long term agreements or can not pass credit checks etc. This system is a complete package for those renters or home owners that want a system and don’t want the hassles of these “Free” system companies like ADT, Brinks etc. I have been in the business for years and have been waiting for a product like this one for a long time. Now I can sell to “Anyone”, not to the select few that can pass all of these previous “Requirements”. Thank you Lasershield!!
Larry @ North West Security Systems
Alternatively, you can just buy a big dog… it will not only protect your home but also sniff-down all your visitors for contraband ;-)
Jon
http://woodmarvels.com - Create Unique Memories
Rat poison will take care of that. Now, if you care about your pup then you have thousands of dollars worth of E-Vet bills so you can watch your dog die a slow and painful death. Or you throw him outside so you don’t have to watch the slow and painfull death, and buy another one.
My girls were safe in thier kennels when our home was burglarized. They were left alone while the material things were stolen.
instead buying this high-tech stuff. why don’t we just back to some basic rules of home safety.
johny har
http://cheaphomesecurity.smashead.com/
Lasershield doesn’t even come close to InGrid. They have a catchier name, but see the InGrid system in action - it’s the future of home control.
you can get InGrid for $79 at http://ingridsecurity.com
The Laser shield is great. I remodel homes, and this system is easy to move with no contracts just pay month to month as needed. For large homes I use up to 12 sensors from one base unit, and the cost is still only $19.99 a month. I set it up in every room including the garage and sometimes I place one in a backyard patio area. I save over $100 per year compared to most systems since they charge $30 or more per month.
Multiple entries? Get multiple sensors. You can cover a huge room with just one of them. No pwnage. Between the entry cost and low monthly cost, oh AND the cellular AND the voip - LaserShield kind of rocks. With respect to local monitoring - you’re better off with a nationwide professional monitoring operation.
Ingrid is, like Russ above says, all about home control/automation. But not much more.
LaserShield is about getting the cops there.