| Installing a DIY (do-it-yourself) wireless home security | | | | The home security systems you can buy at your |
| system is easy to do if you want to save money. It | | | | local hardware store usually will have a way to |
| will only take you a few hours to set it up, install the | | | | monitor the system yourself instead of hiring a |
| control panel and program it. Installing your own | | | | monitoring company to do it. If you hire a company, |
| system will also save you money on monitoring fees. | | | | you can be charged over $30 a month or more. |
| A wireless system is much easier to install than a | | | | If you just want to secure your home at an |
| wired one, especially if you don't have much | | | | affordable price and not have to pay out of pocket |
| experience with electrical wires. A wired system has | | | | for monthly fees, then a wireless system is the way |
| to have electrical wiring going from the control panel | | | | to go. When the alarm is triggered, the system will |
| to the door and window sensors. The wiring has to | | | | dial one of the emergency phone numbers you |
| be concealed in the walls, under rugs and floorboards. | | | | programmed into the system. |
| If you want a wired system, it's best to have a | | | | When you or someone else answers, the system will |
| professional company come out and do it for you. | | | | play a pre-recorded message letting you know that |
| You can choose either a local security company or | | | | there is an emergency situation happening in your |
| one of the national chains like ADT or Broadview | | | | home and you should call for help. |
| (formerly Brinks Home Security). | | | | Some systems will let you listen in on the room that's |
| With a wireless system, all you have to do is install | | | | been broken into. You can also add wireless security |
| the control panel, place the sensors on the windows | | | | cameras so that you can see, via a computer, what's |
| and doors and install the motion sensor in a hallway, | | | | going on inside your home when you're not there. |
| basement or outside the house. | | | | |