Hi All -
This is my first post; I will do my best to keep my questions short.
Quick Background:
I am NOT a programmer, but am not afraid to learn the basics for specific applications. I do have a general understanding of coding, and can make sense of it.
My wife and I are about a week from buying our first home and will be welcoming our first child in July.
I do not feel unsafe in our new neighborhood, but statistically the surrounding area has much more crime than where we have rented in the past. That being said, security will trump automation when a deciding factor is needed.
My Thoughts / Questions:
- Security System & Vera.
I had originally planned to install a Vista-21ip with 6160RF, and a Tuxedo Touch. All sensors would be wireless through the 6160RF. (Monitoring over GSM/IP by SafeMart.) I like that the TUX has ip camera access and can be controlled vial iPad while in the house. I had planned to have the TUX control (4) z-wave electronic door locks, lighting, etc… I have since read on here that the TUX is extremely limited with Z-Wave control / scenes / etc. It also appears that the TUX cannot lock/unlock doors based on system status?
The concerns on limitation of the TUX were what drove me to consider the Vera. I see that I can connect the Vera to the 21ip through AD2USB – but I am unclear as to how much control the Vera would have over the 21ip and what sensors, if any, it would see. It looks like this type of integration requires some programming knowledge for 100% success. I am also concerned as I want the security system to work 100% of the time.
My ultimate goal is to have the electronic locks and security system tied together so that they are able to enable/disable setting home and away scenes. I would also like to have remote access to unlock/disable or lock/enable the system in addition to alerts when these events take place. ( I will have a VPN connection through my Amahi server which would allow secure access to my network at all times.)
I am open to a different security system all together if the Vista is not the way to go; wireless sensors are going to be the biggest point. I will need: recessed door, window, glass-break, smoke/co2, and motion sensors. (I do not know anything about programming zones and what not, but I plan to read up on these once I pick a control panel.)
- Cameras:
I would like to install cameras around the exterior perimeter of my home, and in the baby’s room. Ideally, any camera could be called on to display a live feed, but only the baby’s room will be a must-have. It would also be nice to have motion detection trigger events. – Not sure how to do this.
I like many of the higher resolution (low cost) cameras available from MonoPrice. This would require much more work with running lines, and the cost of a DVR or PCI input card for the PC. I am not opposed to this, however if I can go with wireless for a comparable cost and resolution, I am game.
I will likely run either a pre-built DVR such as Q-SEE, OR, ZoneMinder on my AmahiServer and access the feed via iOS when I am away from home. (I have no experience with any of this.)
I like some of the features of dropcam (They have a new camera, i can’t post a link…) it would be nice to know if they can be detected as IP cameras if you so choose – I cannot confirm this anywhere… might make a nice add-on to Vera if they were detectable.
I am open to ideas or suggestions that might help me in the right direction. I have much bigger plans for the system however I feel that much of it is trial and error, and hypothetical questions here will not help with that process.
Thanks in advance!
UPDATE :: 4/12/12 ::
I guess I’ll follow up on my own post since it has been quiet.
I heard back from dropcam, and they dodged my question… but said that their cameras are designed to connect directly to the dropcam servers.
I’ll probably pick one up anyway and let you all know if I get it working.
