Cyprus-Forum.com

[The Microphone]

We used to fit these systems.

What works best is a linux based server hidden in your house. The camera images are recorded direct to the system.

You can then interrogate the system over the net. The system keeps recoring irrespective of whether the internet works or not.

The systems are ultra reliable.

See www.websurveillance.ltd.uk

Mike will be able to answer any questions you have.

[EasyE]

We used to fit these systems.

What works best is a linux based server hidden in your house. The camera images are recorded direct to the system.

You can then interrogate the system over the net. The system keeps recoring irrespective of whether the internet works or not.

The systems are ultra reliable.

See www.websurveillance.ltd.uk

Mike will be able to answer any questions you have.

Cheers Microp. I will take a look

[cyprusgrump]

We’ve discussed this on here before…

It seems to me that one of the key weaknesses of such a system is that in Cyprus the main fuse box and electricity meter is invariably outside the house. Therefore, all a burglar has top do to disable the system is to flip the power switch.

Even if the system has a central hidden server which has UPS (standby power) backup and all the cameras have their own backup power the system won’t be able to communicate with the alarm centre unless it has a GSM (mobile phone) link.

And even if the control centre can be notifies, how long will it take them to respond and will they respond every time the power fails (a regular occurrence here)? I’d imagine that the average burglar is in and out in just a few minutes…

If the alarm goes off people completely ignore them – even here in Cyprus. A client of ours had the alarm go off (a battery problem) but he didn’t know the disable code. So he called his mother in the UK who had to go away and look it up. She called him back half an hour later (alarm still sounding) and nobody had bothered to see if anything was wrong in all that time.

To be honest, I think you’d be better off taking some basic security precautions like fitting shutters (most double-glazing here is easy to remove) and get on with your life in the UK instead of sitting and watching your empty property.

[The Microphone]

Grump.....you have a point...a longer life UPS is costly, but if it gives your system 20 extra minutes of recording time you may get what you are looking for.

Simply, home security is a combination of different options, not one single one.

Good locks, shutters, alarm, cameras.

Alarms though do have limited use as they are often ignored so they shouldn't be relied on as a top level option. The most you can expect is that it will scare off the intruder.

We could discuss this all day but for simplicity he needs to look at all options and then decide.

If you PM me i'll be happy to talk to you......

[cyprusgrump]

I’ve often wondered if an alarm really provides a deterrent or if it is a sign saying ‘look we have something to steal’.

We had a sophisticated alarm on our house in the UK – infrared motion detectors, magnetic door locks, pressure pads under the carpets, panic buttons – the whole works. However, when it had a false alarm (big spiders setting off the infrared detectors mostly) it was ignored.

One morning at 4am (with the alarm all set an us thinking we were ‘secure’) I woke up to discover a young thug climbing in through the bedroom window! It was an absolutely terrifying experience and I dread to think what could have happened if I had not woken up. I chased him but unfortunately he escaped with my wife’s wedding, engagement and eternity rings (never recovered of course).

[The Microphone]

You were lucky you didnt get prosecuted for scaring him mate.

Such is the state of the country under our Glorious Labour Governmant.

ps..... did you know you can get arrested for wearing an anti-government shirts in the UK near Parliament under 'anti-terrorism' laws! Sad but true.

[devil]

The best security is to have a company leave trained police dogs in your garden, with appropriate warnings on the fence. This has the advantage that a handler can also inspect the property twice a day.

[Southerner]

In the UK you can be sued by a criminal bitten by a guard dog if you have warning signs saying 'Beware of the Dog' because you are already admitting that you have a dangerous aninmal loose on the premises/grounds.

[kafenes]

In the UK you can be sued by a criminal bitten by a guard dog if you have warning signs saying 'Beware of the Dog' because you are already admitting that you have a dangerous aninmal loose on the premises/grounds.

What if you have sign saying 'Beware of the dog owner'.

[Nikitas]

There is a nice sticker used in the States: this house is insured by Smith and Wesson. Humorous but not a solution

Re the electricty supply to a security system, have you thought of a battery powered setup under constant charge from a photovoltaic array on the roof? That would bypass the mains and ensure that the security system is always on regardless of power cuts or fluctuations.