burgular alarm

[nike]

I have an old 486 pc at home. I want to dedicate this beast solely to a home burgular alarm. Is there any software and interfaces out there, or if someone has one please advise how to go about it

[ranchdog]

Suggestion--- Move the 486 next to the door and maybe the Bad Guy will take the beast rather than something expensive! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......

[Paleo Pete]

Can't find much, but here are a couple of things I turned up.

Do IT Yourself (http://forum.doityourself.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=23) has a forum related to home security, you might consider dropping by and posting a question, they might be aware of many more options than we will.

Most of what I've been able to dig up has been related to computer security, rather than physical home security. Maybe I haven't hit on the right keywords...Digi Watcher (http://www.digi-watcher.com/screen_cap.htm) might be worth checking out. Prowler Cam (http://users.wcnet.net/prowlercam/) looks like useful video monitoring.

Can't find much, most of the links Google turned up were either businesses trying to sell complete systems, or computer/internet security. The 486 should do fine, if you can ever find software to begin with, but finding it might not be easy. The folks at the forums linked above may have some ideas.

Now if you want the best burglar alarm around, get a couple of ducks or geese. Nothing, dogs included, makes a better alarm. Dogs are almost useless, unless you have one that NEVER barks at night, period. (which is almost impossible unless it's highly trained.) If it does bark, you know something's wrong. One that barks all night you get accustomed to hearing, and will never notice if something IS wrong...We had two ducks a few years ago, and when something was wrong at our place, our ducks would actually wake the dogs up! The dogs would never make a sound until I opened the front door to see what was happening. But the ducks could wake up the dead...Dogs are only good for annoying the neighbors...

The "old grey goose" goes ducks even one better. Those things are MEAN...they will attack anyone...unless they know you. My grandmother had one when I was a kid. We couldn't go outside till she penned the thing up in the chicken yard. Adults included...and yes, it hurts when the beast pecks you. That beak is strong enough to crack corn kernels...

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YOU! Out of the gene pool!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[hiredgoonz]

I can back Pete up on this one...my in-laws have guineas (I think that means "loud, irritating bird" in latin) and they are FAR more attentive than the dog...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[yawningdog]

Pete, you are dead wrong about dogs.

I have two, and yes, they do bark. But one day when a couple of teens tried to break into my home, they both came so unhinged that my neighbors felt compelled to investigate and the jackasses who were attempting the B&E never made it inside.

Correct, most dogs are not trained in bite work and would fail a schutzhund courage test, but they all are territorial, have pack instinct and defense drive, particularly the herding breeds. Not to mention that criminals are generally afraid of a medium-large dog even when it is asleep.

And waterfowl may keep the skateboarders out of the flower garden, but I haven't met the bird yet that I couldn't field dress in about three seconds with my Chuck Taylors.

Hey nike, you want real home protection? Get yerself a nice, ugly, 90lb. american bulldog (http://www.dogresources.com/abrhome.html) and you wont be disappointed.

Oh yeah. Two words... second amendment.

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You cannot break God's law. You can only break yourself upon it.

[sea69]

Pete's on track here.

I have Prowler Cam, Eyes and Ears, and Agent99.

Prowler Cam is kind of difficult to config and seems a little more complicated than it needs to be for what it is made to do.

Eyes and Ears is nice (http://www.intech2.com/), it has audio sensors as well as motion sensors.

Agent99 (http://pcalarm.hypermart.net/) is about a tie with Eyes and Ears. Perhaps it should be #1 because of it's ease of use (interface) and non complex config options. It has various alarms or voice warnings and can call you or the police (or your nieghboors) in the event of (whatever you consider) a security violation.

hehe and it can alarm sound (trigger on motion or audio sensor) a dog, canary, or a motorcycle.. lol

(any sound bite you have avail)

or my favorite: no alert at all, just call me and the POLICE)

You can try all three (shareware)

I have used tham all over the last (almost) year along with my little "golf ball" (logitec quickcam that came with my pc).. it has been happily 'hanging out of my front second story window to view who comes and goes through rain, wind snow and heat.) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 07-21-2001).]

[ranchdog]

Man I have to go with Geese on this one. They are peaceful until someone or something eases around in thier territory. For the home itself ( geese are hard to house-break? ) nothing compares with a Carver blood Pit Bull. >barking is not thier flavor< Unless of course you mount a shotgun with a string tied to the door knob and trigger.

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......