InGrid caught breaking and entering DIY home security market

InGrid's new Digital Home Protection system starts at $199.

(Credit: InGrid)

The DIY home security market is one of those fast-growing markets you don't hear that much about. But trust me, it's hot, and InGrid, one of the leading developers of digital home protection services, has entered the fray with the announcement today of the direct to consumer availability of its Digital Home Protection system.

According to the release, "The next generation in home security uses portable, digital technology and fully integrated broadband providing a nearly impossible to defeat system. Each InGrid kit comes with quick, easy step-by-step instructions and illustrations that guide installation and activation in less than 90 minutes. The system also streams up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, keeping homeowners aware of what's going on outside of their home. The sleek design of the InGrid wireless products changes the way home protection looks while the "grid of protection" changes the way it operates."

The typical custom-installed home security system starts around $4,000 and moves up from there. The good news for the do-it-yourself crowd is that this system starts at $199 for a "Basic Kit" kit that covers 1,500 square feet and $299 for a "Home Kit" that covers 2,500 square feet. The not-so-good news is to get those prices you have to subscribe to InGrid's 24-7 monitoring service, which runs $29.99/month. That's the standard rate for these types of monitoring services (I know, I pay for one myself), but at least the upfront costs are much lower.

I don't want to bore you with descriptions of all the components of the system, but if you want more info, check out InGrid's Web site.

[MadLyb]

The real numbers

Most security companies subsidize the equipment and install based upon a service contract just like cell phones and for the same cost as these packages, you get motion and smoke detectors, more sensors, and tamper detectors for the phone line. Also, most discount the monthly monitoring fee well below $29.99/month.

I like the handset, but I don't think the price is attractive as you depict it considering the monitoring contract, the DIY install, and the lack of tamper detection on the broadband.

[MadLyb]

The real numbers

Most security companies subsidize the equipment and install based upon a service contract just like cell phones and for the same cost as these packages, you get motion and smoke detectors, more sensors, and tamper detectors for the phone line. Also, most discount the monthly monitoring fee well below $29.99/month.

I like the handset, but I don't think the price is attractive as you depict it considering the monitoring contract, the DIY install, and the lack of tamper detection on the broadband.

[MadLyb]

The real numbers

Most security companies subsidize the equipment and install based upon a service contract just like cell phones and for the same cost as these packages, you get motion and smoke detectors, more sensors, and tamper detectors for the phone line. Also, most discount the monthly monitoring fee well below $29.99/month.

I like the handset, but I don't think the price is attractive as you depict it considering the monitoring contract, the DIY install, and the lack of tamper detection on the broadband.

[techgaltx]

The REAL "real numbers"

Lets get it right. With traditional security system for low fee (usually $99 but sometimes discounted) you get 1-2 sensors and maybe a motion sensor. Maybe good enough to protect a closet but not a house. I would like to know where I can find no installation fee, full house protection and less than $30 a month monitoring fee, and a phone system, and a an answering machine, and keyless entry ...

In addition, once you pay a fee to a tradition system you get no other benefits. With InGrid you get constant information available about your house. What time kids come home from school, when did dog walker came in and how long your dog was out, how many time you cleaning lady takes a smoke break on a patio. You get none of this with a traditional system. Just patronizing attitude from a security company and hundreds of dollars in fees every time you need to change something. Or convince me that I do not need it because it costs them money. In addition, when I did get alarms they could not even tell me where it came from. The best I could do is a zone and I had to call a reseller/installer to tell me what part of the zone set the alarm. This was unacceptable during an emergency.

I do have InGrid system at home now. And let me tell you, i did get events every time my broadband went down. I didn't even know I had a problem until I installed InGrid. Now cable company fixed something on their side and I no longer get small outages. Besides, InGrid does have a phone backup in case broadband is really out.