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"We will be contacting eligible Nest Secure customers on Friday with an exclusive offer for a complimentary next-generation security system from ADT (up to $485

"We will be contacting eligible Nest Secure customers on Friday with an exclusive offer for a complimentary next-generation security system from ADT (up to $485 value), or $200 to use on the Google Store." Does anyone willingly want to go ADT? Home of the three year contract, the long-winded-drawn-out cancellation processes, the constant door-knocking and chasing down to sign up for service, the constant glut of fees and charges when things go wrong...

AdamJacobMuller 4y ago
I'm definitely among the unwilling. I'm using nest secure now, anyone have any suggestions for a replacement? At least they aren't killing my smoke alarms, though, they still can't automatically dispatch fire/police if there is smoke/fire, though they will dispatch if an alarm is triggered.
- kotaKat 4y ago
  Personally if I have to go into an 'alarm' ecosystem I'd go with Alarm.com if you're serious about paying for monitoring. My favorite vendor is https://suretyhome.com/ https://suretyhome.com/ - they have reasonable costs to get an alarm panel running with monitoring and all the normal integrations. (I personally use an older Honeywell Vista security system that's been integrated into ADC via a communicator. The sky's the limit!)
  - jonathankoren 4y ago
    Is alarm.com just a vendor for other providers like Brinks?
    - kotaKat 4y ago
      They do, yes. Some equipment Brinks and ADT sells also is part of the ADC ecosystem, but is restricted to only those vendors. Any other alarm.com gear is generally fair game as long as it's been released from any account it's on from any monitoring company.
  - throwaway19423 4y ago
    I am effectively a customer of alarm.com but not sure how. They seem to be a bundler or backend provider (sort of like a service OEM) for various branded alarm systems. Is there any technical material that explains what they do, and provides more visibility into the ecosystem?
- azinman2 4y ago
  I’m surprised this space isn’t better disrupted. They all aren’t that great, even the new comers. Either they don’t have wide product coverage, only work with certain assistants / apps, are ugly, terrible UX, etc. As much as I don’t think it’s that great, Ring seems to be the best of the bunch now.
  - jonathankoren 4y ago
    It’s a good enough product with recurring subscription revenue. There’s zero reason to innovate. Everything is a cost, and it’s unclear that customers actually want “better”.
  - phpisthebest 4y ago
    Security and more importantly Fire Alarm has ALOT more regulations and liablity than just a simple Automation to turn on the lights... That is why you do not see as much activity in Security or Fire Alarms as you to other Home Automation, and most likely why Google went with ADT instead of rolling their own with Nest... Someone in legal look at that and said "Yea lets let ADT lawyers deal with that"
    - azinman2 4y ago
      Ring offers this, and my understanding was previously Nest did too? I don’t think it’s as big a legal minefield as you suggest. You just need the right integrations in place, and as you said, figure out the regulations (often at a county level). But it’d a solvable problem. My guess is that this business is very sticky so it’s hard to get new people started… plus you’re making a lot of SKUs in hardware that you need to keep in inventory, software up to date, once you buy the hardware you don’t upgrade it, it’s not very sexy, etc.
      - phpisthebest 4y ago
        >>I don’t think it’s as big a legal minefield as you suggest. That minefield is a 3 legged stool 1. Actual Legal Liability 2. Perceived Legal Liability 3. PR Liability around the law / legal system #1 is probably not very big, however if you put a smoke alarm in someones home that does not work correctly or perceived to not work correctly and your a name like Google that the media loves to report on... well #2 and #3 become HUGE. law suits will be filled, and even if you "win" in actual court, the court of public opinion will not be favorable
- zacharyvoase 4y ago
  Fortunately I never had to rely on it, but Simplisafe was super easy to set up, and had a nice app/interface/customer support.
- WirelessGigabit 4y ago
  I wonder how many false alarms the fire department would get if they get dispatched every time a smoke alarm goes off. And I'm one of the guilty ones. Well, the apartment I live at is. Its range hood is one of those things that even after putting in brand new filters and extensive cleaning barely performs better as one of those fake ones at Ikea. Same with the bathroom fan. When you turn it on it's loud, but it just circulates air. So I open the door. But that sets of the smoke alarm in the hallway...
  - dylan604 4y ago
    What are you doing in the bathroom that sets off a smoke alarm?
    - WirelessGigabit 4y ago
      Hot shower = steam, which triggers a smoke detector! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuAeaIcAXtg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuAeaIcAXtg
- phpisthebest 4y ago
  Roll your own Self Hosted Solution, Either Buy DSC Wired Gear yourself[1] and install it (hard) or do a "less secure" wireless system using HomeAssistance and Zigbee or Zwave devices. [1]https://www.level1techs.com/video/better-iot-dsc-alarms-whome-assistant-home-automation https://www.level1techs.com/video/better-iot-dsc-alarms-whom...
  - kotaKat 4y ago
    Don't forget you can add an AlarmDecoder to a DSC (or Honeywell Vista) system! https://www.alarmdecoder.com/ https://www.alarmdecoder.com/ It basically sits on the keypad bus of the system and emulates a normal keypad, so you can integrate it into whatever applications you want like HomeKit, or as my colleagues did, a fully homespun bespoke home automation suite in .NET.
    - thedougd 4y ago
      DSC has a serial port option that accepts all their commands and offers virtual keypad functions. There are also third party option networked options that speak the same protocol.
  - thedougd 4y ago
    I highly recommend Alarm Relay for monitoring a traditional system. $120 a year or so.
LeoPanthera 4y ago
It's not just ADT. We finally managed to escape from a contract with Brinks, after Brinks bought our previous provider, Livewatch, a few years ago. It was hell, and in the end they made us sign a bunch of shit via docusign (!), and even then you're forced to pay for 30 days more service while they bombard you with scaremails. Never again.
- kotaKat 4y ago
  ADT, Brinks, and Vivint are the three shitty horsemen of the home security industry.
  - phpisthebest 4y ago
    Surely there has to be a forth company....
    - louky 4y ago
      Simplysafe. At least their you can't disable their current generation of alarms with a $3 transmitter. Criminally negligent but oh well.
    - LeoPanthera 4y ago
      We have switched to "Abode". Fingers crossed...
kabdib 4y ago
ADT is garbage. I canceled ADT service about 15 years ago. For the next few years they were mailing open-air ads to my address asking me to reconnect the alarm system. I managed to reach someone in their C-suite, who told me directly that they were unconcerned about that type of privacy data being made available to anyone who happened to read a literal postcard.
- vuln 4y ago
  Duh. How else are they going to fear monger you into reconnecting. “Look everyone knows you no longer have an alarm, or alarm service”
jimbobimbo 4y ago
The best part of ADT is when the sales guy spends an hour face-to-face with you and you learn about 3-year commitment next day, from the installer guy, who (wisely) asks whether you are aware of 3-year commitment before wiring anything.
- louky 4y ago
  I installed a Mormon-owned alarm years ago (Pinnacle) and the division of sales/installers was stark. I didn't last long because is was so scummy. I was hired off craigslist and didn't even realize they were all Mormon at first. The Circle meetings, "The Wives" being always there but not working was really bizarre. I just couldn't take the lies the salesmen told regularly. Weirdest gig/contract I ever had. Many customers were shocked when I told them what they actually signed a contract for.
j45 4y ago
It's wise to closely review and avoid the marketing of companies selling old infrastructure repackaged as new. Security companies are looking for new lines of revenue. Telcos, and cable companies will often private label existing solutions that are made for enterprise (B2E) and not really meant for B2C as well, let alone B2B (small business) You would be better off finding something like Home Assistant and stumbling through connecting something together.
ubermonkey 4y ago
Wow, sounds like they've gotten pretty shitty. I've been using ADT for 26 years, and in my current home for 23. I have had no issues with them, and have found them responsive when alarms happen or equipment needed to be replaced. OTOH, some pals have a Simplisafe setup and it's been a darkly hilarious saga of nonfunctional sensors, false alarms, and ongoing chicanery.

AdamJacobMuller 4y ago

I'm definitely among the unwilling. I'm using nest secure now, anyone have any suggestions for a replacement? At least they aren't killing my smoke alarms, though, they still can't automatically dispatch fire/police if there is smoke/fire, though they will dispatch if an alarm is triggered.

kotaKat 4y ago
Personally if I have to go into an 'alarm' ecosystem I'd go with Alarm.com if you're serious about paying for monitoring. My favorite vendor is https://suretyhome.com/ https://suretyhome.com/ - they have reasonable costs to get an alarm panel running with monitoring and all the normal integrations. (I personally use an older Honeywell Vista security system that's been integrated into ADC via a communicator. The sky's the limit!)
- jonathankoren 4y ago
  Is alarm.com just a vendor for other providers like Brinks?
  - kotaKat 4y ago
    They do, yes. Some equipment Brinks and ADT sells also is part of the ADC ecosystem, but is restricted to only those vendors. Any other alarm.com gear is generally fair game as long as it's been released from any account it's on from any monitoring company.
- throwaway19423 4y ago
  I am effectively a customer of alarm.com but not sure how. They seem to be a bundler or backend provider (sort of like a service OEM) for various branded alarm systems. Is there any technical material that explains what they do, and provides more visibility into the ecosystem?
azinman2 4y ago
I’m surprised this space isn’t better disrupted. They all aren’t that great, even the new comers. Either they don’t have wide product coverage, only work with certain assistants / apps, are ugly, terrible UX, etc. As much as I don’t think it’s that great, Ring seems to be the best of the bunch now.
- jonathankoren 4y ago
  It’s a good enough product with recurring subscription revenue. There’s zero reason to innovate. Everything is a cost, and it’s unclear that customers actually want “better”.
- phpisthebest 4y ago
  Security and more importantly Fire Alarm has ALOT more regulations and liablity than just a simple Automation to turn on the lights... That is why you do not see as much activity in Security or Fire Alarms as you to other Home Automation, and most likely why Google went with ADT instead of rolling their own with Nest... Someone in legal look at that and said "Yea lets let ADT lawyers deal with that"
  - azinman2 4y ago
    Ring offers this, and my understanding was previously Nest did too? I don’t think it’s as big a legal minefield as you suggest. You just need the right integrations in place, and as you said, figure out the regulations (often at a county level). But it’d a solvable problem. My guess is that this business is very sticky so it’s hard to get new people started… plus you’re making a lot of SKUs in hardware that you need to keep in inventory, software up to date, once you buy the hardware you don’t upgrade it, it’s not very sexy, etc.
    - phpisthebest 4y ago
      >>I don’t think it’s as big a legal minefield as you suggest. That minefield is a 3 legged stool 1. Actual Legal Liability 2. Perceived Legal Liability 3. PR Liability around the law / legal system #1 is probably not very big, however if you put a smoke alarm in someones home that does not work correctly or perceived to not work correctly and your a name like Google that the media loves to report on... well #2 and #3 become HUGE. law suits will be filled, and even if you "win" in actual court, the court of public opinion will not be favorable
zacharyvoase 4y ago
Fortunately I never had to rely on it, but Simplisafe was super easy to set up, and had a nice app/interface/customer support.
WirelessGigabit 4y ago
I wonder how many false alarms the fire department would get if they get dispatched every time a smoke alarm goes off. And I'm one of the guilty ones. Well, the apartment I live at is. Its range hood is one of those things that even after putting in brand new filters and extensive cleaning barely performs better as one of those fake ones at Ikea. Same with the bathroom fan. When you turn it on it's loud, but it just circulates air. So I open the door. But that sets of the smoke alarm in the hallway...
- dylan604 4y ago
  What are you doing in the bathroom that sets off a smoke alarm?
  - WirelessGigabit 4y ago
    Hot shower = steam, which triggers a smoke detector! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuAeaIcAXtg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuAeaIcAXtg
phpisthebest 4y ago
Roll your own Self Hosted Solution, Either Buy DSC Wired Gear yourself[1] and install it (hard) or do a "less secure" wireless system using HomeAssistance and Zigbee or Zwave devices. [1]https://www.level1techs.com/video/better-iot-dsc-alarms-whome-assistant-home-automation https://www.level1techs.com/video/better-iot-dsc-alarms-whom...
- kotaKat 4y ago
  Don't forget you can add an AlarmDecoder to a DSC (or Honeywell Vista) system! https://www.alarmdecoder.com/ https://www.alarmdecoder.com/ It basically sits on the keypad bus of the system and emulates a normal keypad, so you can integrate it into whatever applications you want like HomeKit, or as my colleagues did, a fully homespun bespoke home automation suite in .NET.
  - thedougd 4y ago
    DSC has a serial port option that accepts all their commands and offers virtual keypad functions. There are also third party option networked options that speak the same protocol.
- thedougd 4y ago
  I highly recommend Alarm Relay for monitoring a traditional system. $120 a year or so.

LeoPanthera 4y ago

It's not just ADT. We finally managed to escape from a contract with Brinks, after Brinks bought our previous provider, Livewatch, a few years ago. It was hell, and in the end they made us sign a bunch of shit via docusign (!), and even then you're forced to pay for 30 days more service while they bombard you with scaremails. Never again.

kotaKat 4y ago
ADT, Brinks, and Vivint are the three shitty horsemen of the home security industry.
- phpisthebest 4y ago
  Surely there has to be a forth company....
  - louky 4y ago
    Simplysafe. At least their you can't disable their current generation of alarms with a $3 transmitter. Criminally negligent but oh well.
  - LeoPanthera 4y ago
    We have switched to "Abode". Fingers crossed...

kabdib 4y ago

ADT is garbage. I canceled ADT service about 15 years ago. For the next few years they were mailing open-air ads to my address asking me to reconnect the alarm system. I managed to reach someone in their C-suite, who told me directly that they were unconcerned about that type of privacy data being made available to anyone who happened to read a literal postcard.

vuln 4y ago
Duh. How else are they going to fear monger you into reconnecting. “Look everyone knows you no longer have an alarm, or alarm service”

jimbobimbo 4y ago

The best part of ADT is when the sales guy spends an hour face-to-face with you and you learn about 3-year commitment next day, from the installer guy, who (wisely) asks whether you are aware of 3-year commitment before wiring anything.

louky 4y ago
I installed a Mormon-owned alarm years ago (Pinnacle) and the division of sales/installers was stark. I didn't last long because is was so scummy. I was hired off craigslist and didn't even realize they were all Mormon at first. The Circle meetings, "The Wives" being always there but not working was really bizarre. I just couldn't take the lies the salesmen told regularly. Weirdest gig/contract I ever had. Many customers were shocked when I told them what they actually signed a contract for.

j45 4y ago

It's wise to closely review and avoid the marketing of companies selling old infrastructure repackaged as new. Security companies are looking for new lines of revenue. Telcos, and cable companies will often private label existing solutions that are made for enterprise (B2E) and not really meant for B2C as well, let alone B2B (small business) You would be better off finding something like Home Assistant and stumbling through connecting something together.

ubermonkey 4y ago

Wow, sounds like they've gotten pretty shitty. I've been using ADT for 26 years, and in my current home for 23. I have had no issues with them, and have found them responsive when alarms happen or equipment needed to be replaced. OTOH, some pals have a Simplisafe setup and it's been a darkly hilarious saga of nonfunctional sensors, false alarms, and ongoing chicanery.