Home Security System Review – Simon XT

Today’s focus is on the Simon XT alarm system made by General Electric (GE). The Simon XT security system is a completely wireless burglar alarm in which the “brains” also known as the circuit board, keypad, siren, and back up battery are all contained in a single unit. Here is a list of pros and cons to GE’s Simon XT security system.

GE Simon XT

GE Simon XT

First let’s look at the good:

 Installation is easy- because everything is contained in a single unit, you only have to run one wire for power and one for the telephone if you are going to have alarm monitoring. As far as programming the system goes, it’s not too difficult in fact; it’s a little easier to do than the Ademco Lynx panel that I reviewed last month (you can check out that review here).  However, if you are what I call “technically challenged,” then you may not want to undertake this project. 

Standard System Features – the Simon XT has a good list of features that make this unit a good choice for a lot of different users.  Some of the features include:

  • 8 different user codes (great if you need to give out a different keypad codes)
  • Up to 40 wireless zones (you can put as many as 40 wireless transmitters on the system.  Wireless transmitters can be used as a door/window sensor, motion detector, glassbreak sensor, smoke detector, or a variety of other devices.)
  • Two (2) hardwire zone (not sure why you would need this but it’s there in case you do.  Some people will place the unit next to their front door and run a wire for that door contact so that they don’t have to use a wireless transmitter others will add a siren to their system because these wireless systems only come with the one built-in siren and if you have a larger home, you probably won’t be able to hear it very well.)
  • Built-in two-way voice.  This is an alarm monitoring option that allows the central station to listen to and talk to the premises.
  • Voice Chime – the Simon XT alarm system can be programmed to announce when something is opened.  For example: someone opens the garage entry door.  Instead of the system just showing you the number of that zone (let’s say zone 2) it will actually announce in a voice the sensor’s name – “garage door”.  This is a feature that a lot of people like.  It’s good to know where the breech occurred so that you can be prepared.
  • Learns Sensors – this is probably the coolest feature that the Simon XT has.  This burglar alarm system has the ability to learn “self program” the wireless devices that you add to the system. 

As you can see GE’s Simon XT comes with quite a few features, you probably won’t need or even want some of them but they are there for you if you decide to use them.  Along with all of these great features, there are a few things that I don’t like about this wireless burglar alarm system. 

Here is my list of the bad:

Size– General Electric is successful in packing a lot of function in such a small package.  This wireless burglar alarm system’s dimensions are approximately 5.7 in. x 7 in. and will stick out from the wall abut 2 inches.  These dimensions make this wireless unit considerably smaller than the Ademco Lynx alarm system.

Looks – as with all wireless home security systems that I have seen, it’s not the prettiest thing on the planet but considering everything that it does, I guess I shouldn’t complain.

Easy to disable – this is a design flaw that all wireless home security systems seem to have.  Because everything is contained in one unit that is within easy reach, it really isn’t too much trouble for a burglar to simply tear the system off of the wall before it has time to send in an alarm monitoring signal.  There are some ways to slow down the disabling process but I will have to get into that at a later time.

That’s it for my review of General Electric’s Simon XT wireless home alarm system.  All in all it’s not a bad system.  It does come with a few drawbacks but they are the ones that you will see with every wireless alarm system.  I would use this security system in my home.  It’s very reliable and easier to install than the Ademco Lynx alarm system (check out my review of the Lynx wireless alarm system).


When Should You Improve Your Personal Home Security

According to the US Department of Justice, household burglaries account for nearly one in five of all property crimes in the US.  It’s not smart to expect the police or any other law enforcement agency to put a stop to all crime from occurring.  Therefore, it’s up to you to involve yourself in protecting your property and family. 

It’s unfortunate but there are a lot of people that choose to ignore their current state of home security and only do something about improving it AFTER they have been burglarized or had a close call.  The best time to improve your personal home security is BEFORE you have an incident. 

Many of us may think that we live in a nice part of town and that crime is really low and therefore think to ourselves that we don’t have anything to worry about.  I’ll use myself as an example. 

I live in a nice neighborhood and the town where I live has very little crime but if I were to leave my door unlocked while I went for a short walk and a burglar did decide to pick that moment to come into my house (notice that I didn’t say break-in because the door is unlocked) I wouldn’t have any one to blame but myself.  And as for not having anything to worry about, well that goes right out the window doesn’t it.  What if I were to come back home while the burglar was still in the house?  What could happen then?  I don’t even want to go there but that is where we all have to go in order to make sure that we take all of the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our property. 

I find it amazing but a lot of burglaries happen in homes that HAVE burglar alarm systems, camera systems, good door locks, and the whole bit.  Do you know why they get broken into?  They get broken into because they don’t set their security system, make sure that cameras are in good working order, lock their doors, or use the other home security items in their home.   They may start out using their alarm systems and locking their doors but as time goes on and the feeling that nothing is going to happen, because it hasn’t in the past sets in, the less and less vigilant they get about their personal home security.  They begin to set the burglar alarm less often or forget to lock their doors while they are at home. 

Folks, these are not the kinds of things that you should be doing to improve your home security.  I’m not saying that you have to spend a lot of money to get a burglar alarm system or anything like that.  In fact, most of the time we already have a good number of personal home security tools available to us.  We just have to make sure that we use them on a regular basis and use them correctly. 

I think the biggest thing that we all have to do is change our personal home security behavior.  Take a look at your situation.  Ask yourself:

  • Do you keep your doors locked even when you are at home? (This includes the door from the garage into the main part of the house.)
  • Is your door made of solid hardwood or metal and does it have a good quality deadbolt lock?
  • Did you change out the screws on the strike plate to at least 3” so that they go through the wall stud?
  • Do you have any windows in or next do an exterior door that can be broken?  If you do, then look into putting security film on the glass.
  • Does your door have a peephole that everyone can use and do you use it?
  • If you have a sliding glass door, does it have a lock or has it been adjusted so that it cannot be easily defeated with a pry-bar?
  • Do you keep your windows locked at all times or have you made adjustments so that they can’t be opened more than 6?
  • Do you keep your overhead garage door down even when you are at home?  (The only time it should be up is when you are actually using it.)
  • Do you have lights and/or other items on timers when you are away from home?
  • Do you have floodlights that are motion activated in key areas around your home?
  • Do you make arrangements to have someone pick up your mail/newspapers when you are away or put a hold on those items until you are due to return?
  • Do you have a neighbor or a second vehicle parked in front of your home/driveway while you are out of town?
  • Do you have someone come in to take care of the lawn if you are away for an extended period of time?
  • Do you have ladders or other items that could aid a burglar locked away?
  • Do you lock the gate to your back yard?
  • Do you vary your routine?  Come and go at different times.  Park in different spots or in and out of the garage.
  • Is your telephone ringer turned down or off when you are away?
  • Does your answering machine or voice mail service give a vague message to the caller so as not to say that you are out of town or out of the house?
  • Are the shades or curtains drawn in the rooms that have all of the “good stuff” that a burglar looks for kept closed when you aren’t in the room?
  • Are the small, easy to carry and high on a thief’s list, (such as jewelry, cameras, laptops, wallets) kept out of sight when they aren’t being used.
  • If you have a burglar alarm system, do you use it?

As you can see, the majority of the items on this list don’t have anything to do with having a burglar alarm system nor do they cost anything because you already have them at your disposal, you only have to change your behavior and start to implement them into your daily life.  Improving your personal home security doesn’t have to cost you anything but you do have to be vigilant in your actions to be sure that you do everything that you can to be safe and secure.  The best way to ensure this is to make your home security actions become a habit.  Your actions should become as automatic as putting on your seatbelt when you get into your car and the best time to start is NOW before you have an accident.


Home Security Solution – Key Control

Today’s topic goes hand in hand with door security because it has to do with the keys that we use to open our doors with.  I know that I have been guilty of this myself in the past but I want you to know that it is NOT okay to give your house key to anyone.

Keep Your Keys Safe

Seriously, it is really bad for your home security to give out your keys to anyone.  This may sound overly simple but you would be surprised at the number of people that think it is a good idea to give a spare key to a family member or a friend just in case they get themselves locked out or something like that.  I’m not saying that you can’t trust people anymore but it is very important to know who you are giving access to your home to.  For example:

I trust my best friend, she is like a sister to me.  I know that she wouldn’t do anything to jepordize my home security on purpose but she has a brother with a questionable background and her brother has the ability to gain control of my house keys and either burglarize my home himself or give my keys to someone else to break into my house.  Honestly, that is a situation I would much rather avoid if at all possible.

Having good residential home security is a choice.  You can choose to keep your home safe and secure or you can choose to do things that put you and your family in jeopardy of being burglarized or having to go through a home invasion.

I’ve seen people  that will even give contractors or others who are doing work in their home a key so that they can come and go as needed.  You may think that the people you want to give a key to are completely  trustworthy but you have no control of where your house keys may end up once it leaves your possession. You may trust the person doing work on your home but can you trust their helpers?  Think about it, it’s your choice, is it a good home security practice to give your keys to anyone? 

Another thing you want to consider about your keys…

Think Before You Hide a Key

Before you decide to hide a key under a rock or a planter, think about how many people already do just that.  Now think about how many burglars know that people hide a key somewhere near their front door.

If you really have to hide a key, then at least make sure that you don’t put it anywhere near your door.  Really folks, I’m not kidding, burglars may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but they aren’t stupid either.  A good burglar is always going to look for the easiest way into your house and if you put a key under your door mat or a planter or anywhere else that makes it easily accessible, they are going to look for it.

Okay, that’s enough for today at least when it comes to key control.  Remember that good home security practices are a choice that you have to make and follow every day.

Until next time, Stay Safe and Secure