DIY Home Security products have come a long way in the last 10 years.

This guide is intended to give hints and tips for setting up your own Security System easily in home or business, using GE brand system.


I started with a GE XT security package similar to this one:  It is very powerful, expandable and inexpensive.


http://cgi.ebay.com/80-649-3N-XT-GE-SIMON-XT-Wireless-Security-Alarm_W0QQitemZ130257864421QQcmdZViewItemQQptZHome_Security?hash=item130257864421&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

It comes with the main panel with display and keypad, a 24 hour backup battery, a plug-in transformer,
a motion sensor that will ignore your pets,  (3) door/window sensors,  a keyfob to arm and disarm (similar to what most cars have nowdays),
and a telephone cord that will allow the system to call a designated number(s), if the alarm is triggered.

Everything you need to get started in  a small home or apartment, and can expand to a large home or business easily. 
The GE XT is high quality, portable, & wireless,  and can relocate with you if you move.  They can also be expanded greatly as your situation changes.

You may also sign up with a alarm monitor service for a small fee and the system can call the service also.

The Door/Window sensors come in 2 parts, one is the transmitter, and the other is a small magnet enclosed in a
plastic holder.  When the magnet and the transmitter are separated, the alarm is triggered.

To avoid drilling holes in your house or apartment, get a small spool of double sided tape from your local home supply store, (3M makes some good stuff)

Using double sided tape, mount the transmitter part of the sensor on the door frame, in a location that is opposite the hinge side of the door. Note the small mark on the side of the transmitter and orientate this so the magnet is next to it, in the next step.

Mount the small magnet right next to the  transmitter, aligned with the small mark mentioned above,  put magnet on the door itself, such that when the door is opened, the 2 parts move away from each other.   When the door is closed, they should be as close as possible, but not touching.
Repeat this for each of your sensors, placing them on exterior doors and/or windows.

Position your motion sensor in a suitable location such that it covers you area of interest.  The motion sensor is nice in that it can avoid the need for a bunch of window sensors.

You may purchase additional units to expand the covered areas.  Again, I use good double sided tape to affix the unit to the selected location.
Note, you will want to 'learn' this sensor before mounting it high out of reach..see below.

To see your coverage area, momentarily open up the back cover of the motion sensor, this starts test mode, and walk around the area, the red LED will come on showing you where the coverage boundaries are.  After 60 seconds of no movement, it will go out of test mode automagically.


Next, select a location for your panel, it should be out of sight somewhat, yet where you can still hear it's beeps and sirens.

The XT is very loud by itself, but some choose to add a remote Siren to it, silence the built in speakers, then hide the unit to keep bad guys from smashing it to bits during a break in.

Next, you will let the console 'learn' the sensors, follow the instructions in your installer manual but basically, enter the menu
for learning sensors, then trigger the sensors one by one, saving them in the console.

You can set a name and a type of each sensor.  The type you select will determine how it behaves when triggered.
For example, type 10 is used for doors where you want a delay upon trigger, to give you time to get in and shut off the alarm.
Type 13 is immediate, for doors or windows that you would never enter while the alarm is on.

Learn your keyfobs also, I used type 7 for these and they work great on arming and de-arming the system from the driveway or outside.

Enter up to 4 phone numbers in the panel, which will be called if the alarm is triggered.  It's nice to get a call on your cell phone
that someone has entered your dwelling, before arriving back home to find out the hard way.

The XT model also has a ' latchkey ' setting.  Example, say your kids should arrive home from school between 330 and 345, and if they don't for some reason, the alarm will call the designated numbers to notify you.

Another feature is  ' fail to open ' or close, say you have a small business and someone should be opening the door at 9am and closing up at 9pm.  If they fail to arrive on time, or dont close on time, the alarm can call you and notify of this situation also.

The GE XT is a very powerful system that rivals some of the professional units in use today.  It will handle up to 40 zones.  A zone is basically any device hooked up to it, motion sensor, keyfob, door/window sensor, or remote keypad, smoke sensor.

Additional devices and sensors you can connect up easily are: 

Carbon monoxide sensor 60-652-95
Smoke Detector
Heat detector 80-994
* Remote keypad  (if you have an XT, do not buy the QS1500 remote keypad like I did)
Glass break sensors
Wireless Panic button
Wireless Panic button in wristwatch or pendant.  60-906-96 or 60-578-10-95
GSM Cellular dial-out backup   600-1048
Freeze Sensor  60-742-95R
Water Sensor 60-744-95R
Outdoor motion sensors, driveway, etc.. (set for chime but not alarm)


* If you want a remote keypad, make sure to get the 'talking'  unit that ends in 'xt' (60-924-3-XT)  because the non 'xt' remote keypad part numbers will not work completely with the XT panel.

Also, the GE 'Simon 3' model from GE uses most (* all?) of the same sensors, so if you want to upgrade your 3 to an XT, it's pretty simple, just swap the panel and relearn your sensors.

The GE system is not completely user friendly for programming and setup, but it's not too bad. 
You will need to pay attention to items in the installer guide, such as 'installer code' &  'dealer code'
which are used  to activate certain functions that are hidden from the typical homeowner/user in the XT menus.

To keep the alarm installer folks in business, they will never give you everything you need in a way that novices can
understand, but I think they strike a good balance.  Again, if you get stuck, do some research, check online for additional hints and tips.

If you get stuck, don't be afraid to call up a local alarm service and get some help, check their price but it shouldn't cost too much.



OK, basic operation here:  Your planning may vary:
You have 3 basic modes.  #1. Perimeter secure, and #2. Perimeter and Interior secure.  And #3, you could just run interior motion only for special cases.

a: You are home, alarm OFF,    sensors can CHIME when activated, as a simple alert that a door opened.

b: You are home, staying inside, moving around, Alarm is ON #1 mode,  Perimeter armed, no doors or windows can be opened without setting off the alarm.

c: You are home sleeping, Alarm is ON #2 mode,  Perimeter AND motion sensors armed.  No doors or windows or Motion will be tolerated in covered areas. Do not put a motion sensor in your sleeping area, if you want to arm the motion devices while you are home.

d: You are leaving the house, Turn Alarm on, #2, by hitting arm on the keyfob 2 times.

e: Say.. you want someone to enter your garage, get your lawnmower and cut your grass..you could arm the interior motion sensors inside the house, but leave the perimeter alarm disarmed.  (assumes you have no motion sensor in the garage of course)


Here is what I suggest:  When not armed, all doors and windows will 'chime' when opened. (type 10)
When you are ready to arm the system, Turn on alarm for all exterior access, (doors and windows), then when you are ready for bed, activate your motion sensor too.

When you leave your premise, then arm both doors/windows AND motion by hitting the keyfob arm button twice.

Returning home, press the disarm keyfob button once, or using the panel (remote panel) hit Disarm then punch in your user code.

It's nice to know that your dwelling is secure  when returning home to it.  Nothing worse than arriving to find a bad guy is inside.


If you found this guide helpful, please select 'yes' below..thank you!
regards
Jim Sanders