I want to have a basic alarm system set up with monitoring, but also extend it with home automation. I can get the first part for about $600 up-front and $170/year for the monitoring, but from there the companies I've talked to in the Montreal area either don't know how to or can't be bothered to help, or want to do it all for very high prices. For example, the Chubb affiliate I spoke to, with their Simon XT system, can only sell a z-wave package if it's based on cellular communications, which excludes internet access and costs an extra $190/year. The internet is reliable enough given there's still a siren that I don't need a cellular based system, but I want monitoring since it adds value and is not expensive, especially after the insurance discount.
What I want from the basic package is door & window sensors (wired sensors are already installed in the home, though they are apparently decades old), two to three motion detectors (two are already installed), a small, subtle keypad, fire detectors, and basic monitoring. I would prefer a professional calibrates the system and ~$600 inclusive for this part is acceptable.
For automation, I want open standards (z-wave) based door and garage opening, and other features such as thermostat and light control in the future.
I guess at a minimum the alarm and z-wave networks need to connect to coordinate door locking with the alarm (eg the door lock's keypad can toggle the alarm), and I don't want to have to use multiple apps.
I have Philips Hue now and have written some standalone scripts for it, but at this point would need to commit to some kind of automation ecosystem, which I guess would be used to bridge the alarm and z-wave network.
I strongly prefer systems that support open source (they're all probably based on it under the covers), I can write software and do basic wiring, but don't have very much time and the alarm part has to be completely reliable and hassle-free.
I'd be super happy with a Montreal based alarm company sympathetic to this use case. I'm ok with spending up to around $1200 up front if it covers everything I'm looking for.
Thanks for suggestions!
What I want from the basic package is door & window sensors (wired sensors are already installed in the home, though they are apparently decades old), two to three motion detectors (two are already installed), a small, subtle keypad, fire detectors, and basic monitoring. I would prefer a professional calibrates the system and ~$600 inclusive for this part is acceptable.
For automation, I want open standards (z-wave) based door and garage opening, and other features such as thermostat and light control in the future.
I guess at a minimum the alarm and z-wave networks need to connect to coordinate door locking with the alarm (eg the door lock's keypad can toggle the alarm), and I don't want to have to use multiple apps.
I have Philips Hue now and have written some standalone scripts for it, but at this point would need to commit to some kind of automation ecosystem, which I guess would be used to bridge the alarm and z-wave network.
I strongly prefer systems that support open source (they're all probably based on it under the covers), I can write software and do basic wiring, but don't have very much time and the alarm part has to be completely reliable and hassle-free.
I'd be super happy with a Montreal based alarm company sympathetic to this use case. I'm ok with spending up to around $1200 up front if it covers everything I'm looking for.
Thanks for suggestions!