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Part III: Home Security
If you still want third-party monitoring, Smarthome offers a cheap service, and
it sounds like they might even be willing to monitor a hacked-together system.
Check out http://www.smarthome.com/ALARM.HTML.
I decided that the best way for me to improve the security of my home while
staying within a tight budget was to build my own security system using off-
the-shelf parts. Such a system can provide most of the features of standard
security systems, as well as a few features found only in high-end security
systems:
• Door and window sensors
• Motion detection
• Local audible alarms
• Video monitoring
• Off-site archiving of video feed
• Remote alerting using my existing mobile phone
The system should be designed to resemble Figure 13-1. Intrusion detection
mechanisms will provide input to a script running on your computer. The
script will use logic you provide to determine the appropriate response: take
pictures or video through remote cameras, send you an alert, or do noth-
ing if the system isn’t armed. You can arm and disarm the system using
anything that you can use to communicate with your computer, including
a wireless remote.
Project Overview
In this project, you will design and implement an X10-based wireless
security system using door and window sensors, motion detectors, video
cameras, an Internet connection, and a ...