Home Hacking Projects for Geeks

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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 ...