Looking for a customizable alarm system with flexible modes?

Security Systems & Alarms Forum
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I’m trying to find a home alarm system that offers more than just a fixed “home” and “away” mode. I’d like to set up multiple custom modes, decide which sensors are active for each, and whether they trigger immediately or have a delay. I also want to get clear alerts on my phone that show which sensor was tripped. Not looking for professional monitoring.

For example, if I’m working from home, I’d like the garage door to have a delay, and my office window sensor to be off. For nighttime, it would be nice to keep my bedroom windows inactive.

Any recommendations? I’m surprised this feature isn’t more common!

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If you’re tech-savvy, check out HomeAssistant! It gives you phone notifications, remote control, and it’s super customizable.

There’s a good intro video here that walks through using HA as an alarm system:

That should give you a feel for how it works, then you can add whatever devices you need and program it exactly how you described.

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@Ren
I think that could work. I’ll just need to research zigbee and z-wave security. Last time I checked (like 5+ years ago), security options weren’t great. Z-wave had some good features but wasn’t required, so a lot of devices didn’t actually use secure options.

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Without professional monitoring, you’re prioritizing convenience over security. Someone with a WiFi jammer or a quick plan can cause a lot of damage.

Self-monitored alarms have a lot of false alarms, so police might not respond for hours. All it takes is for someone to break in, go straight for your modem, unplug it, mess around for a bit, and leave.

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@Harley
That’s not the kind of risk I’m worried about.

6

Kei said:
@Harley
That’s not the kind of risk I’m worried about.

Alright, well having sensors activate and deactivate on a schedule or in various modes isn’t too rare – but you’ll need a real security system, not just IoT stuff.

Some systems support it, but it’s still not perfect. I’d recommend DMP; it’s US-made, and the app works really well. I’d avoid Honeywell and 2Gig as they require constant maintenance and sensor troubleshooting.

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@Harley
Thanks! I hadn’t heard of DMP before; looks like a solid place to start.

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Kei said:
@Harley
Thanks! I hadn’t heard of DMP before; looks like a solid place to start.

Just a heads up, you might run into issues getting support or software access with some manufacturers since they mostly work with professionals in the trade.

Elk’s M-1 systems are DIY-friendly, though I’m not sure if they’re UL-listed. The alarm industry often aims for recurring revenue from monitoring fees, so DIY might save you from those charges.

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Check out Yolink.