I have never had an issue with a PVR. I understand some fail just don't fill them up past 80% and you will never have a problem.

Quoted from Monkeybug

Save your money on security and move to a nicer area.  

Agreed, or buy a dog.

I got time this morning, and found this:

http://canadahomesecurity.com/brampton-adt-home-security-systems-alarms-services-companies/

Do the math, 450,000 people, maybe 170,00 homes, 4566 break-ins, 60% residential, so 2740 homes, that's less than 2%.  So that's 1 in every 50 houses, so maybe one on a decent sized street.  Sounds like you need to move....   Of course these are skewed results, like any town there are pockets of neighbourhoods that are targeted more than others.  The odds are low, you need to decide if it's worth the investment.  If you think that a security system will deter people, then you're better off going to a print shop and getting a few ADT stickers made up an put them on the windows...a lot cheaper.

As for the VOIP line, they are somewhat less reliable than twister pair, we have an internet phone and it goes down from time to time (few times a year) but only for a short time, mostly we just reset the modem and it's back in business.  Having said that, if I was a thief and saw that you had ADT or some system, the first thing I'd do is cut your phone line, I probably wouldn't think to cut your cable....

Well I already signed the contract on the security system (and the house), so NOT getting the security system (or the house) isn't in the cards anymore.  Besides, a home security system means cheaper home insurance  

So far Bell is the winner here, this is the bundle I have in mind:

B.e">http://bundle.bell.ca/en/on/ma.....vice_televisionB.e

Under the current promotion, it comes with the HD receiver for free (to keep) and all I have to do is whip some parts together for an external hard drive and I'm laughin!  (provided they haven't changed their hardware).

I'm happy with $81 per month for all that.. much better than what we're paying now, stupid Rogers...

Security systems are good for other things besides just break ins.

I like knowing that if my house catches on Fire and I'm not home, the security system company will alert the fire department.  That could be the difference between my entire house going up in flames or just some damage, also the difference between my dogs being friend and not being fried.

So it serves other purposes other then just deterring break ins.  

Quoted from machine.slave

Well I already signed the contract on the security system (and the house), so NOT getting the security system (or the house) isn't in the cards anymore.  Besides, a home security system means cheaper home insurance  

Don't get too many false alarms... you might get a nasty surprise. Did you know that it is common for police departments to actually ignore alarm central calls for a certain address if more than 5 false alarms are declared?

I used to work for a few alarm companies and for one of them, 80% of the clientèle was blacklisted by the police due to too many false calls. But they don't tell the customer this. So the homeowner keeps paying every month for absolutely nothing. And it happened regularly that people STILL got broken into and tried to sue the police and alarm company for it, and lost. It is often a little if unknown little bylaw.

I have the best alarm system... 3 big dogs that go off like foghorns when they see a bug fly by any window. Someone tried to break into my shed 2 years ago and my neighbor said they went completely batshit. My neighbor went to check and saw the guy running off. He saw my dogs practically looking to go through the damn door...

I have both my phone and internet with TekSavvy. They are by far the best internet provider in Canada, possibly North America. Their service is amazing. It's just over $30 for unlimited, unthrottled, DSL (cable too in some areas). They also offer phone service, but unlike Primus, it's true analog phone service, not VoIP crap.

This is the company that's been in the news lately fighting for our rights to have access to unthrottled and uncapped internet access. I wouldn't dare use another provider.

Quoted from Sparky

Don't get too many false alarms... you might get a nasty surprise. Did you know that it is common for police departments to actually ignore alarm central calls for a certain address if more than 5 false alarms are declared?

Yup, I think we get two freebies and then there's (I think) a $200 fine for each false alarm.  It varies per region.

Thankfully I have 12 years experience using an alarm system at my work so I'm not too worried about myself.. more so for my wife!  

And Adam's right.. $20 per month isn't a lot to pay for piece of mind.    Especially with my babies in the basement!  ... oh, and our dumb dog.  

Vengeance,  I agree, security systems provide a peace of mind, however I would be interested to see some statistics on house fires between those that do and don't have monitoring.  I would suspect that unless they are very close to the station, it wouldn't make a difference.  i.e. unless they get there within 5mins for example, the house is gone anyway...

And your dog doesn't need to be not friendly, mine is very friendly, but she will also bark like mad at anyone that gets close to the house.  I've had people stop when I'm outside with her and they say 'Oh, that's the dog, we've never seen her, but we hear her and see the window shaking every time we walk by with our dog"...they don't need to know the dog is friendly, but it's just not worth the risk to a burglar, there are easier targets out there.

Moot point anyway as he's already got one.  Personally, the thing that drives me nuts about them is that little beep-beep-beep that it makes every time you open a door.