NEWS: Home Security Becomes a D.I.Y. Project

[Tomi Engdahl]

Wirelessly, Home Security Becomes a D.I.Y. Project
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/techn ... ref=slogin

WHEN Ken Jongsma built his new house, he found that the builders had already installed a basic security system — sometimes called a prewire. A tinkerer and engineer, Mr. Jongsma, 50, decided to upgrade and monitor the system on his own.

“What most people do not understand is that a residential alarm prewire is a come-on by alarm companies to get you to sign up for their — usually expensive — monitoring,” he said.

Until recently, Mr. Jongsma’s attempt to install and maintain his own security system would have been impossible. Now, however, with a little knowledge, even nonengineers can add a security system to their homes for less than a standard prewired installation by a professional.

As King Gillette discovered with razors and cellphone providers have popularized with monthly fees, the real money to be made in alarms is not in the hardware — it’s in the monitoring. The hardware can be subsidized by the security company almost to the point where it is free, but paying an alarm service about $30 a month for years and years to watch over your system more than makes those companies whole.

Even big telecommunications companies are getting into the D.I.Y. security game.

D.I.Y. Home Security
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=0 ... 6&from=rss

"The NYTimes reports that pre-wired home security installations by alarm companies are on the way out. Thanks to wireless window and door sensors and motion detectors, installing and maintaining one's own security system is becoming a do-it-yourself project, with kits available from companies like InGrid and LaserShield. Time to start cranking out some new iPhone and Android apps, kids?"

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Hello to all ! Great site. I am new here greetings to all from Poland.

[Ronakvshah]

I need to have the data sheet of MAX232 so that i can connect it with my 8051 controller ..also if any one know what pins i should use and what value of capacitors to be attached in between 8051 and MAX232 so the communcation can occur between 8051 and COM1 of PC

[Tomi Engdahl]

Here is generic MAX232 circuit diagram that should be useful in your application:


Image source: http://www.coolcircuit.com/circuit/rs232_driver/