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Comcast Expands Home Security Service
Home Monitoring Platform Hits Seven New Markets
Last October we noted that Comcast had jumped into the home security game, launching Xfinity Home Security service in Houston. The platform provides the usual range of home security options, including door and window intrusion detection and video monitoring via a Comcast website, and comes in Basic ($30 a month) and Preferred ($40 a month) flavors. Comcast now says they're expanding the service into seven new markets: Philadelphia, Portland, Ore., Jacksonville, Fla., Sarasota/Naples, Fla., Chattanooga, Tenn., and Nashville, Tenn. Note that Comcastic peace of mind doesn't come cheap -- the service features a very steep early termination fee: $770 for the basic service, and $1100 for the Premier service. You'll also have to pay an activation fee (which Comcast is waiving for new markets, and an installation charge of between $200 & $300).
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Kdt
@twtelecom.net

Kdt

Anon

conceptually impressive

I have to say it doesn't sound like the world's worst idea. It is Comcast though, which isn't so great. But the concept -- ISP and security merged together -- ain't half bad.

NickD
Premium Member
join:2000-11-17
Princeton Junction, NJ

1 recommendation

NickD

Premium Member

Re: conceptually impressive

If the burglar alarm goes off I'd rather have the police show up than a Comcast tech, just saying
Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678

Member

Preferred seems small


Window/Door Sensors (4)
Motion Detector (1)
Wireless Keypad (1)

Keychain Remote (1)
Touch Screen (1)

what does more cost $0.50 /m $2 /m $5 /m for each sensor?
web site has stuff on it like
Fire Monitoring (equipment not included)

Home Automation (Lights & Thermostat
equipment not included)

Video Monitoring
(equipment purchased separately)

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Price seems normal

If you have or have looked into a home security service you'd see the pricing is pretty typical.
It' is a smart bet for comcast, one more way to utilize the wire and generate a little more revenue (realise the fees all/mostly go to the security servce, with comcast claiming a small portion of the monthly fee for the wire (which previously would have been paid to the telco) plus some fee for the promotion/marketing aspect.
I't a good deal for cable users too, even if they don't use the security service, the more revenue streams CC can establish the less likely any one service is to "HAVE TO HAVE" a major increase to pay for plant improvments.
Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678

Member

Re: Price seems normal

are you forced to rent a Emat as well or some other link?

Do you need to buy comcast phone as well or just HSI? Is basic TV needed as well?
bman212121
join:2005-06-09

bman212121

Member

One Concern

So my only concern would be for someone with triple play... Let's say you're not home and someone unscrews the cable line coming into the house... Does Comcast send out the police? How long would a truck roll take? They could attempt to call your home phone but obviously that number isn't going to be functional. Seems like there could be a lot of false positives if the infrastructure isn't working properly. (How many times do people have intermittent issues due to the weather?)
Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678

Member

Re: One Concern

Cellular and Battery Backup Included

ctg1701a
join:2008-08-07
Media, PA

ctg1701a to bman212121

Member

to bman212121
said by bman212121:

So my only concern would be for someone with triple play... Let's say you're not home and someone unscrews the cable line coming into the house... Does Comcast send out the police? How long would a truck roll take? They could attempt to call your home phone but obviously that number isn't going to be functional. Seems like there could be a lot of false positives if the infrastructure isn't working properly. (How many times do people have intermittent issues due to the weather?)

The system has a cellular backup that handles alarms. This is available all of the time in case your cable service has an interruption.

Thanks
Chris
Comcast
bman212121
join:2005-06-09

bman212121

Member

Re: One Concern

Ah okay. Thanks!

N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
Premium Member
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs

N3OGH

Premium Member

Comcast, trust us!

I would just as soon hand over my ACH RTN & account numbers to the billing geniuses at Sirius XM before I trusted any Telcom provider with my home security.

The idea that a monitored alarm offers any sort of enhanced security for the average person is kinda specious reasoning. It's more the yard sign that keeps burglars away.

Your best bet is a good hardened safe for the truly irreplaceable stuff, good insurance for the stuff you leave out, and some sort of personal defense in the event of home invasion.

I have my personal preferences on the third item. Sig & Sauer, Colt (hey, it's all the Japanese you need to know!) and something to master your bushes, should your bush need to be mastered....
WernerSchutz
join:2009-08-04
Sugar Land, TX

WernerSchutz

Member

Re: Comcast, trust us!

AK47 Draco
AK47 RoMak3
Dragunov SVD 7.62x54
SKS
Ruger P89
TTC 7.62x25

A few others, hopefully soon a Goryunov.
pinjas
join:2011-01-31
River Falls, WI

pinjas to N3OGH

Member

to N3OGH
I couldn't have said it better myself.

fatmanskinny
Premium Member
join:2004-01-04
Wandering

fatmanskinny

Premium Member

Sounds good but...

does Comcast's Home Security monitoring count towards your bandwidth usage?

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Re: Sounds good but...

I'm guessing it does not, that it uses a dedicated channel like phone service does. (it might even just use one of the "phonelines")

fatmanskinny
Premium Member
join:2004-01-04
Wandering

fatmanskinny

Premium Member

Re: Sounds good but...

I was kidding. I am sure it doesn't....I was just taking a jab at Comcast and their caps.

Wondering
@173.226.104.x

Wondering

Anon

Monitoring

I just wonder if Comcast will keep statics of your alarm output?
When turning on and off the system and other alarm output reports?

Who's watching who?

Will Comcast staff or others have access to the information?

Troublesome?????????????????

Cable tv does have limits.