BT, the UK’s largest supplier of Broadband Internet access, has been working with Intamac Systems the Internet monitoring and control specialist, to show the additional benefits of broadband.

Together they developed BT Homesafe, an innovative new IP wireless alarm system with CCTV capability for easy home installation.

The system provides people and their property with new levels of protection using broadband connectivity and at much lower cost than with conventional alarm systems.

Using Intamac technology, the BT Homesafe system:

• Can be managed over the web or a mobile phone and when activated is able to send personal alerts by text, email and phone messages.
• Homeowners can programme their system remotely via the easy-to-use secure Web portal and enable the system to automatically provide alerts, including informing them when their children are safe home from school, or to monitor elderly relatives in their own homes.
• Increase your personal safety –the panic alarm facility automatically messages all of your contacts if you feel vulnerable, without making your presence known by making a phone call.
• Accessories (up to 20) can monitor for fire, power failure and flooding and the system has a CCTV option, which allows individuals to view their property from anywhere in the world with low cost IP cameras that store pictures online.

You will need: Broadband Internet Connection (any provider), Telephone Line, Broadband Router with an available Ethernet port.

Retail price is £220 plus monitoring service £5 per month.

Web: http://www.bthomesafe.com

Tel: (0870) 111 7234

Loc8tor Ltd a dynamic UK based company, has produced a revolutionary invention, The Loc8tor – which is the first product of its type using miniaturised tags to keep track of everyday items that can be easily mislaid:

Never again will you have the anxiety of mislaying your keys, wallet / purse, mobile, or even your wandering child.

Never again be late for a meeting as you search for your briefcase, laptop or even your car that you were sure you parked on the third floor.

Loc8tor has two modes:

Locate - lets you find any tagged item up to a range of 600 feet (180 metres) using directional, audio, visual and vibration technology, guiding you to within 1 inch (2.5cms) of your lost item.

Alert - prevents things from getting lost in the first place: when a tagged item moves out of your pre-set “safety zone”, Loc8tor informs you immediately, what’s missing and directs you to where it’s gone.

There are two models in the range; both are completely portable, lightweight and easy to use, with tags similar to a postage stamp in size:
The Loc8tor comes with two homing tags and helps you find mislaid items. Priced at £59.99.

The Loc8tor Plus includes Locate and Alert modes, three homing tags and a panic tag that can be worn by a child, a dependent or pet.
Priced at £99.99.

For businesses an upgrade is available enabling the Loc8tor to be used as an Asset Protection device, so that staff are warned if an attempt is made to remove items from the premises.

Loc8tor is ideal for use at home or out and about and prevents that all too familiar feeling of frustration we all suffer from.

Web: http://www.loc8tor.co.uk

Tel: (0870) 111 7777

The latest criminal trend now common in the UK involves thieves overcoming your home security by ‘lock bumping’, without leaving any trace of access having been forced.

There are 22 million homes in the UK, which typically have three locks; of those, 65% are Yale type rim locks, which are at risk from ‘cylinder bumping’ or ‘lock bumping’.

Just nine easily obtained bump keys will open almost any cylinder lock in the UK and they are available legally as they are used by locksmiths.

You come home to find your door open and valuable possessions missing: When the police arrive they are unable to help, as there is no sign of a break in – you may have left your door open/unlocked.

If your house is burgled by this means it is unlikely that your insurers will approve a claim, again due to lack of evidence of forced entry.

If only cylinder locks secure your PVC doors, garage and other doors, then you need to take action; however, doors fitted with mortise locks, are not at risk.

A unique product to prevent this crime is now available, called Pickbuster ™ - a shock absorber for cylinder locks; the solution is squirted into your locks and secures them against lock bumping.

Pickbuster’s 5 Lock DIY Home Pack is ideal for the individual home, to protect all your locks: front and back doors, patio door, conservatory door, garage door and caravan door; the handy size bottle has been ergonomically designed to make it easy to use.

Available online, or at retailers priced at £19.99.

Web: http://www.pickbuster.co.uk/index.html

Tel: (0161) 763 5290

AlertMe is an intelligent home security and monitoring service that connects directly to you; it uses your broadband and smart sensors around your home to put you in control. (See our previous article)

This wireless alarm system alerts you to any incident and enables you to check it out or respond to a problem, via your mobile phone or the Internet.Your key fobs, sensors etc.enable you to securely talk to the Hub controller wirelessly using Zigbee technology.

The Hub keeps an eye on the home and communicates any activation to you.It also forwards encrypted information over the broadband line and the mobile phone network to the AlertMe servers.The servers then respond appropriately: either immediately forwarding an alert to your contacts, or keeping activity notes for you to view on your private AlertMe web pages.

If there is a problem, you and your chosen friends, family, and neighbours will then receive informative text messages.The nearest contact can then act to safely verify the problem; if it is a simple mistake, they can give the all clear, preventing the emergency services being troubled with a false alarm, or if a problem is confirmed, the police or fire service can be called.

AlertMe is affordable, friendly technology for everyone; it puts you in control, not someone in a distant call centre; easily personalized to suit your lifestyle and no expensive service technician required.

The Kit - Hub, 2 Alarm Detectors, 3 Door/Window Sensors, 2 Motion Sensors, 1 Panic Button, 3 Key Fobs and the Lamp/Status Indicator.

Web: http://www.alertme.com

Tel: (0845) 200 2873

Founded in 2006 and based in Cambridge, AlertMe.com the provider of people-friendly home security, is launching an intelligent way for people to directly protect, control and keep a close eye on their homes, wherever they may be, by mobile phone and the Internet.

AlertMe is an intuitive home monitoring system that can easily be set up within an hour, without the need for tools, drilling, wiring or waiting for servicemen to turn up.

People are then in complete control of their home security; they can personalise this wireless Alarm for their own concerns and to suit their lifestyle, whether they need to accommodate pets and visiting guests or a cleaner.

The direct alerting system, via text message, email or phone call, means people are no longer at the mercy of alarm call centres, or the fear that strangers in the street will ignore their noisy siren.

Friends, neighbours and family can be immediately alerted about incidents such as break-ins or fires and can take immediate action, which means people can avoid false alarms, as well as the resulting penalties and blacklisting by the police.

AlertMe offers security services and more, allowing people to further personalise it to fit with their lifestyle. It can inform them about normal activity, enabling them to check their home is OK while on holiday, or that children are home safely etc.

AlertMe will be available from January 2008 and is priced at £399 for the comprehensive kit in our picture, plus £10 per month for the service; this includes 24/7 monitoring, alerts, mobile SIM card for backup communications, automatic software updates, battery replacement alerts and customer support.

Web: http://www.alertme.com

Tel: (0845) 200 2873

If you are interested in increasing the value of your current home, saving up to 30% on a new home, or simply looking for ideas to get you started, a visit to The Homebuilding & Renovating Show is a must.

The event takes place over two days at the Newbury Showground on 23 and 24 June and there are lots of good reasons to encourage you to visit:

Over 120 exhibitors will attend, providing a real opportuiity to gain expert advice and view all the best products, innovations and the latest services.

Finding a suitable plot of land or a suitable renovation project is usually the first hurdle; so you can consult with Plotfinder and Plotsearch both of whom have databases with thousands of plots and projects for sale.

Smart Homes are becoming more popular as people are now installing state of the art technology to make their living environment as labour-free and safe as possible; therefore home automation will be well represented with systems on show from hi-tech sound to advanced security.

For those keen to get their hands dirty and save more money, there will be a number of useful and interesting demonstrations from exhibitors, including the latest in internal walling systems, paving and home security.

Tickets are £5 in advance or £8 on the door.

For more information and tickets, visit:

Web: http://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk
Tel: (0870) 906 2002.

CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association), is an international trade organisation spanning three continents with a membership of nearly 4,000 companies, of which over 420 are in the UK.

CEDIA members specialise in the design, supply, concealed installation, and control of automated electronic systems for the modern, intelligent home; they are the enablers of the house-of-the-future that visionaries have contemplated for most of the last century.

They install anything from multi-room audio systems and home cinemas, to complete home automation networks and sub-systems to control lighting, security, HVAC (heating, ventilation & air conditioning), and even garden facilities, from lighting to watering. 

CEDIA members can turn anything from a medieval castle to a regular new-build property, into a centrally-controlled haven in which to enjoy the benefits of a 21st century electronic lifestyle.

CEDIA is a non-profit organisation, which guarantees the highest level of proficiency and courtesy from its members; the Association also checks that they are properly insured and certified.

CEDIA aims to make living with technology easy and reliable, as well as discreet and fun to use for the whole family.
 
Why not visit The National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon, where CEDIA has a showcase promoting the latest home electronic systems? 

Web: http://www.cedia.co.uk
Tel:  (1480) 213 744

We are all leading increasingly busy lives and rightly concerned about rising crime rates; it is now more important than ever to be protected whilst at home and to know what’s going on there when you are away.

The award winning Intamac Home Manager, is a revolutionary smart, web-based alarm monitoring and messaging service that helps you protect your home and loved ones against the consequences of unexpected events including: burglary; physical threat or doorstep aggression - no matter where you are in the world!

The system enables you to remotely manage and monitor in real time the progress of many different events within your home; you (or designated contacts) are alerted through Home Manager’s integral messaging system via phone, email or text.

Parents can be alerted at work when children arrive home safely from school using their personalized PIN code. A temporary PIN can be activated to allow access for authorised individuals.e.g. a tradesperson, cleaner, nanny or au pair.

The system links water and smoke detectors, allowing homeowners to respond quickly to flooding or fire when away from the home, and you can have a private security guard attend your property if you are unable to respond to any alert.

With the Safe@Home feature, Home Manager monitors normal movement of an elderly person at home, and alerts you if daily routines do  not occur by a specified time each day.

The service can be customized to include inexpensive IP web cams that enable you to remotely view your home from any Internet connected device at any time.

Visit the website for further information at:

Web:  http://www.intamac.com
Tel:  (0870) 11 17 234

According to a recent survey carried out by Nationwide the average family home contents are now worth more than £45,000.

Despite this, according to the survey many of us are not only failing to adequately cover our valuable contents but our houses too.

More than a third of those questioned, didn’t have buildings insurance and one in four respondents had no contents cover, leaving themselves liable in the event of a disaster, for the horrendous cost of rebuilding their home, or replacing their valuable possessions- a financial nightmare!

Just a few pounds per month for insurance premiums can give you the reassurance and peace of mind, provided by high quality financial protection.

Home Contents Insurance policies are very comprehensive in the range of protection they offer and provide cover for all your household goods, apart from fixtures and fittings.

Home Buildings Insurance policies are designed to cover the existing structure, including the fixtures and fittings in your home and protect what is likely to be your largest and most expensive asset in life.

A comprehensive home buildings insurance policy will cover the cost of any damage, or if needs be, the complete rebuilding of your property.
 
When reviewing your buildings and contents cover, it is essential to get the sum insured right, as being under insured in the event of a claim can prove to be very costly.

Do it now - Shop around and consult the various insurance companies and brokers for further advice and quotes by telephone, or on the Internet, to find the right policy at the best price, to protect your home and possessions.

The articles on this site are for information purposes only. None of the content of UK Home Ideas should be construed as advice under the Financial Services Act 1986.

For further information visit:

Web: http://www.home-security-action.co.uk/home-insurance-uk.html

If you’ve ever locked yourself out or lost your keys, you’ll know that terrible sinking feeling you get standing helplessly on the doorstep.

But now, if you live in London, there’s an alternative to the long cold wait for the locksmith to arrive - and the eye-watering bill you get for 5 minutes work!

By becoming a member of The Keyholding Company, you have automatic access to their ‘Lost Key’ service. And the next time you lock yourself out, The Keyholding Company will be round with a duplicate set of keys, usually within 30 minutes - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Registering your keys costs £24 and membership which includes the ‘Lost Key’ service starts at £10.95 per month.

web: http://www.keyholding.com
tel: (0870) 770 6880