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Tag: Total Connect

  • Back to School Routine

    Back to School Routine

    And so the end of summer is upon us. For parents everywhere, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! But it also means it’s time to get back into the school routine. Going from lazy summer days to the full-on mad dash out the door can be a serious shock to the system. Here are a few ways to make the transition from summer to school a little easier.

    Bedtime

    I can already hear kids everywhere complaining! But,  start with moving back bedtime. Try starting with small increments like 5-10 minutes a day. This will give kids’ bodies a period of adjustment. It should also help combat the  “IT’S NOT FAIR” argument!

    Bringing back bedtime rituals that may have slipped over the summer such as taking baths and reading. That should also help kids hit the hay a little earlier. Oh and no TV/Computer/Smart-Device time before bed. It’s too stimulating.

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    Set the Alarm

    In addition to reinstating the bedtime rule, start setting the alarm clock. Do this gradually. Again, try work in 10-15 minute increments. This will help the transition from lazy summer mornings to early wake-ups easier. Open up the curtins.. Natural sunlight is much better to get the troops up-and-at-‘em than repeating the “get out of bed.” incantation!

    Be ready for the school lunch

    Whether  you pack your children’s lunches or have them pack their own,  start stocking the fridge and cupboards school food — water bottles, juice boxes, lunch boxes, snacks, fruits and veggies. Repackage items like grapes and carrots in baggies. This will makes lunches easier to throw together as the kids jet out the door.

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    Getting Dressed

    Here’s one more thing that can help mornings run more smoothly the first week or two back—put outfits together ahead of time.

    Getting back into the school routine doesn’t have to be a major production with a little planning and by easing into it.

    Our award-winning app Total Connect from Honeywell is the perfect addition to your security system, allowing you to see in real-time on your smart device or PC when your kinds get home from school. You can even have 10 second clips of it emailed to yourself if you happen to be busy at that moment.

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    To learn more about Total Connect, call 1-800-265-5317 or JUST CLICK HERE.

  • IP Cameras

    IP Cameras

    A great feature of Security ONE’s home automation system is video surveillance. With an IP camera and our award-winning app, Total Connect from Honeywell, you can view a live video of your home at anytime from anywhere.

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    When considering indoor video surveillance there two camera types you need to know about: the fixed camera, and pan-tilt-zoom (or PTZ) camera.

    The PTZ camera is a little more advanced and gives better functionality and freedom. The camera lets you move it around, zoom in and out, and see multiple angles of the room it is in. Because it’s an IP address camera, you can see it from an internet browser – including your smart phone or tablet.

    All that may sound complicated, but nothing could be easier. The cameras, whether fixed or PTZ, connect right into a wireless router, and only needs to plugged into an outlet to work.

     

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    Our cameras have fast frame rates work well in low light conditions. Not only can you view them in real time, they record clips whenever motion is detected in front of them. You can then have text messages or emails sent to you whenever a new clip has been recorded.

    To learn more about our IP cameras and the Total Connect app, call 1-800-265-5317 today, or JUST CLICK HERE.

  • Making Systems Easy

    Making Systems Easy

    Using your security system is as Easy as a Sunday Morning! And the easiest way to use it is with a remote entry keyfob. Like you car’s keyfob, it is programmed to work with your system – and your system alone. Using the keyfob uses a one-and-you’re-done button to arm and disarm the system.  Perfect for when you’re in a rush, bringing in the groceries, or to give to the kids so they don’t have to fuss with the keypad or remember codes.

    Like with many other devices in our daily lives, smartphones take this concept to next level. With our handy Total Connect app on your mobile device, you may never manually arm or disarm your system again! This is particularly helpful if you have a moment of worry during your day where you can’t remember if you set the alarm or not. It also acts as your virtual keyfob, for when you come home. But what it better is that the keyfob only works when its in range of the system. The app will work wherever you are in the world.

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    Now, if you’re not as attached to your smartphone as many of us are, the app, and therefore your system, is fully accessible from any computer or laptop. To put it simply, if you have the internet, you can access the app and access your system.

    No matter what you use – your smartphone, tablet, PC, laptop or good old fashioned keypad on the system itself, make it a priority to arm your security system every single time. The whole reason you installed a security system in the first place was to protect your home, your family, your belongings, and to give yourself peace of mind. Even the best security system is worthless if it’s not being used.

    To learn more about accessing your security system more easily with a keyfob or our Total Connect app, call 1-800-265-5317 or JUST CLICK HERE.

  • Fitness Trackers

    Fitness Trackers

    Don’t let your New Year’s resolution fall to the wayside. Spring is the perfect time to revisit your personal fitness goals. Here are a few great fitness tracker devices to help you.

    • Fitbit. With a wide array of fitness products to help you get – or stay – healthy, Fitbit is impressive. Their devices can track your steps, stairs, distance travelled, calorie intake, and even you sleeping pattern.
    • Nike Fuelband. This device tracks movement and sleep. The display screen on the band provides your data output and syncs with a handy phone app.
    • Jawbone UP. The device is perfect for fashion conscious as it looks like a simple bracelet. It, too, tracks movement and sleep, but also comes with a Bluetooth synced phone app. The also have an app to track your caffeine intake and how it affects your sleep patterns.

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    Set you fitness goals realistically, over 12 week periods. Try to hit one goal each week. When you can do that, make 2 or 3 goals each week. Don’t worry about hitting perfection – if you can accomplish 85 % of the weekly goals, you’ll hit your 12 week goal.

    Security ONE’s Total Connect app is a great to stay in know while you are on the go. The app allows you to check in on your home from anywhere, while also allowing you to arm and disarm right from your mobile device. To more call 1-800-265-5317 or JUST CLICK HERE.

  • Total Connect In Use

    Total Connect In Use

    Think back to the last time you were in a Car Dealer. It’s fairly obvious that these dealerships have invested a great deal. Now consider the sheer volume of automobiles out in the lot – day and night. The security concerns can overwhelm any owner.

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    How can a dealer protect his investment without being present every hour of operation? This was the question from Van Buren Buick GMCand the answer was Honeywell Total Connect Remote Services.

    The dealership director’s previous system required him to be on-site to pull reports, add access codes or verify an incident. With Honeywell Total Connect, the management team can control the system remotely from any Internet connected device. This innovation now gives the director peace of mind since he can check in from his smartphone or tablet from anywhere, at any time.

    To learn more about Total Connect call 1-800-265-5317 or just CLICK HERE.

  • What Total Connect Can Do

    What Total Connect Can Do

    It may be hard to believe, but there are now more a million apps in The App Store. As they say, there is an app for just about everything. And yes, there is an app for your security system.
    Designed for convenience and control, Security ONE Total Connect is the app that allows you to arm and disarm your system, watch video in real time, and control other smart devices like thermostats – all from your smartphone or tablet.
    TC_Video_View_hiNow you can:
    • Perform automation functions quickly and easily.
    • Create a nighttime scene that turns down the thermostat, turns on a hall light and locks the door – automatically, and all at the same time.
    • Adjust a camera from wherever you are.
    • Arm & disarm your system for a contractor when you’re not there without giving out your code
    • Check in on the babysitter or dog-sitter while you’re out
    Security ONE Total Connect combines security and video with automation. More importantly, it keeps it simple. There is even a handy “help” icon built in just in case you need it.
    To learn more about Security ONE Total Connect, call 1-800-265-5317, or just CLICK HERE.

  • Go Green For 2014

    Go Green For 2014

    If you’ve been out to dinner lately, you may have noticed that even the restrooms are going green with the addition of motion activated hand-dryers . With hybrid and electric cars, automobiles are headed down the green mile. Going green is no longer just for people hanging onto the 60’s. It’s cool, it’s here to stay, and it will help you save money.

    imagesCAS4IQTHHere some simple, every-day things you can do go green and reduce your carbon footprint:

    Bring your own bags to the grocery store
    Demand paperless statements
    Recycle
    Turn off the lights when leave a room
    Don’t let your car idle

    If you want to kick it up a notch, try these ideas:

    Put in energy saving systems
    Install solar panels

    A little goes a long way, and we can help. Call 1-800-265-5317 or CLICK HERE to learn more about how your security system can become a Home Energy Management System.

  • Total Connect Video: Lost & Found

    Total Connect Video: Lost & Found

    As an authorized member of Honeywell’s First Alert Professional Security Dealer program, we came across this great story of woman in the States who found her son’s cat using Total Connect. Katie Tarbox of Spruce Head, ME had a Honeywell Total Connect video surveillance system installed for her home. Originally meant to protect her home and her property from intruders, she came across another use for the system when her son’s cat went missing.

    iPhone4_held_TC20_blurKatie was cat-sitting for her son while he and his family were away. It wasn’t long before the cat went missing. After turning the house upside down to look for the cat, she says she even tried leaving the back open – just in case it got out. Then she checked the video motion event log on her Total Connect app.

    Sure enough, she saw the cat on the surveillance video, happy as could be, leave the house and go out into the garage to curl up for little cat-nap. The next time they saw the cat in person, he was meowing at the garage door to be let back into the house as if nothing were wrong.

    Security ONE Total Connect can not only add another layer of security to your system, but it also connects you to the things that matter most to you. Stay on the go… and in the know!

    To learn more about Total Connect, call us at 1-800-265-5317 or visit CLICK HERE.

     

  • Top Winter Travel Desinations

    Here’s the top winter destinations according to the popular travel guide, Let’s Go.

    1. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
    With an average winter-time temperature of 77 degrees, the Dominican Republic is a perfect warm-weather getaway. With travel companies offering great travel deals on all-inclusive resorts, Punta Cana is an affordable option for the budget conscious traveler.
    2. Las Vegas, Nevada
    With great hotel deals in the winter, and endless options for free entertainment, Sin City draws budget travelers in droves. For those who like flashing lights, casinos, and endless entertainment, but can’t quite afford a trip to Monte Carlo, Vegas is perfect.
    3. Bangkok, Thailand
    Plane tickets to Thailand may have some travelers cashing the check grandma gave them for Christmas a little early—but that will be the most expensive part of this trip. Backpackers flock to Thailand for its food, culture, and budget-friendliness. Travelers enjoy affordable accommodations, breathtaking sights and monuments, and a pleasant mix of internationalism and traditional culture.
    4. Montreal, Canada
    For travelers looking to escape the cold, this may not be the ideal destination, but for those who don’t mind bundling up, Montreal is an unconventional—and affordable—option. The city is so charming it’s easy to mistake it for Paris.
    5. San Juan, Puerto Rico
    Home to the famous Bacardi factory, as well as warm beaches and tropical rainforests, San Juan is an ideal destination for a much needed winter reprieve.
    6. New York, New York
    New York in the winter is magical. Ice skating in Rockefeller Center, seeing the window displays along 5th Avenue, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular are only a few of the exciting things tourists can enjoy. Accommodations can run a bit pricier than some of the other destinations on this list.
    7. Ifrane, Morocco
    Tucked away in the Middle Atlas Mountains, with red roofs and cute manicured parks, it’s easy to mistake this little slice of heaven in North Africa. It’s rare to get a chance to ski in Africa, but travelers love to take advantage of this sleep college town.
    8. Dublin, Ireland
    European cities like Dublin have become more and more budget-friendly. Dublin has the pleasant combo of being a big city, but the warmth and intimate feel of a small town. By the end of their trip, travelers to Dublin can expect to have developed a taste for Guinness and an appreciation for a bustling pub culture.
    9. Buenos Aires, Argentina
    Plain and simple, Buenos Aires is just cool. The people dress well, and everybody looks great. If this is a vacation with warmth in mind, look no further. Temperatures in January are in the upper 80s. For diversity, take a daytrip outside of the city, but make sure to return for some Buenos Aires nightlife.
    10. Vienna, Austria
    Vienna is steeped in history, and with coffee houses on every corner, travelers certainly won’t be missing Starbucks. The city is also easy to navigate and affordable—and English is widely spoken. It’s also a central point for travel to other cities in Europe like Budapest or Prague.

    Wherever you go, whenever you go, be sure to call our Central Monitoring Station to let us know your travel plans.

    CLICK HERE to learn more about looking in on your home in real time from your smartphone, tablet or PC with Security ONE Total Connect.

  • Christmas Safety Tips

    Christmas Safety Tips

    Decorations and lights help to make the season bright! But there are few hazards to be mindful of.
    By taking a few extra precautions, you can help to make sure you and your family has a safe and happy holiday season.
    Whether or not you have children, the holidays are a magical time.

    Trees

    •If artificial trees are the way for you, be sure it has a “Fire Resistant” label. It doesn’t mean the tree won’t catch fire, but it will be slower to burn and should be easier to extinguish.
    • If live trees are the only way for your family, check for freshness. The needles should be hard to pull off and should not break. The trunk should be sticky with resin. Do a tap test. Bang the tree on the ground. A fresh tree should not lose many needles.
    • Artificial or fresh, set up your tree away from fireplaces and heaters. In a heated room, live trees dry up quickly. Keep the stand filled with water. Also avoid putting the tree in doorways or high traffic areas.
    • Cut a few inches off the trunk. It will help the absorb water
    • Never use lighted candles on a tree.

    Lights

    • Make sure your lights meet all safety standards.
    • Check your lights for obvious signs of aging. Loose or bare wires, loose connections or broken sockets are signs to throw away that set.
    • The most strings of lights you should connect to a single extension cord is three
    • Any lights you use outside should be made specifically for outdoor use.
    • Turn off all your lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

    CLICK HERE to learn more about you can use Security ONE Total Connect to control your lighting automation and check in on your home in real time from your smartphone, tablet or PC.