Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Questions about installing a GE Simon system

Hi,

I am in the planning phase of installing a GE Simon XT alarm system in my house and I have a few questions for the other members...

#1) I plan to put the Simon XT control panel next to my front door, where it will be easy to get to. If someone breaks in and locates that panel within 30 seconds (or however long it takes for an event to trip the alarm), do they just have to smash that panel in order to defeat the whole system? ...or is there another 'master' control panel that I would install somewhere less visible, which would receive the commands I enter into the keypad?

#2) How would I go about running power to the keypad? The location I have picked out next to the front door has easy attic access above. Should I place a 110V receptacle in the attic above this location, plug the Simon transformer into that receptacle, and just run the 9V wire-pair through the wall into the panel?

Thanks in advance,
--Alex

Easiest answer is "don't put it near the front door". I would put the main unit elsewhere (as well as the AC in question 2) and utilize either one (or more than one) of the following...1-keyfob(s) to arm/disarm turn on lights/open garage door etc. 2-wireless touchpads (2 to chose from, soon to be 3) to do all of the above and a little more..

There are more ways around this "smash the panel" issue, but most require add on modules (cell back up, for instance), that most people are unwilling to pony up for.

GEGuy,

Thanks for your reply! I think you've cleared up some confusion on my part...it sounds like I will have a control panel that I can install in some discreet area that is not next to the front door, and a wireless touchpad that I CAN put next to the front door and will not be a point of failure for the system. Do I have that right?

I was browsing a home security system website that did not make a clear distinction between the 'main unit' and the touchpads...can you point me to somewhere that I can see both?

Thanks again,
--Alex

this...http://www.homesecuritystore.com/ezStore123/DTProductZoom.asp?productID=514

or http://www.homesecuritystore.com/ezStore123/DTProductZoom.asp?productID=754

there are other options as well PM me for more info...