u/FredSanford4

I am looking at picking up a soundbar for a TV in our living room. This will NOT be the primary room for viewing tv, but is the central room of the house. So we will have a TV in that room and I have limitations as to adding a receiver or surround speakers, so just wanting to add some additional volume to the setup. Additionally, there is no good spot for a sub in this room.

That said, is Arc Ultra overkill (financially) if I cant have the sub? In other words will any sound bar perform similarly in this setup? I do have Sonos Play:1s in the house, thus I am in the Sonos ecosystem.

Secondly, can the soundbar join the Sonos system for whole home music or will it act standalone?

Finally, can the soundbar be used without Sonos app? In other words, if anything ever happened to Sonos, is the soundbar dead in the water? TIA!

Recently had the DSC Neo installed and also using the DSC Connect app. I can open the app and see my various zones and all show in a list as "Closed".

However, if I open a door (or window), the only way for the app to show that zone changed and is now "Open" is if I manually refresh the app with the icon at the top or closing the app and opening. It doesnt autiomatically switch.

For anyone with the DSC Connect app, is this how you see it as well or is it dynamic in showing the open zone (without manual refresh)?

I am looking at replacing the builder grade locks that came with a home I purchased. Was considering Schlage and spoke to local locksmith. They initially pushed Mul-T-Lok, which I like the concept, but cost had me looking at other options. I also like the idea of a keypad entry, but not too excited about putting that on the front door where easily accessible.

They recommended Schlage B560P for deadbolts, and after doing some research, I came across the Everest cylinder that added some extra benefit vs the included cylinder. So, I was thinking about putting those on the exterior entry doors (front and back) with the Everest cylinder and then adding the BE365 keypad to the door in the garage. This give me a way to still get in without a key but with the keypad inside the garage. I am looking at the 365 as I dont want smart features and wifi connected capabilities.

Thoughts on that strategy?

Looking at having a local alarm company (not a big box company) install an alarm system in a house we recently purchased. The previous owner used Simplisafe, but I would like to use the company I have always used (which isnt them).

The house is prewired, although previous owner did not use it, so the assumption is that all of the wired sensors work (althought they can add wireless where they dont). So questions I have are:

1. Any reason why I would select wireless sensors in this case if install cost is same? I wouldnt think so, but checking if there is something I may be not thinking about.

2. We have always had the "traditional" Honeywell/DSC keypad - which, again, I am leaning towards. But they also offer the higher end tablet that provides whole home automation integration, can add cameras, door bell cam, door lock, garage door openers, etc. I am of the mind I would keep those things separate - local cameras to a video recorder, if I go smart lock would use the lock company app, same with garage. The increased monthly monitoring cost, limitations on how many cameras before price increase and system lock in are an issue that I am thinking here.

Anything I am missing with this? Or other opinions? Thank you!