Helena, Montana

Smart monitoring,
built right,
for Montana.

Professional smart monitoring systems for small businesses, rental properties, and homeowners. Open hardware. Local control. No cloud subscriptions. No lock-in.

$980
Baseline hardware cost
A complete professional monitoring stack. One Amazon order. No subscriptions.
100% local
Local control
Your data stays on your network. Works when the internet goes down.
Open.
Open protocols
Zigbee and Z-Wave. No proprietary ecosystems. No vendor lock-in.
// Who we are

A Montana team
building something real.

Highline Tech MT is a Helena-based smart monitoring service built on open hardware and custom software. We install, configure, and support professional-grade monitoring systems for clients who want reliability without recurring cloud fees.

We're documenting the build in public -- the hardware choices, the configuration process, and the software we're developing -- so you can follow along and decide whether you want to hire us or do it yourself.

Grant Frandsen
Software & Systems
Recent CS graduate and the technical builder behind Highline Tech MT. Responsible for system configuration, software development, and the custom monitoring layer built on top of Home Assistant.
Mike Frandsen
Business & Strategy
Co-founder bringing business development, project management, and systems thinking to the venture. Focused on client relationships and making sure the service works for real people in the real world.
// What we do

Monitoring that
actually works.

// 01   Security

Camera Systems

PoE cameras hardwired through managed switches. Local recording, no subscription, no cloud. Reliable because wires don't drop packets.

// 02   Sensors

Environmental Monitoring

Temperature, humidity, leak detection, door and window sensors. Zigbee mesh network. Works when Wi-Fi goes down.

// 03   Automation

Smart Controls

Z-Wave thermostats, valve actuators, and smart plugs. Automated responses -- leak detected, valve closes. Presence detected, climate adjusts.

// 04   Software

Custom Dashboards

Monitoring, alerting, and reporting built on Home Assistant. Purpose-built for professional use -- not a hobbyist interface.

// 05   Service

Installation & Support

We handle the configuration complexity so you don't have to. Ongoing support for the systems we install.

// 06   Consulting

Planning & Design

Not sure what you need? We'll assess your space and recommend a system that fits your goals and budget.

// Build log

We're building in public.

Follow along as we build the service from scratch.

01
// Published   April 2026
We're Building a Monitoring Business. Follow Along.
The $980 Amazon cart, the hardware choices, and why we're doing this in public.
02
// Coming soon
Why These Hardware Choices?
Wired vs. wireless cameras, Zigbee vs. Z-Wave, and why open protocols matter for a service business.
03
// Coming soon
The Software Layer
Custom monitoring dashboards and alerting tools built on top of Home Assistant.

Ready to talk about your space?

We're based in Helena and serve clients across Montana. Whether you're a small business owner, property manager, or homeowner, reach out and we'll tell you honestly what makes sense for your situation.

Or email us directly at info@highlinetechmt.com

Message received.
We'll get back to you at the email you provided, usually within a day.