Residential Security Buyer's Guide
How does an alarm system work?To sleep soundly, you need peace of mind. You need to know that what you value most-your home and your family, are safe and secure. According to statistics, homes without monitored security systems are three times as likely to be broken into than those that do. The facts are in-security systems are effective in preventing loss of life and protecting property. Like millions of others, you’ve realized that your peace of mind is what matters the most, and are considering purchasing a home security system. Smart move! Your home and your loved ones are, after all, your most precious assets, and a home security system is one of the most important investments you’ll ever make. Trouble is, the decision can be overwhelming-especially if you have a lot of basic questions! What do I need? How do these systems work? What is that central monitoring station anyway? Will my Labrador Retriever set off my alarm? Which company should I choose? Relax. Online Alarm Quotes.com can help. Here you’ll find the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions and concerns voiced by homeowners like you. When you arm yourself with this information, and partner with a vendor from Online Alarm Quotes.com, you will be able to provide yourself, and your loved ones, with the highest level of security available. Burglar alarms are meant to deter unwanted intruders from your home. In addition, a burglar alarm can alert the attention of all those around and the proper authorities that an unauthorized person in your home, that a break in has occurred, that there's a fire in your home, medical emergency, or other criminal activity. The mere site of a security system can act as a deterrent for any thief looking for a susceptible home. Security alarms can alert a monitoring company that an intruder has been detected and they will contact and dispatch the police to your location if necessary. There are various types of equipment that are common with today's burglar alarms. Control Panel:The control panel of a security alarm is where the detection devices of the alarm system as well as the main wiring of the system are located. The monitored devices may include sirens, motion detectors, door sensors, window sensors, glassbreak detectors, smoke detectors, heat detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, environmental sensors, radio/cell backup devices, remote phone modules, etc. Keypads and Remote Keychains, and Phone Modules:Keypads allow you to operate your security system by entering your security code at the keypad. The keypad can arm and disarm with push-button ease, and literally put security at your fingertips. Good features to look for include illuminated keys to provide you with greater visibility at nighttime, easy-to-read English displays that spell out your system’s status at a glance, and one-touch function keys that provide single-button operation for arming, disarming or emergencies. There are also remote phone modules that allow you to access your alarm system from any outside phone or cell phone, giving you the ability to arm, disarm, bypass, or check the status of your system off-site using your security code If you value convenience and ease of operation, then consider a wireless keyfob. Similar in size to a remote car alarm key, it offers many of the features of a traditional security system keypad with convenient fingertip control. The press of a single button lets you operate your security system, lights, garage doors and more! And the compact, lightweight keyfob travels with you – fitting easily into purses, pockets and automobile glove compartments.
The Wireless Remote Control Keyfob is the perfect fit for your active life because it’s security that goes with you – letting you enjoy extra mobility without ever compromising your safety or peace of mind. Motion Detectors:A motion detector is a device that contains a physical mechanism or electronic sensor that quantifies motion that can be either integrated with or connected to other devices that alert the user of the presence of a moving object within the field of view. There are basically three types of sensors used in motion detectors spectrum.
Motion detectors are used to detect motion and set off a burglar alarm if motion is present. Some motion detectors are manufactured with “pet immunity” which is a technology that prevents the motion detector from being triggered by small animals yet allows the motion detector to be triggered by the movement of humans. Many modern motion detectors use a combination of different technologies. These dual-technology detectors benefit with each type of sensor, and false alarms are reduced. Door and Window Sensors:Door and window detectors can detect the change of state of doors or windows from closed to opened. Door and window sensors should cover the most vulnerable perimeter openings. When an intruder opens any of those doors or windows, your siren will activate and the alarm system monitoring station will be notified immediately. Glassbreak Detectors:Glassbreaks are acoustical devices that are triggered by the sound of breaking glass or the attempt to break glass. If it detects these sounds, and the alarm is armed, it will trigger the alarm, and send a signal to your central monitoring station. Sirens or Alarms:Devices used to indicate an intrusion, fire, or other events that could signal a need to evacuate the premises. Hard Wired Vs. Wireless:Depending on the vendor, you can select between a hard wired and a wireless system. If you already have a pre-existing security system it may be easier to stay hard wired. However, if this is the first alarm security system that you are installing in your home then wireless may be more practical if you vendor provides it. Backup Systems:In the case of a power loss a backup system can keep your fire and security systems up and running. A backup system can also send a radio or cellular signal to a monitoring site in the event of any damage to your phone lines. We recommend speaking with your qualified vendor about the choices available for installing a backup system to ensure your security in the case of a power loss or damage to your phone lines. If your business uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as your principle phone system a backup system may be a necessary and unavoidable part of your security system package. Two-Way Monitoring:Two-way monitoring allows you to speak with a monitoring station operator from different points of your home without the use of a telephone. Through a two-way speaker system you can alert the operator of criminal activity or any other emergency that would require assistance. Your two-way alarm system is only activated by you or an authorized user, or when an alarm is set off. Usually in the case of an alarm a the operator will ask for your password and if the event is a false alarm, with a two-way monitoring system you can also tell the operator a preplanned emergency codeword instead of your usual false alarm codeword to signify that someone unauthorized has gained access into your home and you need help. Two-way monitoring can also aid people with medical problem that may need assistance in the case of a medical emergency. There are many advantages of having two-way monitoring as a part of your security system. Having it can ultimately result in faster, more efficient security service for your home. Panic Buttons:In the event of an alarm, an audible panic alarm will sound a siren to scare off perpetrators and it will signal the monitoring station that the alarm has been tripped. A silent panic alarm can signal to the monitoring station that an alarm has been tripped without setting off any sirens or other audible devices. This type of panic is intended so that the intruder or perpetrator is caught by the authorities while in the act of committing a crime, without placing the client in further danger. If you are interested in the criminal being caught then this may be a more suitable system for your home. Both systems have their merits and which one you and your vendor decide upon will ultimately depend on your specific needs. Smoke Detectors:Since you own a smoke detector, you obviously realize what an important safety measure this device is. That’s good. Smoke detectors are highly effective in preventing loss of life and property. However, there are differences between the "stand alone" or battery-operated smoke detector you would buy at your local hardware store and one installed as part of your home security system. "Stand alone" detectors are not connected to other detectors or warning devices. A smoke detector connected to your security system offers more protection because it is monitored by a central station. If fire strikes, the detector sets off an alarm and sends a signal to the control panel. The control panel dials the central station, where the operator notifies the fire department. Only central station monitored smoke detectors provide automatic notification of authorities when you or your family are asleep, not at home or unable to get to the phone. What exactly is a central monitoring station?Security systems send their signals over your telephone line to a central monitoring station-the facility that acts as the link between your home and the police, fire department, and emergency response authorities. A central station is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by highly skilled operators trained to respond to emergencies. The station operator alerts the proper authorities and dispatches help. Request a Quote |