| An average of 1,500 burglaries occur every day in | | | | some concerns that signal interference for example, |
| Britain. The case for installing a burglar alarm hardly | | | | from baby monitors or wireless doorbells, might |
| needs making - particularly when you consider the | | | | impact on the alarms effectiveness, but issues these |
| difference that alarms can make. Less than 1% of | | | | have been eliminated by the leading manufacturers. |
| break-ins occur in homes with effective alarm | | | | It is important to note that wireless alarms will not |
| systems. The days when the price or inconvenience | | | | suit all premises; limited transmission distances mean |
| of installing an alarm might put property owners off | | | | that wireless burglar alarms are better suited to |
| have been and gone. With the coming of age of | | | | houses and small business premises, rather than large |
| wireless alarm technology, there has never been a | | | | commercial or public buildings. |
| more practical and cost-effective way of keeping | | | | The cost of wireless burglar alarms has been reduced |
| burglars where you want them - off your premises. | | | | dramatically over the years due to the technology |
| Wireless burglar alarms operate differently from their | | | | has become more established, and prices compare |
| hard-wired counterparts in that the component parts | | | | very favourably to hard-wired alarms, particularly |
| (control panel, sensors and alarm) communicate via a | | | | where installation costs are involved. |
| transmitted radio signal, rather than electrical | | | | Wireless alarms are available to suit all budgets, with |
| connections across the whole system. But beside this | | | | the range of functions varying according to cost. The |
| fundamental difference, the actual method for | | | | most affordable devices are available for as little as |
| detecting intrusion remains the same. | | | | £30 and perform basic but highly reliable |
| In the majority of cases, this is based on motion | | | | functionality that usually consists of motion sensors |
| detection using Passive Infrared technology (which | | | | that trigger an alarm and send a pre-recorded alert to |
| works by sensing the increased body heat of an | | | | a specified phone. More sophisticated wireless alarms |
| intruder), and sometimes magnetic sensors attached | | | | include features such as: |
| to doors or windows that will trigger an alarm when | | | | - intrusion detection methods combining magnetic |
| the connection is broken between the separate parts | | | | contact sensors and motion sensors |
| of the sensor. | | | | - added functionalities such as smoke, gas or flood |
| So what are the real advantages of wireless burglar | | | | detection; |
| alarms? Essentially, the main benefits come from the | | | | - automated messaging via phone, text or email; |
| absence of wires, including: | | | | - telephone and panic alarm integration for elderly or |
| - quick and simple to installation, avoiding the costs of | | | | disabled users; |
| hiring a professional to do install the alarm; | | | | - knowing the difference between a pet and a |
| - a lack of disruption (and potential damage) resulting | | | | person and thus allowing pets to roam freely without |
| from installing a hard-wired alarm (e.g. removing | | | | triggering the alarm. |
| floorboards, drilling, re-plastering etc.); | | | | Not all wireless alarms are based on motion sensor |
| - sensors that can be placed almost anywhere as | | | | devices. Some alarms can be triggered by the |
| location is not dictated by wiring issues; | | | | detection sound waves created by the forced entry |
| - easily removed and re-installed alarms for individuals | | | | into a building. This type of system works simply by |
| such as tenants in rented accommodation where | | | | plugging a single alarm unit into the mains - no other |
| landlords will not allow alterations; | | | | type of sensor is required anywhere else in the |
| - easily added additional sensors for example, in case | | | | building. |
| a property is extended or the level of security needs | | | | Unfortunately, no one can predict that burglary rates |
| changing. | | | | will fall in future and as such, the demand for wireless |
| Wireless burglar alarm technology is now widely | | | | burglar alarms is growing as consumers choose this |
| considered to be just as reliable as that of wired | | | | cost-effective and hassle free way of protecting |
| technology, all due to recent developments. When | | | | their homes. |
| wireless alarms were first introduced, there were | | | | |