| Many homeowners and business owners are often | | | | essentially a sort of specialized camera looking for |
| confused by the terminology and the explanations | | | | rapid changes in temperatures measured against a |
| given them by a security alarm representative. | | | | background temperature). |
| Sometimes what is recommended may be a good | | | | These more complete type systems are also |
| system, but it may also be beyond the budget of | | | | typically monitored by a central station for a monthly |
| what many homeowners or business owners can | | | | monitoring fee. Lastly, for those concerned about |
| afford or want to pay. | | | | possible phone line cuts (and yes, 99% of all alarms |
| The purpose of this article is two-fold: first, to explain | | | | systems that are monitored by a central station use |
| the basic system and terms most widely in use | | | | your phone line that is often exposed on the side of |
| today, and second, to make clear there are different | | | | the home or building) there are a variety of backup |
| levels of protection available that can translate into | | | | services available, from cellular to long range wireless |
| different investments with higher or lower degrees | | | | to TCP/IP modules that go over the Internet to a |
| of overall protection for the home or property. | | | | special receiver at the central station. |
| The typical electronic security system today is | | | | Are these systems expensive? Yes, because there is |
| comprised of the following elements: | | | | a lot of labor in addition to the equipment costs and |
| Control panel which processes the signals received | | | | if you choose wireless to cut down on the labor then |
| from the sensors, powers the sensors which require | | | | the equipment costs shoot up considerably. Do alarm |
| power, dials the monitoring central station to report | | | | companies often subsidize the installation/equipment |
| alarms or events, powers the audible or visual | | | | costs in order to get you to sign a multi-year |
| devices, such as sirens and strobes, and provides | | | | monitoring contract? You bet. This recurring revenue |
| battery back-up in the event of AC power loss. | | | | is important to the security provider just as it is to |
| Sensors, such as door/window sensors that require | | | | the cable company. |
| no power, a wide variety of motion detectors, such | | | | However, when you see the $99 deals advertised by |
| as PIRs' or "dual" type detectors, glassbreak sensors, | | | | large national companies, typically, these are not full |
| hold-up or panic switches, environmental sensors, | | | | perimeter protection systems, but usually 2 doors |
| such as water, CO2, or temperature, and of course, | | | | and 1 motion detector and do require multi-year |
| fire and heat detectors. | | | | contracts. Are these bad deals? Not necessarily, but |
| The audible and sometimes visual devices that are | | | | it depends upon what you are looking for and you |
| placed in the attic or under eaves as well as inside | | | | should understand what you are getting and what |
| the dwelling. | | | | you are not getting. |
| The wire to connect the sensors and devices to the | | | | Are there alternatives to a professional installation, |
| central control panel, or in many cases today, the use | | | | such as products an average homeowner or business |
| of wireless transmitter sensors to a receiver often | | | | owner can buy and install? Yes, of course, but you |
| integrated into the control panel so few wires are | | | | have to be careful here. There are places on the |
| needed (the AC transformer and phone line still have | | | | Internet where you can buy a full fledged security |
| to be "hard wired"). | | | | system just like the professionals buy everyday, but |
| The labor and programming to make the pieces all | | | | beware. Most of these systems--even the wireless |
| work together. | | | | ones--require a good deal of programming and a |
| The highest level of security--and of course the one | | | | good amount of time to learn and understand them. |
| that will cost the most--is full "perimeter" protection | | | | If you want a monitored system then it is best to |
| plus motion detector backup. What does this mean? | | | | hire a professional security company to install the |
| It means every exterior door and window (at least | | | | system, period. Central stations will not typically allow |
| on the ground floor) has a magnetic switch, either | | | | you to be monitored except through a licensed alarm |
| recessed or surface mount so that the alarm will go | | | | dealer and programming for this capability is complex |
| off before the intruder gets in the house. It also | | | | for the inexperienced. |
| means placing some type of glassbreak detectors | | | | If you want a local alarm system with some generic |
| either in each room that has glass or on each | | | | alarm decals and yard signs there are "plug and play" |
| window itself so that, again, the alarm would go off | | | | products that make this easy today. There are |
| before the intruder gets in. | | | | stand-alone motion detectors and door alarms with |
| If in addition, motion detectors are strategically | | | | the loud sirens built-in and with entry/exit timers so |
| placed so that in the unlikely event an intruder would | | | | you can get in and out of your home without setting |
| somehow defeat a protected perimeter entry point, | | | | off the siren. Will these simple systems deter many |
| and actually gain entry inside the premises, he would | | | | potential intruders? Sure, of course. Are they as |
| now face devices that look for motion by typically | | | | good as the $2,000 or more full perimeter systems |
| measuring the background temperature of a room | | | | with monitoring? No, but then not all us of can afford |
| against the temperature of an intruder (basis for | | | | those systems and when it comes to security, some |
| "passive infrared technology" or PIR; that is | | | | security is certainly a lot better than no security! |