Alarm Systems
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: August 30, 2010
Cellular Security Systems
More and more families are installing security systems in their homes. But as burglars get smarter and learn ways around our alarm systems, we have to make smarter systems to stop them. One way that burglars are getting around systems is by cutting the phone lines to the house. Without the phone line, the monitoring company cannot be notified of a break in, which means the police or fire department will not be on their way to your house if there is a break in or fire. The next generation of security systems has cellular controllers that call the monitoring company if the phone lines have been cut and a break-in is detected.
Cellular security systems are available in 92% of the country. A transmitter is wired into the attic from the heart, or brains, of the system. If, for any reason, the phone service to the house is interrupted, the security system still has the ability to call and notify the monitoring company.
Wireless Security Devices
Motion detectors, glass break detectors, smoke alarms and transmitters on windows and doors can all be wireless now. The benefits of wireless devices are that they easier and faster installation since wires are not run through the walls and attic, plus they are much more portable. If you decide you do not like the location of a particular device, replacing it is very easy and does not require rewiring the system. They use user-replaceable batteries.
Other wireless devices are remote controls and key fobs you can use to operate the system. With the remote control, you can arm or disarm the system, turn on the lights in the house and even open the garage door. There are no codes to remember, which makes it ideal for older and younger family members who have trouble remembering numbers.
An additional “remote” control device is the Phone Voice Module. With the phone voice module you have the ability to communicate with your alarm system from any touch-tone phone. The voice module will confirm the status by using phrases from its over 100 word English vocabulary. If you are on vacation or a business trip, you call from any destination and check on the status of your security system. Also lets you operate lights and appliances in your home.
Video Security
This is another part of the true next generation of home security. This camera looks like a motion detector and can be wired to a control unit, which can be placed anywhere in the home. You can dial up the camera, anywhere in the world, and check on your house in full color.
The camera connects to a control unit, which looks similar to a computer CPU. The software is very easy to install and use. You must have a dedicated phone line in the house to use this system. You simply dial the phone number, via your computer modem and the software, and you can see inside your living room (or whichever room you choose to install the camera) in full motion and full color.
This system is able to expand and support up to 16 cameras, which can be placed anywhere inside or outside the home. You can record the action you see with the software and save it to the PC’s hard drive, or even e-mail it to someone else.
This is not an internet-supported system. Therefore, you do not need internet access to use the system. This system is much safer than comparable internet systems because you must have both the dedicated phone number to the system and a password to gain access.
More and more families are installing security systems in their homes. But as burglars get smarter and learn ways around our alarm systems, we have to make smarter systems to stop them. One way that burglars are getting around systems is by cutting the phone lines to the house. Without the phone line, the monitoring company cannot be notified of a break in, which means the police or fire department will not be on their way to your house if there is a break in or fire. The next generation of security systems has cellular controllers that call the monitoring company if the phone lines have been cut and a break-in is detected.
Cellular security systems are available in 92% of the country. A transmitter is wired into the attic from the heart, or brains, of the system. If, for any reason, the phone service to the house is interrupted, the security system still has the ability to call and notify the monitoring company.
Wireless Security Devices
Motion detectors, glass break detectors, smoke alarms and transmitters on windows and doors can all be wireless now. The benefits of wireless devices are that they easier and faster installation since wires are not run through the walls and attic, plus they are much more portable. If you decide you do not like the location of a particular device, replacing it is very easy and does not require rewiring the system. They use user-replaceable batteries.
Other wireless devices are remote controls and key fobs you can use to operate the system. With the remote control, you can arm or disarm the system, turn on the lights in the house and even open the garage door. There are no codes to remember, which makes it ideal for older and younger family members who have trouble remembering numbers.
An additional “remote” control device is the Phone Voice Module. With the phone voice module you have the ability to communicate with your alarm system from any touch-tone phone. The voice module will confirm the status by using phrases from its over 100 word English vocabulary. If you are on vacation or a business trip, you call from any destination and check on the status of your security system. Also lets you operate lights and appliances in your home.
Video Security
This is another part of the true next generation of home security. This camera looks like a motion detector and can be wired to a control unit, which can be placed anywhere in the home. You can dial up the camera, anywhere in the world, and check on your house in full color.
The camera connects to a control unit, which looks similar to a computer CPU. The software is very easy to install and use. You must have a dedicated phone line in the house to use this system. You simply dial the phone number, via your computer modem and the software, and you can see inside your living room (or whichever room you choose to install the camera) in full motion and full color.
This system is able to expand and support up to 16 cameras, which can be placed anywhere inside or outside the home. You can record the action you see with the software and save it to the PC’s hard drive, or even e-mail it to someone else.
This is not an internet-supported system. Therefore, you do not need internet access to use the system. This system is much safer than comparable internet systems because you must have both the dedicated phone number to the system and a password to gain access.
