Alarm systems changed with technology and features over the years. Burglar Alarms advanced from rigid fully hard wired systems to wireless systems with more advanced connectivity, advanced security features like anti jamming, tamper warnings and frequency hopping to protect your home and valuable possessions.
One of the most noticeable features of the alarm systems is its ability to alert you if there is a break in attempt. This alert is not only limited to sounding the alarm outside and inside the house, but also to contact you or a list of your emergency contacts or keyholders. This remote alerting features can be done either through a third party monitored alarm or self monitored alarm. We have written in detail about the differences between third party monitored and self monitored alarms before. Self monitored alarms are relatively inexpensive, easy to manage and you don’t have to worry about being tied into a lengthy contract.
Click here for more on that : Third Party Monitored Burglar Alarms – Is it worth it?
With self – monitored alarms, there are three options of your alarm to contact you.
PSTN Connection:The alarm will use your landline at home to contact your mobile phone when the alarm goes off. All our telecommuncating alarms call a minimum of 3 numbers of your choice.
How does it work?: The alarm’s control panel is placed near a working telephone point, ideally within half a meter distance. It will be connected to the telephone point and the alarm will use the landline to call you when it goes off. You can continue to use your landline as normal and alarm will only need if it goes off.
Advantages: Cheapest self monitored alarm option and it uses your existing landline. There are no real ongoing costs apart from the cost a landline call to your mobile if the alarm goes off. These are about 7pence to 15 pence per call.
Disadvantages: Restricts location of control panel, as it needs to be nearer to telephone point.
If the landline cable is visible outside the house, there is always a risk of a burglar cutting the cable off before coming into the house.
Alarm will not call you if have a fault on your landline.
GSM Connection:Alarms can use a regular sized sim card placed inside the control panel to call you if it goes off. GSM alarms can call you, and also send you text alerts if the alarm goes off.
How does it work? Any regular size prepaid sim card (micro and nanosims will not work) with about £10.00 or so credit will be placed inside the control panel and will be used for calling you if the alarm goes off.
Advantages: More flexibility with location of the control panel, as only power supply is needed for the panel. GSM units can be programmed to text you for various alerts on events in the alarm, such as a power failure or tamper or connection problems with any accessories.
If you have multiple users for the alarm, it can be programmed to send one master user, text message to let them know when the alarm was switched on and off. If you assign individual Keyfobs or proximity tags to each user, you can identify who is turning the alarm on and off and when. Ideal for knowing your kids are back home safe or giving access to cleaners into house, or for use in a commercial premise.
We also have GSM alarms that comes with smart phone apps, these use the data connectivity (GPRS) in the sim card to communicate with the app in your iphone / android based phones.
Disadvantages:Advantages certainly outweigh disadvantages. However, you will have to top up most sim cards atleast once a year. Typical costs are in the region of £5 to £10 per year. You can have an online account to make sure you have sufficient credit.
If you are using an alarm with smart phone app, and the GSM unit incurs data charges, so make sure you are on a sim card that allows data communication. Go for a package that only charges for the actual data used, rather than the ones that offer unlimited data for a fixed fee. Alarms and app only use minimal data.
IP Connection: Consider having an alarm connected to your broadband router, this opens a choice of options with connectivity.
How does it work?You can have a network cable (RJ 45 / CAT 5 cable) or an additional wireless connector module to establish the connection. To connect the router by cables, it is recommended to place the control panel near the router and have a keypad near the front door.
Advantages:IP Module connectivity ensures the alarm is using your broadband for data connections between your alarm panel and smartphone app or any other remote access computer. This is the recommended solution to ensure fast transfer if you have cameras connected to the alarm.
Motion sensors with cameras built in (PIR Cameras) are great for verifying alarm and ensure there is no false alarms. Most alarms with camera will automatically send you images/ videos when the alarm goes off. You can also request the alarm to take a photo/ video for you from the app or a computer with remote login access to your burglar alarm system.
Disadvantages: You may need a keypad near front door for this solution to operate the alarm when you walk in to the house.
Most customers will still require a PSTN connection or GSM connection for the alarm to call you directly if it is go off.
IP Module connection with all the cameras added is the most advanced alarm security solution available in the market and hence can be bit more on the pricier side.
Conclusion:Decide on the features you want before picking on an alarm. We have systems that can fit all the above categories and more with different budget options as well.
If you like the idea of one of the advanced system, you can still choose an advanced system with the basic options to start with and update it on a later date. We can help you with that.
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