Hello World! Welcome Friends! Perhaps you’ve heard about alarm monitoring systems from your neighbor and you’re curious to find out what they are. Simply put, an alarm monitoring system is a type of home security that’s monitored by an alarm monitoring centre (ARC). In the event that an intrusion or fire occurs in your property, the alarm monitoring system will send signals to the ARC and prompt them to contact the right authorities.
Alarm monitoring systems use several different devices to secure entry/exit points in your property. Such devices include door and window sensors, motion detectors, fire and smoke alarms, and even flood detectors. These devices are all connected to an alarm panel which serves as the control hub of the entire system. If a security has been breached, the alarm will sound off and both you and the ARC will be notified of the alarm.
It might sound confusing at first, but alarm monitoring systems work much simpler than you think. In this article, we’ll discuss what alarm monitoring systems are, how they work, and hopefully let you know if it’s worth having one installed in your property.
How does an alarm monitoring system work?
Say there’s an intruder in your home and the sensor detects their entry. The sensor sends a signal to the alarm panel which is then forwarded to the alarm monitoring centre. This can happen in one or two ways, either through:
- a traditional landline connection
- a cellular communication
The alarm panel takes over the phone line and makes contact with the alarm monitoring centre to transmit the alarm signals. The operator from the ARC then receives the signals and responds accordingly. Even if the phone line is in use/on hold, the alarm panel will take over and communicate to the ARC to send the signals. Because landlines are prone to disconnections and outages, cellular communications have taken over its place.
Most alarm monitoring systems nowadays use cellular communication to make contact with the alarm monitoring centre. The alarm panel has its own cellular connection just like a normal cell phone and transmits the signals wirelessly. Cellular communications are up to 6 times faster than landline communications, making them more reliable for contacting the ARC in the event of an emergency.
How does the alarm monitoring centre (ARC) respond after being contacted?
Upon receiving the signal, the alarm monitoring centre will attempt to verify the situation. Usually, alarm monitoring systems use 2-way voice communication wherein a speaker panel will open up and the responding representative will talk to the homeowner for confirmation. From there, you can verify them that the threat exists or if it was just an accidental setoff. 2-way voice communication is used for a number of reasons:
- It provides audio verification of the situation
- Verifies the alarm and escalates the situation into a high priority for police authorities
- Reduces the risk of false alarms
- Hands-free communication which can prove crucial in some situations
If the alarm monitoring system doesn’t use 2-way voice communication, then the homeowner will be contacted via landline or through their mobile phone. If there is no answer, then their emergency contacts will be contacted and the corresponding authorities will be dispatched.
Some alarm monitoring systems incorporate a duress/panic code to immediately notify the ARC of a serious threat. This code can be used in situations where the homeowner is forced to disarm the alarm panel by the aggressor. While the alarm panel will shut off, it will send a different type of signal to the ARC to confirm a hostage-type situation. The police authorities will be contacted immediately and no sirens will be used upon arriving at the scene.
Unmonitored alarm systems
Unmonitored alarm systems (also known as DIY systems) have become much more commonplace today. The idea behind it is that you only pay for the equipment with no monthly fees to commit to. This can prove appealing to people who want to set up alarm systems on their own in order to save costs. If you’re a DIY enthusiast who fancies the idea of self-monitoring, then this may be a good option for you.
While unmonitored alarm systems seem rather economical, it does somewhat limit its reliability. For example, if an intruder breaks inside your home, it’s entirely up to you to call the police authorities. A text message or an email notification might not be sufficient evidence to verify the threat, making the situation a low-priority case in the eyes of police officials.
Is it worth installing an alarm monitoring system?
Considering how advantageous alarm monitoring systems can be, we can definitely say that it is worth installing in your home. After all, your property is one of your biggest investments and you don’t want to risk losing precious items due to a home invasion or fire incident. Alarm monitoring systems are a modern means of safeguarding your property, giving you peace of mind by contacting the right authorities to respond to the incident. You may reach out to Casa Security if you need more ideas or solutions to your problems.
Investing in an alarm monitoring system can also translate to reduced insurance premiums. This means that insurance companies will acknowledge how safe and protected your home is, thus leading to more discounts in your monthly bills.
Overall, alarm monitoring systems are an essential part of any modern home. Hopefully with this article, you’ll be able to better understand how these systems work and how it can protect your property.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Roasted Cauliflower & Parsnip Soup
Favorites & Highlights – 2019 Top Posts
Favorites & Highlights – 2018 Top Posts
Favorites & Highlights – 2017 Top Posts
I’d love for you to join my email list! You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox once a week on Monday which will include links to party posts and my home project posts! Simply enter your address below.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
[…] benefit? If someone in your home attempts to disable your security alarm, you’ll be […]