Choosing a Home Security System

You're shopping around for a security system for your home, but you don't know where to begin?

You're shopping around for a security system for your home, but you don't know where to begin?

It's true that there are a bewildering array of home security systems and features to choose from. A good starting point is to look at your budget and ask yourself what you want from home security - a basic burglar alarm or a more sophisticated system that can notify you remotely when the alarms goes off or can interact with other electronic components in the home.

Basic burglar alarm

A basic alarm system can be hard-wired or wireless, but either way it uses a sensor device to detect motion, the forcing of doors or windows, the breaking of glass, explosions, smoke, heat or gas.

A control panel receives the message from the detection device that something is wrong, causing an alert to trigger. This alert may be a loud siren or a notification to a central monitoring service.

Monitoring systems

A monitoring system is the next step up from a basic alarm because it does more than just make a noise; it sends a message to a central monitoring station and activates an immediate response. Usually a vehicle is sent out from the monitoring station to check on your property and if a problem is detected the police are called to the site.

If you're planning to go with a monitored home security system, you need to choose the system/security company carefully. Be wary of signing a contract unless you understand all the clauses, as you may find it becomes an expensive arrangement that you can't get out of.

"Many of the cheaper security systems false-alarm on a regular basis and each time this happens the home owner has to pay for a call-out to a base station security monitoring company," warns Clipsal Electronic Accessories Product Manager, Travis Algate.

"Over the last few years we have seen a proliferation of cheaper and less reliable alarm systems coming out of China. The consumer is lured in with a low cost security panel, but with the catch that they must sign a two-year monitoring plan. It's here that they get caught with hefty ongoing fees."

To protect yourself when purchasing from a home security company, ask the following questions:

- Have they been in business for at least five years?

-  Will the alarm be installed to comply with the Australian Standard?

- Is the system tested and cleaned regularly?

- Is the monitoring service 24/7?

- How many alarm sensors are covered under the plan and do you have to pay extra for more sensors?

- Does the company have its own monitoring service and where is it located?

- How long is the warranty good for and what does it cover?

- Are the monthly fees set or do they increase periodically?

Personal Notification

An alternative to locking into a contract is to have a security system installed that gives you personal notification when the security alarm is activated.

A good personal notification system should have multi zone dial out, which means that if the first number dialled is not answered, the system will sequentially dial the next numbers on the list.

Also look for a system that supports more than intruder functions - you want to be notified in case of fire, medical emergency or duress. Personal distress alarms are ideal for the elderly, as they take the form of a button which is worn by the person and activated if they have a fall or medical emergency. The alarm sends an alert to a central monitoring service who then calls the relevant medical authorities/family/friends.

"One of the benefits of personal notification is that you will get a message, so you'll know in advance and be prepared. You don't want to come home from work and not realise the alarm has been set off then find a person with a crowbar behind the door!" says Mr Algate.

The downside of personal notification is that you will have to deal with the problem if you don't have a security monitoring service. This might not be so easy if you are on holiday overseas and get notification that there is a burglar breaking into your home.

Closed-Circuit TV

Closed-circuit TV enables you to visually inspect your home by simply turning your TV to a special security panel or a touch-screen panel on the wall. You can complement this visual surveillance with an intercom system that lets you speak with whoever?s at your front door.

A standard CCTV camera is useful for showing you who is at the front door or who's lurking around your perimeter, but the disadvantage is they don't give you a lasting image of the person.

This is where integrated digital camera/CCTV solutions are becoming more popular as they have the capacity to take a picture when movement is detected. The images are usually stored in the camera but some advanced systems can link the camera to a remote monitoring system that feeds the pictures to a secure website - the advantage is that you will still retain the images even if the burglar damages the camera.

Integrated Security Systems

Security systems are not limited to controlling intruders; they can be integrated into a smart house as part of the home automation system. They can control the temperature and lighting of a home, as well as be integrated with smoke detection facilities and gate controls.

To do this your system must use the same communication technology as the non-security components like lights and thermostats otherwise there will be a lack of compatibility.

"If there is a burglar alarm in the middle of the night, an integrated security system will trigger the lighting to come on in an egress path to guide the way out of the house", explains Mr Travis.

"If a smoke detector alarm goes off, the security system will dial the fire brigade/monitoring company", he adds.

"The security panel can also shut down or power up lighting and airconditioning as you enter and leave your home. Lighting can be programmed with an 'Away' function that generates random lighting scenes throughout the evening to give the home a lived in look"

"We have also noticed an increase in people asking for integration with gate controls. For upmarket properties where police are required to attend in the event of an alarm, the electronic gates are programmed to open automatically to essential services."