Home security has always been a core concern for every homeowner, and this is the very reason why advanced home security systems are sought after to help protect homes and property.
Over the years, we have witnessed significant advancements in home security technology. However, it is not just the technology that has been advancing – the knowledge and intelligence of home intruders has also increased, and as such, there is a persistent threat to home security irrespective of the system installed.
Back in the day, a typical home alarm system featured a telephone line connection, and this was a sufficient deterrent to potential intrusions. However, criminals became smart, and they knew they could get around any system by simply cutting the telephone lines so that no signal would be sent anywhere when they wanted to attack a home.
Currently, cellular alarm monitoring is being used to overcome this system deficiency, and even though smart burglars can still find a workaround for it, it has held up for quite some time, and it is one of the most advanced ways to keep your home secure and safe from burglars.
About Cellular Alarm Monitoring
Most home alarm systems will have a monitoring system, which is used to send signals from the house to the monitoring station. In the past, this was done using telephone lines, but with the threat of burglars cutting wires and going about their business with impunity, the use of telephone lines for conveying signals to the monitoring station was seen as less reliable, and with the technological advancements, came in cellular alarm monitoring.
This monitoring system uses cellular signals just like the ones used by mobile phones. Hence, burglars can’t intercept or stop them with the ease they had with telephone lines.
With cellular alarm monitoring, a cellular module or chip is in the main control panel of the home alarm system. The chip is the bridge of communication between the alarm system and the monitoring station.
Rather than using wires to send the signals, the module uses signals through the regular cellular towers to communicate with the monitoring station. The signals are transmitted through text, unlike the voice signals that were used with traditional telephone lines, and in this manner, the cellular signals get to the monitoring stations faster and without disruptions.
The working process of cellular alarm monitoring
Cellular alarm systems work in a very systematic manner from the time the signal is generated to the time the signal is received at the monitoring station. The process involves the following-:
The trigger – the onset of the process is when the alarm is triggered for whatever reason. It could be a legitimate emergency such as a break-in through the door or the window, a fire, a gas leak or someone trying to force their way through a security safe. The alarm can also be triggered accidentally by a pet hitting hard on the door.
Signal to the control panel – following the trigger, sensors placed at respective designated points will immediately convey the signal to the control panel for further processing.
Sounding the alarm – at the control panel, the triggered sensor will send a signal which will notify the system to sound an alarm. The alarm may take different forms, including a high-pitched siren, turning lights on and off, or switching on a probe light.
Alerting the monitoring center – at the same time, the control panel will send a cellular signal to the monitoring center for the authorities to take action. The action taken will be dependent on the type of signal received. It should be noted that signals will be generated with various sensors around the house.
For example, if the signal was due to fire or smoke detected inside the house, the fire department will be informed accordingly from the monitoring center, and if the signal was due to a break-in, the police department would be notified accordingly for the appropriate action to be taken.
Help arrives – with the signals received and the right respondents dispatched, it will be just a matter of minutes before help arrives at the scene. Whether it is the police or the fire department, it is always in their best interest to arrive at the scene as soon as they possibly can to take care of the situation.
Why use cellular alarm system in your home
Cellular alarm monitoring may not be among the cheap alarm monitoring options at your disposal, but if you get a good service provider, you will be grateful for the extra security and convenience. Other than the fact that burglars can’t interfere with these systems, here are some of the other benefits that come with having a system at your home:
Remote monitoring
Cellular alarm monitoring makes it possible for homeowners to monitor their homes remotely. Some of these monitoring systems have cameras which can be integrated with mobile devices through apps, and thus will allow you to see what is happening around your home at any time.
Emergency notifications
The monitoring systems can be programmed to notify not just the monitoring center, but also send notifications to your phone or email in case there is an emergency. This means that the moment something happens at you home, you will be notified immediately, and you can then follow up with the necessary actions that need to be taken.
Simple to install
Installing a cellular alarm system is relatively the same as installing a basic wireless systems, which is relatively easy when compared to installing their wired counterparts. There is no rewiring, drilling or cabling needed, and if so, then it is very minimal. This makes it relatively easy to move with them should you decide to move to another house.
Peace of mind
If you want more efficiency and reliability in your home alarm system, then you have every reason to try out cellular alarm monitoring. With it, you won’t have to worry about burglars compromising the system to target your house, or the security being compromised due to power outages. Besides, you can always see what is happening around your home at any time through mobile device integration.