Home Security Store Tech Manager and Knowledgebase Host Matt Apperson shows you how to wire a Standard Phone Jack to a Simon XT Control Panel.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
So when wiring phones up to a Simon XT, it’s going to be typical for someone to, you know, take the panel and just plug it into any standard phone jack. Unfortunately with the Simon XT, you won’t really be able to get results out of that. so there’s a way to actually get this wired up to your house phone so that we can get the system to call out properly and it’ll work every time.
I’m going to show you the first method. There is a secondary method but most times it’s just, you know, an average homeowner won’t end up running, you know, a four conductor wire from wherever the control panel is out to the phone box. So I’m going to show you a quick, easy way to get this attached to your phone lines.
So what we’ll do is we’re going to open up the main control panel and we’ll just take the back plate off for this demo here. And on the back of the control panel, there are two phone jacks. There’s the smaller one and then the RJ45 bigger jack. The smaller jack is for actually having a phone hooked up to it out of the panel. So you could make a call from it but the panel doesn’t dial using this jack. It actually dials using this jack.
So what we’re going to do is your control panel was supplied with RJ45 cable and then a beige phone block and we’re going to go ahead and use these two items and I’m going to show you how to hook these up to your phones using a standard phone cord.
So what we’ll do is we’ll open up the RJ45. Now this cord’s a little bit long so you can actually tuck this in the wall if you need to but what you’re going to do is simply just plug this in to the back of your control panel. Probably going to want to wind this through one of the openings in the back either here or here or it has knock outs on the bottom of the control panel. You can actually take this plastic piece out and feed it in through the bottom.
So what you do is you’re going to go ahead and just plug this in here and then we’re going to take the beige phone jack that came with it and we’ll open this up here. I’ll just put that down there for right now and then we’re going to open this up. Inside there’s eight screws in there and what we need to do is we need to find just the two which are the two bottom ones here away from the jack which are the red and the green.
And for the next demonstration I brought out a phone cord, just a simple standard phone cord and we’re going to actually take this and what we’re going to do is we’re going to cut the end of this off because we need to wire it into this jack. Chances are this is not going to fit in your home phone jack. So we’re going to use this one here. Now in some cases, your phone cord may have four wires in it. In this demonstration, this one here has two wires in it. so if your cable has four wires in it, you’re going to take the middle two and you can check that out by inspecting from the inside here and you’ll see the middle two are usually going to be red and green. So we’re going to take that off and then we’re going to strip this back a little bit to expose the wire and this is going to give us a red and a green.
So at this point what we’re going to do is we’re going to strip these two back and this wire’s kind of thin and I don’t know that, you know, you can strip it all the way off. I’ll strip it back just a little bit so I have a little tab here to kind of help me get it wrapped around there and just kind of twist that like that and then what we’ll do is just loosen up these screws here and real simple. You’re just going to go with the red to the red and then the green to the green. That’s all you got to do and then just tighten them up and we’ll do the red one here.
Okay. now that that’s done, you can actually just bend this up and tuck it right inside the jack like that and then go ahead and reinstall your cap back onto it. So after that’s been done, you’ll just take this cord here, plug it into here and then with the end of the – other end of the cable, you’ll be free to plug this into any phone jack. If you have DSL, the DSL company will provide you with little filters. Just plug it into the filter and plug it into the phone jack. That’s all you’ll need to do and then the system will then be ready to program to call your own personal phone number, should you desire.
Article source: http://www.homesecuritystore.com/blog/2012/05/17/how-to-wire-a-standard-phone-jack-to-a-simon-xt-control-panel/
Tags: security
A vari-focal camera is one that has been specifically designed to operate at various focal distances. These types of cameras differ from fixed lens cameras, which simply feature a lens that cannot be adjusted. We often recommend vari-focal cameras to our customers, particularly those who are uncertain of the distance and viewing angles that they wish to capture in surveillance footage.
Vari-Focal Camera Viewing Lengths
Vari-focal cameras can typically be adjusted to accommodate viewing lengths from between 2.5 mm to 10 mm, which offers a lot more range than cameras with a fixed lens. A vari-focal camera can best be compared to a zoom camera feature which can be manually adjusted. When using a vari-focal surveillance camera, homeowners have the option of selecting a high millimeter setting for narrow viewing fields or a low millimeter setting for wider viewing fields.
Choose From a Variety of Vari-Focal Camera Options
Cameras featuring a vari-focal lens are suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Among the many security cameras that we offer, the Lasertech IR Vari-Focal Bullet Camera with 2.8-10mm Lens is one of the most popular in this category. This camera is useful for daytime and nighttime recording, and has a viewing field that can be adjusted to record up to 98 feet away from its placement.
Vari-focal cameras come in a variety of styles including bullet cameras, dome cameras and tamper-resistant or vandal-proof types, such as the Digital Hi-Res Vandal Proof IR Dome Camera. Depending upon which vari-focal camera purchased, other features may also include motion detection, weather-proof operation and infrared technology. Cameras that come with an auto-iris feature are also highly recommended, since such technology also allows a lens to be adjusted to accommodate multiple lighting environments for even better clarity and focus.
Vari-Focal Cameras Offer the Best Recording Flexibility
When selecting a security camera to monitor a home or a business, it is important to have an idea of the field of view that a camera will need to have in order to be the most effective. The clarity and the focus of the images that the camera captures are also very important considerations. Cameras with a vari-focal lense allow owners to adjust settings in order to arrive at one best suited for the area being surveilled, as well as to capture the clarity needed to clearly identify the fine details of what has been recorded. A vari-focal feature further comes in handy if a homeowner ever has cause to relocate a camera or simply feels the need to adjust a camera’s focus for whatever reason. In short, these cameras offer the most in terms of all-around surveillance flexibility.
Technical Help With Vari-Focal Settings
Even with the flexibility afforded by a vari-focal camera, some people may need help determining how to properly set a camera for a desired field of view. A simple Internet search for a vari-focal lens calculator can help with this matter. Such a tool will allow an owner to enter values relating to an area’s width, height and distance in order to determine the best camera positioning and focal length needed to achieve these viewpoints. Of course, our technical support team is also available to help with this calculation and answer other questions about surveillance cameras or home security, in general.
Understanding Lens Basics
In addition to using a vari-focal lens calculator, a basic understanding of how a lens relates to a field of view helps when installing a new camera system. For example, a wide lens will have a smaller field of view, but images within that field will actually appear enlarged. Conversely, smaller lenses produce a wider field of view, but the images captured in that view appear on a smaller scale. Wide lenses are, therefore, popular when users wish to monitor compact areas, such as a doorway, a window or a mailbox. A small lens, on the other hand, is useful for those who wish to survey an entire front or back yard space.
Who Should Use a Vari-Focal Camera?
Those who are unsure about the exact field of view needed, those who may need to occasionally change a field of view or homeowners who plan to someday relocate a camera are advised to purchase a camera with a vari-focal lens. While this type of camera can cost a bit more than a fixed lens camera, most customers find value in the variety and flexibility of a vari-focal surveillance camera lens over the permanence inherent in a fixed-lens camera. As with other surveillance and security tools, vari-focal cameras can be self-installed and can be used with other home protection devices to increase the overall security of a home or business.
What are your questions or experiences with camera lenses? Which lens type do you prefer? We always look forward to hearing from you in the comments section below.
Article source: http://www.homesecuritystore.com/blog/2012/05/16/what-is-a-vari-focal-camera/
Tags: security
I have nothing against the government’s efforts to curb piracy, but seriously, one warning is enough — and the “real” targets aren’t even being protected.
According to a recent report from Wired, the Department of Homeland Security AND the National Intellectual Property Center are adding their dreaded “warning labels” to the beginning of DVDs and Blu-Ray discs — you know, a second and third warning in addition to the often-attempted-but-unsuccessfully-fast-forwarded FBI warning that has been on VHS, DVD and other movies for about as long as I can remember.
Apparently, warnings from the FBI just don’t carry the weight that they used to — as if those warnings actually stop media pirates. Now you can add the two more soon-to-be-ignored warnings pictured (courtesy Wired) on your favorite rentals.
Here’s where I have a real problem: these warnings do not appear on digital movie downloads — the most regularly pirated movies, according to the Wired report.
Article source: http://www.securityinfowatch.com/blog/10715005/when-an-fbi-warning-is-not-enough/blog/10715005/when-an-fbi-warning-is-not-enough
Tags: security
Admin | May 14, 2012 | Comments 0
It is no secret that Atlanta is considered to be one of the most crime-ridden cities in the United States. It seems like whenever you hear about a crime, it seems to be somehow linked to Atlanta. Of course, this isn’t true, but Atlanta does have some pretty high crime rates. Statistics show that one out of every 10 residents in Atlanta will be the victim of a violent or property crime.
It’s clear that something needs to be done to make Atlanta safer. Just what that something is, though, is up for debate. Primarily, it falls on the police departments and security forces to be highly qualified at protecting Atlanta residents. It is necessary for these employees to go through intense training so they can better respond to crime in the areas they are sworn to protect.
Security guards in particular must act both preventatively and responsively to crime. This means they must encourage the people who employ them to install security systems. This includes both homeowners and business owners. Atlanta home security systems experts agree that alarm systems increase both the deterring factor for burglaries and the response time of authorities if a burglary does occur. Therefore, installing a home security system satisfies the preventative and responsive nature of security guards that will go a long way in making Atlanta safer.
Law enforcement and security guards alike must be well versed in the particulars of home security systems. They should be able to advise Atlanta residents as to which systems are the most effective, which systems are the most budget-friendly and which systems residents should avoid altogether. To be able to talk to residents intelligently about home security systems, policemen and security guards should read all available security system reviews that can be readily found online. In fact, it is even better if the police department or security company designates one person who is an expert on home security systems. This way, residents can be directed to the best system for them.
It is also recommended that local police departments visit police departments in other cities in Georgia to get some tips on what works well and which processes could be eliminated. 90 percent of all other cities in Georgia have lower crime rates than Atlanta. There is some kind of disconnect between what those cities are doing and what Atlanta is doing. The law enforcement agencies in Atlanta cannot just throw their hands up and say that’s just the way it is. They need to take steps to learn what else can be done to make their residents safer. Atlanta is just like any other big city in the United States so there is no reason why, through training and experience, its crime rates can’t be on par with those other big cities.
Even if crime rates in Atlanta do improve, it will take much longer for the city to lose its reputation as a dangerous place to live. The suggestions here are a start, but it is going to take a concerted effort from security guards, law enforcement and residents to change the country’s perception of what is in reality a wonderful city.
Filed Under: Home Security
Article source: http://www.securityworldnews.com/2012/05/14/how-to-make-atlanta-safer/
Tags: security
Residents of Texas like to portray themselves as people who will take the law into their own hands. If you burglarize someone in Texas, you are literally risking your life. People in Texas love their guns and will not hesitate to use them if someone is trying to get inside their homes. Of course, there is some truth to this perception. Texas is akin to the Wild West and people will take the necessary steps to protect themselves.
That being said, there are some less violent ways to protect your house and your family if you live in Texas. For instance, in Houston, Texas, the fourth most populated city in the United States, experienced 13,766 burglaries in 2010. Not everyone in those cases had guns and used them to protect their property, even though the Texans would like for you and the rest of the country to believe that.
The single best way to protect your home in Houston or in any other city in the United States, is to install home security systems. Houston is not that unsafe, considering the proportion of property crimes to their overall population, but you just can’t take a chance with your family’s safety. Just think, even if you have a gun, most burglaries occur when you are not at home. Burglars do not want to run into the occupants of the home because they do not want to be caught. They also do not want to cause any violence. So, you aren’t likely going to be there to use your gun in the case of a burglary. Home security systems, though, will be there at all times of the day or night.
Take a look at another city in Texas. Austin is a much smaller city than Houston. Its crime rates are also significantly lower. Even so, Austin home security systems experts will tell you that all homeowners in Austin should have a home security system installed anyway. Just because the crime rate is lower in Austin doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. In 2006, there were 7,467 burglaries reported in Austin. That might seem like a small number, but if you are one of the 1,052 homes that were hit, it doesn’t matter that it is less than Houston’s 26,869 burglaries.
On the whole, every six minutes, a property crime is being committed in Texas. Those numbers aren’t very encouraging, but you can bet that the majority of those crimes are committed on houses that do not have home security systems installed. Not only are they a fantastic deterrent, but the odds of the perpetrator getting caught go way up when the police department is able to respond quickly to an alarm. As long as you include monitoring services with your alarm system, you will get that kind of response.
Texas is a great state. The weather is warm, there is a lot of open space and the entertainment in the cities is second to none. However, just because it is a fun place to live doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. Install a home security system, relax and enjoy your time in the Lone Star State.
Article source: http://www.securityworldnews.com/2012/05/14/home-security-texas-style/
Tags: security
When you hear about high-crime areas in the United States, you might think of Detroit or Los Angeles or any number of big cities on either the east or west side of the country. Your mind does not probably automatically conjure up the cities in the mid-west. However, just because you live in the middle of the country does not mean you can let up on home security.
For example, in Omaha, Nebraska, even though the violent crime rate was lower than the national violent crime rate in 2009, the property crime rate was higher than the national property crime rate. In fact, there were 49,614 property crimes in reported in the state of Nebraska. 3,228 of those were in Omaha alone. While this number is lower than you would see in other state, when you calculate the percentage of property crimes per capita, it is significantly higher. Omaha home security systems experts, therefore, recommend that all homeowners in that city and other large cities in Nebraska install a home security system in their homes.
In Columbus, Ohio, again the violent crime rate is on the decline but the property crime rate is increasing and is higher than the national property crime rate by a whopping 113.59%. The odds of getting burglarized in Columbus, Ohio are significant. There were 14,583 burglaries reported in Columbus in 2009 and that number is expected to increase in 2012. You can’t escape from crime anywhere, even in the mid-west, even though people generally have an idea that this part of the country is safer than other parts of the country. Columbus home security companies believe that the best way to protect yourself from that huge percentage of property crimes is to install a home security system.
You just can’t take a chance that your home and family will be the target of a burglary no matter where you live. It is undeniable that there are burglars in all cities of the country, even where you live. You think you can escape it by moving to a “safer” city, but in reality, you can’t. If you are considering moving to the mid-west just to avoid getting a home security system installed, you should re-think your plans. If you own a house, you should also own a home security system.
It is not necessary to get a highly-advanced alarm system if you live in a city like Omaha or Columbus. At the minimum, though, you need a system that includes a main control panel, sensors for all doors and windows, a loud siren and monitoring services. All of these components must be present for an alarm system to be effective and to do its job. In addition, once you get an alarm system installed in your home, be sure to remember to turn it on whenever you leave your house or when you go to sleep for the night. Home security systems are only effective if they are armed, since no one will get your distress signal if yours isn’t.
You can run from crime, but you can’t hide from it, even in the mid-west. Take steps to protect your family today and call a home security expert to help you do just that.
Article source: http://www.securityworldnews.com/2012/05/14/home-security-for-the-mid-west/
Tags: security
Moving to a new city involves making a number of choices so you can pick the best city for your needs. If you are moving to open up employment opportunities, you will, of course, need to compare the economic climate in each city as your primary consideration. Find out which city will provide you with the most opportunities with the best wages. Many people in this situation have narrowed down their choices to Atlanta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida. These two cities are similar in size with Tampa having 331,487 residents and Atlanta having 485,804 residents and they are both on the East coast with access to many other cities around them.
One aspect of these two cities that you must take into consideration before you move is the crime rate. While this might not be your primary concern if you are moving due for employment reasons, it still needs to be looked into so you are aware of what you need to do to make your home as safe as it can be. To begin with, in 2006, there were 1,342.7 reported burglaries per 100,000 people in Tampa and 1,523.5 reported burglaries per 100,000 people in Atlanta. Both of these cities have higher burglary rates than the national average of 813.2 reported burglaries per 100,000 people. This is not unusual, though, because big cities tend to have higher crime rates than the national average.
When you look at those numbers, Tampa, Florida is slightly safer in terms of burglaries than Atlanta, Georgia. However, that difference is negligible. In both cities, you will need to look into security systems. Tampa FL and Atlanta GA both have numerous security companies that can advise you as to the best home security system and processes for the city you choose to live in. It is always recommended that you speak with an expert when you get into town to help you make your home safer.
Since both cities are comparable in burglary statistics, you may need to consider other crime statistics to help you make your choice. Murder, robbery, theft and auto theft rates are all considerably higher in Atlanta than they are in Georgia, but assault and rape rates are higher in Tampa. On the balance, though, both cities are similar in terms of crime rates so it should really all come down to home security. Atlanta GA has many suburbs that are considered quite safe and would be great places for making a home. You could still travel into Atlanta for your job and your commute times would not be too long. Tampa also has many safe neighborhoods and some statistics indicate that their higher crime rates are due to tourists, so residents are actually safer than the statistics show.
In the end, if you are comparing these two large cities to decide which one is better for relocation, it is going to come down to personal preference, since the crime rates are so comparable. If you can, visit both cities to get an idea of the culture and overall feel of each one before you make your decision. As far as safety goes, by being proactive, you can make a safe home in either place.
Article source: http://www.securityworldnews.com/2012/05/14/atlanta-or-tampa-which-is-safer/
Tags: security
So you’ve recently moved into a new home with an existing alarm system, but you don’t quite know what to do with it. Assuming that it works, our advice is to keep it and begin using it immediately. You may, however, want to consider the following tips, as well:
Change the Code
Immediately change the code. Even if you’ve been told that the previous occupants have relocated to the other side of the world, do not take chances on your security by using a code left behind with a real estate agent. There is a pretty good chance that additional people, such as other agents, a property manager, a workman or two, a previous housekeeper, or even friends and family members of the home’s previous occupant know the old code, which could place your home and family at risk.
Read the User’s Manual
Unless a user’s manual was left behind, you may not be able to immediately determine how to operate the system or change the code. This brings us to our next tip for using a previously installed alarm system– download a manual from the web. Many manufacturers allow customers to view and download digital manuals from their website. Check the system’s control panel or keypad for information on the alarm system’s manufacturer, make and model, and use that information to search for the appropriate guide for your system. If you cannot find this information, contact the alarm’s manufacturer directly and ask for help. (Note that the alarm’s manufacturer and the company who sold the alarm to the previous owners may not be the same, so do not merely assume that the logo appearing on the front of the keypad is the manufacturer.)
Choose a New Monitoring Company
It is not enough to merely have a system that sounds an audible alarm. Since you’ve already saved a few dollars by inheriting a working alarm system, it’s time to invest in alarm monitoring. Doing so will help secure your home even more by maintaining communication between your alarm and a central monitoring station. In short, if your alarm is triggered and is not silenced by inputting your code within a few seconds, the monitoring station will be alerted. A live person from the station will then attempt to contact you to determine whether there is an actual emergency and, if unable to reach you, will summon the authorities to your home. Read our post about choosing a monitoring company for more information.
Do not, however, contact a vendor that installs alarms to inquire about monitoring since there is a great likelihood that the price they’ll offer you will be significantly greater than if you were to approach a monitoring company directly. In addition to high monitoring prices, such a company will probably also try to convince you that you need an entirely new alarm system. Depending upon the age and condition of the system you inherited, there is a chance that you may want to consider an upgrade, but there are a number of do-it-yourself options that will cost you a lot less in the long run so there is no need for you to enter a contract with one of these companies. Instead, consider a monitoring company like Alarm Relay, which offers monitoring for less than $9 per month.
Make Your Alarm’s Presence Known
If the previous owner didn’t display a yard sign, window decals or some other pronouncement of an alarm system protecting property, invest in a few of these deterrents right away. As we’ve mentioned several times before, burglars are lazy opportunists. They prefer unguarded homes occupied by people who, besides a front door lock, haven’t given much thought to home security. Placards, stickers and signs tell burglars that you have taken special measures to keep them out. Simply put, a burglar would rather bypass a home with these deterrents clearly displayed in favor of a home where these warning signs are absent.
Beef Up Your Security
Since you are already fortunate in that you do not have to purchase a new alarm system, consider adding additional layers of security to your home by investing in security lighting and surveillance cameras. At one time, people believed that security measures like these were out of reach due to their costs. The truth, however, is that security lighting and surveillance cameras are quite affordable, particularly since they can also be self-installed. A monitored alarm system is great for alerting you and the authorities about a break-in, but the mere sight of security lighting and cameras tends to stop burglars in their thieving tracks before an attempted break-in even takes place.
We Are Here to Help
Congratulations on inheriting a working alarm system. Remember that it is up to you to learn how to operate it and to optimize the security it provides by adding professional monitoring. Should you need help executing any of the tips we’ve offered here or if you’d just like more information on using your system, leave a comment below or give us a call– we’ll do our best to help you figure things out.
Did you move into a home with a working alarm system? If so, how did you begin using it?
Article source: http://www.homesecuritystore.com/blog/2012/05/14/have-you-purchased-a-home-with-an-alarm-system/
Tags: security
I’ll admit it. The first time I went through one of the TSA’s advanced imaging technology stations (which use millimeter wave like L3’s ProVision units or backscatter like those from Rapiscan), I was a little taken back. Someone I don’t know was going to see me naked? Maybe I should have gone to the gym more often. But mostly, I was caught up in the miniscule panic of the moment. Do I have everything out of my pockets? Did I have to remove my wallet? Turns out I did. Should I remove my belt? Yes, again. But I can keep my watch on? Actually, that Timex watch ended up getting me a quick post-scan wrist check by a friendly agent who wanted to make sure that my watch that “takes a licking and keeps on ticking” wasn’t actually ticking for the wrong reason.
The hubbub of citizens advocating against these units has largely subsided – although not necessarily in Portland, Ore., where a man fully disrobed last month for the checkpoint and then refused to put his clothes back on when asked to do so. I remember all the advocacy against these units; that they were going to give us cancer, that they would see our privates, that they were unconstitutional because they violated the fourth amendment’s protection “against unreasonable searches and seizures”.
But we’ve largely acquiesced to this AIT technology, which Homeland Security officials say could have detected the Christmas Day underwear plot bomber of 2009 and likely would have detected the advanced underwear plot that was exposed last week in a daring bit of intelligence that involved a U.S. agent penetrating a terror cell. (Side note: there are differing opinions on whether the non-metallic bomb would have been detected by AIT.) The challenge today is not whether we accept those machines, but whether we can get them in place around the world. While we have a very standardized approach to aviation security in the United States (and in Europe), those standards aren’t global, and that means weaknesses in the trusted chain of aviation security. The issue with the underwear plot bomber of 2009 was that he entered the aviation environment in a location without these AIT units (although there were some of those units in operation at that airport – just not pervasively deployed).
Tags: security
A common complaint among the new owners of a home security system is the triggering of false alarms. This can be quite frustrating especially since some cities and towns charge homeowners when police officers are frequently dispatched to a home only to discover that there is no actual emergency. Not knowing what else to do, desperate homeowners have been known to stop arming a security system because of frequent false alarms, which is something that we do not advise. Others may continue to use a system while ignoring false triggers, which we also strongly oppose doing.
If you find yourself classified as one of these exasperated individuals, we’d like to share with you a few very important problems that your system’s false alarms may a symptom of. A solution exists, but you must be willing to wage a little investigation to find out the cause first. Here are a few suggestions:
Low Batteries
Wireless home security systems contain batteries that need to be changed ever so often. Most systems give several audible warnings when batteries are low and some emit false alarms until batteries are replaced. If your home security system is experiencing false alarms, a new battery may very well be in order. Be sure to check your user’s manual or contact the tech support desk where you purchased the alarm to determine the exact battery needed.
Improper Installation
False alarms are often caused by sensors being poorly aligned or a system that was never properly installed. If experiencing frequent false alarms, users are encouraged to first check all sensors to make sure that they are in their proper places and securely attached to doors and windows. If a system was recently installed, false alarms may also be resolved by retracing installation steps to ensure that each one was properly completed.
Loose Windows
Windows that are easily shaken by wind or other disturbances can often trigger false alarms. This occurs when the connection between sensors attached to the windows are disrupted. Replacing or repairing loose windows will often solve the problem of false alarms in these cases.
Other Sensor Disturbances
Pets, the movement of curtains or blinds and other items can sometimes interfere with or slightly jar alarm sensors. When this happens false alarms are triggered and, unless an owner sees the interference occur, alarms may seem entirely random. False alarms stemming from these causes may be easily fixed by making certain that sensors are placed high enough so as to not be accidentally jarred by regular household activity. As well, homeowners should make sure that nearby objects are not causing sensor interference. If pets triggering motion detector sensors are believed to be the cause of false alarms, consider replacing an old detector with the DSC Wireless Pet-Immune Infrared motion detector or something similar to it.
Improper Use
Among the most common reasons for false alarms is human error. Often, these are simple mistakes such as opening a window after a system has been armed or keying in the wrong passcode. Making certain that everyone in the household understands how to properly use a home security system, including passwords needed to arm and disarm a system, may eliminate the disturbance of false alarms.
Faulty Equipment
While most home security systems are put through rigorous inspection and sold in excellent working order, every now and then faulty equipment may be to blame for false alarms. After researching all other possibilities, it may be necessary to exchange an alarm system for a new one. Note that it is important to only purchase a home security system with a warranty from a reputable company with a strong commitment to customer service in order to make this process as easy as possible.
Are the Alarms Really False?
Of course, there’s always a question of whether or not alarms are truly false to begin with. Sometimes this answer is an obvious yes. In certain cases, however, what one assumes to be a false alarm may actually mean someone has been tampering with a system or even attempting a break-in. Homeowners should routinely check for randomly unlocked windows or other suspicious signs in or around a home and immediately report findings to local police departments.
Never Ignore False Alarms
Whatever the cause of false alarms are, they should never be ignored. People install home security systems to protect valuables and family members, as well as to deter crime. This can only happen, however, if humans operating the alarm system use it as it is intended and pay close attention to the reasons behind any malfunctions. Far too often, people feel frustrated by false alarms and permanently disarm a system instead. Few things make a burglar happier than to happen upon a household that has abandoned the use of a home security system. If an alarm fails to function properly it is of little use and every effort should be made to rectify the problem even if it means replacing the system.
Article source: http://www.homesecuritystore.com/blog/2012/05/10/is-your-false-alarm-trying-to-tell-you-something/
Tags: security
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