Security Alarms

Providing Protection and Peace of Mind

Types of Alarms: When adding an alarm system to a property, the use, location, and property's risks need to all be assessed. There are multiple types of systems available.

• Burglar Alarms - These alarms are intended to notify when someone breaks into a residence or business. Typically, a burglar alarm will have sensors on all entry doors, sometimes main level windows, motion detectors on main corridors, and glass break detectors on levels where glass can be broken to enter the property.

  • Door - These sensors are added to exterior perimeter doors. When a system is armed for exterior perimeter doors, they become active, and a timer will allow certain doors to delay the alarm to enable disarming the system.

  • Motion - These detectors use a combination of microwaves, heat detection, and motion detection to determine if the motion is a person. Motion detectors can be set to allow pets to roam freely inside the building without setting off the alarm. Motion detectors are armed when the alarm system is set to the "Away" mode. Any human movement within the building will automatically set off the alarm as it is assumed the entry was made through an unprotected method, like cutting through a wall or opening an unprotected and unlocked window. On our burglar alarm systems, the user can easily disable interior motion sensors to allow movement inside the building by arming the "Stay" mode. When the system is armed this way, it will only sound when the perimeter is breached, either from the inside or outside. This can be helpful when sleeping, or to prevent children sneaking out at night.

  • Glass Break - These detectors sense the frequency created when glass breaks to stop burglars from entering the building through a perimeter window or door. These can be set to alarm when the system is armed, disarmed, or both.

• Detection Alarms - These alarms can be added to any burglar alarm system. They are constantly working to inform the property owner and the proper authorities of a situation that can damage life or property.

  • Flood - Sensors can be added to an alarm system to notify if there is a water leak flooding the building. These are especially helpful for properties that are not always occupied.

  • Smoke - Can be added to an alarm system to notify the property owner, occupants, and the authorities, of a fire. Existing whole home smoke detection can easily be added to our systems.

  • Carbon Monoxide (CO) - A gas that is odorless, tasteless and invisible. An average of 400 people are killed in America every year from this gas. CO detection can be added to notify the property owner, occupants, and the authorities of the presence of this gas.

  • Exterior Perimeter - Not as common, but a property can be fitted with infra-red lasers that, if crossed, can set off an alert or an alarm.

Wiring: Wiring for our systems can be fitted to many existing wired systems. We can sometimes take over monitoring of exiting systems. For new zones, we can provide wireless systems. On new construction, we can pre-wire for alarm systems. Let our consultants help you decide which options are right for you.

Monitoring: Alarm systems now have multiple methods of monitoring and reporting. Customers can choose from multiple options.

• Reporting - All of our systems are able to be accessed with a mobile application. They can be armed, disarmed, and all statuses can all be seen directly on a mobile application. Configurable settings allow the app to send notifications to the mobile device as statuses and alarms are being reported by the system.

  • Siren - A siren is the first line of defense when an alarm is triggered. Many times, when a siren is activated upon a break-in, the perpetrator will flee the scene. Neighbors may hear the siren and notify the authorities, and anyone on the property should be able to hear it notifying them of an alarm.

  • Self-Monitoring - Some customers do not wish for the authorities to be notified when an alarm occurs, but they would like to be notified themselves and contact the authorities as they see fit. They will use the application and siren to notify themselves when an event occurs.

  • Central Monitoring - This is our preferred method of monitoring. Not only will the owner get notifications via their application, but a central monitoring station will receive any alarms triggered. They will then notify the property owner and the proper authorities of the event. This monitoring will typically save the owner money on their insurance premiums.

• Communication - All new panels have the ability to communicate using cellular. Peripheral devices, (sensors, detectors, thermostats, door locks etc.) communicate with the panel using many communication methods. Sensors and detectors communicate with the panel using a proprietary signal similar to Bluetooth, while other items like smart home devices connect using the internet, Wi-Fi and Z-wave signals. Outside communication for reporting methods can be transmitted using land-line phone or "POTS" which requires a phone line be connected to the house and to the panel. This method is usually used as a backup, or where cell service is unavailable.

  • New panels - Our newest digital touch panels are standard and self-contained, requiring only power at the panel's location to begin communication to the internet using cellular signals, and to start reporting.

  • Old/Existing Panels - We can easily connect existing panels to our communication modules to provide cellular reporting. We can evaluate old systems to give them updates to new sensors and detectors as needed, and/or smart home devices can be added to the system. We can provide the same cellular application and digital touch panels using your existing wired system. Old self-contained wireless systems can generally not be updated as the providers tend to lock them down to their own programing. You own the equipment and can change companies at any time when you buy panel from us.

Cameras

Keep an eye on your property from anywhere in the world

Monitoring: Video from cameras can be viewed on a screen locally on site, or on a cell phone, tablet or a PC. All of these methods can be used simultaneously depending on the equipment used. User settings can be created to only allow certain individuals access to certain cameras remotely.

Types of Cameras: Cameras come in many forms and serve different purposes. Higher quality cameras will improve video quality and range of normal vision and night vision.

• Dome Cameras - High quality video with limited range.

• Bullet Cameras - High quality video that can have the ability to zoom to a farther range than most dome cameras.

• PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) Cameras - Can have the highest quality video and can be zoomed up to 30x. These can also be programmed to move to change the viewing area on a schedule.

Recording: Cameras can be wired to a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) or web-based cloud recording can be used to store video from cameras.

• DVR Recording - When a DVR is on site, network cameras or wired cameras can have their video stored on a hard disk drive. Drive size is optional. Some DVRs offer up to a month of recording for 16 cameras. When the hard drive is full it will start to overwrite with the oldest video first.

• Cloud Recording - This option is only available for certain systems. Videos can be held up to a year when this is used. Internet is required for cloud recordings to be saved.

Integration and Design: Deciding what cameras, recording, and monitoring system you need can be a difficult decision. We take all of your needs into account when designing your system to you get the best system for your budget.

Wiring: We offer systems that can use most existing wiring to update systems. We have camera options that can be put almost anywhere. We can provide a professional and clean look when new wires need to be pulled by not leaving unsightly holes or exposed wires.