The Devil Is In The Details: Getting Your Home Security System Right
Setting up a home security system isn't just about the broad, sweeping changes or the shiny new equipment being installed. The areas your equipment covers, how it does so, and the method of notifying authorities are all just as important. These details are easy to overlook though, but doing so can seriously impair how effective your system is when you really need it.
Monitoring Coverage
Cameras, motion detectors and alarms are only as good as their field of detection, so it's important to make sure they're installed with the smallest blind spots possible. Make sure cameras have a wide angle lens, to ensure they can capture activity across a large field of view. Install cameras in corners, covering as many entry points as possible, and as far from those entry points as you can get, to ensure that anyone attempting to tamper with it can't avoid being recorded.
Motion detectors are a bit more complicated, especially in homes with pets. This is because pets can potentially trigger the sensors, which has caused many manufacturers to allow installers the opportunity to adjust their sensitivity level. These should still be installed near entry points and in hallways, but avoid turning the sensitivity too low to accommodate the nocturnal habits of a large dog. Instead, crate train your dog and put him up at night. You'll be able to keep the sensitivity setting higher on your motion detectors, and not have to worry about false alarms.
Alarm Transmission
Modern alarm companies have begun moving away from analog phone lines to transmit alerts to law enforcement and emergency services. If your new alarm is designed to transmit through your internet connection there are a few things you should make sure to address with your provider. The modems being used rely on the service being up, the relay stations being active, and power being available, any one of which can potentially be missing during an emergency.
Ask about secondary transmission options, such as analog phone connections, which can be used in the event of a service outage. Analog phone lines tend to go down less often, and require little or no power to transmit information. This will ensure that, in the event of a fire or a break-in during a power outage, your system will still be able to alert the authorities to the emergency.
Keeping your home and family safe from harm is a noble venture for anyone, but don't get so caught up in the novelty of the devices that you overlook the details. Ask the right questions, and you'll stand a good chance of getting a system installed that will enhance your life without creating more problems than it solves. Contact a company like Alarm Research Inc for more information.