New digital security systems for home, office, apartments

Digital alarm systems are the modern electronic devices for protecting premises from intrusion, fire or summon aid in an emergency. Digital alarm systems also called burglar alarm system or intrusion alarm system. In the past, digital alarm systems are only limited to applications like military, government facilities, and banks. Now the crime rate steadily increasing, civilian people are concerned about their safety, especially for those people living in modern cities. More over, with rapid technology development, many security manufacturers can offer high quality alarm systems with affordable price. Having installed alarm system for residential and offices become the investment to prevent theft and break-ins, bring peace in mind.

The consist of digital alarm system

The alarm system is a combination of different alarm devices. The basic alarm system which can provide intrusion detection is consisting of alarm control panel, intrusion detection sensors and siren.

GSM alarm control panelThe alarm control panel is the “brain” for the whole intrusion alarm system; it’s a data processing and control centre  If you install the alarm, you need set-up the alarm via alarm control panel or alarm keypad. You can activate and de-activate the whole system via operation of alarm panel. A good quality alarm system should with full features and can provide reliable performance, also may have modern, aesthetics design.

For the alarm control panel, there are various alarm panels around the market. Typically, you can find wireless alarm panel and hard wired alarm panel. The different between wireless and hardwired alarm panel or alarm system is wireless alarm system communicate with sensors via RF signal, in the other hand the hard wired alarm using cables for communication.  The advantages of wireless alarm panel is installation doesn't require any construction work or cable wiring, all sensors are powered by battery. Because of this reason, now majority of residential user prefer to install wireless alarm system, not the hardwired one.

Nowadays, alarm control panel can transmit alarm signal via VHF, telephone line, GSM, GPRS, IP, VOIP. Currently majority of alarm panels are using land-line and GSM for alarm transmission. If the alarm system support both telephone line and GSM, when an intruder cut the telephone line, the alarm panel will switch to GSM for alarm transmission, GSM is the backup for the alarm transmission.

The essential features for digital alarm panel

  • Must with keypad for operation
  • LED indicators or LCD display for easy setup and operation.
  • At least 10 - 30 wireless zones
  • Some hard wired zones will be great
  • Can support exit and entry delay
  • Support extra keypad for Activate or De-activate alarm
  • Contains zone attribute, every zone can be programmable
  • Alarm transmission can be landline or GSM
  • Alarm log and history log
  • Work with powerful siren
  • Power OFF notification function
  • Can program more than one emergency number, if self-monitoring
  • Compatible 4+2, Contact ID, SIA, if monitored by CMS
  • * Door bell function
  • * Smart zones function
  • * Built-in siren
  • * Remote control

Intrusion detection sensors

PIR motion sensor and door magnetic contact sensor are two basic and widely used intrusion detection sensors.

Passive Infrared Motion SensorPIR motion sensor (Passive infrared motion sensor or PID) adopts passive infrared technology for human movement detection. It can work at day & night, and typically with wide angle detection area, can protect large space. Most important, traditional PIR motion sensor are sensitive to pets, generate false alarms, thus if you have pets in home, you should not use the PIR motion sensor, instead use pet-immune motion sensor or Dual-tech motion sensor.

Pet-immune motion sensor can distinguish between true human movement or pet movement.  Simplicity, this kind of sensor with pet immunity.

Dual-tech motion sensor with combination two detection technology; Passive Infrared detection and Microwave detection. Simply explain, a Dual-tech motion sensor consists of one PIR motion detection component and one microwave detection component. When an alarm will be triggered, if two detection component detect with movement.

Magnetic contact is a reed-switch based sensor, the sensor consist of two parts; magnetic strip and transmitter box. Magnetic contact can work without any power supply, and it's ideal intrusion detection devices from any kind of doors and windows. In addition, magnetic contacts are the cheapest but most reliable intrusion detection sensors.

You can find various intrusion sensors to protect your property. Except PIR motion sensor and magnetic contact sensor,  you also can use vibration sensor, glass break sensor, Infrared beam sensor.

Siren is the sounder, which can make yelling or noise to alert people or deterrent intruders. A powerful and loud siren is essential equipment for digital alarm system. Strobe siren is another type of siren, when alarm is triggered, the strobe siren can not only make yelling warning sound, but also make strobe light to attract attention.

How the system works ?

The alarm system with sensors deploy around protected premises. As soon as intruder or un-authorized people try to get inside your residential or office, the alarm system will trigger the alarm immediately. If you store personal numbers for alarm receiving, you will get notified via phone call or short message (SMS). If you choose to use monitoring service, then the alarm signal will transmit to alarm monitoring station.

Majority modern digital alarm system also can work with fire smoke sensor. Fire smoke sensors are working 24 hours and 7 days. When there is a smoke or fire, the fire alarm will be triggered immediately.

Advanced alarm system may come with medical help function. Just press the medical help button, you can summon aid in an emergency. 

How to choose right alarm for my application ?

It's better to get a clear idea about your needs, before purchasing the digital alarm system. A fully inspection for premises by professional security installer is recommended, or at least you should analysis the property and find the insure entry points. There are many types alarm system in the market, to get the right alarm for your application. 

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Tags: Alarm system, Alarm Intrusion