Wireless Alarm System
With an average of 1,500 burglaries a day in Britain, the case for installing a burglar alarm hardly needs mentioning, particularly when you consider the difference that alarms can make. Less than 1% of burglaries occur in homes with effective alarm systems. Gone now are the days when the price or inconvenience of installing an alarm might put property owners off. The coming of age of wireless alarm technology means that there has never been a more practical and cost-effective way of keeping burglars where you want them – off your premises
Wireless burglar alarms operate differently from their hard-wired counterparts in that the component parts (control panel, sensors and alarm) communicate via radio signals, rather than electrical wired connection across the whole system. Beyond this fundamental difference, the actual methods for detecting intrusion are common to both. In the majority of cases this is based on motion detection using Passive Infrared technology (which actually works by sensing the increased body heat of an intruder), sometimes combined with magnetic sensors attached to doors or windows that trigger an alarm when they are opened. So what are the advantages of a Wireless Alarm System? Essentially all the benefits you can think of arising from the absence of wires, including that:
- There is none of the disruption (and potential damage) involved in installing a hard-wired alarm (e.g. removing floorboard, drilling, re-plastering etc.).
- The sensors can be placed almost anywhere – location is not dictated by complex wiring issues.
- They can be easily removed and re-installed in a different building (they are widely used by tenants in rented accommodation where landlords will not allow alterations).
- Additional sensors can be added easily, e.g. if a building is extended or the security level needs changing.
Wireless burglar alarm technology has developed significantly in recent years, and is now widely considered to be just as reliable as that of their wired counterparts. It is important to recognise though that wireless alarms will not suit every building; they tend to have a set transmission distance and are usually therefore better suited, for example, to houses and small business premises rather than large commercial or public buildings. As the technology has become more established, the cost of wireless burglar alarms has reduced dramatically and prices compare very favourably with hard-wired alarms, particularly when installation costs are taken into account. There are wireless alarms available to suit every budget, with the range of functions varying according to cost. The more sophisticated wireless alarms can include features such as:
- A combination of intrusion detection methods based on magnetic sensors that detect the opening of external doors or windows, and motion sensors to detect movement inside the premises.
- The capacity to add on additional functionality to detect smoke, gas leaks or flooding.
- The sending of automated warning messages by phone, text or email.
- Integration with a telephone and panic alarm system for elderly or disabled users.
- The ability to allow pets to roam freely without triggering the alarm.
Sadly no one is predicting that burglary rates will fall in future – no wonder then that the demand for wireless burglar alarms is growing as consumers choose this cost-effective and hassle free way of protecting their property.
Visonic have a number of home security systems on the market that all vary quite dramatically in price and competency. The Visonic Powermax system is one of their core products that attempts to provide a good balance of budget and technology in one simple package.
The Visonic Powermax system has the unique twist of using both wireless and hardwired zones. It offers up to 28 wireless zones and an additional 2 zones that are hardwired.
There is also the option to connect a hard wired sounder.
The mix of wireless and hard wiring is the perfect mix for people who want the benefits of both; however it can make installation a bit more complicated than a standard fully wireless system.
The Visonic Powermax System is a capable home security system that benefits from some good features. As stated, it has 28 wireless zones and 2 hard-wired zones. It can also support up to 2 wireless sounders and a hard wired sounded can also be connected.
The control panel is very nice and sleek. The whole system has a real feel of style and has obviously been designed to be pleasing to the eye. The key fobs, the control panel and even the sensors and devices all look great and will blend in nicely with your decor.
It is unusual to find a home security system in this sort of price range that has taken so much care to design a nice looking system. Often, alarms in this budget concentrate more on fitting the technology in to the unit and save money on design. This can often lead to bulky, very angular designs that are large and cumbersome and can be quite imposing so are therefore far from ideal. The Visonic Powermax System is certainly one of the better looking systems in this price range.
It also has plenty of the features that you would like to have from an alarm system, including an integral speech dialler and the option to add a separate GSM module if you so desire. This all makes for a very competent and capable system that offers a good level of all-round protection and versatility
Summary
In summary, this is a very good home security system. It offers a very good level of security and it is versatile as well as being highly functional. It is easy to add to the system and improve it further and it has some nice extra features.
It isn’t the cheapest home security system on the market, but it does offer good value for money with everything taken into account. You can certainly feel assured that you have a good level of protection if you have this system installed in your home. Visonic is the world market leader of wireless alarms. The Visonic Powermax meets the EU standards of ‘Grade 2’ due to its continual self checking and encrypted security features. Owing to this nearly all UK NSI and SSAIB security installers use the Visonic Powermax as their preferred choice of wireless alarms.
Visonic Powermax Complete is a professional grade wireless security and personal safety solution especially designed to answer the needs of residential and commercial clients. The added new feature of animal tolerant combined with the full range of communication, configuration and expansion option into a single modular has proven to meet expectations together with the varied needs and budgets of today’s customers.
The smart technology system has the capability of having up to 30 zones and multiple users. Many of the few key features include:
8 Remote Key Fobs, 8 Proximity Tags, 8 Individual User Codes
Up to 4 telephone contact numbers via Auto Dial in case of an Alarm Activation. Also the option of having a GSM Module in the event of the premises not having a telephone line, telephone line failure and telephone line sabotage whereupon the module may call or send an SMS depending on preference.
Voice prompts - Clear and concise for the common user.
Arm and Disarm system during home or away.
PIR (sensors) - Pet tolerant for animals up to 38 Kg (minimising false alarms) 50 feet (90 degrees) multiple curtain coverage with creep zone
Door and Window Contacts - Each ID code is randomly selected from 16 million possible combinations and is therefore unique and virtually impossible to accidently reproduce.
Remote Key fob - When activated, each button initiates a CodeSecure transmission of a unique 28-bit (rolling code) ID command selected from over 100 million possible combinations. To prevent ‘code grabbing’ by potential intruders trying to defeat the system, the next time the button is activated, the transmitter sends out a different CodeSecure ID, which is selected by a proprietary code encryption algorithm and which can be recognised only by the target receiver.
Outdoor Siren -Differentiated alarm sounds for intrusion and fire.
Wireless accessories available upon request as system can be upgraded to specific customer requirements.
