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How the Alarm
Monitoring System Works
Burglar alarms are in electronic form. A simple set-up of
an alarm system includes a sensor that is connected to one
or more control units. When the sensor is triggered, the
control unit seeks for a way to announce the alarm.
Basically, alarm systems can either be hardwired or
wireless. The wired systems are usually used with sensors,
smoke detectors for example, which demand power for
reliable operation. Wired types come with the advantage of
detecting tampering. However, wired systems are expensive
to install. On the other hand, wireless alarm systems are
easier to set-up. Instead of wires, they utilize
transmitters. Wireless systems require constant
supervision and maintenance to ensure efficient operation.
If for example, the sensors or batteries have not been
constantly checked, the system may not perform at its
peak.
Alarm monitoring is employed in systems with a remote
alarm output. In such systems, the control panels are
connected to predetermined monitors, and they are
configured in various methods. One includes a direct
connection of the system to a responder, or a central
station, such as a police quarters. However, this kind of
configuration is becoming less popular because it is
expensive. Direct monitoring connections can usually be
found only in Local Government institutions, State, or
school campuses where there is a dedicated security.
More conventional alarm systems make use of Public
Switched Telephone Network, or PSTN. This configuration
features a digital phone dialer unit which will dial the
central station, which in turn will announce the alarm.
The monitoring system can identify the physical location
of the sensor that has been triggered with the use of
certain programmed encoders. Most alarm control panels are
designed with backup dialer ability that can be used when
the primary PSTN route is not functioning well. The
secondary dialer can be connected to a separate phone line
(or an encoded radio, mobile phone, or internet interface
gadgets) to entirely evade the PSTN. This is because if
the primary lines have been tampered, alarms could still
be raised via the redundant dialers and early warnings of
pending problems can be advised.
In situations where the building is remotely located, PSTN
service may not be feasible and channeling a direct line
may be too expensive, there is still a way so your
security can be monitored. And that is by using wireless
phones or radio networks as the principal communication
line. The use of the Internet as a main communication
method is still very controversial within the alarm
monitoring business. This is because an alarm signaling
method needs to observe urgency and immediacy, and the
authorities are doubtful of the quality of service of
public internet.
When monitored, the alarms and speaker phones permit the
central station to communicate with the owner, or even
with the intruder. For monitored burglaries, the speaker
phones let the central stations to convince the prowler to
back off and give up as police units have been sent off.
Considering some factors, such as the location of the zone
triggered and time of the day, the alarm monitoring center
may perform various actions automatically. Some
instructions they may initiate include calling the police
stations, fire department or ambulance. They may also
choose to check if the alarm is true. Some systems come
with video surveillance to capture the actual acts of
intrusion or other emergency cases on tape. |
