Monitored alarm systems
Monitored systems use essentially the same sensors and equipment as a standard alarm but, instead of having to rely on your neighbours to investigate or call the police, you pay a monthly fee for 24-hour-a-day monitoring. Because the security needs for each home and homeowner will vary, most monitoring companies send a sales rep to do an on-site assessment to determine how much and what type of equipment you'll need. Equipment and installation charges range from free (provided you sign up for a multi-year contract) to in excess of $1,000, depending on the security company and package you choose, with monthly fees of $30 to $50 on top of that. When the alarm is set off, there are a number of variables for what can happen next. Bell, for example, has recently introduced a wireless system that you install and monitor yourself.
If the alarm is tripped, an alarm sounds and you will be notified via phone, email, or text message. Others, like Alarm- Force, use a “two-way wireless voice communication system” through which an operator can listen to and communicate with anyone in the house. If the occupant can't (or won't) provide the correct password, police are notified of a burglary in progress. Other companies send a private security service to investigate alarms before contacting the police.
With monitored systems, you can add on a variety of other features including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, sensors that detect basement flooding or temperature-drops – indicating the furnace has shut down – for peace of mind while you're on vacation, and even medical alarms, with personal distress buttons for seniors living on their own.
As you would with any home renovation, get at least three different estimates and ask each sales rep why their system costs more (or less) than the competition. Be sure to inquire about backup power supplies and, since most systems rely on the phone line for communications, ask about what sort of fail-safe measures there are if the line is cut.
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3 Comments
http://www.vipsecurityalarms.com/ I found their website if anyone is interested!
Our family uses a company by the name of V.I.P security offers great pricing and superior customer support. We love the fact that VIP is not a huge call centre company, one man comes to do all the installation and for issues i call him directly we love it!
Well, your monitored system might be of some extra benefit over a piercing siren on the house, but unless the police are , GUARANTEED, less than 5 minutes from your house, they will NOT be there in time to catch the burglers. We had a B&E, while away for only 15 minutes, and when the police did a demo run through for the neighbours, the whole break and entry through a locked door, collection of electronic goods from 4 rooms, and escape to a waiting car, took only four and a half minutes. After the culprits were caught, one of the three of them confirmed the time in our place was less then 5 minutes. He also confirmed that if they had seen any indication of any type of alarm system armed, they would have bypassed our place. So much for any pious claims for expensive monitored alarm systems. We now have a system which employs a 60 watt siren concealed but open through a roof grille to outside. Hard to ignore THAT !! Ken