Components

• (1) Self-Contained Wireless Residential Control Unit
• (1) Transformer
• (1) Passive Infrared Motion Detector
• (2) DSC Wireless Door/Window Transmitter
• (1) DSC Wireless Key Fob
• (1) Telephone Jack Module
• Installation Guide and User Manual
• Mounting Hardware

Features:

• Smallest size (5.5″H x 8.08″W x 1.51″D) of any self-contained wireless home security system
• Two-way audio alarm with monitoring station
• Controls up to 32 wireless zones and accommodates up to 16 wireless keys
• Fully programmable labels for LCD display (ex. Kitchen)
• Large keypad buttons
• 5 programmable function buttons (Stay Arm, Away Arm, Chime, Bypass and Quick Exit)
• Easy access keys for emergency (Fire, Auxiliary or Medical, and Panic)
• Program up to 17 separate codes
• EZ view status lights
• False alarm reduction features
• Compatible with all DSC wireless devices including motion detectors, door and window sensors, smoke alarms and wireless keys
• Internal Siren: 85 dB

The basics that you’re looking at from a component standpoint is the single motion detector and the two door and window sensors.  Right off the bat, I’m going to tell you that these probably won’t be sufficient.  There aren’t too many houses that have only two points of access to cover.  You could certainly cover your front and back door, but my guess is that you’ll be leaving a lot of ground-accessible windows open to undetected entry.

I have mixed feelings about motion detectors.  At the most basic level, all they can do is tell you when someone is already in your house.  Personally, I want to know when someone is trying to get into my house so I can react with enough time to prevent an actual break and entry.  On another level, motion sensors are inconvenient.  Once you have them armed you can’t move around your house.  If there’s a baby sitter over watching the kids at night, I would like the alarm system to be armed so any window or door entries will be monitored.  That’s just my opinion, though.

The base station has some nice features.  32 wireless zones should be plenty to accommodate all but some very large homes.  The emergency buttons are a nice feature as well, since you don’t have to fumble around for a phone or some small keypad.  When it counts, you want to be able to notify emergency response personnel as easily and quickly as possible.  The programmable labels on the LCD display are a great feature that makes it blindingly simple to see what sensor has been activated.  When you’ve just gotten up out of a dead sleep to see why your alarm system is going off, you want to get information quickly and easily.  This type of display provides that.

So again, I’m not recommending that anyone buy or don’t buy this system.  There’s nothing wrong with it, but you have to evaluate it against your needs to see if it’s the best home security system for you.

There are things about this system that I don’t like, though.  First, the door sensors and window sensors are fairly bulky.  That’s usually a turnoff for homeowners that want to keep things discrete and not make their home security system the center of attention.  Of course, I’ll always complain about the number of door and window sensors that come withe these packages, but that’s not so much a flaw as it is a cost issue.  They could include more sensors, but that would jack the price up proportionately.  This can always be remedied by going out and buying them yourself.  Home security system components are very modular.

The motion sensor that this unit comes with is an infrared sensor with some pretty advanced features for the price.  It has several layers of false alarm algorithms that removes all but the most likely false positive readings.  The company claims that it can distinguish between people and animals up to 85lbs, so if you have a pet that’s bigger than this you’ll want to think twice before buying this system.  The motion sensor will be effectively worthless unless you crate your dog while you’re away.  The range is 40 feet at 90 degrees, which is pretty standard.

The magnetic sensors that it comes with, despite their large size, have some features that make them worthwhile.  They are both wired and wireless.  That is, you can use them either way, so if you happen to already have wires run to the sensor area you can attach them easily in that manner.  To give you some peace of mind, they report to the base station every hour with their status, telling it things such as battery viability and some basic built in circuit tests.  This is the method by which you’ll know if something is wrong with it or everything is functioning fine.  And, of course, you can get more and add them to your system for around $30.00 each.

The bottom line is that this is a decent system with some nice features that will be a perfect fit for some, but completely inadequate for others.  It all depends on your situation and the size of your property.  If you believe this system fits your needs, there is no reason why you shouldn’t buy it.

Did I mention that there’s support for 12 wireless zones?  That’s right, this is a combination unit that carries a small amount of support for wireless sensors, something that even the most die-hard wired alarm enthusiast can appreciate.

The module supports 2 completely separate partitions that can be custom configured for separate account codes and individual features, with up to 40 user codes.  This is a very nice capability for small commercial sites where you want managers and employees to have separate access, or you want to be able to track a number of peoples’ comings and going.

On top of all this, this unit comes with the ability to be remotely programmed with optional Windows software.  Easy as can be, you program a flash card at your computer with all the necessary information, bring it to the unit and load it up.

So what situation is a panel like this best suited for?  I would say an existing installation of a hardwired system that you want to ramp up with some additional wireless sensors in strategic locations.  Maybe even a motion sensor or two when it comes to a commercial property.  The ability to mix and match wired and wireless sensors is certainly a bonus for the DIY home security installer and the professional alike.

They’ve called photoelectric detectors, and they’re very common in the commercial security business. All they do is tell you when something passes between them. That’s it. So simple, yet so useful! Let’s take a look at a few examples.

Some people have long driveways that lead up to their homes, and they want to know when someone is driving up, for social and security reasons. Placing two of these sensors at the base of the driveway (or anywhere along the way) will do just that. Hooking them into your home security system allows you to program a response (a sound, a light, etc.) that tells you a vehicle has passed between the sensors, and you’re about to have visitors.

I’ve seen applications where someone has a shop in an exterior structure where they are often by themselves, and most of the time wearing ear protection. No one likes getting startled, especially when using power tools. A great application for these is across the door to enter the shop. They had a very basic panel that the sensors were wired into, and when the plane was broken a red light bulb was turned on. By this method they knew when someone had entered the workshop.

The applications are almost endless, and the price for these types of sensors is very reasonable. Short distance detectors can be had for less than $50. Longer distances, up to 500 feet, can be found for around $300. If you’re looking to have the best security system in the neighborhood, you’ll want to add one of these for sure.

When glass is broken, it sends off a very unique sound wave that is almost impossible to mask or reproduce.  Glass break sensors detect this noise through a complex series of filters and signal processors, and give your base station the “high sign” that something’s going on that shouldn’t be.

A single sensor can cover an area up to 50′ in diameter so it typically won’t take more than one sensor centrally located in a room to give you full coverage.  And, if you keep your windows locked, breaking the glass is really the only way that someone can get through them.  That means, potentially, you could forgo window sensors completely.  This is an option that makes a wired security system much more feasible for most people.

My personal favorite is the ShatterPro II Accoustic Glassbreak sensor.  It’s a small (1″ diameter) cylinder that simply sides into a recess that you drill in the ceiling.  this makes it virtually invisible unless you’re scanning the ceiling looking for it.  It has a 25′ detection radius, and can be mounted as close as 3 feet from a window and still be effective.

As a matter of fact, even if you have door and window contact sensors you should consider installing one of these in your main areas as a contact sensor will not trip if the window is broken – only if the intruder breaks the window and then opens it; something you can’t bank on happening.

Best Home Security System is the One that works for you!

So what will you find here?  That’s simple.  You’re going to find objective information on a variety of different home security systems, including their strengths and weaknesses, best and worst applications, and any other information that you need to make an informed decision on what system will best meet your needs.

You see, home security systems are as different as the homes that they’re installed in.  And every family has different needs and goals for their system, so there is no cookie-cutter answer.  The best way to approach the issue is to have a framework with which you can organize the information.  That information will include both your own personal security goals. and the specifications of different home security systems that are on the market today.  Once those two information matrices are blended together, you can pretty quickly see what systems you need to spend the bulk of your time researching.

As a teaser to both get you headed in the right direction, and introduce the next article, start out your evaluation by asking yourself what you what to protect.  Is it people?  Is it possessions?  Both?  Do you want to keep people out of your house, off your property, out of certain areas of your house, or something different?  Once you have the answers to those questions, we can start working.