Security and Alarm Systems Blog

Would-be home intruders look for weak points in a home. The most common areas of entry are doors and windows, especially if they are unsecured. A California home with locked windows and doors is instantly unattractive to a thief or burglar. Heavy window screens were thought to discourage regular and mobile home intruders, and while those without tools might think twice about trying to undo these devices, a burglar equipped with a simple set of metal shears can cut through even the most heavy duty screens quite easily. If a criminal is determined (and usually desperate) they will find their way in.

Iron bars placed in front of the windows are a common site in the inner city, which has the good guys living behind bars while the bad guys are prowling the streets. Alarm devices, using sensors to cover their windows, doors, glass break and motion detectors, will alarm a sound when an intruder has breached the security system. The loud noise not only wakes up the homeowner, but it also takes away the element of surprise and anonymity from the intruder. But most importantly, the burglar alarm notifies the police, and the thief knows this. So, an intelligently designed security system is the best defense against home intruders.

Every Security System we install from San Diego to Riverside to Irvine is outfitted with a DMP Security Control Panel. Digital Monitoring Products, or DMP is a recognized leader in network and cellular alarm communications. We choose to partner with DMP for many reasons.

These are just a few of the main reasons we choose to install DMP control panels and keypads. There are so many options we can offer our customers because we partner with DMP. A new and exciting feature is the ability to communicate an alarm over a home or business network (using the internet) rather than the old way through a land line. Also, the new ePad allows our customers to arm and disarm their system using a web interface from anywhere in the world. By far, however, the most important feature of a DMP Security control panel is that we can install security, fire alarm, and door access control equipment to it. The programming features allow for this integration, ahich is great for our customers because it saves them money, and allows us to be more competitive with companies offering sub-par alarm equipment.

So many people have a monitored security system, and don’t know exactly what the monitoring entails. Well, here it is in summary. Security systems signal an alarm when tripped. This signal sends data which makes it’s way to a central station via one of three methods. The traditional method is through a land line, and many people still have land lines ONLY for their security system. The second method is through a cellular device, using cellular towers. This technology is not completely developed yet, so we only recommend using cellular as a back-up means of signaling in case phone lines are cut. And, the third method of security data transmission is over the internet.

Once the alarm signal is sent to the central station, they take predetermined actions based on a protocol made by the customer. For example, the protocol might be to call the business owner first, the VP second, and then call the police if they are both inaccessible. A common protocol for a home security system is to call the homeowners cellular and home, and to only take action when directed. This prevents false alarms, but can be dangerous if the homeowner is not always around their cellular.

The entire transaction is recorded by the central station, so in case there are any issues with the following of the protocol.