Wireless Infrared Home Security System
From LoveToKnow Safety
To help protect your home and family, consider installing a wireless infrared home security system. While no one likes to think about their home being broken into, the fact is a burglar can strike any of us—at any time. Even if you live in a low crime neighborhood, that doesn’t stop thieves from targeting your home. No security system is perfect, but having no security system makes your home easier to break into than a home with a system.
How Does a Home Security System Work
There are many ways that a home security system can protect your home. Exactly how it works depends on the security system that you choose. The core component of a security system involves what kind of intrusion the system is monitoring. The two basic ones are motion-sensing and breakage-sensing.
Motion Sensing Systems
If you’ve ever walked up to a neighbor’s house and had an outdoor light turn on automatically, then you know how a motion sensing system works. It constantly monitors for motion of any kind—by anyone or anything—and when motion is detected, it triggers an action. That action can be the light turning on or an alarm to sound.
Breakage Sensing
A breakage-sensing system works much differently. Ten people could be walking around the perimeter of your home and the alarm system won’t notice. Once one of those ten people decides to throw a rock through the window or bang open your front door, then the alarm is tripped.
Combining Both Types
A motion sensing and breakage sensing system each have their pros and cons. Motion sensing will often be triggered by an animal—sometimes even by your own pet. A breakage system helps prevent accidental alarms, but then it’s not triggered until after damage has already occurred to your home.
Then there is the hassle of installing these systems. Also, if you live in an apartment, you may not be able to even install a traditional security system.
Thankfully there are now wireless infrared security systems that offer advantages not available with more traditional systems.
Advantages of Wireless Infrared Home Security System
The infrared technology overcomes the deficiencies of traditional motion sensing and breakage sensing home security systems.
Instead of being triggered by any motion, the system detects infrared energy. This energy must register as a certain profile in order for the alarm to trigger. That profile of course is one of a human rather than an animal.
This enables the infrared system to lower the amount of false alarms while still being triggered before your door or window is damaged.
The other advantage comes from being wireless. If you’ve ever setup a wireless home network, you know that once its setup, the freedom of being able to use your computers anywhere in the house makes life much easier.
The same goes for a wireless security system. You won’t have to run any cables around your home in order to receive the protection of a traditional security system. You’ll likely be able to set it up yourself, which will save you money.
For apartment dwellers, having a wireless systems means it can move with you—whether you move to a new apartment or into a house or condo.
How the Wireless Infrared System Works
These systems can be a very simple sensor and camera, or it can be more elaborate, if you so desire.
The most basic system involves installing the infrared motion detecting unit outside your home. It is then connected wirelessly to your telephone. When the alarm is triggered, then it causes the system to call the phone number(s) that you program into the security system. More elaborate systems can have:
- Wireless security cameras
- Glass breaking sensors
- Outdoor decals to alert burglars that you have a security system
- Shrill or silent alarms
Where to Buy a Wireless Security System
Your local home supply store may carry wireless systems. You can also check out the products offered on the Web. These Web sites are a good place to start your search:
Warning: May Not Include Monitoring
One disadvantage to a wireless home security system is that it may not include monitoring by a company. It may be up to you to call 911 if the alarm is triggered. If you would like to have a monitored system, prepare to pay extra and ask if monitoring is included with your wireless home security system.
