Honeywell Security Systems – Prepare for the Future

Honeywell security systems are among the top quality and most popular home and business security systems installed by Houston home security firms, and with good reason. Honeywell, formerly Ademco, stays on top of its field by keeping up with changing technology and offering cutting edge security solutions. In addition, it makes sure that its dealers stay on top of the rising trends that can affect their business—and your home security—as well. Most recently, it has been touring the country with a presentation about how the rising trend of cable and IP telephone will impact the home security system and the way you protect your home.

If you’re one of the growing number of people who have given up your traditional phone system for a VOIP line, such as Vonage or one offered by your cable company as part of a bundle, many of the security systems offered by mostHouston home security firms just won’t work for you. Alarm system technology has been slow to catch up and many legacy systems rely on the presence of an actual land line to report break-ins and incursions in your home. Without that landline capability, your choice of home alarm systems is severely limited.

The presentation by the company points out four things that home alarm systems will have to do to remain competitive and provide state-of-the-art security. Those things include sending signals over an alternative to traditional phone service, such as over the Internet or using GSM frequencies. In addition, home security systems should all offer two-way voice capabilities so that an alarm monitoring service can communicate directly with the home in the event of an emergency, much like vehicle safety systems do now. They should have the ability to upload and download and allow remote services, such as being able to connect to your home security system via your cellular phone. After all, if you can start your car with your cell phone, shouldn’t you be able to change the security code on your front door without having to physically punch it in?

In addition to those standards in home security, Houston security companies who want to stay on the cutting edge should offer monitored access control and IP video so that you can check in on your home when you’re not there.

If you’re not sure about your current security needs, contact a Houston home alarm system dealer and learn about the new Honeywell Security Systems products and how they can keep you more secure.

Options for Home Security Systems

According to the Houston Police Department, residential burglary is the most common crime committed in the United States, with a burglar invading someone’s home once every 15 seconds. A home security system and alarm monitoring by a Houston home security firm is one of the best ways to make sure that your family’s home doesn’t become one of the statistics.

Finding the right security system can be tricky, though. Before you choose a security system for your home, you should consider your needs and get familiar with the many options available for guarding your home and your family’s safety.

Home Security Systems and Burglar Alarms

While there are many security systems and burglar alarms on the market, most tend to fall into one of two basic types—electrified systems and motion detection systems. They’re defined by the mechanism that triggers an alarm. In an electrified system, it’s triggered when someone breaks an electrical circuit, generally by opening a window or door that has been wired. A motion detection system sends an alarm when it detects motion in the area that is covered by the monitoring system.

Electrical circuit alarms are the simpler, less expensive type of system. They’re essentially “perimeter alarm systems,” and are set up to protect the access points—the doors and windows—that a burglar may use to enter your home. Motion detectors work by detecting motion inside a protected area by way of radio waves. They’re generally more expensive, and will detect burglars once they’ve managed to get inside your home.

Combining the two types of alarm systems to protect the perimeter and detect motion inside a protected area with an alarm system monitoring service, along with other common sense protections, can offer your home the highest level of protection from burglars.

Types of Protection

The actual nuts and bolts are only part of an effective home security system. After all, an alarm is only as good as the response that it triggers. There are several levels of security coverage that go along with alarm systems.

Single premises alarms are the least expensive type of alarm. If the alarm is tripped, it makes a noise or otherwise alerts the family that an intruder has broken into or is attempting to break into the house. They also serve the secondary purpose of scaring off the potential burglar.

Local area alarms set off a siren loud enough to be heard outside the home. If you live in a close-knit community or in an apartment building where you can count on neighbors hearing the alarm and alerting police, it may be all the protection your home needs.

Telephone dialer systems represent the next level of security. They’re pre-programmed to dial a number and play a prerecorded help message when they’re tripped.

The final type of home security system is a continually monitored system. It is both the most effective and most expensive. When something triggers a monitored security system, it alerts your security monitoring company. Depending on the complexity of the system and your contract with the monitoring company, they may contact you, alert the police or do a combination of both.