Home security systems play an important role in our lives, especially in these present times given the added security and a sense of relief offered by these technologies. To know more about these and how they help us, read on!
First Things First, What are Home Security Systems?
Home security systems are physical electronic components that work together in order to protect a house. Here are the features of the home security systems consist of:
1. Security Camera: Best Home Security Systems
These are hooked up to Wi-Fi and enable to live stream the footage on devices that can be accessed remotely while also giving notifications as and when the camera detects any movement, packages, or people. Most cameras include infrared or night vision colour, local or cloud storage, and two-way audio that allows you to speak over the system. Other cameras also feature smart platform integrations like Amazon, Alexa, and Google Assistant.
2. Motion Sensor: Best Home Security Systems
These must be placed in the main entryway or the hallway on the ground floor of a home. These can detect any kind of motion and alert you when armed. There are other motion sensors that are sensitive to pets so don’t go off when the dog walks by.
3. Entry Sensor: Best Home Security Systems
Or contact sensors come in two parts: (1) they can be placed on the window or the door, and (2) ones that can be placed on frames. These use magnets to determine as and when an entrance is closed or opened. If opened, it sends alerts. Ideally, you must place these entry sensors on doors or windows of the ground floor.
4. Glass Break Sensor: Best Home Security Systems
In order to avoid the entry sensors, intruders might try and break the windows to get in. This is where the glass break sensors come into play, they can detect the sound of breaking glass and send you alerts via mobile notification.
5. Siren: Best Home Security Systems
These are a part of the home security systems, either by default or as a part of other devices like a base station. They often go off at the same time as the alarms and intend to scare the intruders away/alert the neighbours.
6. Keypad: Best Home Security Systems
These are included to arm or disarm and commonly require a code to enter. These are mostly mounted to the wall or can also be placed on a flat surface.
7. Key Fob: Best Home Security Systems
These allow you to disarm or arm the security system without the use of a keypad.
8. Panic Button: Best Home Security Systems
As the name gives it out, a panic button is useful to use when things go haywire. They are easy and super fast to act and alert emergency services such as the police, fire department, and the hospital. Best to be placed near your bedside table.
9. Base Station: Best Home Security Systems
This helps sync all the connected devices with mobile applications to receive notifications.
10. Yard Sign Or Window Stickers: Best Home Security Systems
Most systems also come with yard signs/window stickers that enable the user to advertise a security system. Defaulters most times turn away if they come across these signs so they could be a good thing to have.
11. Smoke Or Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Best Home Security Systems
These are recommended in all households. It is a simple tool that alerts in case the air becomes unsafe to breathe.
Types Of Home Security Systems in India – Best Home Security System
Listed below are a few different types of home security systems that you can choose from:
1. DIY Home Security Systems
These home security systems are put together by a user and also monitor the system through a mobile app. However, there are other kinds too that come with DIY systems included with professional monitoring – which differ from one category to another.
2. Professional Smart Home Security Systems
These could come in two kinds; (1) professional installation where the technician visits to install the equipment or (2) that is a system that comes with professional monitoring, that is a team that responds to alerts (from a call center). Again, there are some that can be professionally monitored while the others are self-monitored, so you’d need to check when making a purchase as per your need.
3. Wired
Wired home security systems are hardwired into an existing electrical system of a house.
4. Wireless
No brainer here, these kinds of home security systems are wireless – do not come with wires but work on a combination of batteries, cellular backup or Wi-Fi, and a monitoring center, if applicable. These are comparatively easier to install but would need to be changed or charged, based on the kind of system.
5. Smart
They are connected via the internet which allows the user to view live footage from the comfort of a mobile app and also receive notifications as and when the alarms go off and can also be controlled remotely.
6. Local
These alarm systems as compared to the smart systems are not connected to the internet so there is no ease of controlling remotely, receiving notifications, or monitoring. Instead, when the alarm goes off, you’d only know if you’re close to hearing it. Having said that, these can also have professional monitoring systems via landline or cellular backup.
Professional Monitoring – What Does It Mean?
There are many physical security systems that come with other services that operate with 24/7 monitoring or using landline, cellular, or a battery backup, keeping the system on whilst a power outage.
Alarm systems are quite rarely connected to emergency service dispatch centers, instead, the alert first goes to the company’s monitoring center to determine if an emergency service needs to be contacted.
Generally, when the center receives an alert, they usually call on the number(s) on the file. If answered, then the center will ask for a “safe word” or the password to confirm if the concerned person is not under duress. In case it is left unanswered or the passcode is incorrect or not provided, then the monitoring center contacts the appropriate emergency services to dispatch the fire/police/medical centers for assistance.
In particular, the smart home security systems help connect all components to a mobile application and allow the user to control remotely. As this ecosystem becomes common, they begin to integrate with voice assistants such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa that allow the users to command their home security systems with their voice which limits the chances of the intruders disarming the system.
Home Security Systems – How Do They Work?
For most home security systems, the components can easily connect to a base station. After this, they connect to a mobile app that allows the user to monitor and control things remotely. Major security systems mostly use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular to connect with the user’s phones while other systems choose a battery backup or landline in case of power outages.
The home security alarm system should be armed outside and disarmed when home by simply inputting the password or by voice command or the key fob, or an app. When disarmed, the sensors and the camera stop automatically, however, the smoke and carbon monoxide sensors remain on irrespective of whether the security system is armed or not.
Here is how the home security systems work:
- The users can access the live stream footage on a mobile app captured by the security camera
- The notifications are received from the sensors
- One can speak using the two-way audio with other capabilities involved
- On the other hand, as opposed to a local alarm system, these smart home security systems allow you to see what goes on in the house no matter where are are
- Local alarms however only set off a siren at the house
Home Security Alarm System – How Happens When The Alarm is Set off?
The sensors communicate with the base station and send out messages to the mobile application. Also, depending upon the system, the phone settings, and the app, the user can also receive email notifications, app notifications,s or text notifications. From there, the users can also live stream the footage of the whereabouts or use the camera’s two-way audio to communicate. In case there is an intrusion, they can also call the police.
What happens if you fail to see the notification?
Depending upon the choice of the system there are companies who offer 24/7 monitoring systems as well. Here, in case the alarms go off, the professional monitoring team receives a notification and as the emergency is verified, the call to the emergency services is made.
In Conclusion: Why Choose Home Security Systems? The Pros and Cons
Now that we understand what a home security system is and how it functions in keeping us safe and alert, let’s now indulge in the highlights and drawbacks of these.
Pros
- The home security alarm system comes with fast police contact – all thanks to the professional monitoring through which they are notified when not in the house
- They are capable of identifying deter burglars, this also includes when if you only have a sign or the window stickers to alert and scare the possible intruders away
- These security systems have simple and easy safety alerts. These are best used if we, in a hurry, accidentally forget to close the front door or the back window, these systems can help – all thanks to the entry sensors that can be remotely functioned using a smartphone application. This can be done via notifications too to inform the user about the doors, an intruder, or if there is any movement detected.
- There are many home security systems that offer discounts that is if the security systems are purchased – the best plan to limit the cash spent
- Live Streaming is a great addition to these security systems to help understand what goes on in the house in your absence
Cons
- Given their highlights, these systems also come with a cost on the higher end. The cost can be expected to be around $400 on an average. This also depends on the kind of system you are purchasing, while the minimal ones only feature the sensors, the others come with 15+ components
- If you add 24/7 monitoring or a cellular backup to these systems, there is a monthly cost included. The charge can range from anywhere between $10 to over $60
- There have been incidence of false alarms too so much as that the police have been triggered and involvement
- In the midst of work, there is an incident where you might forget to turn the home security systems on when leaving the house, making the system pointless.
