Who will be monitoring my alarm?

A state licensed, Underwriters Laboratory listed 24-Hour Monitoring Center, usually referred to as the Central Station. Our professionally trained operators are always there to promptly respond to all of your alarm events.

How does an alarm system work?

We program the Security System's communicator to dial the telephone number of an alarm receiver at the UL-listed monitoring station. Your security system is connected to a telephone line at your home or business for this purpose. We recommend standard telephone service to ensure proper communication from your system. At this time, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone services have some reliability issues for signal transmission.

When alarm activation occurs, your security system "seizes" your telephone line and dials the alarm receiver. Your system transmits digital data identifying your account number and alarm condition and then releases your telephone line. Central station personnel take over from here, contacting your home to verify the alarm condition and communicating with the appropriate emergency response authorities (Police, Fire, EMS) when necessary.

What happens when my alarm is triggered?

Upon receipt of an alarm signal from your security system, dispatchers in our monitoring station will telephone your home or business first. This will avoid false alarms. If you're home when the alarm is triggered, we'll ask you to provide your secret password and then verify the alarm condition. If there is no answer, a constant busy signal or an incorrect password given, we telephone the Authorities (Police, Medical and/or Fire) and advise them of the alarm condition. When there is no answer at your residence or business, we begin notifying your Emergency Call List. Your call list may include yourself, neighbors, employees, friends and/or family members.

Why should I have a monitored burglar or fire alarm system?

If your alarm were to go off at anytime during the day or night, who will be around or go out of their way to call the appropriate response agency? When your security system is monitored, our 24-Hour Monitoring Center will notify the local authorities when our operators receive an alarm condition signal. The appropriate response agency will then be dispatched to your home or business to help protect your possessions and ensure your safety.

Will your Monitoring Center receive an alarm signal if the alarm is not armed?

No, it must be active (armed) to send signals. Known as the ?stay? mode, it is important to arm your system, even when you are at home. This mode bypasses any interior motions and allows you to move about freely inside your home while ?protected? doors and windows remain armed.

What is the difference between a hard-wired and wireless system? And what about my pets?

Wireless allows for protection where we cannot run a concealed ?hard? wire. As for effectiveness, wireless sensors and devices are extremely reliable. Pet-Immune motion detectors accommodate a large dog or combined weight of ~80lbs.

My telephone lines are exposed, what happens when the phones are dead or the line gets cut?

Normally, if your phone lines become disabled due to tampering, severe weather, or construction, your alarm signals will not reach our 24-Hour Monitoring Center. Because our 24-Hour Monitoring Center is a critical part of your security system, we offer alternative communication options. These communicators (Cellemetry back-up) will send signals via

a powerful cellular control channel to our 24-Hour Monitoring Center.

Aren?t these things thousands of dollars to put in?

What cost 3?5k twenty years ago to do, can now be done for as little as - NO Installation Charge (Basic/ Essential Pkg.) to a few hundred dollars. A few thousand bucks these days, can turn your residence into an automated ?smart? home with Security, Lighting, Thermostat and other controlled amenities from virtually anywhere in the world. It all depends on the level of Security, Comfort, Convenience & Safety you desire. Resale value is increased about 1% to 8% -- Talk about raising the roof on your home?s marketability and realizing a return on your investment!

How long will it take to install my security system?

All depends upon the size of your system. Typically, an ?Essential Package? installation is 4 to 6 hrs. in a 2500sf home.