Wired vs. Wireless Home Alarm Systems

Years ago, installing a security system was a major endeavor that was best undertaken during the initial construction of the home. It involved placing extensive wiring inside the walls to various contact points around the windows and doors, and was an arduous task to undertake after construction was completed. To this day, many homeowners are reluctant to consider the installation of an alarm system because of these difficulties in the past. What many don’t realize is that today’s systems are able to operate wirelessly, eliminating the need for costly installation. There are some advantages and disadvantages to both, but this new technology presents a huge leap forward.

The first distinction that needs to be made is that both wired and wireless home security systems can, and should be connected to a monitoring center. There are a plethora of companies offering extremely cheap wireless security systems that contain auto-dialer technology in place of the monitoring center. This severely limits the effectiveness of the system, and eliminates many of the benefits. First, the auto-dialer system has no way to disarm itself other than by command of one of the people on the auto-dial list. If the system goes through the list and nobody answers the phone, the alarm continues to sound. A neighbor will likely phone in the alarm, costing hundreds in false-alarm fines if it turns out to be false (and with self-installed systems, this is very frequent). Systems without monitoring also eliminate the homeowners insurance benefit. Many people offset the cost of installing the system with savings on their insurance bill – without monitoring, these savings are usually unavailable.

As long as the system is properly installed and monitored, wireless systems present the same benefits and ease of use as their wired counterparts. They can easily be programmed for multiple alarm panels, and can use all the latest security technology. Motion detectors, glass-break detectors, video surveillance cameras and basic entry alarms can all function on wireless technology today. Most of all, this benefits the homeowner because the cost of installation is so much less without having to rip up the walls to install the system.

Wired security systems are still a great option for folks looking to install a system during construction, or during a home renovation. It can also be a good option if the property is small, like a cabin or a condo. The functionality is roughly the same, and the cost of the technology is usually a little bit less. This is sometimes offset by labor costs associated with installation, but this can sometimes be worth it depending on the type of technology desired.

In any case, whether you’re looking for a wireless system for your apartment or home, Adt security is the best choice out there. Check out their deals on personal alarm systems and make a smart choice today!