My Alarm System Can Do WHAT?
Cool features of your security alarm system that you may not know about.....
Most people know that an alarm can monitor for fire, floods, and carbon monoxide
as well as security. But many people don't know about, or don't
take advantage of all the nifty things their alarm can probably do,
depending on the make and model, of course. Ask your alarm
provider (or potential alarm provider) if your alarm is capable of
doing the following:
Customize Your "Chime" Feature:
Your system is usually programmed to beep if the front door is
opened. But you can also have your installer program any of your
windows to do likewise. This is handy if you have small children
with bedrooms on the second floor. The keypad will beep if any of
the kid's bedroom windows are opened, hopefully preventing an
accidental fall.
Automatic Paging:
Your system can page you when the alarm is tripped, or when a special
"event" happens, such as notifying you when the kids arrive home from
school.
Automatic Shutoff And Reset:
Another way to allow access to your home at preset times is to choose a
system that allows automatic arming and disarming. With a feature
like this, you could program your system to allow a "window" of access
for pet sitters while you're on vacation, for example.
Event Log or "Buffer":
You can access system events if you have an LCD keypad, and if your
alarm supports this feature. An event can be anything alarm
related, such as power failures, when the system has been armed and
disarmed and whose code was used, if a zone or device was programmed to
be bypassed, and of course, if your system went into alarm.
Above:
Most DSC models feature an event buffer, that you can access with an LCD keypad like this one.
Below:
Your alarm can page you when the kids get home. The kids won't be crazy about this feature, but you will be!
Remote Operation:
This feature allows you to call your system from any touch tone phone
and, by entering a special code, check the system or change features,
such as entry and exit delay times.
Special Codes For Occasional Users:
Your housekeeper, for example, can have a code that will only work with
your alarm on certain days or times. Or you can program a code
that will automatically erase after only one use, to let a neighbor in
to water the plants while your away for a few days.
Duress Code:
If someone follows you into your home and forces you to disable the
system, keying in a special code disarms the system, but sends a silent
panic signal to the monitoring station.
Two Way Audio Monitoring:
Small microphones mounted throughout the house allow the central
monitoring station of your alarm company to listen to sounds in your
home when the alarm is triggered. Small speakers allow the
operator to talk to you without the phone.
"I'm OK" Monitoring:
Designed for people living alone, and especially useful for the elderly
or those with medical issues, this feature alerts the central
monitoring station if the system's motion detectors do NOT sense any
motion for a certain amount of time. If this is the case, the
central station alerts a neighbor or family member to check in on the
homeowner.
Lights:
You can send the system a signal from your car as you drive up, or by
phone before you head home, so the interior and exterior of your home
will be lit when you arrive. You can also program the system to
turn on the lights when the alarm is triggered.