It seems with all the various options for wireless security systems these days, customers are getting confused. Do I need a home phone line to have a home alarm system installed? Does wireless mean cellular or is it the opposite of a hard wired security system? What about security systems that use the Internet to communicate to your mobile devices? Does a cellular security system use my cellular phone to communicate, the WiFi or what?
The main question is... what security option is best for you and your family? The first thing we need to do is define some of the terms within the security business so we can have an intelligent conversation on what your best option is. We will be looking at what a "wireless security system" means and what a "cellular security system" is. Also, what options do you have if there is an existing wireless security system, a hard wired security system installed or your home has been pre-wired for a security system? And how does all this work with ADT Pulse that adds remote interactive services and home automation to your security system?
If you would like to make it easy on yourself schedule a free home security review by calling 1-800-310-9490. A Security Consultant will assist you by helping you pick out what security system is right for your and your family.
Wireless Security System
A wireless security system is a security system that:
- Communicates to wireless security devices like door contacts, motion sensors, glass break sensors and other security devices.
- Does not have the ability to communicate with hard wired security equipment (some have just one or two connections for hardwire security devices).
- Has a wire for power that needs to be ran to an electrical outlet.
- Is typically installed on all homes that are not pre-wired for security.
- Is an "all-in-one" security system meaning that the control panel, siren, battery backup and the optional two-way voice module, microphone and the GSM cellular unit are all built into the keypad.
Wireless security systems can communicate to the central station via your standard phone line but over 80% of our security system installations now communicate to the central station via cellular communication. With many homeowners deciding to eliminate their home phone service most customers are getting the wireless security system with the built-in GSM cellular communicator. Cellular security provides a much better level of protection as it provides phone line cut protection and communicates alarm emergencies to the central station monitoring center four time faster than standard dial up (6 seconds vs 24 seconds).
If you have a pre-wired home or a home with an existing hard wired security system check out this blog post:
Wireless Security System vs Hard Wired Systems... What's best?
Cellular Security System
The term "cellular security system" is becoming more popular. Most often it refers to a security system that uses cellular communication to communicate to the ADT monitoring center. Wireless security systems have a GSM Cellular unit built into the control keypad and hard wired system have an external GSM cellular security device. Eighty percent of our customers are getting a security system installed with cellular communication as the primary means of communicating to the ADT central monitoring station.
You can add cellular as a backup and have your security system use your home phone as the primary means of communicating. This is necessary on some security system installations for two-way voice security monitoring to work. Our wireless security system can do two-way voice audio verification over cellular communication but our hard wired security system needs a standard phone to have two way voice. You can then add a cellular unit as a backup to protect you from burglars cutting the phone lines on the side of your home and disabling your security system from sending emergency signals to the central monitoring station.
What are the advantages of cellular security systems?
- You can have a home security system installed without the need for standard home phone service and change your home phone service at any time without it effecting your home alarm.
- It protects you from burglars cutting your phone line on the side of your home disabling your security system from sending emergency signals.
- Sends emergency alarm signals to the ADT Central Monitoring Station four times faster than traditional dial up phone communication (four seconds verses 24 seconds). Seconds in emergency situations save lives.
Our favorite cellular wireless security system is the DSC Impassa 9057
Wireless Security Systems with Remote Mobile Access
The most popular security system option that our customers choose is the wireless security system with built in cellular communication and ADT Pulse Level 1 Monitoring. ADT Pulse gives you the ability to check the status of your security system, mobile arm/disarm, get text and email notifications of alarm events, see the history of all device and alarm events, set alarm schedules and automations. You will also get the interactive remote services software platform that gives you an ADT Pulse personal web portal to make it very easy to manage your home security system.
ADT Pulse Level I for security can be done using cellular communication with a wireless security system. When you add ADT cameras (Pulse Level II) with video monitoring or home automation (Pulse Level III) with automated door locks, lighting and thermostat control you will need to provide Internet service. This allows the ADT iHub gateway to communicate between all the different security devices of Pulse Level II and III and allows you to use your interactive remote services from your personal web portal and/or mobile devices. Our hard wired security system with Pulse monitoring needs an ADT iHub gateway for all ADT Pulse monitoring levels so you will need Internet connectivity.
For more information on ADT monitored wireless security systems or to schedule a free home security review call 1-800-310-9490.
Related video:
Here's what a wireless, hardwired or cellular system do for you: Save Lives: A naked man entered the France family's Wildwood, Florida home and threatened to kill everyone. They activated their ADT alarm causing the suspect to flee. It also sent a signal to ADT's monitoring center in Rochester, New York and the Sheriff's Department was dispatched. Deputies made the arrest and soon discovered that the perpetrator was suspected of murdering his grandmother. The France family believes without ADT and the quick response from law enforcement, they also could have been hurt. They got to meet those who helped save their lives at a LifeSaver event at their home.
