FAQ’s

This simply means that when you turn your alarm system “on”, all perimiter devices (door contacts, window contacts, glassbreak detectors) and interior devices (motion sensors) are activated. Use away arming when you are “away”, or not in the house when the system is armed.

Usually used as a backup to regular phone monitoring. In the event of an alarm, your alarm system will attempt to send the signal through your regular phone line. If it does not detect a dial tone, it automatically switches to the cellular transmitter, and makes a “cell phone call” to the monitoring station.

An expandable alarm system is one that starts out with a fixed number of “zones”, but can be easily expanded to a system with many more “zones” by adding an “expansion module” to the panel. In this way, you can instantly give your alarm system the capability of holding more devices (motion sensors, doors, etc) at a relatively low cost. Most systems start out as 6 or 8 zones, and can be expanded in increments of 8.

When your system goes into alarm, it seizes your phone line and automatically dials your monitoring station (aka central station receiver). Upon answering, the receiver sends out a special tone, or “handshake”. The “handshake” lets your alarm know that the central station is ready to receive data regarding the alarm.

Each device (motion sensors, door sensors, etc) is physically attached, or “hard wired” to the panel in the basement. It is always best to have a hard wired system if at all possible. Obviously, a device that is physically attached to the panel will be more reliable than a wireless device that is not.

A system that uses both hard wired and wireless devices. This is sometimes used in a home with two stories, where the first floor devices can be hardwired, but the second floor devices cannot. Or, a home is hardwired, and a detached garage needs a door contact, motion sensor, etc.

This is the device you use to enter your code to arm or disarm the system, and to see which device caused an alarm. Your installer will use the keypad extensively to program your alarm. It is sometimes confused with the word “panel”.It is usually located near the entrance to the protected area.

When the central station receives the information it needs, it sends a similar tone called the “kiss off” that instructs your alarm to end the call. This allows your central station to call you and confirm the alarm. The entire process (from handshake to kiss off) usually takes from 10 to 30 seconds.

An arrangement where you pay for the alarm and installation, and own the equipment outright, allowing you to choose who services and monitors the system for you. Owning the system will add value to your home, as whoever purchases your residence can have the freedom to choose who monitors and/or services it.

This is the metal “box” that holds the circuit board or “brains” of the alarm system, along with the back up battery that powers your alarm during a blackout. In a normal installation, it is installed in the basement, usually somewhere near the circuit panel and telephone demarcation point (where the telephone line first enters your home).

This is the process of splitting your alarm system in two or more “partitions”, arming and disarming each area separately while using only one phone line, and paying only one monitoring fee. Each partition can have its own keypad, or one keypad can be used to access each partition. The monitoring company will know which partition is sending the alarm, and will send the authorities to the appropriate area of the house/business.

Many new home builders will offer to run wiring for any future alarm system you may install. Many alarm companies offer a small discount if your house is prewired, as the cost of hard wiring and paying the installers are included in the price of the alarm. Many of the “free” alarm system companies will insist on using wireless equipment whether your home is pre-wired or not, as it costs them much less in labour to install a hard wired system. Also see “Rent or Lease”.

An arrangement where you pay a monthly fee just for the monitoring of the alarm. However, you do not own the system, nor do you have the freedom to choose who monitors or services it. You would own the system after the contract termination (usually 3 years).

With stay arming, only the perimeter devices (door and window contacts, glassbreak detectors) are activated, and not the interior devices (motion sensors). This allows you to arm your system while you are in your home, without tripping the motion sensors.

VOIP is an acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol. It simply uses your broadband internet connection to place voice calls digitally over IP based networks. VOIP monitoring is not very reliable nor recommanded for these reasons:

• An alarm system is designed to send its signals over an analog phone line. To transmit emergency signals properly using VOIP, the signal must be converted to digital, then converted again to analog. It is during this conversion that problems may develop.
• The alarm panel comes equipped with a back up power supply in the event of a power failure. Because traditional phone lines will still work even if your power is out, your monitoring station will still receive the proper signals. With VOIP, your phone service (specifically your IP router and/or modem) will not operate during a power failure, preventing any kind of signal transmission from your alarm to the monitoring station. You can prevent this with the purchase of a UPS (Un-interruptable Power Supply) for your PC.
• VOIP services tend to be more prone to “mysterious” technical issues and dropped calls. Your alarm panel may be communicating vital data to your monitoring station, and a dropped call will obviously interfere with this. Or, your alarm’s signal may go through without a problem on one attempt, but will fail on another for no apparent reason.
• Similar to a land line, your VOIP line (specifically your cable connection) can be cut or disabled by a potential intruder, severing your link to the monitoring station.

The wireless receiver is a device attached to the “panel” which communicates with any of the wireless devices (motion sensors, door sensors, etc) that you may have installed. Wireless devices require batteries to operate, which obviously grow weaker with time, which can sometimes have a negative affect on the performance of your alarm.

This is simply a way of seperating the devices (motion sensor, door sensor, etc.) that are attached to your alarm panel. If your front door is attached to zone 1 for example, every time that door is opened the “zone 1” light on the keypad will light up. In addition, if your alarm is set off by “zone 1”, the monitoring station will know it was the front door that caused the alarm. Most alarm panels start with 6-8 zones, but some can be expanded. See “expansion module” for more details.