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Current emergency and security monitoring systems have leveled up to meet consumer demands, one of which is an immediate response from personnel who can provide aid or protection when needed. This is the purpose of alarm monitoring and why it is a crucial addition to the standard home or commercial alarm systems.

What Is Alarm Monitoring?

Alarm monitoring is a system of on-site security and alarm devices communicating rapidly with your security provider’s central station. Here’s how it works:

• The security company installs the alarm system in your home, office, or building.
• The alarm system is on standby 24/7 and is connected via telephone or Internet lines to the central station or the emergency department.
• If the system is triggered, it will send a signal to the central station.
• The central station has monitoring personnel who will call the house or building where the signal came from to verify if an emergency is occurring or if the alarm was falsely tripped. 
• An affirmative reply will signal the security personnel to immediately contact first responders and other appropriate emergency services, like the fire department or the nearest police station. 

What happens if your alarms go off while you are out of the house? What if an emergency is happening, but circumstances prevent you from answering the phone call? 

The SOP (standard operating procedure) for security systems providers is usually to still call the authorities or first responders, depending on which alarm system transmitted the signal. After all, it’s safer to verify a false alarm than to respond late to a real emergency. 

If you suspect an intruder is entering the building, answering a call from your security company could be dangerous then. This is especially true in commercial establishments where armed thieves can harm staff and customers at the slightest provocation. To prevent such tragedies, security providers offer security systems that contact first responders immediately without alerting anybody on the premises.

Security Alarms That Connect To Alarm Monitoring

To better demonstrate how alarm systems work within an alarm monitoring system, let’s consider the security alarms you usually find on a residential property.

Here are the alarm systems homeowners typically invest in for their security:

• Perimeter motion sensor
• Window and door sensors
• Tamper sensors (usually in phone boxes and the main power box)
• Smoke detector
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Floodwater detector
• Intruder alarm
• Temperature monitor

As described above, these systems perform different functions; and when triggered, they transmit emergency signals to the security provider’s monitoring station and emergency departments.

What Should a Property Owner Know When Installing a Monitoring System?

In an ideal situation, alarm systems are provided by the same security company, making it easier to link all systems to form a home security ecosystem. 

However, having security systems from different companies is more common because households tend to add one at a time. Secondly, security companies specialize in different risk areas: the highest-rated company for home security systems may not be the popular choice for carbon monoxide detectors, for example. 

Here are a few things to check when choosing alarm systems from different home security providers:

• Do they have personnel monitoring for triggered alarms 24/7?
• Can you trust them to contact the police, fire department, and paramedics immediately?
• Are the new monitoring devices compatible with your existing alarm monitoring system? 

What’s important is you can trust each service provider to be on guard 24/7.

Uses of Alarm Monitoring for Homeowners and Business Owners

Now more than ever, alarm monitoring systems are needed in homes and businesses in America. Homeowners and employees might overlook security threats they’re not aware of. Moreover, people are sometimes slow to notice dangerous incidents like spiking carbon monoxide levels (think of a frog in a pot of slowly boiling water). Alarm systems compensate where the five senses might fall short, and that’s how these technologies save lives. 

Besides providing security and ensuring the safety of the people within a property, here are the different uses for alarm monitoring systems in homes and businesses:

1. Damage prevention – Helps protect properties from vandals, burglars, and calamities like fire, toxic gas poisoning, and floods. 
2. Access Control – Denies unauthorized people entry to your home or high-security areas of your business premises.
3. Reduce power consumption – This enables property owners to monitor power-hungry smart home features, like lighting, heating, and air conditioning.

Get the Best Security and Alarm Monitoring Technology at Aeon Systems

Protect your family or staff by picking suitable alarm systems from a trusted service provider. 

Aeon Systems offers comprehensive home and business security solutions. We provide and install security devices and have operators on standby, ready to call first responders immediately whenever there’s a valid threat.

We also offer a wide range of security systems, like fire alarms, smart home systems, and video surveillance. Browse our website to learn more about our services, and contact us to request a free quote.

Now’s a great time to improve your home security with CCTV systems. There are now many options for high-resolution cameras, audio surveillance, indoor/outdoor compatibility, smart home integration, remote monitoring, etc., so you should be able to find a video surveillance system whose features work for your home.

Before selecting brands and cool, high-tech features, consider first choosing between wireless or wired CCTV systems.

What Is the Difference Between Wired and Wireless Systems?

It helps to recognize the distinction between “wired” and “wireless” CCTV camera video cameras. These determine how the devices transmit footage to their respective hubs. 

1. Wired CCTV 

• Needs cables connected to a power source to work
• Sends footage to a hub through ethernet cables
• Allows users to view footage in real-time or later by checking the archive

1. Wireless CCTV 

• Also needs cables connected to a power source
• Sends footage to a hub wirelessly via WiFi
• Also allows real-time or archive viewing of footage

So, are all CCTV systems wired to an extent? Isn’t there wireless CCTV surveillance at all? 

The answer is yes, there are non-wired CCTV cameras and surveillance systems, and they are called “wire-free.”

• Wire-free CCTV

• Battery operated; no power cables included
• Transmits footage wirelessly via WiFi

• Only records footage when the system detects motion within its coverage range (a limitation of being battery-operated)

Wire-free systems are classified as wireless, it’s easy to get confused if a security systems provider only asks if you prefer wireless or wired. 

To make the best choice for your home, consider the benefits of each option.

The Pros and Cons of Wired CCTV

The biggest advantage of wired CCTV cameras is that they are more reliable in transmitting and archiving surveillance footage. The system won’t suddenly stop recording because it ran out of batteries or memory card storage space. 

Transmission is also unaffected by weak WiFi signals or poor Internet connection. The footage is immediately archived in an on-site hub or the cloud. 

Transmission fidelity, which is crucial for real-time CCTV monitoring, is also stronger in a wired CCTV system. It doesn’t depend on WiFi strength, so there are no issues with concrete walls and floors blocking Internet signals and impeding transmission. 

As for the disadvantages, the most significant issue is the amount of work and wires needed for the installation. Power supply and transmission lines are all via cables, so you can easily need a couple of hundred feet of power cables and ethernet wires. Moreover, you must carefully plan the wiring for cameras mounted far from power sources.

Another huge challenge with installation is keeping the wires out of sight. Tacking the cables along the baseboards, cornices, and trims can be easy, but exposed cables are messy and will take away from your home’s interior design. In addition, it’s a lot of work to drill small holes in drywall and fish out cables from one end to another, so DIY-ing the installation of a wired CCTV camera is usually not your best option.

Finally, the dependence of wired systems on power cables can pose an issue if power outages are common in your area. You may have to invest in backup generators to ensure 100% surveillance continuity.

The Pros and Cons of Wireless CCTV

Scalability and portability are the two biggest benefits of using wire-free CCTV. You can mount them anywhere you like on your property and expand the coverage range with less hassle than wired CCTV. Wireless systems still use power cables, but the installation work is minimal compared to wired systems. Simply plug the cameras in, then program the devices to your WiFi.

Another advantage of wireless and wire-free cameras is they often have advanced features and machine-learning capabilities. For example, they can detect motion and sound and distinguish harmless animals or swaying plants from human movement. As such, they only record whenever a person walks inside their surveillance range, not every time a cat stalks across the yard.

Considering their functions and mechanisms, wireless systems are also more energy efficient compared to wired varieties.

Ironically, however, these advantages are also their disadvantages. For example, when the battery in a wire-free system runs out, the cameras can’t record anything until the empty cells are replaced or recharged. In addition, if the WiFi connection weakens, real-time transmission and archiving will be affected, and you can lose crucial surveillance footage. Finally, thick concrete or brick walls can block WiFi signals and compromise video recording and transmission.

Wired vs. Wireless CCTV Camera Video: Which Should I Choose?

Picking CCTV systems should be about finding the best match for your house and surveillance needs. It’s not that one is superior to the other, but a specific system might serve you best. 

For example, wired CCTV will usually work for you if you own your residence and don’t intend to move soon. However, wireless CCTV may be the better choice if you are a renter and cannot just drill holes in the walls. You can also take the CCTV cameras with you if you decide to move to another place. 

Also, consider other important factors like WiFi strength, frequency of power outages, budget, urgency (wireless is faster and easier to install than wired), advanced features, etc. You can also opt for a hybrid system and combine wireless and wired CCTV systems if doing so meets your surveillance requirements.

If you have further questions about CCTV surveillance and want a professional’s input, get in touch with Aeon Systems. We provide comprehensive and affordable home security solutions, including video surveillance and alarm monitoring. Our residential security systems experts can help you design a CCTV system that meets your needs. If you need installation assistance, our team will be happy to assist.

Call Aeon Systems at 817-466-9079 or contact us online to request a free quote.

Safety is a primary concern for any home or business owner. Fortunately, as a property owner, you can take charge of your security and be proactive in protecting our homes, business, properties, and the people who live and work there. 

In current times, security alarm monitoring technologies are vital for ensuring the security of a home or commercial property. The number of recorded burglaries in the US may have decreased by 29.6 percent from 2015 to 2019, but only 25 percent of US households have a home security system. Since burglars are more drawn to properties without electronic security systems, 75 percent of US homes are vulnerable to break-ins. 

If you’re considering investing in a security and alarm system, here are some factors to take into account.

Benefits of Security Alarm Monitoring

Here are seven excellent reasons to install a well-designed, modern, and smart security alarm monitoring system in your home or business:

Deter Burglars and Prevent Crime from Happening in your Home or Business

The very presence of security devices and alarms can discourage burglars from entering a building. In one early study for which researchers interviewed 422 convicted male and female burglars, 60 percent said they would find another target if their initial mark had an alarm system. 

Many burglars study the layout and movements of the people in a building before breaking in. They know how to pick locks and open locked doors and windows without drawing attention to themselves. Fortunately, alarm monitoring technology has developed very well in recent years, becoming a roadblock for many burglars whose motive is to enter and exit a building as quickly and silently as possible. They will look for an easier target instead of risking getting caught in a property with an adequate security system. 

Ensure your Safety with Early Warning Systems

Another beneficial reason to install alarm monitoring systems is to get an early warning for fire, gas leaks, and attempted burglary. These systems include technology that detects unsafe levels of hazardous gases, extreme heat, smoke, and movement within a restricted area. 

When triggered, security alarms will blast loud and clear, alerting not only the people in the building but also the neighbors and the police. They can give people ample time to head for the emergency exits and vacate the premises. At the same time, people tasked with disaster response can mitigate damage or stop disaster by shutting down the main gas line, alerting the fire department, activating in-house fire response protocol, implementing lockdown, etc.

Obtain Evidence against Trespassers and Burglars

Many modern alarm monitoring systems include video surveillance (and sometimes audio recording) that use sophisticated video cameras to record clear, high-resolution footage with wide angles. Moreover, many have excellent picture quality: the facial features of a person filmed from a distance are still discernible when zoomed in. In this case, if an outsider attempts or succeeds in breaking and entering, there could be enough footage to identify and apprehend them.  

Get Discounts on your Insurance Policy

Most property insurance policies offer reduced premiums for houses and buildings with dependable security systems. Although they promise loss reimbursement, insurance companies want to make sure customers are proactively preventing burglaries, fires, and other incidents covered in their policies. 

Enjoy Modern features and Remote Monitoring Capabilities

Houses and buildings that stand empty are prone to calamity. Break-ins, vandalism, and burglaries often happen when there’s no one at home or on the premises, and fires and gas leaks turn deadly when there’s no one around to put out the fire and turn off the source as quickly as possible. 

Alarms that integrate with smart building systems help prevent these disasters. For example, video surveillance systems can now provide live feeds of CCTV cameras through the Internet, which means you can monitor your property while on the go. If something suspicious happens, you can set off the on-premises alarm to scare the intruder and alert the guards on your property of their presence. 

Enjoy Privacy

A significant advantage of security alarm monitoring systems is the ability to have absolute privacy at home without compromising your family’s safety. When you have a robust, reliable, and modern alarm monitoring system, you can still have security without having to hire guards and house them in your property. 

Peace of Mind

All the benefits above lead to an understated luxury in today’s chaotic world: peace of mind. Not having to constantly worry about everyone’s safety and having the reassurance that your family, the people who work for you, and your customers have ample protection against crimes and unexpected burglaries is the outcome of having a dependable security and alarm system. 

Get Top Notch Security Technology for Your Home and Business

Investing in home and business security and monitoring systems can pay off insurance discounts and years of evading burglars, fires, and other incidents that cause financial losses and property damage. But, more importantly, they save you from the financial and emotional distress that break-ins and calamities bring. 

Improve your security by choosing a highly-trusted, modern security alarm monitoring system for residential and commercial use.

Aeon Systems can provide the technology you need for your home or business. With 35 years of experience installing quality alarms, surveillance, and security equipment, our team can offer security solutions that meet your needs and budget. Contact us today and schedule a consultation.