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InstallAlarm.com |
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Wireless Alarm Systems and Components Wireless sensors use radio technology to send a signal to the panel letting it know when a zone is violated. A panel should be designed to support wireless technology. While it can be added as an external option, you will lose zones and some management capability. More on this later. Wireless systems typically add additional RF (radio) technology to the main panel that contains the electronics necessary to receive signals from various transmitters that are installed on doors and windows. The transmitters are battery powered and require no wiring at all. Modern systems use "supervised" transmitters, which means the transmitters report their status to the main panel at designated intervals, so the panel can let you know if a battery is low or a transmitter is not functioning. A variety of sensors are typically available for use with the panel including magnetic reed and motion. Range The range, or distance from transmitter to receiver (panel to sensor) varies by system and is affected by building it is installed in. In general most systems have enough range to cover an average sized home. Range can be affected by the same things that affect the range of your cordless phone (although not exactly since they operate at different frequencies). Things like metal or foil and other transmitters operating in the same band can significantly reduce the range of one or more transmitters. Foil backing on home insulation can act like a "rf wall" that would otherwise allow the signal to pass freely. In rare cases a neighboring alarm system can also cause problems. Fortunately, most systems have a procedure that allows you to determine if a transmitter will work in a given location. Follow this procedure carefully to avoid intermittent problems in the future. Modern systems with integrated wireless can tell you a lot about the status of your wireless sensors.
TBD registration, battery life and replacement, transmitters and receivers, zone use, jamming, interference, keyfobs, more to come External wireless versus integrated wireless External systems may have limited or no "management capability". Management includes things like notification of a low battery before the sensor stops working entirely. In a worst case scenario a battery could die while the system is armed and cause the alarm to go off (false alarm). External add-on wireless can be added to any alarm system. You simply connect the zone outputs of the wireless receiver to the inputs (zones) of the panel! However, this will provide no management features. Management features include several notification messages including jamming, tamper, and signal loss. TBD Jamming. Tamper. Signal Loss...................more to come |
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