Free Home Security Systems
Often, home security companies will have offers that advertise free home security systems. So what does that mean really ?
Whenever we hear the word “free” most people have enough common sense to want to know what the “catch” is. Well the same thing applies to theses so called “free” home security systems as well. If you think that your are going to get an adequate home security system for free then your in for a major disappointment.
Here is what you will usually get with one of these “free” systems.
These systems will usually consist of an ‘all in one ‘wireless control panel, keypad, dialer and siren. 1 wireless motion sensor, and 1 wireless door or window contact, and an automatically renewing contract that binds the customer for a very long term, in some cases up to 5 years.
All additional door, and window contact, and sensors have extra charges. Special activation fees also known as fire and police registration fees. Some companies that have a number that is out of your telephone area will actually make you use their 1 800 number and charge you fees in order to allow the alarm system to send its signal .
All ‘free systems’ are wireless because they are the easiest to install and require little skill to set up. Most of the programing is usually done ahead of time so the installer can get the job done as quickly as possible. Most of these so called “technicians” have very little or no skill to begin with because the alarm companies that offer free systems pay very little to their employees.
Quality technicians that work for reputable home security systems companies are rare and demand higher salaries, and of course the consumer would not be having a”free system installed in those cases anyway.
The worst thing about these systems is that they are extremely vulnerable because they have all the central components or “brains” of the system all in one ‘box’. That means if a thief manages to tear the control panel off the wall the whole system becomes disabled , allowing the intruder to roam freely and do what he pleases in your home.
A quality system will have the central control panel in a separate room, usually in the basement while the keypad is in another location in the house. So if a burglar rips off the keypad, the dialer will still operate and sound the alarm while alerting the monitoring station.
It is always best to opt for a hired wired system. Although they cost more and are more complex to install, they are significantly more reliable than a wireless security system and will last forever. Also with a wireless system you have to constantly test to see that the batteries are working, if neglected , it can seriously compromise your home’s security.
Another disadvantage to wireless systems is that they are prone to false alarms if there are wireless phones in the home. The reason is that many wireless systems have been known to use the same 900mhz frequency as phones, therefore triggering the alarm when someone would call. To solve the problem most new wireless systems use different frequencies, such as 1.9 mhz, or 2.4 mhz, but the irony is that many new wireless telephones are now using the same frequencies as well. So if you have a wireless phone in your home, always make sure that the wireless home security system you are having installed does not use the same frequency.
So with a “free” system you are going to have to pay extra charges to have the required additional equipment, you will end up paying into a longer term contract and most likely have an inferior system that is more vulnerable to being disabled due to their “all in one” system designs as described earlier.
In the end you get what you pay for. It is always recommended by authorities to opt for a professionaly installed home security system
that will not compromise your home and families safety.
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