What do you want from an Alarm System
Installation of Alarm and how devices communicate
Alarm systems consist of several components. Among these are sensors,
controllers, communication devices and sirens. The way that these
components are interconnected will affect the cost, ease of
isntallation, and security of your system.
Communication with Sensors
Some systems require physical wires from sensors to the controller.
These are more difficult to install, but are likely more secure than
systems using wireless sensors. Many systems use a combination,
depending on the kinds of sensor that is being connected. The biggest
problem with wireless sensors is that if they are truly wireless, you
need to change batteries in the sensors on a regular basis. Other
issues with wireless sensors is that their signals can be jammed.
Additioally, it has been reported that some consumer grade alarm
systems, such as one made by Simplisafe as of July of 2016, send
wireless signals unprotected and that such signals can be intercepted
and replayed to disarm the system at a later time.
While this technique might not be used by the typical burglar today,
over time the method will become more widlely known, and devices to
facilitate such an attack could end up sold on the black market,
making the technique more widely used.
Monitoring - What does monitoring means for an alarm system