Wireless alarm systems aren’t new to the home security game, but they aren’t exactly part of the furniture yet either, and with all technology that is still settling into its place, everyone seems to have their own opinion. These opinions can often spread misinformation, often not on purpose but due to the transferring of knowledge from one adjacent field to this one. Some of these opinions include: “If the Wi-Fi drops, my home is unprotected”, “Wireless systems can easily be jammed & easily disabled” and “You need to change batteries every month because they’re working 24/7”.
But this could not be farther from the truth. In this article we are going to uncover these misconceptions about wireless home security systems by explaining exactly how they work, using examples taken from Ajax Systems and Dahua Airshield products within our catalogue. While we do touch upon it, this is not an article explaining how to put together your own alarm system, we have those available for both AirShield and Ajax systems. If you've had any of the opinions mentioned above you can skip straight to their answers here:
Anti Jamming & Frequency Hopping.
What you need to maintain a reliable system.
Or get all the answers in one place without the extra details.
Wireless Doesn't Mean Wi-Fi
The first of many opinions preventing people from wireless home security systems is " If the Wi-Fi drops, my home is unprotected". But let me explain why wireless alarms are more intelligent than that. Unlike with CCTV, just because the word wireless is used, doesn't mean we should assume it's run through Wi-Fi. Intruder Alarms use their own connection signal that use radio waves to communicate. And just like everything else in this industry, each one has its own name. For example, Ajax Systems call their unique wireless connection signal "Jeweller", that's why you see that word on all those Ajax product pages across our website. Dahua take a little bit of a different approach with the Airshield. It's called AirFly, they just chose not to plaster it all over the place.
These radio signals communicate between the hub and the other devices connected to the home security system. These could include detectors, sirens, arming devices, and more. Only one device is actually connected to the internet: the hub. This allows you to control your wireless alarm system through its respective app and receive notifications on your phone. If the Wi-Fi goes down, the system will remain active, with its devices still communicating with one another. Wireless hubs also require what is known as a two-path connection, meaning they use two connection methods, with one serving as a backup. One method available on all hubs is a wired Ethernet connection to the internet; this is the connection everyone worries about failing. The second path is a mobile-data SIM connection. This could be 2G, 3G, or 4G, as shown in product names such as Hub 2G from Ajax Systems or 4G Alarm Hub from Dahua AirShield. If you have trouble with your Wi-Fi, there is still a backup connection method, keeping your wireless home security system connected at all times.
Wireless Systems & Hacking
Another worry about wireless intruder alarms are due to the outside signal "they can easily be jammed & disabled", but these are graded commercial & professional systems. They wouldn't comply with any laws or regulations if they could be easily taken over and shut down. So how do they do it? Well, the first is frequency hopping. While it doesn't necessarily prevent hacking, it does prevent any kind of interference. Each detector sends out a specific frequency to communicate with the central hub, and sometimes that frequency can match a radio signal coming from an external source. When this happens, the home security system will automatically detect this, and change the frequency it is emitting to one that has no interference.
Now, anti-jamming is what everyone wants to know about, how does it prevent people from blocking your devices? It's not how you would expect, instead of constantly signals being sent off, to save battery duration (another worry ticked off the list), a ping is sent over from the hub to each device every 60 seconds or so, to make sure there are no issues, in return, the device sends a response back. If the device doesn't send one back, the hub will know that the home security system has been compromised and trigger an alert, either for tampering or as a loss of signal.
Creating a network that communicates
I have already mentioned that this is not an article explaining how to set up the perfect wireless intruder alarm system. We already have those! We have one for Dahua AirShield, and one for Ajax Systems Baseline range. But what we are going to do in this article is briefly explain how to put together a system that is reliable despite all the misconceptions.
Hubs – These are what communicates between all the devices, every system needs one. For true home security you need to use the 2-path method to ensure compliance and that you can still receive alerts if the Internet connection drops.
Detectors – These are the devices that scan for motion, doors & windows opening, smoke etc. These have anti jamming/ tampering and frequency hopping to remain in effect at all times. Have multiple detectors covering each space so if one loses signal the area is still protected.
Sirens – These are what makes you aware of an alert if you don't see it on your phone, it's good to have a second if one is tampered with or loses signal.
Arming devices – These serve as an alternative to the phone-based application. If your phone is dead, or like the claims state connection is down, this way you can still programme your home security system.
Just the facts
The relatively new technology of wireless intruder alarms come with a select few reluctant to embrace change, they say things like "when Wi-Fi goes down, the system stops working", "you have to change batteries every few weeks because they are on 24/7" and "wireless systems are easy to remotely hack in and shut down so there's no point". To them, we say, you just haven't seen the facts yet.
Hubs require 2 path connection methods that provide a backup connection when the Wi-Fi goes down. so yes, they still work when the Wi-Fi is down. You can also equip your home security system with a keypad or fob to arm and disarm it without the need for internet connection on your phone. Batteries in these devices have been known to last up to 5 years depending on activity level! But we recommend change them every 18 months – 2 years, so no monthly battery spend needs to be accounted for in your budget. To reiterate, wireless does not mean Wi-Fi, devices communicate with each other through their own private signals (Jeweller by Ajax Systems or AirFly by Dahua AirShield). Only the hub has an internet connection, they also send out signal pings every 60 seconds or so, mean if a device is jammed, you will only have up to a minute before the alert triggers an alarm.
Not so unsure about wireless home security systems, are you? Now you've been familiarised with their ability to keep you safe and provide you with that all important peace of mind, head over to our range of wireless intruder alarms now and get your own.
