We all like to know our home is secure while we’re away. We have too much invested in our homes and too many memories for this not to be true. And yet, for many of us, our home is totally unguarded when we’re not there.
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Modern Security Camera Systems
That’s where modern security camera systems come in. In the old days (okay, a decade ago) setting up security cameras for remote viewing was something of a difficult procedure. You needed a static IP, or a dynamic DNS, you had to port forward your modem, and then the apps themselves were somewhat clunky.
All that has changed. Today’s camera systems are so much easier to use. The one I installed in my home displayed a QR code. This code took me to the app store where I downloaded their app. A second QR code was scanned within the app which connected me to my cameras.
I’ve had fast and reliable viewing of my cameras ever since.
Modern security camera systems come with motion detection and alerts. Mine sends a push notification to my phone. This is quite a good way to keep in touch with what is going on around my home while I’m away. The problem is, the front entrance is shrouded by trees that blow in the wind. This was giving me way too many false alerts. I could have upgraded to a system to one with AI and face detection but I took a simpler and better approach. I got a home alarm system.
Why A Home Alarm System
The thing that attracted me to an alarm system was (partly) their methods of detection. There is a certainty that comes with passive infra-red detectors, door detectors and glass break detectors. An algorithm in a camera is possibly very smart. But it can’t match the certainty of an opening door. If a door opens and you’re not home, that’s an intruder. If a window breaks, that’s an intruder. These simple systems have been tested millions of times and have worked for a generation. It’s this kind of rock solid dependability that I wanted in an alarm system.
Plus there’s the siren. That’s a massive deterrent. When that 100dB siren goes off, most burglars are going to feel like they should hurry on away from my home. Most property theft crimes are crimes of convenience. They’ll choose the easy house. Our house, with a siren that’ll alert the whole world to what is happening, is not that house.
Combining Them Creates a Great Home Security System
If I do get an alarm triggered in my home, I can check the security of my home via the cameras. This will give me peace of mind when they’ve been triggered by accident, such as a gecko crossing a sensor.
A bit of a side note here, get your alarm professionally installed. You’ll have much better protection and rarely if ever a false detection. We consulted with Bob at Brisbane Security Alarm Systems. Professional installers have visited thousands of homes and seen how burglars made entry into them. (Most people install alarms after they’ve been burgled. The alarm installer will visit and be told what happened.) When you’ve been decades in the industry you’ve collated a massive database of knowledge on how to prevent entries.
Let’s say my alarm has triggered and I’ve checked my cameras, found nothing awry. I can then silence the alarm via my phone.
Professional Monitoring
Another option available to you is professional monitoring. It’s not as expensive as you may think. Central monitoring agencies leverage the many thousands of homes they monitor to keep prices low. When an alarm does trigger they can take appropriate action, depending on the circumstances. This is great if you’re not able to monitor your own home all the time. If police need to be called, they can do that for you.
My Parting Advice, Secure Your Home
It’s up to you to decide what level of protection is sensible for you. Whatever you do, get something. It makes sense to secure an asset worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, with all your possessions and memories inside, with a system that will probably cost one or two thousand dollars. Also, it’s tempting to rely on the amazing AI advances in security cameras to detect and protect but I still think the tried and true sensors available in alarm systems are a good investment.