Monitored Alarm System vs. Non-Monitored Alarm System

When searching for a home alarm system one thing you will come across is choosing between a monitored alarm system and a non-monitored alarm system.  There are pros and cons to each home alarm method and in today’s blog post we’ll explain what a monitored alarm system is, what a non-monitored alarm system is, and what type of system is right for you.

Monitored Alarm Systems

A monitored alarm system is the most common type of alarm system. Having a monitored alarm system means that when your alarm system is triggered or set off a signal is sent from your system’s Control Panel to the monitoring station. The monitoring station will then attempt to contact you either by phone or through a two-way voice intercom on your Control Panel. This is a form of “verified response” which means the monitoring station is trying to confirm the alarm with the homeowner before contacting the authorities. They do this in order to cut down on false alarms.

You don’t want the police coming out to your home if you accidentally trigger your alarm system so the monitoring station calls to make sure the alarm is real. If the homeowner is unreachable the monitoring station assumes there is a problem and will contact the local police to check out the alarm. If the homeowner is reached they can tell the monitoring station whether or not they would like to have police dispatched to the home.

Monitored alarm systems can be monitored a number of different ways. Traditionally, alarm systems were monitored using a customer’s home phone line. You would hook the phone line in to the main Control Panel and when the alarm was triggered the alarm signal would be transmitted through the phone line to the monitoring center. The problem with home phone line monitoring is an intruder can simply cut the phone line outside of the home prior to entry. You also have to PAY for your home phone line service on top of the monthly monitoring service from the alarm company. Many alarm companies like this method because it is cheap for them to implement and maximizes their return. However it leaves homeowners vulnerable.

Another way alarm systems are monitored is through a broadband or high speed internet connection. If a homeowner has broadband internet you can hook the connection in to the Control Panel and use the internet to transmit the signal to the monitoring center. However, if your power goes out your internet goes down – and so does your alarm system. Also if an intruder can find where your internet line comes out of your home that can also be cut and disrupted very easily.

While affordable options for monitoring phone line alarm monitoring and broadband alarm monitoring are not the safest methods.

The most reliable method of home alarm monitoring and the one many alarm companies are moving towards is cellular alarm monitoring. Cellular alarm monitoring utilizes a cellular “module” or communicator built in to the alarm system’s Control Panel. Having cellular monitoring allows the customer to get rid of their phone line if they don’t use it for anything except their alarm system and won’t have to worry about losing connection for something as simple as a power outage. Cellular monitoring also allows for extremely fast transmission of the alarm signal and cannot be easily defeated. Cellular alarm monitoring is a little more expensive than phone line monitoring and on par with broadband monitoring from most companies. However, what you’re paying for is the value it brings and the comfort of knowing your system cannot be easily defeated.

On top of these monitored alarm system options many include online/remote access to the alarm system. Cellular monitoring is the best method for this as well. It allows for fast communication between you and your alarm system regardless of where you are around the world. If you travel a lot of go on an extended vacation you can have the peace of mind of knowing you’ll be able to quickly and easily communicate to your alarm system if you need to change settings or disarm the system for the dog walker. Lastly, your home insurer will often offer a discount on your insurance premium if you have a monitored alarm system, so the costs can offset.

Below is a list of top alarm companies providing alarm monitoring:

Non-Monitored Alarm Systems

Non-monitored alarm systems can mean many things. A non-monitored alarm system can mean having a state of the art alarm without the monitoring or simply having a couple motions detectors and a siren that goes off when they’re triggered. You can purchase non-monitored alarm systems from a number of places online or general hardware stores like Home Depot. All non-monitored alarm systems are Do It Yourself alarm systems. You’ll essentially be on your own determining your needs and setting the system up correctly.

Normally a non-monitored alarm system will simply have a siren that goes off to try and scare away the intruder if they attempt a break in. However, no one else will know that the alarm is going off. Some non-monitored alarm systems can hook in to your phone line or internet connection and come with mobile apps of online access so the homeowner can be notified via a text message if their system goes off. Although this may seem like a decent option there are many pitfalls – including if you are not around your phone, don’t hear it go off or any other number of reasons. A non-monitored alarm system may be the only option for those that don’t have phone line service or can’t obtain broadband or cellular service. These days it would be a limited number of areas around the country that could not use some sort of monitored alarm system.

Should I Get A Monitored Alarm System or Non-Monitored Alarm System?

This is a very common question for folks when researching home alarm systems and a decision that will have to be made. Here we’ll break it down in to Pros and Cons of both a monitored alarm system and non-monitored alarm system.

Monitored Alarm System Pros & Cons:

Non-Monitored Alarm System Pros & Cons:

Now that you’ve seen some of the pros and cons to a monitored alarm system and a non-monitored alarm system it’s time to determine what is right for you. Alarm System Report recommends getting a monitored alarm system because it allows you to live your life the way you want without worrying about your home being broken in to – and even if you do have a burglary, a fire or any other alarm event there is always someone “watching” to make sure the proper authorities are sent to the house. No matter where you are you can rest assured your home is protected and someone will contact the authorities for you. Check out Alarm System Report’s Alarm System Reviews for more information about home alarm companies, their cost and monthly monitoring fees. Some of Alarm System Report’s best rated companies are: