Cellular Monitoring: How It Works
Continuing with our “How It Works” series today we’ll be talking about cellular alarm monitoring. What is cellular monitoring? How does cellular monitoring work? We’ll answer those questions and more! So let’s get started.
First, let’s explore what cellular monitoring is. Like we’ve talked about before monitored alarm systems need a way to communicate alarm signals to the monitoring station. Traditionally this was done with a standard home phone line. However, over the years the phone line became less and less reliable. Not only has technology progressed but burglars found easy ways to defeat a phone line alarm system, mainly by cutting the phone line. Many alarm companies still use this unreliable method of home alarm monitoring today. Although many companies are still using the phone line there are many others that have seen the light and moved to cellular monitoring. Some of the best alarm companies offering cellular monitoring are:
FrontPoint Security & Protect America found their way to #1 & #2 on Alarm System Report’s ranking for best cellular monitoring.
Cellular monitoring works by installing a “cellular chip” or “module” in to the Control Panel of the alarm system. This cellular device acts as the communicator between your alarm system and the monitoring station. The module has no wires and sends the signals using regular cellular towers. The cellular signal is sent through the Data portion of a cellular signal, much like a text message, as opposed to the Voice signals that are used by traditional cellular phones. This allows the cellular alarm signal to reach the monitoring station quickly and without disruption.
Read reviews of the Best Cellular Alarm Systems
Purchasing an alarm system with cellular monitoring also has other advantages. One being that remote access/interactive monitoring is a lot faster and easier to use. For instance arming or disarming your system from work or while on vacation. In essence the cellular module that is built in to the Control Panel of your alarm system acts as a connection to the internet or “outside world”. Because of this anytime you send a signal or command from your phone or online to your system it goes directly to your alarm system’s cellular module prompting it to do something like arm or disarm. Interactive monitoring allows you to communicate commands to your alarm system no matter where you are and cellular monitoring makes this communication fast and reliable.
Read Alarm System Report’s Blog on The Best Cellular Alarm System
Perhaps the best part of having a cellular monitoring is the ease of use. Cellular monitoring is most popular with Do It Yourself home alarm systems because there is no intensive installation. You don’t need to run any wires or “install” anything. The cellular module will have already been built in to your alarm system’s Control Panel so all you do is “plug and play”. While cellular monitoring is prevalent among DIY systems most alarm companies do offer it in some capacity – either as a primary method of monitoring or a backup.
Cellular monitoring is by far the safest and most reliable method of home alarm monitoring. Alarm System Report recommends cellular monitoring when purchasing your new alarm system. You can read full reviews of the Best Cellular Alarm systems here at Alarm System Report.
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