Monitoring 

 

The fact is nobody can watch over your house and family every minute of the day. But with 24/7 active monitoring from us, you can sleep easy whether you are home or not, knowing that help is only minutes away.

 

In the event of an emergency situation, such as a break-in or fire, your state-of-the-art equipment will immediately notify your monitoring company. Within seconds the appropriate emergency services could be contacted and dispatched to your home. This allows you to spend those crucial seconds doing what is most important—making sure your loved ones are safe.

 

There are three options if you would like to have your alarm monitored, so someone will be alerted if it goes off:

• speech dialler  

• keyholder monitoring

• police monitoring

 

There are two types of monitoring contract: keyholder and police response. With both types, you pay an annual fee to have your alarm system monitored, which means the nominated keyholders or the police will be alerted when the alarm goes off. 

 

The idea is that the alarm system connects to a receiving centre, so if your alarm is triggered, they will be notified. The receiving centre will first of all ring your home asking for your password identification. If this is incorrect or no one answers, either they will take action, inform the keyholder(s), or call the police, depending on what type of contract you have. 

 

Keyholder monitoring

 

Keyholder monitoring is done through a company (the 'receiving centre'), which will either respond itself when the alarm is triggered, or will contact your nominated keyholders. Nominated keyholders must be within 20 minutes of the house, be able to drive and have access to the house. It's your responsibility to keep the alarm company up to date with their details, and suggest alternatives if they are away. 

 

Police monitoring

 

In addition to a receiving centre being made aware your alarm going off, this type of contract means the police will also be contacted by the receiving centre. When your alarm goes off, two indicators within the house, such as a door contact and a sensor, must both have been triggered to warrant police call out. This is to avoid false alarms. 

 

Speech dialler 

 

A speech dialler (also called text alert), is a device built into or connected to a wired or wireless alarm. The idea is that when the alarm goes off, the speech dialler will call or text a set of phone numbers of your choice, for example family members or your mobile, until it gets an answer or can leave an automated message. 

 

This can be a good alternative to a monitoring service, as these involve annual fees. Speech diallers are a one off cost for purchase. Depending on whether a phone line or mobile phone network dialer is installed the only on going cost is the cost of a mobile sim or phone calls.