Articles and whitepapers

Automated Security Systems (2/8/2006)

By David Rimmer, Intamac Systems

What is a home security system really for? To deter criminals? Protect your property? In either case, security systems are viewed as an essential item we all need. So why is it that they only tend to be bought when we either move house or get burgled? Maybe it is because buying the latest flatscreen HDTV is considered a better use of money.

Security systems have always been seen as a grudge purchase, but maybe they would not be if they could do more than just annoy your neighbours! How about if they could automatically control lighting, curtains or electric door locks based on alarm status? Make sure your kids are safely home and watch them securely from work? Or have your house notify you, your neighbours, the fire service, glaziers or plumbers if something happens that threatens it? Combine automation features with security systems, and suddenly you have something much more appealing.

DIY or installed

Security systems generally fall into one of two broad groups, namely DIY or installed.

DIY systems tend to comprise a loud bell on the side of the house, perhaps with pre-recorded messages to the occupant's phone if a burglary occurs, or even to an automated alarm monitoring service. If you are after pictures too, you can add CCTV cameras to view locally on your TV, possibly recording onto a video recorder.

The BT Home Monitor self-installed monitored security alarm

Installed systems tend to comprise a bell on the house, perhaps with pre-recorded messages, automated monitoring, or a more sophisticated and expensive system that calls the police via an authorised monitoring station. If you are after pictures too, you can add analogue CCTV or IP cameras to record onto video or a digital recorder.

The technology

Today's security systems primarily use the same basic technology that has been used for over thirty years. They comprise of a set of wired or wireless sensors which detect movement, or a door or window being opened. When activated, these report to a central control panel which identifies the problem through basic logic, and sets off an external sounder. If included, a digital modem or speech dialler unit will grab your telephone line and send data or a message to a pre-programmed number. Consider this though - the modems used to report to a central monitoring service are generally 2600 baud modems - hugely outdated hardware in these days of 8Mb/s broadband.

Security systems that offer their own home automation features, or can integrate with your existing automation system, remain a niche offering - confined to the technically advanced, or those who wish to hire a specialised integrator/installer. Affordable DIY offerings are confined to X10 control - a solution that has never really taken off in the UK, and paid-for installations are often disruptive, requiring separate cabling to be pulled.

Expectations

If you are looking at security systems today, you should at least be considering the home automation and integration capabilities of each product. As a bare minimum, you should expect keyfobs for easy arming and disarming, water detectors, smoke detectors, and some sort of monitoring system for when you are away from home.

The options to link a security system like this to a home automation system are still quite limited, and as always, you get what you pay for. The main possibilities are:

- Use the outputs from a standard security system to trigger the existing home automation system, and vice versa.
- Fit a security system with some limited X10 or other automation control such as the Visonic Powermax or ESP Infinite.
- Use the Cytech Comfort security system - a more advanced security system with advanced home automation capabilities, starting at around GBP400 plus tax for the alarm.
- Consult a qualified custom installer or integration expert.

Cameras

If you are thinking of adding cameras, thankfully the technology is more advanced than with alarms, and 'consumer' products designed for non-security applications have such developed feature sets that they represent great value for money. As such, you should be looking at broadband IP cameras rather than analogue CCTV cameras - the ability to view them remotely is value enough.

The forthcoming Linksys Wireless-G compact camera is a great example. Available in the UK for under GBP100, it allows remote viewing of live pictures via the Internet, and has monitoring options to request images on demand to your mobile, record and store pictures remotely, alert you when motion is detected, and to remotely arm and disarm by text message or telephone.

The Linksys Compact Wireless-G Internet video camera

To integrate or not

In the home automation enthusiast community, opinion is split on whether a security system should be integrated with a home automation system at all. Enthusiasts understand the benefits of switching lights and controlling curtains in alarm situations. Doubters advocate two separate systems, removing the risk of hardware or software failures in a home automation system threatening the security of the home.

With new technologies such as broadband-enabled alarms, and Z-Wave appliance control just around the corner, the options for automated security will rapidly improve in the coming years. When these devices arrive, a new range of products and services will be available that can be controlled from anywhere, and you will have a fully secure automated home that can take care of itself, and all those within it.

Conclusion

The first signs of new security technology in the high street are already appearing. Home monitoring and home management products such as those from BT and Motorola - both wireless technology-based around a home security system - are now available in PC World retail stores for example.

Ultimately, this may not be the best time to buy a security system if you are interested in the strength of its home automation features. Our advice would be to hold out for the forthcoming generation of 'always-on' broadband-enabled products, and take advantage of line monitoring features too. If however, you really have to buy today, choose security features first, and consider the home automation benefits second.

David Rimmer is the Business Development Manager for Intamac Systems Ltd, supplier of Internet-accessed monitoring and control.

www.intamac.com