Wireless Security Alarms

Adding a home security alarm may decrease your chance of having a burglary or detecting other emergencies like fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, or floods.  Today's integrated security alarm systems - both hardwired and wireless models offer a reliable and safe way to deter theft.

Security Alarm systems have been in operation since the 1800's - but it

wasn't until the 1960's that they began to gain adoption and a level of even moderate affordability for the home user. 

Until recently, the typical security alarm was installed by a managed national vendor.  This often requires extensive installation, hardwiring of sensors and alarms, and integration with your local phone system.  Since 2000, new technologies have made wireless alarm systems both affordable and easy to install without the need for 3rd party installation.  Some large security manufacturers, including General Electric (GE Home Security) offer packages thru partners like Protect America that service this segment.

About Monitoring Services

While security alarm monitoring can be serviced by regional only providers (this is often the case with business and government contracts), the home security users are primarily serviced by 1 or 2 large national monitoring agencies.  Like many customer service call centers, the voice on the phone announcing the name of the company probably belongs to one of the large monitoring aggregators. 

The good news is that the larger alarm services, including all of those reviewed by thesafehome.net, route through the large monitoring services.  The security systems themselves - whether hardwired or wireless, are connected via phone lines to the monitoring services who in turn have a national network to local law enforcement, fire, and emergency services.  This is an area of the industry that is actually very well tuned - response times in general are excellent.

Wireless and Hardwired Alarm Services

The larger providers like ADT focus largely on business clients in addition to their home security networks.  They rely on traditional 3rd party installation for their hardware (not a do it yourself solution) - with startup costs between $200 - $444.  View our cost comparison for home security alarm services.

Wireless security alarm systems have gained widespread popularity since 2000 - with substantially lower up front costs (often $0) and the same monitoring service 24/7 coverage that ADT and Protection One offer at a fraction of the cost.  Wireless security systems typically involve self-installation, which primarily involves placement of the keypad and alarm sensors in the effected door and window areas and connecting the system to a wall outlet and phone line for connectivity to the monitoring service.  Once done, you call to activate the monitoring service and agree upon a security code for activation / safety. 

With many wireless systems, you can order and fully install and activate your system within 3-5 business days with no out of pocket expense.  For more information or to request more information, visit Protect America or read our detailed review.