Security Alarms Melbourne

This page last updated: 2nd August 2008

Aegis Security can fully install a quality back to base alarm system in your home for around $750.00 including g.s.t.*

* based on standard single storey brick veneer house with tiled roof.

We also offer our 14 calls for free of our Friendly Neighbour Service to those living in the defined zone. 

We install a quality GE Electrics/Hills Industries - DAS alarm system with:-

• DAS NX 4 alarm panel
• Vertex 8 keypad
• Internal siren
• External siren with strobe
• Back up Battery
• 3 Passive Infra Red sensors

Our installation takes around 5 hours.  We take the time to do it right the first time.

If you have questions or would like a free no obligation quote, call us now on

03 9763 1988

Below is more a lot more information about alarm systems and our service.

Your rights

Security Alarms you can count on!

Your new security alarm

If you want an idea for a security alarm system for your home, office or factory, please review the following information to gain a better idea of options available to you.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us via email or phone (03) 9763 1988.

Successful installation of security alarms involves three things

1. The proper equipment being purchased for the job required

2. The correct installation of that equipment

3. The correct programming

Get one of these factors wrong and you will have all manner of problems.

This section covers the STANDARD EQUIPMENT you need for every security alarm system and then the bells and whistles and other accessories that really make the security alarm work best for you. We will ask you Questions. This is where you have to make a decision based on the information we have and others could provide.

See our new page called "DAS" which shows you the keypad we recommend for your new security alarm system and how easy it is to use.

www.aegissecurity.com.au/das.php

Standard equipment of most security alarm systems

Every alarm system should have: Control Panel, key Pad & Siren/Strobe,

The Control Panel is the brains of the operation.

It contains all the necessary electronics to run the security alarm system, the power, the telephone dialling capacity and the back up battery in case of mains fails and usually comes equipped with an internal siren and tamper switch for the panels own security. Control panels should be located out of view in some cupboard or back room.

You need to think carefully about the type of control panel you need. Panels are generally selected on the type of operation and number of sensors & users required.

Type of operation: Local or Dialler. Panels can process an alarm signal and initiate a siren & or strobe alerting people nearby of the possible intrusion (local) The panel, if so equipped, can also send a alarm signal to a twenty four hour a day, seven day a week monitoring station who can take the appropriate action. i.e. call you or the police or patrols etc. (dialler)

Question 1: When the security alarm system goes off, what do I want it to do?

You can buy a security alarm system with a telephone attachment or without. You don't have to have your system monitored but if you buy a panel without the telephone equipment & if you decide later on to have your alarm monitored, you will have to buy a completely new panel.

Number of Sensors: Each panel has a limit on the number of sensors it can handle. Panels start at a minimum of 4 sensors to 128 sensors. We strongly suggest when you work out the number of sensors you need, that you allow one third extra spaces for possible future expansion. example, if you need 8 sensors, pick a panel that can monitor 12 sensors, at least.

Number of users. some security alarm panels only allow a small number of different user codes. See below for further details.

A Key Pad or Code Pad is generally situated near the front entry and is used by you to turn the security alarm system on or off. In a commercial premises you may need several key pads at several different locations, i.e. factory staff may enter & leave via a different door to office staff etc.

The key pad or code pad will also show you the sectors in alarm, will allow you to program the security alarm system and add or delete new users and call the police in a hurry, if you require.

Key pad / Code pads generally come in two types: LED & LCD

LED type key pad. LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. The most numerous, certainly of home alarm systems even today. The LED is the little (usually) red light that comes ON when the system is, for instance, READY TO ARM or shows which sector or zone has been activated. The keypad featured at the top of this page is an LED keypad.

LCD type key pad. LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. The LCD displays prompts & system information usually on 2 x 16 character lines. Example. The LCD key pad say "ENTER CODE" on 1 line and "TO DISARM SYSTEM" on the second line. Instead of a light telling you the system is ready, the actual keypad spells out that it is ready.

An LCD key pad is usually about double the price of an LED key pad.

A Siren / Strobe is generally located outside your home or office and alerts people nearby to the possible presence of an intruder. This piece of equipment also comes with its own "tamper alarm" to detect someone trying to fiddle the sound or light.

The advantage of a siren/strobe light is that it quickly identifies your premises as having an alarm system. It can alert you to an alarm activation and help police and or security officers find your place quicker.

A siren should only scream for about 2 - 5 minutes depending on local and state laws. The strobe light will continue to flash until someone resets the alarm system. We can program some systems so the strobe light only flashes for a certain time.

Sensors and Detectors

A panel, code pad and siren are all useless without sensors and detectors.

There is no hard and fast rule as to the number and type of sensors you should install.

As a practitioner we recommend a combination of sensors such as PIR's and Reed switches as a minimum. They allow greater use of the alarm system and provide better confirmation of alarm activity and thus give us greater flexibility in our ability to action the alarm signal. 

For example:  in most States two or more sensors activated means we can call the Police, although their attendance is not guaranteed.

The following is a list of the major type of sensors available for use.

PIR's (passive infra red) sensors: detects the body heat of any person within the radius of the sensor.

These come in a very wide range of options such as the length of detection, long range, wide range sensors. Sensors that give 360c coverage (ceiling sensors) anti masking sensors (detects people trying to cover the sensor) Pet immune sensors (stops the sensor reporting dogs and or cats in the area up to 45kg). Duel and or Quad element sensors which combine both PIR and motion sensors in one unit.

Motion Sensors: detects people or animals moving through an area.

Smoke Detectors: Of equal, if not greater importance to you at home or work is the prevention & detection of any fire. Your security alarm system can host a number of smoke detectors and can be set to operate 24 hours a day, regardless of whether the system is on or not. Smoke detectors come in several types including a Ionisation sensor (better at detecting flaming fires) and or a Photo Electric Sensor (better at detecting smouldering fires)

Glass Break Detectors: fitted on or near your windows, they can detect the breaking of your windows by either vibration or sound or both.

Reed Switches: detects the opening of a door or window. A magnetic seal is broken when the door is opened thus triggering an alarm.

Photo Electric Beams: can be internal or external. detects people when the beam is broken between two posts.

Vibration sensors: mainly used on safes and ATMS to detect if someone is trying to move or drill into the safe.

Hold Up Alarm: push button or money clip system used to alert police of a hold up at your premises when a specific button or clip is used.

Key fobs: which can turn your security alarms on or off without using the keypad. (just like you use for modern car entry exit systems) the key fob can also contain a panic button that emits a loud noise.

Hard Wired versus Wireless System

Hard wired means each sensor has an alarm cable running from the sensor back to the control panel.

Takes longer to install and generally means you cannot move the sensor without an alarm technician. A hard wired system uses the control panels power source.

Wireless sensors and panels means the sensors use radio waves to communicate with the security alarm panel. The power source is a battery in the sensor.

It is quicker to install and easier to move a sensor if you need to remodel the office or home.

Modern wireless sensors now shut down when the panel is turned off thus saving on battery power. An additional feature is they will tell the alarm panel when the battery needs changing.

The battery has a life of around 12-18 months each. Wireless sensors generally cost more as they require a transmitter to talk to the panel but take less time to install.

Monitored Security Alarms vs. Non Monitored Security Alarm systems

Generally, if you want to claim a discount on your home & contents insurance, you need to have your security alarm system monitored by a recognised security alarm monitoring station. Aegis Security can monitor your home or office alarm, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year.

A non monitored alarm system relies on the noise of the siren and the strobe to alert nearby residents that someone or something is wrong at your place.

You will need to work out a plan in case you come home and find the strobe flashing. This could include giving a trusted neighbour your mobile phone number or work phone number.

We strongly suggest you do an external check of your home first to see if there is any obvious signs of illegal entry. If you hear the siren going then that is a good tip whoever or whatever is setting off the alarm is still setting off the security alarm.

Because of the volume of work we don't always have the time to install non monitored systems.

A MONITORED security alarm system sends all alarm signals back to a control room who will follow an agreed reaction procedure. This could include calling your mobile, home, work, calling the Police & or security patrols.

There are several different monitoring options.

1. Dialler system

2. Securitel System* No longer recommended as being withdrawn from use

3. GSM system

4. Dial out system

5. G.P.R.S.

1. Dialler system: uses your home or business telephone line. However is venerable to the phone line being cut in which case the monitoring station will not receive any alarm signals. The siren and strobe will continue work unless they are disabled as well.

2. Securitel system: Must have a Telstra line to utilise this system. Provides a higher level of security. Uses your normal telephone line but will report a "loss of communications" if the line between the control room and alarm panel does not respond. You will also hear a "chirp, chirp" sound on your telephone line. This is the securitel system working between your panel and the receiver. The major disadvantage is the extra cost in monitoring.  Securitel being withdrawn by Telstra 31.12.09.

3. GSM system: For non Telstra clients or clients of Telstra who do not want to use the securitel system. Essentially the alarm panel has a built in mobile phone that will call the control room or other phone advising of any alarm condition that may exist.

4. Dial to your mobile phone: essentially a GSM system except the panel is not monitored by a control room but by a telephone call to a preset number you nominate where the panel advises by pips or voice data of any alarm condition. Essentially you monitor your own security alarm.

5. G.P.R.S. (General Packet Radio Service) GPRS essentially uses unused TDMA channels in the GSM network for moderate to high speed data transmission. GSM is 2nd generation technology, GPRS is considered 2.5G or generation technology. Not quite 3rd Generation but above GSM. Thats enough of the tech talk.

All you the user need to know is that this is, from our point of view, high speed data transfer.

There are 2 great advantages in using a GPRS system, especially for businesses.

First: No telephone costs. The system only uses a land line as a backup in case the GPRS network should go down. This means there is no telephone costs of the security alarm system calling the control room every time there is activity such as the system is turned ON or OFF or alarm condition occurs. This, importantly, also means the system can keep on sending alarms if someone cuts the telephone line to your premises. Better, much better than the slightly more expensive Securitel system which will only record a "Loss of Communication" alarm (still a high priority alarm) but the GPRS will keep on sending and our control room will keep on receiving alarm activation data.

Second: Either 90 second or 1 hour polling available. At 90 seconds polling (means the alarm panel will report any equipment fault, abnormal condition & conditions that prevent the correct operation of the alarm system within 90 seconds) in other words, not an alarm; because any alarm activation is immediate; but something which can effect the alarm system will be reported. This 90 seconds means GPRS qualifies for Australian Standard AS2201.5 Class 4 polling (which is a very high level of security reporting) which also means clients can negotiate with their insurance companies for a reduction in their rates.

Users, Time Windows & Voice Codes

USERS

How many people are going to use your security alarm system?

Are you going to give each person or class of person i.e. accounts department a separate alarm code to arm and disarm the security alarm system?

By assigning each individual user or at least a group a separate alarm code is one of the key reasons why you should buy and use an security alarm system especially for your business. If you give everyone the same alarm code to turn the system on and off, you might as well not bother with the expense and time in purchasing an alarm system.

You must make an allocation of user codes for non staff employees such as cleaners and security staff. You should also have another spare active code for people who don't normally use the system but are required to work late. This number can then be cancelled and another number set up for such a purpose.

TIME WINDOWS. Another great way to get the best out of your security alarm system is to put what we call "time windows" in place. Essentially you tell us what time you expect the alarm system to be turned on by and all staff out of your premises and the time you expect the first staff to arrive in the morning. If someone stays behind, the control room will endeavour to find out who is there and how long they will remain at your business. Same procedure if people come in earlier than expected.

Example: If you run a business and normally start work at 7am each day. If a staff member comes into your place 2 hours earlier each day for 5 or 6 days a week to do private work they will be adding 10 - 14 hours a week worth of lighting, heating and other electrical bills, using your equipment, stock and supplies to your expense. Or the equivalent of 12 weeks extra unbilled work per annum. Time windows help control the cost of employee pilfering.

VOICE CODES. Is another level of security for your home or business. A voice codes should be a unique alpha numeric code given to each key holder in your business or home. A voice code is requested each time the control room rings to enquire about an alarm activation or problem at the site. If the staff member cannot quote the voice code, we have to assume the person either has no authorisation to be on site or level of authority to discuss the alarm system. The result is the control room will follow normal alarm activation guidelines.

Uses

Home: 1) Most alarm panels allow a "chime" setting. This is used to arm the doors only and if they are opened the "chime" goes off. A great way to mind the children.
2) Home alarm mode - only the doors and glass break detectors are armed so you can move around your home and sleep at night but if someone tries to sneak in or out your door or break a window, the security alarm will activate. You need to have Reed Switches and Glass Break Detectors to utilise this function.

Business: 1) chime operation is good if you work in a shop or business and need to know if someone has come in the front part of your premises.
2) Partition Systems: If you have different departments like warehouse, admin, factory etc you can give each area their own keypad, code, time window and voice code and set of sensors that will be turned on or off in that particular area without affecting the others. This way if someone is working on weekend overtime, they cannot walk into another part of the building without setting off the security alarm. Another good way to control pilfering and industrial espionage and sabotage.

Summary

If you work out what you need and want and tell us, we can give you a competitive free quote to supply and install a quality Australian made security alarm system to meet your requirements.. We also offer full follow up support to keep the system in top condition.

We also monitor security alarms on a 24 hour a day, seven day a week basis at a very competitive weekly rate.

Call us now on (03) 9763 1988 to discuss your new security alarm system.

If you need an security alarm system in the near future, add this page to your favourites for easy retrieval.

Our Alarm Procedures

Our standard security alarm response explained plus other relevant details.

see: www.aegissecurity.com.au/our_alarm_procedures.php

Terms and Conditons

See: www.aegissecurity.com.au/terms_and_conditions.php

False alarms

Tips on how to avoid and or fix:

see:  www.aegissecurity.com.au/false_alarms.php

Insurance

Refer to this page for a list of insurance companies that will provide a discount for having a security system.

see: www.aegissecurity.com.au/insurance.php