Alarm.com has become the dominant force in smart home / remote service platform, with ~70% market share, combining their own traditional offering plus their acquisition of rival iControl business units. But how well does the platform actually wor...
By Brian Rhodes - over 3 years ago
Alarm systems use backup batteries in order to continue working if an intruder attempts to disable the alarm by cutting power to the building. In this guide, we will examine backup batteries, including: Batteries for alarms Sealed lead acid ba...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
Vaults and safes are designed to protect valuables by enclosing them in steel or concrete boxes with thick doors and strong locks. However, any such box can eventually be cut open, given enough time, patience, and tools. Connecting the vault or sa...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors add a life-safety component to burglar alarm systems. As intrusion detection sensors are used to call the police for help, life safety devices are used to call for help from the fire department. While...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
The ESX (Electronic Security Expo) day 3 / Thursday is done and the exhibits are over. IPVM was in Nashville covering it in-depth. Below covers days 1, 2, and 3. Inside this report: "It's riskier to be in the alarm industry today" Very str...
By IPVM Team - over 3 years ago
How do integrators feel about offering RMR / recurring revenue services? For many, their business revolves around RMR, while others see no benefit. 150+ integrators answered our survey on the importance of RMR to their business. We examine the t...
By IPVM Team - over 3 years ago
In the US, many states require integrators to be licensed to install burglar alarms, CCTV, electronic access control, or all three, and requirements vary widely from state to state, making it confusing for those entering the industry to know exact...
By John Honovich - over 3 years ago
Burglar alarms can constantly monitor the health of attached circuits, sensors, and devices to ensure that they remain operational. This is known as supervision. Poor implementation of supervision is a common source of false alarms. However, if pr...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
Aura Home is a startup intrusion detection system, but it claims new, high-tech sensing that monitors the 'invisible ripples' movement creates, showing up as spikes in a line in the main app: We tested the platform to see how well it stack...
By Brian Rhodes - over 3 years ago
Many burglar alarm systems have a single designated level of access for users. A user can arm or disarm the entire alarm by entering a single code. Some alarm applications require alarm installers to design the alarm with multiple sections that ar...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
Alarm circuits are a fundamental element of wired burglar systems. Designing the alarm circuit greatly affects its performance. In particular, more efficient circuit designs introduce less resistance and cause fewer false alarms. In this note, we ...
By IPVM - over 3 years ago
Burglar alarms give the user the ability to choose how much of their alarm is active at any time. Activating alarm sensors on windows and doors while deactivating alarm sensors inside allows alarm users to move about their homes without having to ...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
An alarm system can call for help in the event of an attempted break in, but only if it is armed. If an adversary forces an authorized user to disarm the alarm, however, that adversary can gain entry without alerting emergency responders. Therefor...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
The function of an alarm panel is to gather information from sensors and respond to this information by triggering actions. While it is possible to program these responses manually, most alarm panels have a variety of responses preprogrammed and g...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
Xandem's "full coverage motion tracking technology" is unlike any intrusion technology we have seen. We bought their new system and tested it extensively to better understand its strengths and weaknesses. Below is one of the examples from our tes...
By Brian Rhodes - over 3 years ago
Alarm installers commonly connect multiple sensors to a single zone. They do this by splicing the wires together. In this report, we will explain how alarm technicians splice the most common alarm wires, including: What a splice is Common alar...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
The hit list. Kirschenbaum's recent newsletter complained about a 'hit list', bemoaning how a company took aim at ADT. Alas, that's the Google racket. When someone searches for a term (like 'ADT'), Google will gladly sell numerous ads for anyone...
By John Honovich - over 3 years ago
Bosch is one of the biggest names in intrusion but their B-Series panels, targeted at smaller site installs and available through distribution, are relatively new for intrusion standards. We bought a Bosch B3512 panel and a B942 graphic keypad to...
By Brian Rhodes - over 3 years ago
Intrusion panels are hard to identify, are not always clearly labeled, and often look like other printed circuit boards unless you spot telling characteristics. Compounding the difficulty, panel stickers and labels often fade or get lost, enclosur...
By Brian Rhodes - over 3 years ago
Strobes provide visual notification of alarm incidents, as sirens are used to give audible notification. Using a strobe gives alarm users and alarm responders another way confirm alarms when they cannot hear the sirens. In this note, we examine ho...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
2Gig is one of the most widely used intrusion systems, with two product lines that are the main offering of many alarm companies, huge national installers and small mom & pop shops alike. In this dual-test, IPVM bought both variants of this a...
By Brian Rhodes - over 3 years ago
Sirens are used to alert users to an alarm condition. In this note, we examine how to choose, locate, and install alarm sirens, including Siren versus speaker Form factors - surface mount, flush mount, horns, self contained sirens, armored sir...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
Burglars often break glass windows to get into a house. Using glass break detectors in conjunction with alarm contacts is a good way to protect the entire perimeter of a building. In this note, we examine glass break detectors, including Shock...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
Simplisafe markets themselves as a 'better way' than traditional professional alarm companies. However, in one key way, Simplisafe hides the alarm permitting process from their marketing material, only making it clear after the system is purcha...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
Panic switches allow silently triggering an alarm system when it is otherwise disarmed. In this tutorial we explain and contrast the 7 most common types, including: Covered Switch / Hold Up Emergency Button Latching Switch Wireless Keyfob F...
By Ari Erenthal - over 3 years ago
