Security and Alarm Systems Blog

There are too many Security Packages to choose from. A Full security system for only $99, What’s the catch? Well, you are right to be suspicious because there is a catch.
Security Package Deals
A $99 system is just a base package which consists of enough equipment to secure a one-bedroom apartment with only 2 windows. Any home beyond this size will require much more equipment for proper security. A good company will not let a house be secured with less than what it needs. For example, if even one door or window is not secured, then an intruder can enter the house without alarming the system. So, a responsible company will call these “deals” exactly what they are, a “Basic Package.”
Added Costs to the $99 Security System
As you probably suspected, there are added costs to these “Deals” in the form of over-priced and long-term monitoring contracts. The worst part of the deal is usually not the over-priced monitoring, but the lack of quality in the Security Installation coupled with the lack of quality in the follow-up or Service. After signing a 3 or 4 year contract with a Security provider, you are now subject to their service, for better or worse. Many leading security companies offer great deals, but are a headache to deal with after the ink meets the contract.
Discounted Security = Discounted Equipment
When you buy a car, you have many expectations attached to the price you pay. If you pay top-dollar for a BMW, you expect it to run smooth, be safe, and that the dealer provides stellar service. However, if you buy a used 1994 Geo Metro, your expectations are much different. The reliability won’t be there, and service is nonexistent.
The same holds true in the Security industry. You can make a big mistake by not properly researching the service history of your Security Company before committing to a long-term contract. If you have a discount security system, don’t be discouraged. Contract end. And even the federal government with it’s trillion-dollar budget had discount security systems in many federal buildings. Security companies of many different levels of quality offer their security under GSA Contract services.

In the turmoil of today’s economy, it’s important to get the most out of every dollar, especially as it relates to security. Crime increases in poor economic times. This blog entry is meant to offer some ways to gain the most out of your partnership with your security company.
Technology
New Security Technology comes out every day, and sometimes you can spend $300 to install something that will save you $400 over the next year. Also, sometimes the technology you needed was not out when your system was installed, but now it is. If your system has an inconvenience that bothers you, call your Alarm Company and ask them if an affordable solution is available. If they say no, call their competitor.
Integration
I’ve mentioned it before, but you can now add fire alarm, door access and intercom components into an existing security system panel. This can improve your Security while coming under-budget on the project.
Referral Deals
Any company is happy to accept referral clients, and it is only fair that you get something in return when you refer a customer. You can get a free month of monitoring or maybe a credit for and upgrade.
Keep your Security Company to their Agreement
You paid for the system, and you pay every month for your monitoring and/or service, so make sure you are getting everything you pay for. If your system has a problem and needs service, call your Alarm Company and ask if your system is still under warranty or if the problem is due to faulty equipment.

What is a False Alarm?
A “False Alarm” is when an Alarm System goes off in error, and the Police are dispatched. As you can imagine, this causes a big problem for Law Enforcement because the officer’s time can be better spent than driving and inspecting a California home or office that has not been burglarized
County and City Police Departments have been charging false alarm fines for years now, which motivate home owners and businesses to keep their Security Company accountable. Usually, the first False Alarm is free, but the costs grow as more False Alarms occur.
How do you prevent False Alarms?
The two predominant causes of a False Alarm are faulty equipment and outdated (or limited) call lists. Faulty Equipment will send an Alarm signal, just like an actual burglary will, and this will send the Police to your home or office expecting the worst.
Having an outdated call list is very preventable. A good rule of thumb is that if a person has a key to your building or a code to disarm the system, then they should be included in your call list. This is because they have the potential to make a mistake to cause the system to alarm, so they should have a way to quickly fix the mistake before the Police arrive.
Some of the uncommon culprits for False Alarms include spiders inside of motion detectors and hanging holiday decorations that are moved around by an automatic air conditioner or heater. When the weather is poor False Alarms seem to double because water has a very bad effect on electronics.
It is a good idea to keep up on your call list regularly, and to test your system at least every six months to discover if any equipment needs replacement.

There are many ways for a burglar to enter your Home or Business. Here is a breakdown of the methods intruders enter homes:
34% Front Door
23% First Floor Window
22% Back Door
9% Garage
4% Basement
2% Storage Area
6% Other
Burglars have a good variety of methods to enter a home. This makes it extremely important for your security system to offer coverage of every entry/exit point in your house. A $99 system might cover your front door and a few windows, but you can see from the statistics above that your house will still be very vulnerable.

Homes without security systems are about 3 times more likely to be broken into, and a burglary occurs somewhere in the United States every 15.4 seconds (FBI). Businesses without Security systems are 4-1/2 times more likely to be robbed than commercial locations with security in place. The average loss of burglary victim amounts to $1,834.

More interesting Burglar Facts:

Burglaries are usually committed when the dwelling is unoccupied.
66.2 percent of Burglaries occur in Homes (FBI 2006)
63.1 percent of residential burglaries took place during the day.
56.7 percent of Commercial burglaries occurred at night.
The rates of burglaries increase in the summer months.

What, I have to maintain my Alarm System?
You have to defrost your freezer when the ice builds, you have to get an oil change every 3000 miles, and you have to polish your fancy shoes when they get worn. So, how is it less important to maintain your Security System? Many people have an Alarm System, but do not know that they can maintain it themselves.
How to maintain your Alarm System:
Testing your system IS maintaining your system, and this involves setting your system and trying to break into your home or office. You should test your system about every six months.
First, call your security company and tell them you are going to test your system. This way, you won’t have the police show up thinking you are a burglar. Tell them to “put the system in test” and tell them it will take an hour. You will need to know your account password.
Second, you will be setting off your alarm, so let your neighbors know. If you don’t, they might call the Police because of the commotion.
Third, set your alarm and start opening any doors or windows that lead to the outside. Every time you will have to go back to the keypad and disarm the system.
Fourth and last, call your Security company and tell them “Take the system out of test.”

We call ourselves “Security Integrators” in some circles, especially in describing our services to Federal customers. But what does the term “Integration” mean?
Websters Dictionary “Integrate”: To form, coordinate, or blend into a larger unit.

This is a great description, but I feel I must explain further. A Security System that is truly integrated has two or more types of Electronic Security connected and intelligently interacting. An example is a Door Access Control System tied into an Alarm System panel. The trend among Security Manufacturers has been toward developing integrated products which can be used for many different functions, often at the same time.
The benefits of Security Integration are cost reduction and improved or customized functionality. Therefore, you can see why many Security Installation companies are calling themselves “Integrators,” because the term is synonymous with added-value and ingenuity.

I’m sorry it has come to this, but Customer Service has been in a downward spiral for 20 years. We live in a world where “Good Customer Service” means it only takes 10 minutes in an automated phone-tree to get a human on the phone. This often involves talking (out loud) to a robotic voice, while your co-workers laugh at you.
Well, I’ve come across a helpful website to get a human on the line as quick as possible from a large list of Giant conglomerate corporations. The website is www.GetHuman.com and it is a long, categorized list of companies, with phone numbers and directions on a fast way to get a human being on the phone.
At Progressive Technology Security Systems always have a Human answer the phone. If your issue is not resolved immediately, we either transfer you to an expert on the subject, or have them call you back (usually within 5 minutes). Our service is among the best in the industry, often times we will be at your location to help within one day or even same day. The last thing anyone wants is a blaring alarm, or a state-of-the-art Alarm System that cannot protect them. We understand this, and model our Service parctices around this.

We are currently testing the new ePad, which allows anyone with internet access from anywhere in the world to access their Security System as though they were in front of the keypad in their home or office. We think this is a breakthrough ease-of-use option for our current and future customers. We would be happy to answer any questions you have about this great new Security Technology.
DMP Website:
“The ePAD Virtual keypad enables users to control and monitor their personal security systems from any computer browser via the Internet. This revolutionary technology operates as any other DMP LCD keypad, on any DMP Command Processor panel. Convenient, yet completely secure!”

One of the best ways to save money on your security system is to add-on fire equipment to your security control panel. By having security and fire equipment “share” a panel, we can pass along savings to our customers.
Digital Monitoring Products (DMP) manufacture Security control panels with integration options. This means that with an experienced installation company, you can have two systems for little over the price of one. The “little over” is just the cost of fire detection devices.

Call us at (800) 577-2527, we’d be happy to answer any questions you have.