Everyone is well aware of the advantages to having a home alarm system. It can monitor for things like fire, floods, carbon monoxide, and of course protect you from burglars and break-ins. However, there are countless other features you can enjoy depending on the make and model you opt to purchase. Here are 10 features few people recognize with their system.
Event Log or “Buffer”
With this feature, you have the ability to access system events with your LCD keypad if your alarm is capable of doing so. Essentially, this allows you to access anything that is alarm related when the system has been armed and disarmed. You can also access it if a zone or device was programmed to be bypassed or if the alarm simply goes off.
Customize the “chime”
You have the ability to program your system to alert you when anything in the house is opened. Most people have their system programmed to beep when the front door is opened, but you can easily program it to do so when any of your windows are opened as well. This can help prevent an accident with kids on a different floor than you.
Automatic paging
Whether you are away from the home or are looking to be reminded of an event, your system is capable of paging you. Now you never have to worry about when your kids get home from school or more importantly if a burglar has attempted to break in.
Automatic shutoff and rest
While safety is of utmost importance in your home, it is also essential you have control over the security settings. Automatic arming and disarming allows you to have a say in when the system is off and when it is on. This way you can program the system to turn off during a certain period of time for the pet sitter while programming it to turn back on at a certain time.
Remote operation
In addition to being able to control the system from home, the remote operation allows you to do so anywhere in the world with access to a touch tone phone. All you have to do is enter a special code and you can check the system for break-ins or change any features you may have forgot to add prior to leaving the house.
Codes for occasional users
There are times when you will find a need for someone other than a family member to have the code. However, you may not be willing to give your housekeeper or neighbor the code at all times. For this reason, you can program a code that will automatically erase after a one time use or you can program the system to have a code that works during certain times of the day.
Duress code
The last situation anyone wants to be in is being forced to turn off the system from an intruder. With a duress code, you can type in a special code that will disarm the system while sending out a silent panic signal to the monitoring station at the same time.
Lights
There are a number of features you can do with the lights of your home from the system. You have the ability to send a signal from your car while heading home to turn the interior and exterior lights of your home on as well as programming them to turn on when the alarm is triggered.
“I’m OK”
This feature is perfect for those who live alone, are elderly, or have a medical issue. What this does is alert the central monitoring station if the motion detectors do not sense any movement from you over a certain period of time. If this does occur, the central station will notify a neighbor or family member to check on you.
Two way audio monitoring
The final feature you probably have never taken advantage of with your system is two way audio monitoring. With this, there are small microphones placed throughout your home that allow the central monitoring station to listen to sounds. This way the station can pick up on conversations from burglars when you are on vacation or at any time in the day. In addition, operators can also talk to you without the phone if there are intruders inside of your home.
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