How to choose the alarm system that’s right for you?
What you need to know about monitored alarms…
A monitored alarm system sends a signal to a monitoring station when it is triggered. Then the monitoring centre will begin to call your list of nominated keyholders to make them aware of the activation.
A monitored alarm has little or no upfront cost. Installation can be anywhere between €0 - €99.
The monthly monitoring fee will depend on a few factors such as, the installation fee paid, the equipment used, the type of contract and the length of contract.
The monthly monitoring fee will be anywhere between €30 - €45 per month.
Almost all monitoring contracts are rental agreements. Monitoring companies generally “lock” the equipment to their own operating system which prevents you from ever switching to another provider, unless you buy a new system.
A common misconception is that the Guards will always respond to your alarm if it goes off, this is not the case. The Guards can only respond to a verified activation where two or more devices have been triggered and a keyholder is available to allow access. This is the case with all monitored alarms regardless of the company that monitors the system.
Almost all monitored alarms sold in this way have no external siren. This is a massive downside to the level of security they offer. All external sirens must have a maximum cutoff time of fifteen minutes or less to prevent noise pollution. If a burglar decides to break a window or door and there is no siren outside they are much more likely to continue to gain entry.
In short, more often than not you end up paying a lot more money for a lot less of a system.
What you need to know about self monitored alarms…
A self monitored alarm system sends notifications to multiple devices at once when your alarm is triggered.
A self monitored alarm is by far the most popular option we sell.
The only “down side” to a self monitored alarm system is the initial upfront cost. It is understandable that when people look at the initial cost of a self monitored alarm they can be put off, however, the total amount you pay in the long run will always be less and you will get a better system without long contracts.
A self monitored alarm effectively cuts out the middleman. This means instead of getting a phone call from an operator in the monitoring centre, you get notifications sent directly to your phone and other smart devices.
There is no minimum term contract with a self monitored alarm system. We include the app subscription for free for the first 12 months, after this you can pay €99 per year to keep the app subscription active.
When combined with our CCTV cameras you can use the Sonic App to see your home from anywhere in the world. This allows you to act quickly and verify any alarm activations.
If you get a notification, check your CCTV and see someone trespassing on your property, you can report a crime. A monitoring operator can only ever report an alarm activation.
An external siren is the single most important device on an alarm and all of our self monitored alarms include a fully functional working external siren, unlike most monitored systems.
What you need to know about unmonitored alarms…
As we offer self monitoring for free for the first year, there is no benefit in buying an unmonitored alarm. If you do not want self monitoring after the first year your system will become an unmonitored alarm.
The alarm will still be fully functional but you will lose the ability to receive notifications and turn the alarm on and off from your phone.
With an unmonitored alarm you will have a much less effective system.
So which is best?
When advising on a house alarm we will always recommend a self monitored system to our customers. When it comes to value for money and the level of security offered, it’s an easy decision.