The difference in Monitoring between the Old and new Ways
Your alarm company might offer you a choice between a landline and cellular security system monitoring, leaving you guessing which choice is best for you when different criteria are considered. This article explains the difference between landline and cellular security systems and monitoring thereby helping you in making the right choice that suits your needs.
We begin by discussing and stating the good and bad of each option.
What is Landline security system and Monitoring?
The difference between landline and cellular security system is based on the connection between units. Landline security systems are majorly wired security systems whose parts like the sensors and control panel are hard wired to each other and are connected to the house phone line as a means of monitoring.
These systems are very reliable although their major drawback lies in its vulnerability of being disconnected by simply a wire cut.
Pros
- Offers the cheapest form of monitoring
- Very reliable in signal transmission
- Works independent of power supply.
Cons
- Easily disconnected with a wire cut
- Not all homes have landline phone connections
- Not compatible with home automation
- Obsolete compared with recent technologies
Security companies still offering Landline monitoring
- ADT
- Protect America
- Time Warner
Note: These companies are surely soon to stop offering these services (at least to new customers). Also, if you have an old system and want a new wireless sytem, it may be time for an upgrade.
Cellular Alarm Systems and Monitoring
Cellular Alarm systems otherwise known as wireless systems make use of sensors. They are systems whose sensors, detectors and control panel connect to each other wirelessly. Cellular alarm monitoring refers to alarm systems that are connected to their monitoring station via a GSM or CDMA network.
These systems override the major vulnerability of landline systems which is the ease of disconnection by a wire cut as they are not connected via a phone line. Most alarm providers are upgrading to cellular monitoring as it makes for a more robust security experience.
Pros
- Compatible with home automation and remote access
- Cannot be disconnected by a wire cut as it is wireless
- Signal dispatch is faster than landline monitoring
- Wider range of coverage
- Easy to install and operate
Cons
- Cost is higher compared to landline monitoring
- Signal is dependent on network strength and stability
- It’s dependent on power supply usually battery powered.
Alarm systems providers that Offer cellular monitoring:
Most home security providers offer cellular monitoring, quite plainly most alarm security providers offers both wired and cellular monitoring. Some Alarm Reviews of companies that do include:
Conclusion
The choice for an alarm system monitoring choice can be a difficult one. Most alarm systems offer both cellular monitoring and wired monitoring, the best choice depends on cost and performance. While wired monitoring is cheap and reliable, they often are easily disarmed by a wire cut. Cellular monitoring on the other hand, solves this problem but are usually costlier than wired monitoring. Either way, the final choice depends on your needs.
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Growing up with Law and Order and CSI shows taught Isabelle Landau one thing: if people back then had high-quality home security systems, those series would have been way shorter. In our modern world, technology helps us keep burglars away easily, and this is what Izzy studies and writes about: alarm systems, home security, protection systems, and more.
Alester Daley says
I wonder who still utilizes the landline monitoring these days, it’s been a while since I’ve heard of someone utilizing such. Signal has been pretty reliable for me with regards to cellular monitoring. Good point on the landline being cut though, burglars these days really have been taking the next level into disarming the system. So, it’s really a matter of taking the next step ahead.
Sylvia says
Kind of dumb to have your alarm system not work if the line gets cut. I think this was a common practice when security systems were first out in 1990s. Now a burglar wouldn’t even waste their time doing such a thing since no one has a landline anymore and good luck destroying cell phone towers!
Dave says
I no longer have my landline service, but I think if I did, I might actually have gone with the wired service. True, the wire can get cut, but how many burgulars are actually expecting to have to cut a wire? A lot of people today don’t even remember landlines. I guess I would just gamble on the burgular not disengaging the system (and not getting hit in the first place).