Tag: UL Central Station Alarm Monitoring

Is Cheap Alarm Monitoring The Way To Go?

Chosing an alarm monitoring company for your home or business should not be taken lightly

Security alarm monitoring is a business in itself that is focused on providing 24×7 alarm dispatch for home and business security systems. It should not be confused with a security installation company that targets install and configuration of the protection hardware itself. While some companies have their own in-house monitoring service like ADT for example, most installation companies outsource this important service to providors that specialize in this world. Do you really want your local dealer’s wife calling the police for you?

Maintaining monitoring facilities (yes you need more than just one) with infrastructure and trained staff is expensive even when customers number in the thousands. It requires dedicated dispatchers around the clock, IT people, infrastructure staff, adminstrative staff, you name it just to reach the minimum requirements for UL central station certification.

Going cheap often means getting service from a company that may not be UL certified, or perhaps is offering “self-monitoring” where the customer is responsible for calling the police, fire, or medical authorities. This is not the way to protect your family or business.

We use, and have used exclusively COPS Monitoring since 1987. They monitor roughly 3 million homes and businesses in the US and have been around since 1978. They do not install alarm systems, just monitor security installations from their six hot redundant and load sharing central stations in New Jersey, Florida, Arizona, Tennessee, and Texas, and Maryland. COPS is UL listed, FM approved, IQ certified, and have more TMA Five Diamond certified central stations than anyone in the security industry.

But how is alarm monitoring priced and why does it vary so wildly?

The sham (yes I said it) in the security business is alarm monitoring. This is where the real money is made, not the installation, though many local dealers do gouge their customers here too. Even when they outsource the actual alarm monitoring service to others they still require customers to sign-up for multiple year contracts at a pretty high markup. Most customers stay with their original security company for monitoring at least ten years on average so the profits can really adds up, especially when someone else is doing all the work!

At SafeHomeCentral we outsource this very specialized service to COPS Monitoring, but because we have a long relationship with our partner we maintain extremely good rates that we pass on to our valued customers regardless if we install the hardware or its DIY. We don’t require long-term contracts and in fact don’t require any customer to have alarm monitoring at all, though we highly recommend it otherwise you just have a noise maker.

Our alarm monitoring starts at just $8.95/mo when using phone line or VoIP connectivity with our central stations. We also offer inexpensive Internet and cellular connectivity options as well which provide better protection since phone lines are prone to tampering. We treat our customers with respect and charge a fair price for reliable service rather than look at each as a money making machine. This is how we have stayed in business for over 30 years which is rare in our industry. Many, many satisfied clients.

With ADT charging $27.99/mo for three years compared to our $8.95/mo with no contract it’s easy to understand why so many of their customers have come our way once their contract expires – though you need be careful with the ADT’s contract auto-renewal clause!

Is it difficult to make a change?

Making a switch in monitoring providers is not very hard. SafeHomeCentral can talk you through the few keypad strokes needed or can make the changes remotely in many cases. If you want to upgrade from a phone line to cellular we got you covered there too. We’ll guide you to the necessary add-on communicator for your particular existing security system and configure remotely. And our communicator hardware, like our full systems are pro-quality with very low mark-up. Looking to understand Home Security Alarm Monitoring Basics?

Don’t be fooled by the free system gimics that are tied to lengthy expensive alarm monitoring agreements. Nothing is free in life, but by doing just a little research you can get quality, yet inexpensive alarm monitoring for your home or business. Don’t fall for the high pressure sales tactics by the big guys who who don’t always provide the best service!

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March 19, 2019
Purchasing a Professional-Grade Home Security System Without Paying Expensive ADT Pricing
Today homeowners are very cost conscious when it comes to home security alarm systems. This is because not only may there be a large upfront investment in equipment and installation labor, but the monthly alarm monitoring charge can set you back several thousand dollars if you go with a national company like ADT that requires a three-year monitoring commitment with every sale. Professional-grade systems from well known industry leaders such as Honeywell, DSC, Alula/Resolution, 2GIG, and Qolsys are now available to homeowners to install themselves in just an hour or two without having to rely on a local alarm dealer to install.

The hurdle to DIY installation of quality alarm equipment has always been panel programming as well as warranty support. Manufacturers such as Honeywell only sell to authorized security dealers and not to actual homeowners. The same for warranty support – it must go through the local dealer who installed the equipment. However more and more online dealers offer professional-grade home security equipment and handle all warranty issues just like a local dealer. Some will even program the security panel (the brains of the system) remotely. SafeHomeCentral for example will remotely program panels for the life of the system for free as long as cellular or WIFI/Internet connectivity to the panel is maintained.

Saving Money Installing Your Own Security System

Installing a home security alarm system does not have to be difficult. Modern fully wireless systems are now finally a reality which were designed to make life easier for dealers, but can also make life just as easy for a DIY homeowner while saving money! Installation can be fast and easy going wireless rather than the traditional method of running wires throughout the home. Its actually rare anymore for even dealers like ADT to install hardwired systems. Yes the equipment will cost more but time is money. Rather than having a three man crew at a home for two days installing an alarm system, one person (even the homeowner) can now do it all on a Saturday morning.

What is professional-grade alarm equipment?

I’m talking security systems made by Honeywell or DSC for example. Honeywell has been used by ADT for several decades now, though white labeled since ADT does not manufacturer any hardware. What I’m not referring to is no name brands sold on eBay or big box retailers such as Home Depot or Best Buy. This also includes consumer-grade security equipment from SimpliSafe.

There is a big difference between professional-grade and consumer-grade home security hardware:
- Ability to remotely control all security or home automation (lights, locks, thermostats) functions from a smartphone, tablet, or laptop
- True UL central station monitoring capability
- Video surveillance capability, especially with remote viewing from a smart device
- Cellular and dual-path (redundant by adding WIFI/Internet) alarm monitoring options
- Broad range of wireless security sensors such as door/window, motion detectors, glassbreak detectors, shock sensors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, flood detection, low temperature detection, panic buttons, additional sirens and keypads, etc.
- Encrypted wireless sensors to combat sophisticated intruders.
- Sensor transmission range of 1000 ft. or more
Alarm Monitoring Services

Local dealers make their real profit from recurring monthly revenue (RMR), better know in the security industry as alarm monitoring. This is why your local dealer such as ADT will require alarm monitoring and lock you in for a 3 to 5 year agreement with an expensive early termination fee, even if you move. Online dealers monitoring dealers such as SafeHomeCentral can offer pretty much the same (if not exact) as the local dealers for half the price. If installing a Honeywell Lyric wireless system for example (their newest and best on the market for 2018) you’ll need Honeywell’s AlarmNet interactive services (Total Connect 2) for remote control from a smartphone and a UL central station such as COPS Monitoring. Your local dealer will charge $35 – $60 per month for a three year commitment where SafeHomeCentral charges just $15 for cellular remote control with UL central station dispatch. I note this because many online dealers offer self-monitoring as an option which requires the homeowners to actually call the police of fire department. Crazy! For a real shock take a look at ADT’s alarm monitoring fees.

Saving Money Going DIY

Saving money without spending a lot of time installing your home security system upfront as well as on the backend (alarm monitoring) is what its all about.
- Do some research on the brands and models available, both from local dealers as well as online security dealers
- How long has the dealer been in business? This can be important especially with guys working out of their trunk and online dealers who just set up shop with their laptop. SafeHomeCentral for example has been in the home and commercial security alarm business since 1987.
- Always go with an industry leader such as Honeywell, DSC or Alula/Resolution. Some newer brands such as 2GIG and Qolsys are up and coming but just don’t have the sensor range of options yet. For a recommendation we standardized on the Honeywell Lyric for our own pro-installs in the Philadelphia area. Hard to go wrong using Honeywell security products.
- Use an online alarm monitoring provider. Always go no contract, don’t get locked in! Some can save you even more with annual prepay discounts too.
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August 8, 2018