Alarm monitoring

Our alarm monitoring service is aimed at private users, businesses and security companies.

Our state of the art alarm monitoring center and alarm monitoring network is operative 24/7, 365 days a year.

Please note that we are the only security company in Ireland providing radio monitoring, which cannot be disabled by malicious users using GMS blockers or cutting telephone line cables.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you want to learn more about our monitoring service and should you want to get a quote for the monitoring of your new or existing intruder alarm, cctv or fire alarm system.

Alarm Monitoring Explained

Basically an alarm system is 'monitored' when it is connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre or ARC either via a telephone line, GSM or a radio link. When a system connected to the Alarm Receiving Centre triggers or activates a signal is sent to a computerised 'receiver' and the relevant information such as customer name, address and key-holding details appear on the computer screen for the controllers to act upon.

The Benefits of Alarm Monitoring

• Immediate reporting of alarm activations-verification technology can indicate which zone or area of the system has activated.
• Intruder, personal attack, fire, freezer, water detection etc. Depending on the type of alarm signal received the monitoring centre can contact the appropriate parties: Gardai, Fire brigade, medical staff, key-holders etc.
• Garda respond on receipt of verified signal.
• Peace of mind knowing your family, home or premises is monitored 24 hours a day.

Types of Alarm Monitoring

There are essentially 4 main types of monitoring systems which transmit their signals to the Monitoring Control Centre:

• Telephone line
• GSM Digital Communicator
• GSM/GPRS Dual Com
• Long Range Radio Telemetry

1. Telephone Line Alarm Monitoring

Telephone line monitoring is the most common type. Essentially a 'digital communicator' or 'digi' is connected to the phone line, when the alarm activates it sends a signal to the Alarm Receiving Centre.

This method of transmission is generally quite reliable, however the main problem is that if the phone line is cut or disconnected the signal cannot be sent to the Alarm Receiving Centre. It is here that the problem lies, making it very easy to access and render the communicator useless.

2. GSM Digital Communicator

A GSM Dialler uses the cellular network to transmit its signals to the ARC. It was designed to give more protection to High Risk premises, so that in the event of an alarm activation, the ARC will receive signals from both the normal digital communicator, via the telephone line, and the GSM dialer via the cellular network.

Please note that if a GSM blocker/Jammer is used this device cannot contact the Alarm Receiving Centre.

3. GSM/GPRS (DualCom) Alarm Monitoring

A GSM/GPRS or DualCom dialer is a relatively new arrival on the Irish Market. Again the GSM element of this unit transmits on the cellular network. But also very important to remember the GPRS element of this unit which transmits high speed data to the ARC also transmits on the cellular network.

Again we must stress that if a GSM Blocker/Jammer is used, it prevents both the GSM element and the GPRS element from contacting the ARC as they both transmit on the cellular network.

4. Long Range Radio Telemetry Alarm Monitoring

Action Security has its own radio network which is private and licensed by COMREG and does not share bandwidth with any other providers. This consists of a nationwide network of repeaters that receive the signals from the individual radio transmitters that are located in the protected premises. These repeaters then 'bounce' the signals back to the receiver in the Alarm Receiving Centre.

Our system uses secure, proven technology from one of the largest radio manufacturers in the world; having sold over 1,000,000 transmitters and receiver units in 80 countries.

Our radio network is totally secure and penetrable proof against GSM Jammers and is proven to be the most reliable and effective in both performance and cost.

Problems and pitfalls with Telephone and GMS Mobile Networks

Although the GSM network is generally good in cities and major towns but in some cases the signal strength and call quality can vary and is often poor in rural areas. We have all experienced 'black spots' where the signal drops off or dies altogether regardless of what network we use. There are many reasons why this can happen, the following are just a sample:

• The cell you are connected to may have too many subscribers exceeding its capacity.
• Engineers working on the system.
• Essential maintenance being carried out (a favourite of the service providers).

While a 'dropped call' or not being able to hear the person on the phone may be inconvenient but it's a totally different matter if your GSM digi can't make contact with the Alarm Receiving Centre due to poor network coverage.

However probably the greatest threat to the GSM Digital Communicator is relevantly recent and comes from a unit called a "GSM Jammer/Blocker".

Recent Reportage in the National Newspapers

Please see below a selection of recent reportage about GMS jammers:

• Gardai smash gang of ex-military Albanian burglars - IRISH EXAMINER, Wednesday, July 28th 2010.
• Thieves using sophisticated equipment to carry out hundreds of low-value robberies. - IRISH INDEPENDENT, Sunday April 11th 2010.
• Gangs using jammers to deactivate alarms - THE SUNDAY TIMES, April 26th 2010.

Please click on one of the links above to go to the news article.