YOU
NEED TO
KNOW
Canada
is one of the world leaders in alarm technology. Both DSC and
Paradox are Canadian companies. You can buy these systems with pride
and know you are getting the most advanced technology available in the
world.
If
you own a home or a business an alarm is a must. Building owners are
finding that even common areas need some sort of supervision, either
electronic surveillance, alarm supervision or guard patrols.
The
basic needs of most homes and businesses are met with a simple $300 alarm
system. This system includes the controller, the telephone
connection for monitoring, the siren, one keypad, one motion detector and
two door contact.
Add-ons
can include more door and window contacts, additional motion detectors,
valuable life safety devices like smoke and heat detectors, Carbon
Monoxide (CO) detectors and even environment detection such as flood
sensors and low temperature sensors.
Designing
the perfect alarm system for your needs always starts with either the
basic $300 system or a system with built-in advanced technology like
access control.
The
basic $300 system includes many advanced features for no additional
charge. If you already have an alarm system you may be able to use
these features for free.
The
Paradox Esprit will serve as our basic alarm system.
The
first feature that every alarm system owner should know is user
codes. Too many people share user codes. With proper use of
user codes an alarm system can provide you with basic access control
functions.
The
Esprit has up to 49 user codes. Each member of your family or each
employee can have their own code for arming and disarming the alarm
system. The alarm system can track which user code was used to arm
or disarm the system.
To
use this feature properly you must assign each person who uses the system (we
normally refer to users as key holders because you would have to give an
alarm code to everyone who has a key, and the alarm code is a type of key
in itself;)
a user number. The alarm system will accept a different key code for
each of the 49 user numbers.
For
example, User Number 5 is "1234" and User Number 41 is
"4321". When the code "4321" is used to arm the
system User Number 41 is logged by the monitoring station. When
"1234" is used to disarm the system User Number 5 is logged into
the event buffer. This feature is called "Opening and
Closing" and must be programmed by your installer.
This
information is especially valuable after a burglary. There is an
extra charge to turn on this feature.
Duress
code: This is a special code that you use only if you are forced
to disarm the alarm system. This code tells the monitoring station
to send help fast!
Arming with a key This is an especially
good way to keep control of your codes. The key can either be an
actual key (make sure it is copy protected) or it can be a proximity
card. By adding this to your alarm system you can reduce the risk of
burglars covertly watching a user enter his or her code and coming back
later.
STAY
arming allows you to arm the alarm system while you are inside the
building. Motion detectors are deactivated and only the perimeter is
armed. Anyone opening a door or window must enter the alarm code
right away or guards will be dispatched.
The
correct way to use this feature includes not disarming the system when
someone is at the door. If you feel you must answer the door let the
delay countdown begin. If the person on the other side of the door
cannot justify why he or she is there you have the perfect excuse to get
rid of the person -
you have to shut the door to turn off the alarm. If the person does
not go away you don't have to do a thing. The alarm will sound and
help will be on the way.
FAST Exit during stay - this allows you to leave
the armed area without disarming the system. Just push the [STAY/11]
key for two seconds and leave through the normal exit door.
One touch arming - Also called Quick Arm, this
feature allows you to arm the system without using a code. Great if
the cleaning lady isn't finished and you have to leave. Just have
her push the quick arm key on her way out. Your installer must
program this feature.
Automatic Arming Your system can arm itself
either at a certain time, great when your employees keep forgetting to arm
your alarm system, or when there has been no movement in an area for a
long time, great for storage rooms that need to be armed.
Door Chime allows you to hear the keypad beep
when someone opens a door or walks into a room. You can easily turn
this feature on and off on the Paradox Alarm Panels: Hold down the
button that corresponds to the zone you want to chime for two
seconds. Store owners enjoy this feature on their front door.
It tells them when customers enter the store.
Panic Buttons - These must be programmed by the
installer
Partitions - Your alarm system is actually two
systems in one! For example, if you have a basement apartment in
your house you can have that area as partition one and your main living
area as partition two. You give your tenant a code that only arms
their partition and you have a code that controls both!
Once
you understand these basic features you can make full use of your alarm
system. Advanced features like home automation can be complicated
for some. The best example of a good use of home automation with an
alarm system is to have the lights turn on that lead to an exit when the
smoke detector is triggered.
