| Do you want to protect your home and family? | | | | when installing the DIY burglar alarm system: |
| Are you a do-it-yourselfer? | | | | |
| | | | * Signal strength and background noise |
| A home burglar alarm system ranges from an | | | | levels of the proposed location should be |
| expensive, professionally-installed system, | | | | checked before the devices are mounted. |
| to a low-cost do-it-yourself (DIY) system | | | | |
| that can be installed for $200 or less. | | | | * The transmitting and receiving devices |
| | | | should not be mounted under metal lintels, |
| The most common do-it-yourself option is the | | | | placed on top of windows, doors etc. because |
| hard-wired system. As the name suggests, the | | | | these affect transmission of signals. |
| alarm is connected directly with an | | | | |
| electrical power circuit. These alarm systems | | | | * Any wiring to or from the transmitters and |
| also include sensors such as magnetic | | | | receivers should be kept away from the |
| switches and motion or smoke detectors to | | | | aerials. |
| safeguard the home from threats like fire. | | | | |
| | | | * Receivers, or receiver aerials, should not |
| Another do-it-yourself option is the wireless | | | | be mounted near electrical distribution |
| alarm system. It uses radio waves and | | | | equipment, televisions, computer equipment, |
| requires no major skills to install. | | | | or large amounts of metal. |
| Supervised alarm systems are those wireless | | | | |
| systems which can monitor its sensors to | | | | * Make sure that the remote aerial is |
| ensure that they are communicating properly | | | | mounted in the proper orientation. Never clip |
| with the control panel. Some supervised | | | | any other cable close to the aerial or close |
| systems are inexpensive and can be connected | | | | to the aerial cable. Also, try not to run |
| to full-time monitoring stations at a | | | | your aerial cable next to main power cables. |
| security company. | | | | |
| | | | * In the case of very thick walls where the |
| Another do-it-yourself possibility is the | | | | signal strength is weak, the receiver or its |
| self-contained burglar alarm system. It can | | | | aerial should be mounted high up in the |
| be plugged into any outlet and can be removed | | | | attic. |
| whenever needed. These systems can be | | | | |
| purchased for $150 or less. | | | | * Survey the premises carefully before |
| | | | installing your detection devices. |
| The following points must be kept in mind | | | | |