The Official Smarthome Blog – All Things Home Automation

You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a professionally installed and maintained security system in order to keep your family safe. Visonic’s PowerMax Express 211G Wireless Security System is a full-featured, customizable security alarm system that connects in a fraction of the time of hardwired systems and includes everything you’ll need to get your home security started. No complicated wiring or cabling is required! Just plug the main unit in, mount the wireless sensors in the zones you want to protect, and you’re ready to program the system.

Easy to Program and Control Securely
Programming is easy, using the large, backlit buttons and the LCD screen. You have the option of testing or arming the system at a predefined time, and the siren can squawk when armed or disarmed if you so choose. The PowerMax Express 211G Wireless Security System supports 28 wireless zones and one hardwired zone and a 100-event log. Additional features include a silent/audible panic alarm, two-way voice/listen in enabling options, and even voice response.

Internet Connectivity via Optional PowerLink
Verify the status of lighting devices and reprogram security functions anywhere and any time by adding the PowerLink2 Broadband IP Module. Whether you’re at work or on vacation, you can easily access the PowerMax Express 211G Wireless Security System via SMS, e-mail, mobile, and regular phones, or a secure web application.

Built-in Siren and Phone Dialer
When it detects an alarm signal from one of the wireless sensors, the alarm system blasts an 85dB siren that not only alerts your family, but also sends would-be thieves fleeing. In addition, you can program it to call any private phone number (i.e.: a friend or neighbor, your office, your wireless phone, etc.) and play a pre-recorded message in your own voice if connected to your standard telephone or to a cellular network via its built-in GSM Modem (SIM card and activation required). It doesn’t even need its own dedicated phone line! It also supports 24-hour monitoring by commercial alarm monitoring personnel, who can dispatch police, fire or medical response (depending on the type of alert it receives). It can even call you for non-alarm events. For example, do you want to know that your kids arrived home safely from school? The security system can call you at the office to let you know that your child successfully disarmed the alarm. Read more

You keep meaning to install a security system but put it off because you don’t want to crawl around the basement and attic, stringing all those wires? This state-of-the-art touchpad security alarm system is easy to install because it’s a wireless system. It’s also easy to use to protect your home or office at a minimum cost. This system will call up to 5 phone numbers when triggered, so you gain the benefits of a monitored alarm system but avoid the monthly fees. You can dial into the system to arm or disarm using the phone’s numeric keypad. The Air-AlarmII system can be upgraded by adding up to 60 wireless sensors, sirens, and up to 10 remote controllers. LEDs on the front panel indicate which zone was triggered, system status, power. Each sensor is battery-powered (batteries included) with battery life of up to 2 years. The doorbell button contains a rechargeable li-ion battery good for up to 3 years, then can be recharged via a USB cable (included). Enhance your system’s capabilities by adding more Wireless Door/Window Sensors, Wireless PIR Motion Sensors, Wireless Remotes, Wireless Panic Button, Wireless Smoke Alarm, Wireless Indoor Siren, Wireless Outdoor Siren, and Wireless Doorbell Buttons. Read more

Simon XT is a cost-effective security system that offers up to 40 zones of burglary and fire protection and complies with SIA False Alarm Standards. With a built-in display touchpad and status speaker that provides visual and voice messages for feedback, Simon XT is well suited for houses, apartments, and condominiums.

The Simon XT panel comes standard with 40 wireless zones, or it can be set up with 38 wireless zones and two built-in hardwired supervised burglary zones (normally-closed loop only). The built-in radio receiver works with both Crystal and SAW Learn Mode sensors.

Simon XT supports off-premise telephone control to arm and disarm the system, check system status, activate no entry delay, or activate the latchkey feature. With latchkey capabilities, the panel can be programmed to notify customers if the system has not been disarmed at a scheduled time. Read more

• Records video on an SD memory card (included)
• Adjustable LED lights and passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor
• Three pre-recorded verbal warnings
• Three operating modes
• Automatic light sensor
• Sensitivity control
• Floodlight time delay control

Using a motion-activated floodlight outside your home is a good idea to deter unwanted visitors, but this one takes that concept one step farther – it actually talks to them! Choose from among three pre-recorded messages: “You are tresspassing!”, “Warning! You are being videotaped by a security camera!”, or the sound of a dog barking. The passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor can be adjusted so it picks up people only from a speecific area, and the lights can be pointed to the same or a different spot. There are adjustments for the range of the PIR and the time the floodlight remains on. The video camera points the same direction as the PIR and will capture up to 500 video clips (20 sec) per GB of memory. Most surveillance cameras do nothing about deterring potential criminals, they only passively record whatever happens and you have to hope you got a good enough picture to help find the guy. This camera shines the light of day on crooks and tells them they had better leave without committing any crime.

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The AAA+ Home Smart Center is a complete wireless system that not only functions as a security system, but also monitors your premises by providing alert notifications when the system is not armed. It is also a home automation center, which allows you to control household appliances and lights remotely, even when you are away from home. It can be controlled by dialing from any touch-tone phone, which makes it even more convenient and powerful. The AAA+ Home Smart Center comes with everything you’ll need to get your home security system started.

The heart of the AAA+ Home Smart Center is its control panel, which can be placed on a desk or wall mounted. You’ll use the control panel to program the system’s passwords and emergency numbers to be dialed; you can program trigger sensors to specific zones in your home using the control panel, as well.

The control panel can be in either of two modes: alert mode or alarm mode. Set it to alert mode when someone is home. The control panel will provide notification of triggered sensors by voice announcement, LED flashing, and beeping the number of times corresponding to the triggered zone (the beeping can easily be disabled if desired). Each zone can program up to two sensors; with five zones, you’ll be able to connect up to 10 sensors in your home. In addition to the two door/window sensors and the motion sensor included with the kit, a variety of sensors is available: There’s a water leak sensor to prevent a flooded house if a pipe bursts and a garage sensor to remind you that the door is open. These additional sensors are all sold separately. For larger homes or for remote sensors, adding a wireless signal booster / repeater is a good way to add reliability to the system, so you’ll be sure to receive an alert the moment your home is breached. Read more