Wireless Alarm Sensors vs Wired Alarm Sensors
Wireless vs. Wired
One of the most important aspects of a home security system is the sensors. Sensors detect everything from intrusion, to fire, to environmental hazards – and they transmit all that information back to the control panel. And, in turn, the control panel sends alarm signals to the alarm monitoring center when necessary.
In the past, most alarm systems used hardwired sensors – and that meant, literally, running a wire from the control panel out to each individual device. This was a good approach for a number of years – because wireless sensor technology was unreliable (and new). The downside, however, is that as wired sensors grow old with time, they become very expensive to maintain and troubleshoot (which usually means higher maintenance bills for customers).
Wireless sensors have been around for years – and sensors from leading equipment manufacturers (like GE Security and Honeywell) are very reliable. However, there are a few misconceptions about wireless sensors.
First, many people think they’re more expensive than wired sensors. While the cost of the equipment is more expensive (remember, wired sensors are typically nothing more than magnets and wire), the overall installed cost is comparable because with wired sensors, you have to factor in the (significant) labor cost of actually running all the wires. In addition, as mentioned above, the maintenance costs can be significantly higher with wired sensors.
Second, some people think wireless sensors aren’t secure – and can be jammed by burglars. This is true for low end (and ultra low cost) wireless equipment. However, industry standard equipment from leading equipment manufacturers is very secure. In the case of GE Security wireless sensors, for example, the sensors communicate with the control panel over a proprietary frequency. The frequency, which used to be used for military air-to-air refueling operations, is outside the normal consumer radio frequency spectrum. That means it’s nearly impossible to find a jamming device that will transmit on the right frequency.
Wireless sensors should be considered the standard option on any new alarm system. Even when installing an alarm system during new home construction, there are very few (if any) reasons to use wired sensors, given the low cost, high reliability, and proven security of wireless sensors and alarms.