Driveway Alarms

Equipping homes and business establishment with security systems is always a major consideration for building contractors. In the United States, the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) released a report stating that edifices, particularly houses, with no security systems installed are thrice more vulnerable to security breaches including burglary. Police reports on the other hand reveal that more aggressive robbers and burglars take on what used to be an unlikely place for thief entrance – the driveway. With this, driveway alarms are now a part of home security system.

One of the recent advances in technology, especially in the home security is found in driveway alarms. These are electronic devices that are used to detect, intimidate and warn the home dwellers of threats brought about by unknown presence in the driveway. Modern driveway security alarms have come a long way from just simple alarm bells. These days if a house has a security system integrated, it will help ward off potential thieves who might be eyeing one’s house as subject for robbery.

Different driveway alarm systems may vary according to price or cost of installation. But most of these devices are now made affordable as government is now promoting the use of home security systems to lower crime rates. Various technologies are also employed by manufacturers that typify the requirements of many users particularly in business establishments. In some situations, driveway alarm works to identify and inspect incoming visitors. These devices are also integrated with driveway sensors that help in opening gates.

Modern driveway alarms now come in four distinct types according to the technology utilized. There is the wireless driveway alarm, the wired driveway alarm, metal detecting alarms and infrared or heat-sensitive driveway alarms. Each of this type of alarm functions distinctively.

The wired driveway alarm is the traditional and most common way used in home security systems. These were expensive to install and remained to be costly until these days. Earlier installation of these devices was seen in the 1900s and since it was costly, it seemed only then that home security was only made available for the rich and the famous. The wired driveway alarm was also found to be less effective during its infancy years. Burglars learned how to operate alarms into silence and remain undetected. This was due to its primitive technology in security that uses a pressure button inserted on windows and doors. This overlooked disadvantage has led to many false alarms that eventually made the home owners neglect its warning sound.

After a few years of careful study, manufacturers were able to produce wired driveway alarms that are smarter. Soon, these devices gained back confidence from home owners. And today, technology has advanced the traditional wired driveway alarms. The advantage of wire driveway alarms is that there is no outside maintenance to be observed. However it is still far pricier to install.

The wireless driveway alarm is proven to be less costly than the wired driveway alarm. It has captured a larger chunk of the home security market because of the major features it carries. Among these is its ability to provide detection to a wider coverage usually up to two miles of distance. This latest advancement in home security systems allows home owners to choose between tones to alert them of intrusion or recorded voice-overs to provide more familiar warning to home owner. The capability to store recorded voice-overs in this detecting device is a great development from the earlier alarm rings that sounded too annoying and noisy. Some manufacturers of wireless driveway alarm have also integrated intercom to exchange messages between the home owner and security officers.

And the best thing about the wireless driveway alarm is that it uses almost no wires. It does not only make it less expensive, it also makes it less prone to burglar hacking.

The metal detecting alarm is a device used primarily to sense metallic movement. Infrared alarming devices however take note of heat source that is present in living things like humans. These two alarming devices are commonly found in large companies that employ high level of security.

Whatever the choice of the type of driveway alarms, it is always imperative to provide a good home security system. One may have the most technologically advanced driveway alarm system, but it is always best to couple it with ordinary safety measures likes always keeping the doors and windows closed especially during long vacations.