Cool things your alarm can do, but you may not know about.....

Most people know that an alarm can monitor for fire, Floridaood and carbon monoxide as well as security.  But many people don't know about, or don't take advantage of all the nifty things their alarm can probably do, depending on the make and model, of course.  Ask your alarm provider (or potential alarm provider) if your alarm is capable of doing the following: p 

Event Log or "Buffer":

You can access system events if you have an LCD keypad, and if your alarm supports this feature.  An event can be anything alarm related, such as power failures, when the system has been armed and disarmed and whose code was used, if a zone or device was programmed to be bypassed, and of course, if your system went into alarm.

Customize Your "Chime" Feature:

Your system is usually programmed to beep if the front door is opened.  But you can also have your installer program any of your windows to do likewise.  This is handy if you have small children with bedrooms on the second Floridaoor.  The keypad will beep if any of the kid's bedroom windows are opened, hopefully preventing an accidental fall.

 Automatic Paging:

Your system can page you when the alarm is tripped, or when a special "event" happens, such as notifying you when the kids arrive home from school.

  Automatic Shutoff and Reset:

Another way to allow access to your home at preset times is to choose a system that allows automatic arming and disarming.  With a feature like this, you could program your system to allow a "window" of access for pet sitters while you're on vacation.at preset times is to choose a system that allows automatic arming and disarming.  With a feature like this, you Your alarm can page you when the kids get home.  The kids won't be crazy about this feature, but you will be!

Remote Operation:

This feature allows you to call your system from any touch tone phone and, by entering a special code, check the system or change features, such as entry and exit delay times.

 Special Codes For Occasional Users:
Your housekeeper, for example, can have a code that will only work with your alarm on certain days or times.  Or you can program a code that will automatically erase after only one use, to let a neighbor in to water the plants while your away for a few days. 

Duress Code:

If someone follows you into your home and forces you to disable the system, keying in a special code disarms the system, but sends a silent panic signal to the monitoring station.

 Two Way Audio Monitoring:
Small microphones mounted throughout the house allow the central monitoring station of your alarm company to listen to sounds in your home when the alarm is triggered.  Small speakers allow the operator to talk to you without the phone.

 Lights: 

You can send the system a signal from your car as you drive up, or by phone before you head home, so the interior and exterior of your home will be lit when you arrive.  You can also program the system to turn on the lights when the alarm is triggered.

  "I'm OK" Monitoring:

Designed for people living alone, and especially useful for the elderly or those with medical issues, this feature alerts the central monitoring station if the system's motion detectors do NOT sense any motion for a certain amount of time.  If this is the case, the central station alerts a neighbor or family member to check in on the homeowner.