Wireless Vs. Wired Alarm System

Alarm systems feature a number of components

Many homeowners and business managers use alarm systems to protect their property, and security vendors offer a selection of wired and wireless alarms. Although wireless systems eliminate the need for wires, wired alarms offer a somewhat higher level of security and lower cost.

Function

Alarm systems, according to the insurance company State Farm, use a number of sensors to detect the status of doors, windows, fire and room occupancy. In a wired system, these sensors communicate with the system control unit through physical wires. In a wireless system, by contrast, wireless transceivers replace the physical wires.

Security

Although wired systems separate components and spread them throughout the property, according to the security website AlarmSystemReviews.com, many wireless alarm systems integrate the control panel, keypad and siren into a single unit. Because many homeowners place this unit in an easily accessible location, a burglar may tamper with the system, silence the siren and disable the alarm.

Cost

According to the home security website HomeAlarmSecuritySystems.com, wireless alarm systems typically cost a little more than their wired counterparts. Part of this extra cost includes the wireless transmitters required for wireless alarm systems, and long-term cost of ownership can increase as users must periodically replace batteries.

References

• State Farm: Security Alarm Systems
• Home-Alarm-Security-Systems.com: Deciding on Wired Versus Wireless in Your Home Alarm Security System
• AlarmSystemReviews.com: Hardwired Vs. Wireless Home Alarm Systems