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An alarm system is a crucial component of any property’s safety and security needs. It acts as a deterrent against issues such as burglaries, intrusions, unauthorised access, and fires by using sensors and detectors and sounding an audible alarm to alert everyone nearby of the unusual activity.
Security alarm and fire alarm systems can also be configured as monitored systems where, in addition to sounding an audible alarm, the alert is sent directly to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) where the system and its alerts are monitored 24/7 by security experts. This ensures that all alarm triggers are responded to and that no suspicious activity goes unnoticed.
Depending on the type of monitoring plan you have with your security company, the ARC either alerts the designated keyholders or reports the alarm activation to the police and other relevant emergency services. For some properties, especially higher-risk commercial properties, having a monitored alarm system helps them stay compliant with safety and security laws, and is usually also an insurance requirement.
Read on to find out all about the types of alarm signalling for remote monitoring, what DualCom GPRS is, and how it applies to alarm monitoring:
ALARM MONITORING AND SIGNALLING
Alarm monitoring is the process of remotely controlling, managing, analysing, and responding to the alarm triggers of your alarm system via a security company. Alarm signalling is how the security system and the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) communicate with each other in the event of an alarm trigger.
When the alarm system’s control panel registers a threat, it triggers an alarm, the signal for which, in case of professional alarm monitoring, is also sent to the ARC for appropriate action to be taken. The type of action that the ARC takes depends on the type of alarm monitoring service you opt for: keyholder monitoring or police response.
The benefits of alarm monitoring include a guaranteed response, ensuring that no alarm goes unnoticed, especially for properties that are vacant or in remote locations. By instantly notifying the keyholders or emergency services, it protects the owners of the property and prevents them from walking into a safety or security threat.
At Calder Security, we use 3 main methods of alarm monitoring depending on the level of security you require:
- Digital monitoring using a standard telephone line,
- DualCom GPRS operating via a phone line and GPRS, and
- BT Redcare GSM operating via a phone line and GSM.
Digital monitoring relies on the standard telephone line to communicate with the ARC. In case of a faulty phone line or the phone line being cut, this alarm signalling method may fail to work. DualCom GPRS, on the other hand, offers a dual signalling system so that the ARC gets notified even if the line is faulty or tampered with.
BT Redcare GSM provides non-stop monitoring of a BT telephone line that links the Alarm Receiving Centre to a professionally installed alarm security system on your property. It combines two secure paths: the Redcare landline connection and a GSM radio backup path.
WHAT IS DUALCOM GPRS?
DualCom GPRS is an alarm signalling device from CSL DualCom Limited that uses a dual communication path to swiftly transmit alarm activation signals to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) in real time. It uses both the mobile network as well as your telephone and/or IP path to transmit the signals.
Dual signalling was developed in 1996 by CSL, and it has, since then, been at the forefront of alarm monitoring and signalling services. Relying on two independent communication paths instead of one is a great way to ensure that the signals are successfully transmitted from the alarm system to the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). It ensures that if one path is tampered with or fails to work due to a fault, the other one can be relied on to carry the signal forward.
It also helps distinguish between genuine emergencies and false alarms by sending constant updates to the ARC, such as those of power failures, tampering, and loss of signals, to help them make an informed decision and respond appropriately without unnecessarily dispatching emergency services.
DualCom GPRS can be used in residential as well as commercial properties that need to be monitored 24/7. These include premises that are left empty for long periods and where swift emergency response is detrimental.
These systems are also often a requirement of many insurance policies and are used where compliance with safety and security standards is necessary. They are most suitable for homes that need medium to high security and commercial properties, including offices, retail stores, schools, healthcare facilities, warehouses, and industrial properties.
Some of the best features of DualCom GPRS include:
- High-speed signalling on GPRS
- Single or multiple signalling paths
- Automatic path switching
- Unique GradeShift® technology
- WorldSIM access
- Signalling path failure detection
- No need for a dedicated telephone line
- Insurance and emergency services approval
- Fixed tariff and unlimited signals
- Compliant with BS 5839 for fire applications
- Compliant with EN 50131 for security applications
HOW DOES DUALCOM GPRS WORK?
Here is a step-by-step process of how DualCom GPRS alarm signalling works:
- The alarm system gets activated due to a security or fire threat using strategically placed sensors around the property.
- The DualCom GPRS system is instantly alerted to the alarm trigger.
- The system immediately transmits the alert to the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) using the primary signalling path, i.e., the GPRS/mobile data network.
- In case the primary signalling path fails due to problems such as signal issues or interference, the secondary signalling path automatically gets activated to transmit the signal successfully without any delay.
- The signal received at the ARC is thoroughly vetted and verified to rule out any false alarms and gauge the nature and intensity of the risk.
- The appropriate response is determined by professionals at the ARC, and the keyholders or emergency services are immediately contacted based on the type of alarm monitoring service.
- DualCom sends regular updates to the ARC covering both system status and health diagnostics for ongoing monitoring.
DUALCOM GPRS GRADESHIFT® TECHNOLOGY
DualCom GradeShift® technology is a unique feature that comes with this alarm signalling device. It offers products that are suitable for different grades of alarms without having to change the hardware platform. In simple words, there is a singular product used for all grades: G2, G3, G4, or Fire.
The grade can be selected using remote programming via the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) or the installer of the alarm. All grades are quick and easy to install and can easily be upgraded (or degraded) depending on your security needs, without having to install a new alarm signalling device. All you must do is order the version you require, and the ARC or alarm installer will do the rest.
DualCom G2
DualCom G2 is an EN Grade 2 dual-path signalling service designed for premises with low to medium risk. GPRS and GSM are its primary signalling paths, whereas PSTN or IP wired paths are secondary and used as backup. Its specifications include CSL Gemini polling every hour.
DualCom G3
DualCom G3 is an EN Grade 3 dual-path signalling service designed for premises with medium risk and large commercial properties. GPRS and GSM are its primary signalling paths, whereas PSTN or IP wired paths are secondary and used as backup. Its specifications include CSL Gemini polling every 10 minutes and priority polling.
DualCom G4
DualCom G4 is an EN Grade 4 signalling service designed for the highest risk premises and premium commercial installations. It is compliant with EN 50131, the strictest security regulations, to ensure maximum safety, security, and insurance approval. Its specifications include CSL Gemini polling every minute, with reporting every 3 minutes, to comply with said requirements. It also keeps a 96-hour memory log and, when combined with WorldSIM®, it significantly reduces line faults and offers the highest possible protection.
DualCom Fire
DualCom Fire sends signals to the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) to minimise loss of life and property during a fire. It plays a crucial role in fire safety and can be relied on to send an instant alarm when the need for fire signalling arises, whether the property is vacant or occupied. It has a voltage range of 10 to 30 volts and is easy to install.
Priority Polling™
This feature is available on all GPRS G3 products to check the connection with the ARC to confirm it is up and running. For high-priority and high-risk alarm systems, the frequency of these checks is increased, hence the name, to minimise the detection time for issues such as signal loss, power failure, or tampering.
Gemini Call Back
This unique Call Back feature offers added peace of mind by calling the DualCom over the GSM path at no additional cost if it fails a GPRS polling call. This is done to check the status of the communication path, verify the genuineness of the alarm, and check the alarm signalling device and its authenticity.
HOW DUALCOM GPRS APPLIES TO ALARM MONITORING
Alarm signalling plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of professional alarm monitoring services. The transmission of an alarm signal to the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) is what enables a quick and rapid response to minimise safety and security threats.
For instance, in case of a fire breaking out on a property, especially if the property is vacant, if the ARC is unable to receive the alarm signal, the required action may not be taken, such as dispatching emergency services, and the likelihood of the fire spreading and causing serious loss and damage may increase significantly. The same applies to any other emergency, such as an intrusion, break-in, burglary, or gas leak.
Previously, signals from the alarm system to the ARC were sent over phone lines, which in some cases were often shared by both the phone and the home security system. During an alarm trigger, the main line would be forcibly used by the alarm system’s control panel, even if it was already in use to make a phone call.
Modern times, however, require a modern solution, with the alarm signalling method of choice shifting to DualCom GPRS and BT Redcare GSM, both of which are incredibly reliable data transmission systems for residential as well as commercial alarm systems.
DualCom is a great choice and one of the most popular alarm signalling network providers in the UK. Its benefits include:
Reliable Communication
The ability to maintain a reliable communication pathway between the alarm system and the ARC is one of its biggest benefits. By using a dual pathway, it can rely on not one but two signalling paths, in case one fails to work due to a fault or power failure.
Quick Response
The time it takes to respond to an emergency could be what stands between eliminating the threat and allowing it to wreak havoc. A dualCom GPRS alarm system guarantees a quick response from the ARC, as there are no delays between the alarm trigger and the signal transmission. The ARC can take instant action without wasting any precious time and try to de-escalate the situation in the best way possible.
Constant Monitoring
The ability of the system to maintain an active communication line between the security system and the ARC allows the property to be constantly monitored for any safety and security threats. This is particularly beneficial for high-risk and unattended properties, as someone is always watching over even when the property owners can’t themselves.
Verification
Every alarm trigger may not indicate an actual emergency. Oftentimes, alarm systems are activated by non-threatening events such as user error, system malfunction, and environmental factors. Since the DualCom GPRS system is monitored by trained professionals, every alarm trigger is carefully vetted and verified before notifying the keyholders and emergency services.
Compliance with Police Protocols
According to UK police protocols, a verified signal from a monitored alarm system is required before dispatching a team to the site of the emergency. Using a DualCom GPRS helps you stay compliant with safety and security laws and makes your system eligible for police response, as all the alarm triggers are verified beforehand to rule out any false alarms.
Constant System Updates
Other than transmitting alarm signals, which is the primary job of a DualCom GPRS system, it also sends constant system updates to the ARC to keep it in the loop regarding the system’s health, including any power issues, tampering attempts, and faults. This allows for preventive and corrective action to be taken before the integrity of the system is compromised.
CONTACT CALDER SECURITY
At Calder Security, we provide a broad range of security systems, including burglar alarms, fire alarms, access control systems, and CCTV systems. We are professionals working in the security industry for over 40 years and have extensive knowledge on all kinds of security systems suitable for different types of properties.
Here’s why you should choose Calder Security for alarm systems that conform to all the relevant standards:
- We offer professional installation, maintenance, monitoring, and repair services for all kinds of alarms, along with professional keyholding services.
- We follow all the best practices in the industry and install only high-quality, state-of-the-art security systems.
- We are SSAIB-approved installers and all of our burglar alarm installations are carried out by qualified, experienced engineers who comply with standards: PD6662: 2010, DD243 and BS8243, required to qualify for police assistance.
- Our systems meet the stringent requirements of BS4737 and European Standard EN50131 (Intruder Alarm Systems in Buildings).
- We offer various levels of monitoring via a 24-hour monitoring centre using Dualcom and BT Redcare signalling, which is the most secure alarm monitoring system and the largest supplier of intelligent alarm signalling services in the UK.
- Our expert installers can guide and train users before leaving the site, making sure they are comfortable with the system and understand how it works.
- We provide professional maintenance checks and reminders for when the checks are due, as we understand the importance of proper upkeep and maintenance.
- We offer a 24-hour emergency call-out and can help you when your alarm goes off at 3 am if needed, and we can also talk you through fault fixes over the phone.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 9799 to talk to our experts for more information on DualCom GPRS, what it is, and how it applies to alarm monitoring.