If you are about to install a security system in your home, you may be surprised by the number of different access control panels that security companies offer. Depending on where you live and how much you want to spend, you could have a very basic control panel on your wall, or you could have a very high-tech one. Here are some examples of the different types of access control panels you can purchase for your home security system.
Basic Keyword or Phrase
Some of the most basic access control panels for your security system only require a keyword or phrase. It may be typed in or spoken aloud, depending on the model of panel you select. A spoken keyword or phrase may be overheard by others in the house or people just outside, but it is also the quickest way to reset your alarm or stop the alarm from going off when you enter your house. If you choose to enter/type the keyword or phrase, then be sure to keep it short and memorable but not too easy to guess.
Numerical Access Codes
Access codes are a set of numbers that the security company either gives you to punch in every time you open a window or door or want to turn your house system on/off. They may be a single set of numbers, or a series of numbers, often punched in and entered one set after another until your access panel registers that you have successfully set or reset your alarm. Some control panels and security companies may also allow you to choose your own sets of numbers, but again, you have to be careful about which numbers you choose.
Thumb or Handprint
This type of access control system and its panel is much more expensive, but it handles well (pun intended!). Instead of trying to remember keywords, phrases or numerical access codes, you only have to use your thumb or handprint to access the security system, turn it on or off, and reset it. Without your exact thumbprint or handprint, the system will sound an alarm and contact either the security company or the police and emergency services directly. All (human) family members in the house can be programmed into this system so that they can come and go freely with the touch of a thumb or hand on the control panel.
Retinal Imaging Scan
This is the most expensive, high-tech system of all, and certainly the best one to use if you have a mansion with lots of expensive possessions in it that you want to protect. Your eyeballs are the key. The retinal imaging scanner in the control panel takes a quick sweep of your eye to verify your individual and personal retinal image and then allows you to do what you need to do with the system. Because of its cost, it may not be the system for you unless you are very wealthy or a government agent with authority. Contact a company like Midwest Lock & Security.
Share1 June 2016
Letting your tween stay home alone for the first time may be an exciting experience for them, but it likely makes you a little worried. To give yourself some peace of mind and to help protect your tween while home alone, it’s a good idea to create a safety kit and store it in a safe place that can be accessed from outside of the house, like in a locked box in the garage, that can be used in case of emergencies. The kit should include first-aid items, emergency phone numbers, and even a prepaid cell phone. You should also have your locksmith change all of the locks for a fresh start and make two copies of the new keys for your tween – one to keep with them at all times, and one to hide outside in case the first is lost.
