Home Security Systems

Mobile security systems are for non-permanent structures, such as RVs, sheds, garages, hunting-, logging- and fishing-cabins, recreational 3-season homes, as well as booths in parking lots and so on. With all things considered, you can generally use any standard home security solution in these locations with due consideration for electrical supply. There may not be the same type of electrical supply available as in a fixed, permanent dwelling, so alternative energy sources must be provided. This can be in the form of generators and batteries for a quick and effective solution, or if the structure is going to be used for most of the year then alternative energy sources can also be installed, such as aeolian or solar power.

How to integrate your garage

It's just as important to secure a standalone garage as the rest of your house. If you keep power tools, lawnmowers or your cars in a garage that's detached from the house, then you will need to make sure the door is secure as well as the windows. You can use motion detectors, alarms and surveillance cameras and rig them up to the central security system using a wireless solution.

Work sites fitted with a mobile security system

Work sites, such as woodworking and metalworking sheds and work areas should also be secured. They are often fitted with powerful and expensive machines such as lathes, blowtorches, circular saws and other tools, so it's important to secure any windows and doors with alarms and motion detectors. Battery-powered and wireless options will let you connect them to your home security network for monitoring purposes.

Off the grid

Many people are purchasing recreational cabins in remote areas that may be too far away from municipal electricity supplies. For this reason, other solutions for electricity must be used. You can get by with battery-powered alarms and sensors, but if you are not there for lengthy periods of time, this is not ideal, as if the battery dies then you effectively lose your protection until you come and replace it. Secured properties off the grid that still want to take advantage of a security firm where there are no telephone lines would have to use some other solution.

Another thing to consider in these remote locations is that there are many devices nowadays that can conserve energy. For example, motion detectors can be set not to scan all the time, but in 5-10 second intervals. This is a much better way to conserve power than having the equipment turned on 24/7.

Alarms are a good idea for detached buildings in suburban areas as well as campsites where a caretaker can hurry to investigate a disturbance, but they are pretty ineffective for a remote logging cabin that is not in use all-year-round.

There are other high-tech solutions that you can read about on the Off the Grid news site.

Connection to monitoring service

As with installing anything in a remote location, it will be more expensive to pay for a security company to monitor your assets off-the-grid. You might have to think of a company that will make helicopter flights, as roads may be inaccessible at certain times of the year. All this will make the cost go up of course, so if you don't want to pay for this then the best option is not to leave too many valuables in a property that won’t be used all-year-round.

Typical pricing

The initial cost of equipment is no different to other types of mobile security system solutions. It will cost a few hundred dollars to set up basic detection units and alarms. What can take the cost up is the alternate power sources that you will need to think of - such as solar panels or wind generators, or even a diesel generator for emergencies.

A contract in a remote location can be far more pricey than suburban solutions. Whereas the standard security monitoring would begin at about $20/month, remote and e-mailing solutions for areas with no landlines can start at $75/month or higher. In addition, there may be extra charges involved if there are access problems to the property and these would all be stipulated in your contract.

Ease of set-up

As with regular home security solutions, a mobile security system that works with standard alarms and sensors is not too hard to set up. If there's any wiring into the security network to be done or if you are going with a professional security firm then you will need help setting it all up with your network.

Types of sensors available

Apart from securing property with alarms, sensors and detectors, you can also get alert transmitters that can be attached to a tree or other post near the perimeter of your property. When triggered, these will alert the base unit back at the home that someone has entered the area. They have a range of several miles depending on the terrain. The base unit can be a desktop unit or a portable walkie-talkie type unit.