| Is there a clear Winner? It depends whom you | | | | * You are supporting a local business |
| talk to. | | | | * The facility is nearby for you to visit |
| You see... if you talk to one of the major national | | | | * It is often easier to find someone to talk to if |
| companies like Monitronics, ADT or Brinks... they | | | | you have a question or problem |
| will sing the praises of NATIONAL monitoring. On | | | | Disadvantages Of Local Monitoring |
| the other hand if you talk to one of the local | | | | * The facility may or may not be a mom and |
| Security companies... they will tell you the exact | | | | pop shop running off of one of their computers |
| opposite. They will share with you the benefits of | | | | * The facility may or may not be UL listed, there |
| local monitoring. In fact, one recent radio | | | | by meeting the highest governmental standards |
| commercial from a local security company stated | | | | for compliance. |
| that before you decide to monitor your system | | | | * What happens if there is a local ice storm? Local |
| make sure they own their own local monitoring | | | | weather conditions may knock out electricity and |
| station... instead of farming it out to someone in | | | | phone lines to local monitoring companies. |
| another state. | | | | * Local companies may not have the latest |
| Well then ... who is correct? | | | | monitoring technology available to only national |
| The answer is...it depends. | | | | monitoring facilities. This is an investment of |
| For you see, there are advantages and | | | | millions of dollars of highly sensitive equipment |
| disadvantages to both. As an educated consumer | | | | * Local companies may have only a few |
| you really need to understand both sides before | | | | telephone roll over lines. Since your security |
| making a decision that is right for you. | | | | system sends out only a pulse signal and does not |
| In this article we will examine the pros and cons | | | | redial if it doesn't connect...what happens if there is |
| of local security system monitoring. In a future | | | | a sudden influx of calls? Will they have enough roll |
| article will w do the same for national security | | | | over lines...so that your pulse signal is not |
| system monitoring. | | | | dropped? |
| Advantages Of Local Monitoring | | | | As you can see there are definite advantages |
| * No long term contract to sign | | | | and disadvantages. |
| * You can do month by month monitoring | | | | In a future article we will look at National |
| * Monitoring rates are usually under $20.00 a | | | | monitoring. |
| month | | | | |