By Pete Zamplas –
ADT Security Systems provides an affordable way to safeguard one’s home, life and valuables through an easy-to-use, high-tech system.
ADT is the brand of choice for the Pentagon, White House, and area law enforcement personnel’s homes, sales representative Brad Jones said. He said ADT is used by 90 percent of Fortune 500 firms, and is the top security brand in the world with seven million customers.
Asheville native Jones, among ADT reps serving Henderson and Buncombe counties, is a music minister and former country-pop recording artist. Now Jones sings the praises of ADT products’ wireless technological capabilities, layers of security safeguards, ease of use, and affordability at about one dollar a day on a three-year contract. Jones said security systems cut yearly homeowner insurance premiums by 5 to 20 percent.
“The system is extremely sophisticated, yet very easy to use,” Jones said. “It is highly effective as a deterrent to home invasions and burglary, and for fire and medical emergencies.”
ADT started 135 years ago, as American District Telegraph. Secure One, an ADT authorized dealer for 17 years, is the top ADT dealer in western North Carolina. It also serves Upstate S.C. Its office is in Arden, at 2377 Hendersonville Road (U.S. 25N) near the Black Forest restaurant. Secure One’s owner is Brian Prow. Donnie Gray is branch manager, and Gina Lunsford is office manager. Area sales representatives are Ron Eddy, David Efird, Rick Green, Jones, James Nelson and Isaac Price.
Licensed installers work for ADT, making them more accountable and thus trustworthy to clients than contractors, Jones said. He said sales reps inspect a site’s most vulnerable entry points and note how they can be shored up by security detection, and also (but not via ADT) with steel reinforcement and dead bolts.
An example of high-tech and ease of use is a key fob chain, an extra-cost device. It has simply four image-marked buttons. One temporarily turns off the security system, before entering one’s home. Once inside, the owner promptly hits the upper left “stay” button. That activates perimeter protection, but not interior motion detection. When departing, the owner hits the upper right “away” button that activates the entire system.
The lower right panic button sets off the house siren, to scare away a criminal. That alarm, at 102 decibels, is nearly as loud as a police squad siren, Jones said. ADT signs and decals serve notice the house is protected.
With the system active, once an ADT-monitored exterior door or window is opened it prompts a “delayed entry” alert. Rather than hit a key fob chain button, the owner has 45 seconds to deactivate the system by punching in a code on an interior keypad near the door.
Otherwise, an electronic signal from sensor to control panel alerts a 24/7-operating ADT monitoring station of possible emergency. There are separate radio signals for intrusion, fire and medical crises. A monitoring specialist typically calls local 911, after first trying to reach the home or business owner by land or cell phone, Jones said. This is to see if the client is fine, and if the alarm was mistakenly set off or is an actual crisis.
The specialist asks for the person’s security password. That helps detect if an intruder pretends to be the homeowner. If the wrong password is given, the specialist promptly notifies local police. Jones said ADT offers other procedural protections for people held hostage by home invaders.
A further safeguard, Jones said, is that advanced (not standard) door keypad devices are two-way communicators centrally located. The ADT station specialist listens to the pad microphone, once an alarm alert is sent. “Seconds after the alarm sounds, they’re listening to what’s going on,” Jones said.
Thus, if an intruder is on the phone, the homeowner even if several feet away can shout for help.
In case of fire, the client can ask for help on the two-way cellular radio when unable to reach a phone such as if choking from fumes.
A smoke detector-communicator (an extra-cost item) is an investment that has saved local lives, Jones said. It sparks a loud siren. It signals ADT which then alerts the fire department, and the homeowner by phone and two-way talk if needed. “The owner may be sleeping when a fire starts, or overcome by smoke,” Jones said. “They’ll say, ‘your house is on fire. Get out!” It distinguishes a fire from mere burnt-food smoke by measuring temperature and air composition.
A fire and medical panic alert (“emergency pendant”) are among extras, along with video surveillance. The client can monitor it live or via VCR memory, remotely on a computer, laptop or smart phone. ADT card-accessed doors secure a business.
The basic package, often heavily discounted, includes monitor contacts on three exterior doors, one interior motion detector, built-in panic button, interior siren, and back-up battery lasting up to three days in case of electrical power outage.
Of course, motion detection is a basic way to uncover an intrusion. Detection happens when a still or moving object breaks a cluster of electronic infrared beams. ADT beams can extend 60 feet wide, such as across a house, driveway or property line, Jones said. He said when a car, person or bear breaks the beam, it activates a beeping alert to those inside and/or an exterior light. However, to avoid most pets triggering the alarm, ADT motion detectors are either for 60 or 100 pounds and heavier.
Remote monitoring and control is a perk. A new pulse system detects intrusions, adjusts a thermostat and turns on/off electronic equipment and lights. The pulse detects when people enter or leave, logging times such as when the first person arrives at work. Thus, it reveals if they are on time.
For more information on Secure One and ADT systems, call Brad Jones at 768-4980 or the local office at 654-7662.
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