Go with the flow!

Of these changes there's no doubt. But will they present business opportunities for installers?

The answer is Yes. There will be tremendous opportunities for ALL security installers to increase business … from sole traders interested in small projects through to the multi-nationals involved in major installation networks. All installers know that they must enter progressive related markets if they are not to be left behind, but the extent to which any company wishes to become involved with any new signalling technology will vary. However there is a parish for us all somewhere within these developing technologies.

We should first consider how we can link new or existing security systems to a communications network to achieve more secure signalling and verification of events. Then we can look at the wider picture to see what the future holds.

Through this understanding the installer is armed with new ideas on how to expand his customer base and achieve higher profit margins. Even the smaller installer who has traditionally been interested in bells-only systems can confidently embrace remote signalling to some extent. We hear so much of the theoretical side of communications and the migration from the analogue telephone network (PSTN) to the new digital networks. But what are the practical aspects we need to be alert to?

The original dialling technique was to use a tape dialler. This was effectively a mechanical tape deck with a recording medium of magnetic tape that held a voice recording of a particular message including the location of the premises in which it was installed. It was mains powered with battery support and was connected directly to an outgoing-only telephone line. If the control equipment alarmed, a signal voltage was applied to the dialler and it rang a prescribed number and then relayed the message over the line. Progress has now brought about speech diallers with electronic circuitry that converts audio signals into digital form and stores these in a RAM.

Diallers easily connected

These new generation speech diallers are easily connected to any security system and telephone line and are engineered so that the default programming is essentially that for the connection of a basic domestic intruder alarm. Only the telephone numbers and messages need to be programmed, but prompts are incorporated to aid the process. The telephone connection can be via a standard line box. In general the dialler need only be connected to the regulated supply of the control equipment for it to be powered or it can be driven by a separate power supply.

An input is then taken from the control equipment to a channel to which it refers, such as intruder, fire PA or auxiliary etc. As an example, an intruder panel needs only five connections to be made to generate an alarm condition: a pair to the regulated supply; a pair for the tamper and a wire to the negative bell trigger. This covers most panels but options for other triggers or voltage free NO or NC links are included. Adding speech diallers to systems or using control panels with integral diallers means that messages are relayed specifically to interested parties rather than locally to those who may be indifferent. Messages can also be relayed to mobile numbers. The installer can use standard telephone lines so there are no particular restrictions.

Speech diallers are flexible

Although the speech dialler is used extensively to notify of intruder alarm signalling, you can advise your customers of its true flexibility as it can be employed in a multitude of other ways involving security, safety, care and home automation.

It can readily be used to monitor any function or automated object or to prove that a manual switched task has been carried out.

As an example, if a barrier or gate is left open or if processing equipment or an appliance is linked to a timer but fails to operate correctly, an output can trigger the dialler to transmit its message to the recipient. The timer in these instances is monitoring the times when opening, closing, processing, or on and off operations should be carried out. If the recipient has a mobile phone that incorporates Roaming (a term used to describe connection to an overseas network) under the GMS (Global System for Mobile Communications) cellular network the call can be collected virtually anywhere …well beyond a fixed hard wired position. The collector of the call can then make arrangements by calling the most appropriate keyholder to go to the premises and correct the problem. This gives the system owner considerable peace of mind.

'Short period' relays

Of course, remote transmissions are not intended just to advise of an alarm signal taking place but also of functions NOT being undertaken. Outputs from any system taken during its setting period can be relayed to the dialler so that a premises owner, even when at a remote location, is advised at that particular time that a system is operating, an assurance that the system has been set.

New transmission techniques … need not be a complex procedure and, for the newer security installation company and the younger engineer, speech diallers are a good starting point

Most systems have programmable outputs that provide sufficient current carrying capacity to switch a relay coil. It is normal to use relays that energise the coil for only short periods of time without needing to resort to continuously rated relays that are designed to hold the coil energised for long time spans. Relays are available in a multitude of forms for operation from extra low voltage up to mains voltage so that they can interface almost anything to the dialler through the switching contacts forming an open or closed loop. If processing equipment or appliances were to fail and cease functioning, the supply could be monitored by the relay or switches could be used to sense the position of automated machinery.

The timer is intended to inhibit signals from being passed to the dialler at unwanted times such as a barrier being opened and closed at authorised periods during the working day. The wiring of the digital communicator is similar but the selected channels on the PCB form a code at the Alarm Receiving Centre to identify the exact channel in alarm. This is sent as a tone code and it is then reconstituted into an alpha-numeric printout or VDU format. Although originally designed for connection to dedicated lines, there are versions that can now be used on lines shared with fax and telephones. These can also have dual communication for secure signalling backed by high speed digital radio transmission in the event that the telephone line is compromised.

Remote upload/download

Other secure systems are BT RedCARE, RedCARE ISDN which uses the advanced speed of the digital ISDN2e network or RedCARE GSM offering dual path signalling. RedCARE also have other options for high security monitoring in the digital age.

Bespoke systems can allow remote diagnostics and be uploaded and downloaded from a remote point by connecting a digi-modem and software packages mainly based on Windows programmes. As an extension of this the use of the GSM cellular modem which takes a familiar SIM card will have a standard RS232 9-pin serial interface so that it can be connected to allow voice, data and short text messages (SMS) operations.

As the PC and laptop becomes a standard issue of equipment for the installation engineer, they can be used not only for this purpose but also for servicing and commissioning of equipment. CCTV equipment can often be programmed via a serial port and can then be connected to manufacturers' web sites for access to technical data from the actual site where the CCTV is being installed.

Video images over telephone lines are becoming big business. The original slow scan technique, we may recall, would send video images at a very slow speed usually many tens of seconds for a full frame monochrome picture and was an attractive concept for remote CCTV monitoring. Later technology but with much faster image processing and compression algorithms is termed fast scan and can achieve speeds of less than one second for a full colour picture update. The image manipulation is digital but transmission speeds vary with different telephone lines and modems.

Images to PCs and mobiles

Remote video site surveillance can, in fact, be carried out over an ISDN line because of its fast data rate transfer with the receiver software running on a PC at the monitoring point.

The PC requires an appropriate operating system and ISDN connection because, although PSTN and GSM transmissions can be used, optimum performance calls for digital format networks. It is technology of this nature in which we may well see the most rapid progress within the near future, enabling the transmission of images to PCs and ultimately to mobile phones.

With the introduction of computing into the communications sector, digital techniques have assumed a more important role and CCTV monitoring over computer networks is becoming more widespread offering fast transmission speeds and huge data capacity. So much signalling is now digital rather than analogue … transport speeds are higher, transmission is improved in noisy environments and it allows the use of signal compression techniques which minimise the transmission bandwidth.

Find your market niche

As far as security installers are concerned, it becomes clear that this technology must be used to some extent to explore new areas if we are to progress. There is a niche, however, for all parties to enter the market. We can all better exploit more secure signalling and safety monitoring via new transmission techniques. This need not be a complex procedure and for the newer security installation company and the younger engineer speech diallers are a good starting point.

It remains to say that there is a need for us all in the long term to become more familiar with remote diagnostics via a PC and familiar operating software. The other end of the scale takes us to visual concepts and remote video surveillance. For many, this is where the high profit future lies.