Redwave proves its point out in the Country!

SSS Systems, a Manchester-based specialist installer, has found an innovative way of protecting a customer's residential premises from unacceptably high levels of false alarms by installing REDWAVE detectors from Optex Europe - thought to be the first time such devices have been used outside of the commercial arena.

SSS chose REDWAVE because of its ability to distinguish between genuine alarms and alarms caused by small animals or moving trees - two of the biggest headaches facing installers, remote monitoring centres, and end-users looking to reduce false alarms in outdoor environments.  Simon Davidson, Managing Director of SSS explains:

"The original specification for the site called for RedWall detectors, which although excellent in certain cases were not designed for the type of environment where animals or vegetation are likely to cause problems," he says.  "We contacted the manufacturers, Optex Europe, and they came to the site and recommended the new REDWAVE Detectors."

"Since installing REDWAVE, false alarms activations have reduced to zero, and they have successfully detected two would-be intruders who have been warned off the site."

The residence in question is home to a local businessman and entrepreneur in the North West who has recently had a new house built for him which is surrounded by local farmland and countryside.  An added advantage of using REDWAVE Detectors in this installation is that their aesthetic design sits comfortably with the modern architectural look of the building.

Six detectors have been installed on the perimeter of the land to provide an effective security cordon.  The REDWAVE detectors are linked to an audio device that plays pre-recorded messages to warn trespassers away and/or inform them that they have been seen and are being monitored.

"I had not used external detectors from Optex Europe before," Simon continues, "but I have certainly used them since, especially in installations where customers are prepared to pay for the best technology available.  We are currently upgrading a number of sites to REDWAVE, and I am delighted with the level of support Optex Europe continues to provide."

REDWAVE detectors combine several technologies in a single unit to provide the optimum installation performance.  In addition to using passive infrared (PIR) and microwave technology as in conventional combination detectors, REDWAVE also has Adjustable Microwave Range Limiter (AMRL) technology that allows users to adjust the detection distance, and a Dual Quad Zone Logic (DQZL) PIR that uses two PIR detectors to increase detection density and eliminate undetectable areas.

With conventional outdoor combination detectors, microwave transmission distances are not easily adjusted, resulting in many false alarms being triggered from outside the detection area.  AMRL technology incorporated within REDWAVE, however, enables installers to choose the real detection distance required with a dial setting that offers seven, five meter intervals between zero and 30 meters.

REDWAVE also uses two, vertically configured PIR detectors that create two different, highly dense detection areas, one near and one far.  The dual coverage essentially eliminates dead detection spots, preventing the likelihood of ‘missed' alarms.  Furthermore, the sensitivity of each area can be adjusted separately.

Each PIR uses Quad Zone Logic providing multi-segmented detection zones throughout the detection area and an alarm signal base on the cumulative energy of each zone.  This greatly reduces false alarms, particularly those caused by sudden small temperature changes from light reflections or small animals.

As Optex Europe's Matt Raban comments: "REDWAVE is a ‘win win' product for everyone involved in providing external protection.  Customers have a system that is more reliable than any other product currently available; installers have a detector that satisfies their customers' needs; and the Remote Video Response Centres (RVRCs) have a detector that helps improve their operational efficiency, reduces costs, and that their operators can trust in the event of an alarm activation as being genuine."