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Security Systems FAQs
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Q:
How much does a security system cost and what does it
include?
A:
A standard security package (which covers up to 4500 square
feet) is $99 for installation and $32.95 per month for monitoring
service for a five year contract. This fee includes:
Other
packages and options are available. Call us today at
1-866-SIEVERS and let us tailor a security system for your
particular needs.
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Q:
What are my payment options?
A:
Payments can be made monthly, quarterly or annually. You may pay
by check, credit card or have it automatically withdrawn from
your bank account. Just
fill out a simple form and your monitoring fee will be paid
automatically each month from your checking account. It's convenient
and saves time and postage!
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Q:
Will you monitor my existing security system even though it's
not Sievers?
A:
Yes, Sievers does monitor security systems other than our
own. Whether it's a Sievers system or someone else's, we
monitor them with the same commitment to your safety and
satisfaction. Sievers
Security owns and operates our own local, state-of-the-art central
monitoring station to safeguard over 3,700 homes and
businesses. Call 1-866-SIEVERS today to start your
monitoring service.
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Q:
Which security systems do you use?
A:
We use only the top of the line, First Alert Professional®
security systems. First Alert Professional®
is a division of General Electric®
and has long set the industry standards in security systems for
residential and commercial security.
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Q:
I live in an apartment. Can you install and monitor a
security system for me?
A:
Yes. Sievers installs and monitors apartments, homes and
businesses. We have over 3,700 satisfied customers!
Look for the Sievers Security logo in homes and businesses near
you. Call us today at 1-866-SIEVERS for more information or to
schedule an appointment.
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Video
Surveillance FAQs
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Q:
Do you have residential systems?
A:
Yes, today's color cameras are wireless and can send signals to
a receiver up to 100 feet away and can be recorded on a home video
recorder.
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Q:
Are the residential
systems affordable?
A:
A single camera system can be installed for under $450.00.
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Q:
Does Sievers Company install commercial video
surveillance systems?
A:
We sell, install and service small retail and large industrial
complexes. The systems available today record digitally for
instant retrieval on site, across a LAN, remotely via WAN, ISDN, and
standard dial up telephone lines. A retail store owner can call
in from their home, wireless laptop or from anywhere via a
dedicated receiver or with software from any PC with a modem and
silently listen in and view live video.
Call us at 1-866-SIEVERS to find
out more about this exciting technology!.
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Q:
Can video be viewed at a later date?
A:
Yes, you can review previously recorded video at the
same time a current video is being recorded. You can send video
clips or pictures via e-mail. Storage times vary - the standard
is 150 days and can be extended up to over 1000 days of video storage!
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Q:
Can more than one camera be recorded at a time?
A:
Yes, standard receiver units are 4, 8, and 16 camera inputs. You can
stack these units and via a LAN watch all, selected
cameras, or only one camera at a time.
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Q:
Do I need special lightning?
A:
No, new cameras see better in the dark than we do! Black and
white cameras used to have an edge for low light viewing, but now
color cameras switch to black and white automatically if the
lighted scene is too dark. Call us at 1-866-SIEVERS or visit our contact
page to get more information.
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Q:
Can I control the camera positions?
A:
The camera domes have built in units that pan, tilt, zoom, and
focus via PC software! Imagine... from any PC anywhere in the world you can aim any one of your cameras and
zoom in to view a specific location. The dome units via software
can be programmed for tour duty... this means they automatically
pan, tilt and stop for a pre-determined time, zoom in and record, then
move to view another pre-programmed site. An example is a camera
to view the back door and zoom in for 1 minute then go to a
overhead door then to a gate.
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Q:
Are
covert cameras small?
A:
Yes, they are as small as a dime, and can be disguised as security
motion sensors, smoke detectors, sprinkler heads, one way
mirrors, clocks, exit signs, in telephones, in speakers, or wherever your imagination can take you.
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Q:
Why color over black and white cameras?
A:
Color cameras are only 25% more costly than black and white
cameras. The small cost difference is offset by a great increase
in savings when the perpetrator is captured more often with the
stolen goods. The reason the perpetrator is caught more often
with a color camera is because it’s easier to spot someone
with a description of the color of the perpetrator’s shirt or
coat and/or car. Call the Sievers closed-circuit TV experts
at 1-866-SIEVERS.
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Card Access FAQs
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Q:
What are the benefits of a card access system?
A:
Card access gives you control and knowledge. It allows you
to control what areas your employees have access to and creates
audit trails where a person has been in the building(s).
It denies access to unauthorized people. Your access card can
double as a photo ID badge too. A
card access system not only protects your employees, it
increases the level of security awareness among them while
reducing the potential for internal theft and "negligent
security" liability lawsuits. Call us today at
1-866-SIEVERS and let us show you a card access system for your
business.
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Q:
How many cards can I use? How many doors does it cover?
A:
There are many different system options to chose from. The
smallest system has a 200 card capacity and is a 2 door
unit. As your needs increase, the system can be easily and
economically expanded. Let Sievers help you design a
system that's right for you.
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Q:
What happens when a card is lost or an employee leaves?
A:
The person's card is simply deleted form the system and access
is denied if anyone attempts to use it.
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Q:
What is Proximity?
A:
Proximity is a new concept in card access. It is a key fob
device that does not need to be swiped, just held close to the
reader (thus the name "Proximity"). Proximity
access control systems are economical, resistant to extreme
weather conditions, vandal resistant and easy to install and
maintain. The
Proximity reader can be installed behind a wall so it is
unobtrusive and the "keys" are seldom lost because
they are kept on a key chain. Call us today at
1-866-SIEVERS to find out about this exciting new way to secure
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Fire Alarms FAQs
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Q: What is a
fire alarm system?
A: An electronic system that alerts the
occupants in the early stages of a fire and can automatically
send signals to a central monitoring station. The central
station then dispatches the fire department. Your house and
loved ones or your business and employees are protected 24 hours
a day!
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Q: Are there different types of fire
alarms?
A: Yes, there are two types.
The basic
system is called a manual system. It requires someone to pull a
manual fire station to activate the bells, or sounders to
evacuate the occupants.
The other is called an automatic system.
Besides having manual pull stations it also uses devices that
automatically sound the alarms when smoke or heat is detected.
For more information, visit our contact
page or call 1-866-SIEVERS.
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Q:
Which alarm is better?
A: The automatic fire alarm.
The automatic
system protects life and property. It senses smoke and heat when
the premise is unoccupied or if the occupants are sleeping.
There are more people killed by smoke inhalation than by the
heat of the fire.
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Q: Should the fire alarm system be
monitored by a central station?
A: Yes.
Who will hear the alarm if no one
is at the protected premise. Sievers
Security owns and operates our own local, state-of-the-art central
monitoring station to safeguard over 3,700 homes and
businesses. Call 1-866-SIEVERS for more information.
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Q: Will my insurance company offer
discounts with a monitored fire system?
A: Yes.
The amount varies, check with your
insurance provider.
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Q: What is the cost for fire alarm
monitoring?
A: Inexpensive when you consider you could
be protecting your family, home, or business. $35.00 per month
for commercial, $25.00 per month for a residence.
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Q: What happens if the alarm is activated
when no one is there?
A: The fire department is dispatched and a
list of contacts that were provided by the customer are called.
Call the Sievers fire alarm experts today at 1-866-SIEVERS.
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Home Automation FAQs
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Q.
Are the systems UL Listed?
A.
Yes, all systems are UL approved and listed for UL 985 Household
Fire Warning system Units and UL 1023 Household Burglar Alarm
System Units (Grade A). The Commercial Units are additionally
approved and listed for UL 365 Police Station Connected Burglar
Alarm Units and Systems (Grade B), UL 609 Local Burglar Units
and Systems (Grade A), and UL 1610 Central Station Burglar Alarm
Units (Grade A).
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Q.
What is used for the primary control of lights and small
appliances?
A.
Most lights and small appliances can be controlled using either
X-10 or ALC hardwired lighting.
X-10
sends signals out over the existing power lines to special
switches and modules compatible with the X-10 technology.
ALC
Switch Modules are intended for installation in homes, which
have been pre-wired for installation of ALC system products.
Lights and appliances are controlled by sending commands over
the ALC signal wiring to ALC Switch Modules. ALC Switches
communicate with the controller over low voltage signal wire.
They are two-way devices, so the controller always knows the
actual status of the switch. In addition, ALC switches can
be used to set scenes by triggering macros in the controller.
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Q.
How many X-10 or ALC switches can I control?
A.
You can control anywhere from 16 ALC/ X-10 switches and modules
up to 256 depending on the control unit that is
used. Call our Home Automation specialists at
1-866-SIEVERS for a consultation.
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Q.
How many zones can be part of a system?
A.
The OmniLT comes with 8 fully configurable zones (burglary,
fire, temperature, or auxiliary) zones and can be expanded an
additional 16 zones (hardwired or wireless). Omni comes with 16
fully configurable zones and can be expanded to an additional 16
zones (hardwired or wireless). OmniPro has 16 basic zones and
can be expanded to an additional 80 zones (64 of which can be
wireless). Omni II has 16 fully configurable zones and can
be expanded to an additional 32 zones (hardwired or wireless).
OmniPro II has 16 fully configurable zones and can be expanded
an additional 160 zones (128 of which can be wireless).
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Q.
What type of wireless transmitters can I use with my system?
A.
When using an HAI Wireless Receiver (which gives you additional
zones), you can use Linear’s Supervised S1, Megacode, and SX
format transmitters. If using any other brand wireless receiver
connected to your systems existing hardwired zones, follow the
specification of the receiver.
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Q.
Does the systems have different security modes?
A.
Yes, there are 6 different security modes. There are two modes
for when you are at home during the day. There are two modes for
at night when you are asleep. There is a mode when you are away
from the home. Also, there is a mode for when you are on
vacation.
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Q.
How many user codes can I have with my system?
A.
With OmniLT, you can have up to 8 user codes. With Omni/Omni II
you can have up to 16 user codes. With OmniPro/OmniPro II you
can have 99 user codes. Each must be 4 digits in length
(0001-9999), and can be given an authority level (Master,
Manager, or User). You can also validate times and days in which
the Manager and User codes are active.
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Q.
What is the main customer interface to the system?
A.
The main interface is a LCD console with backlight. From the
console, you can control all functions of the system as well as
complete programming and configuration. You may also use any
touch tone telephone to control lights, appliances, and
temperature, hear the system status and event log, and run macro
buttons. The system may also be linked to a computer for
complete control, configuration, and programming capability.
Call us at 1-866-SIEVERS to
find
out more about this exciting technology!.
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Q.
How many consoles can I have with my system?
A.
With OmniLT you can have 4 consoles with your system. With
Omni/Omni II you can have up to 8 consoles with your system.
With OmniPro/OmniPro II you can have up to 16 consoles with your
system. The consoles are addressable, so each console will get
its own address. They all connect in parallel, and, they all
work independently.
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Q.
How many thermostats can I connect to a system?
A.
The OmniLT can support 2 thermostats. If you have an Omni/Omni
II system you can have up to 4 HAI communication thermostats
connected to your system. If you have an OmniPro/OmniPro II, you
can have up to 64.
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Q.
Do the thermostats all connect to one zone?
A.
On the OmniLT, there is a separate connection for thermostats.
On the Omni/OmniPro/Omni II/OmniPro II, all thermostats are
connected in parallel to Zone 16 and Output 8. Each thermostat
is uniquely addressed and works independently from the others.
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Q.
Does it have a telephone interface?
A.
Yes, from any touch tone telephone, inside or outside the home,
you can log into your system and control lights, appliances, and
temperature, hear the system status and event log, and run macro
buttons.
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Q.
Is the telephone interface compatible with an answering machine?
A.
Yes, after the answering machine hangs up, the system picks up
the phone line and listens for the code. Using the alternative
method, call – let the phone ring once, then hang up. Wait 10
seconds, call back -–the system will answer after the first
ring.
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Q.
Can I control my thermostats over the phone?
A.
Yes, from any touch tone telephone you may hear the temperature,
mode, heat setting, cool setting, fan status, and hold status of
any thermostat connected to you system. Likewise, you may change
any on those settings.
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Q.
What type of security sensors can I use?
A.
Any standard security sensors will work. You can use either
normally open are normally closed contacts with a maximum of 150
ohms of resistance across the zone excluding the 1K end-of line
resistor.
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Q.
Does the system log when the security system is armed and
disarmed?
A.
The system has an event log that records all armings and
disarmings, as well as bypassed and restored zones, any zones
tripped while the system is armed, any trouble conditions, or
phone access (all with time, date, and code used).
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Q.
Is there a digital dialer?
A.
Yes, the system can communicate with a central station to report
alarm codes in the event of an alarm or other condition. The
Omni and OmniPro systems are pre-programmed to report 4/2
format. The OmniLT, Omni II, and OmniPro II are pre-programmed
to report in Contact ID format.
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Q.
Is there a voice dialer?
A.
Yes, the system has an integrated intelligent solid state voice
dialer. The voice dialer can call up to 8 phone numbers to
report alarms and other conditions. The message is spoken to the
called party in a clear human voice. This can be used in
conjunction with the digital dialer. Five minutes after the
digital dialer reports the alarm codes, the voice dialer will
begin to dial.
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Q.
Can I program my system using a computer?
A.
Yes, the system can be completely configured and programmed
using a PC. The PC can be linked to the system using either the
system’s built in modem, or linked to the system through a
serial interface module.
For more information, visit our contact
page or call 1-866-SIEVERS.
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Q.
Can my outdoor lights automatically come on at dusk?
A.
Yes, you can create a program that tells the system to turn
outdoor lights on at Sunset.
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Q.
Can my inside lights automatically come on when I return home
after dark?
A.
Yes, you can create programs based on time schedule on event
such as any zone inputs opening and closing, on the changing on
any security mode, and a number of other events. Example:
“When Front Door Open: Foyer Light On” or “When Security
Mode Off: Den Lights On”.
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Q.
How does the system know when it’s dark outside?
A.
The system automatically calculates the time on Sunrise and
Sunset each day based on your longitude, latitude, and time
zone. The information can be viewed on the console display and
used to program events and schedules.
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Q.
Does the system know the outdoor temperature?
A.
If an outdoor temperature sensor is connected to your system,
the system can display the outdoor temperature on the console
and on any thermostat connected to your system. The outdoor
temperature can also be used to trigger automation programs.
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Q.
Can the temperatures in my home be automatically adjusted when I
leave and go to bed?
A.
Yes, you can create temperature programs based on time schedule
or event.
Example:
“When Security Away: Thermostat 1 Cool Setting 84” and
“When Security Away: Thermostat 1 Heat Setting 65”.
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Q.
Can the system communicate with other systems?
A.
Yes, with the HAI serial interface using the Omni-Link (All
Controllers) or Pro-Link (OmniLT, OmniPro, Omni II, OmniPro II)
protocol, you can send and receive information through the
RS-232 or RS-485 port.
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Q.
Can I use Web-Link II if my Internet connection does not provide
a Static IP Address?
A.
Yes. You have to subscribe to a Dynamic DNS (Domain Name
Service). Dynamic DNS is a service that allows you to map your
Dynamic (changing) IP address to a static (permanent) hostname,
allowing your Web-Link II computer to be more easily accessed
from various locations on the Internet.
Clients
(which runs on you PC) are used to automatically update your
Dynamic DNS hostname with your current IP address, without the
need to even open your browser.
Call us today at
1-866-SIEVERS and let us tailor a home automation system for your
particular needs.
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