Are you debating between hardwired and wireless for your new home security system? Some houses are already hardwired for a home security system, which might make the hardwired option an obvious choice. For homes that aren’t, however, or for someone who wants to explore all the options, it’s important to understand the benefits of wireless home security.
First off, what does “wireless” mean? Wireless means just that: no wires. A hardwired system, on the other hand, is wired into your home like your electricity is. A wireless system relies on radio frequencies. Essentially it’s like the difference between using WiFi and being plugged into a modem.
Wireless can also refer to two different aspects: wireless within your home, and wireless in the way you can remotely connect to the home security system. To have a hardwired system that’s also “hardwired” to the outside world requires a landline—another “wire.” Since many people today are foregoing landlines and using cell phones only, wireless home security systems are often wireless both in the way they’re installed in your home and in the way they are accessed.
Now that we’ve talked about the differences a little, let’s go over when and why a wireless home security system might be the one for you…
- Being wireless, installation tends to be easier. No holes need to be drilled or wire snaked through walls.
- Sometimes this means being able to have a home security system where otherwise you couldn’t, like maybe in a rental where drilling holes isn’t an option.
- For people who are renting or who want to take their home security system with them when moving, wireless is literally a pick-up-and-go option.
- For those of us who have chosen to ditch our landlines for cell phones only, a wireless home security system that we can access remotely via those phones makes sense.
- A wireless home security system works when the power goes out, because it uses batteries.
- It’s more flexible, letting you add on later, say if you add on to your house or you want to include your garage or workshop into the coverage provided.
- A thief can’t “cut off” your home security system by cutting wires when there aren’t any wires.
A wireless home security system is not necessarily the ideal solution, however, because it tends to be a bit less reliable compared to a hardwired system, subject to the same kinds of interruptions in service you might experience with your WiFi.
All of this said, the good news is you can also choose a hybrid solution that uses a combination of hardwired and wireless components for your home security system. That way you can get exactly what you need, or possibly even tap into an existing system already installed in your home.
And for that kind of insight, we suggest you call on a home security pro for their suggestions, now that you get the gist of wireless vs. hardwired.
