30 April 2019
A complete early intrusion detection system for a safe home
Our multi-layered approach to detection ensures an earlier alarm before intruders can access a residential premises. We offer a wide range of outdoor PIRs for accurate and early detection to keep your home safe and secure against unwanted visitors.
Approach detection
VX Series (VX Infinity and VX Shield) with their 90° field of detection and reaching up to 12m, the VX Series are the ideal solution to protect driveways, terraces and balconies. The VX Infinity series is our best-selling outdoor intrusion detection sensor range, it provides one of the most reliable detection rates, including a double layered detection area, and will only trigger when both layers are activated, eliminating the detection of small animals. The VX Shield series, featuring the same functionalities, has been designed to make the installation phase as easy as possible for the installer and includes easy set-up tools such as an automatic walk test mode.
For wider spaces such as front gardens, patios or courtyards, the WX Infinity series features 180° detection coverage and up to 12m range meaning one single sensor can cover a wide area. The WXI sensors provide two detection areas – left and right that can be independently set. For instance, the right zone can be set at 3.5m while the left one is set at 8.5m. The sensitivity can be high in one zone and low in the other to match the operational requirements, and can be adapted so its settings match the environment. This new sensor was launched in early 2019 and was the first in the WX Series that will be complemented later in the year with a new WX model that will bring the Shield functionalities to the WX Series.
All of the approach intrusion sensors are equipped with OPTEX’s latest analytics algorithms that can differentiate between various lighting and environmental conditions, as well as vegetation sway to ensure nuisance alarms are avoided. The sensors are available wired and wireless, with an optional anti-masking function, and dual-technologies (PIR and microwave) are also available for the VXI and VXS series.
Boundary detection
Another layer of detection can be added to protect the immediate boundary of houses, garages and outbuildings (sheds).
The FTN Series provides short-range curtain detection that can be adjusted with switchable lenses up to 2m or 5m. These outdoor PIRs are both compact and flexible and are ideal to protect front doors, windows and balconies. The slim body can easily fit on a window or door recess and its built-in bracket rotates 190°.
The award-winning BX Shield Series is a range of curtain outdoor motion sensors with up to 12m detection on each side – giving a coverage of up to 24m in total. Ideal to detect people in the immediate boundary of your home, the outdoor detectors feature four PIRs – two on each side. The left and right detection area can be set up completely independently from each other to select sensitivity (from low to extremely high), and the detection range. One of the most appealing features of the BX Shield is the design – it looks similar to some lighting units, the sensor is discreet and may not be immediately identifiable to potential intruders as an alarm device.
OPTEX Bridge powered by CHeKT selected for Benchmark Innovation awards
The finalists for the Benchmark Innovation Awards 2019 have recently been announced, and the OPTEX Bridge powered by CHeKT solution has been selected in the Site Protection category.
Already launched in the Americas, the solution will soon be available in the UK and we are delighted to see that its benefits to installers and Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs) have been recognised.
So what is the OPTEX Bridge all about? The technology upgrades a monitored alarm system to a visual verification solution by using the existing infrastructure on site, usually an alarm panel, and CCTV cameras that are working separately from one another and ‘bridging’ them together to provide visually verified alarms. There are two elements to the system: the hardware part – the OPTEX Bridge can be connected to any ONVIF camera and any alarm panel. The software part – which connects onto the ARC’s software platform for monitoring, and also the Cloud hosted platform to allow a stronger collaboration between ARCs and home or business owners by giving them the ability to share video clips to confirm alarms.
When an alarm occurs, a signal is sent to the ARC where the operator can view images pre- and post alarm event via a dedicated portal to determine whether the alarm is genuine. Camera locations can be overlaid with a map of detection zones, thus helping the ARC operator to quickly and easily ‘see’ where the incident has occurred and take the appropriate action. Images can also be sent direct to the customer’s handheld device for further verification if, for example, the alarm is genuine but the ‘intruder’ is known to the customer or has a legitimate reason for being on site.
The OPTEX Bridge also provides a complete audit trail of activity and can detect when a camera is not working (i.e. when it has dropped out of the network), and report the fault, thus ensuring security is not compromised. It can also communicate with the ARC in the appropriate ‘language’ regardless of the make or manufacture of the technology installed, or the protocols with which it operates. It will, in effect, work with virtually any intruder alarm technology and any ONVIF camera to deliver one seamless visual verification solution. The ARC software needs to be compatible, and many of the major ARC software platforms are already integrated.
We look forward to telling you more about this technology during IFSEC but in the meantime, you can watch a summary video here, or contact us for more information.
Tech Tip: Commissioning SIPs – walk test
Our long range REDWALL outdoor PIRs can provide up to 50x30m or up to 100x3m volumetric detection. To ensure the detection area is set correctly and the sensor doesn’t overrange and detect cars or people moving outside the defined area, two main steps need to be conducted using two essential tools, both part of the SIP-AT kit tool.
Step-1 – Setting the detection area using the Area View Finder AVT-1
This step was covered in a previous tech tip that you can read here.
Step 2: Walk test using the Area Walk Tester (AWT-3)
Having completed setting up the detection area, it is always good practice to conduct a walk test using the AWT-3 unit.
Once the AWT-3 unit is plugged onto the SIP, make sure that all zones – Far, Near and Creep zones, if relevant, are on the SH (Super High) sensitivity setting and DIP number 1 is on for testing.
The AWT-3 makes a high-pitched tone. We recommend walking in a serpentine pattern (like a snake) in front of the unit from one edge of the detection area to the other. When the SIP detects you, the tone on the AWT-3 changes and it allows some time to verify the limit of the detection zone. When you are satisfied that the SIP is covering the desired area, disconnect the AWT-3 from the SIP unit, reduce the sensitivity setting back to M for medium. Also make sure that DIP switch 1 is back in the OFF position. When putting the front cover back on, ensure that the top is inserted first followed by the bottom.
You can watch the steps on the video below. If you wish to take the certification training on the SIP, please contact us here.