| The keypad is the device you and your loved ones will | | | | your bypass requirements for motion detectors and |
| interface with daily. It is typically placed at one or more | | | | interior traps pre-programmed so you can make |
| of the following locations: | | | | several things happen with the push of a well- defined |
| * House to garage door hall. | | | | button. |
| * Front door | | | | When I think about how many pages of paper it would |
| * Master bedroom | | | | take me to create scenarios for every keypad on the |
| * Inside garage | | | | market, I envision an empty forest somewhere with no |
| You need at least one keypad to communicate with | | | | wildlife in it. In an effort to show you how easy your |
| the control panel. If you elect to have only one keypad | | | | alarm is to use I will give you a general set of situations |
| you should have it installed as close to the door you | | | | that would pertain to my system of choice. The slight |
| use most often as possible. Even if you or others | | | | differences you might see if you used a different |
| sometimes use a different door, you can put it on its | | | | keypad are often subtle things like having to press two |
| own delay zone and have a longer entry time to get | | | | buttons instead of one. So in the interest of me doing |
| to the keypad from that door. | | | | my part for earth conservation today, I will limit myself |
| There are different levels of keypads available for | | | | to a general use mode. |
| each model of control panel. The one that the dealer | | | | Leaving the house- If all the devices on your system |
| uses as their basic model varies by company. The | | | | are ready to be turned on meaning doors are closed, |
| choice of keypads is usually made for you as sales | | | | windows are closed, nobody is walking around in front |
| persons tend to stay away from technical discussions | | | | of a motion detector etc. Your system will display |
| even if they do know the difference. If you know that | | | | "Ready". If any thing is not ready on your system your |
| you have a choice and find out what your options are | | | | keypad will display its location so that you can know |
| you can make sure that you get the keypad that will | | | | where to go to make it ready. The keypad would say |
| work best for you. Following is a general list of the | | | | "Zone 2 open" or "Back door open" if you have an |
| main differences: | | | | Alpha keypad. |
| * LED- (light emitting diode) This keypad has many | | | | If multiple areas are not ready it will scroll through all of |
| lights to tell you what is happening such as a green | | | | them. |
| light for ready to arm, a red light for armed, a yellow | | | | Press "AWAY"- This will tell the control that you are |
| light next to a zone number to show you which zone | | | | leaving the house and want all devices including the |
| is open if it is not ready. | | | | motion detectors armed. The keypad will begin to emit |
| * LCD- (liquid crystal display) This keypad uses a | | | | a beep at 1-second intervals. This is your systems |
| display window to tell you what is happening such as | | | | way of saying to you "Have a great day, goodbye!" |
| "System armed", "Zone 4 open" | | | | The exit counter is usually set for approximately 60 |
| * ALPHA(alpha-numeric readout) This Keypad can be | | | | seconds but can be longer if your lifestyle requires a |
| programmed to give you descriptive readout of what | | | | longer exit time. Once the exit time has expired your |
| is happening with your system such as | | | | system is "ARMED" and is protecting your house or |
| "Tommy's window is open", "Alarm violation, Basement | | | | business. |
| Motion" | | | | Returning home- When you come home you will enter |
| * Large display area is important so that you don't | | | | through a door that has been pre-assigned as a delay |
| have to squint to read it. | | | | door. As you open the door the keypad emits a |
| * Some windows are not back -lighted so you have to | | | | steady welcome home tone. This entry delay time is |
| turn a light on to see what's happening. Make sure | | | | usually set for approximately 30-seconds but once |
| your window and number keys have lights built in. | | | | again can be tailored to your lifestyle. The system |
| * One touch arming lets you turn the alarm on the way | | | | needs you to enter your complete code (3 to 8 digits) |
| you want without entering a code such as Away, | | | | to turn off your system so it will not go into an alarm |
| Stay (bypass motion detectors), Instant (Make delay | | | | condition. |
| doors instant) etc. | | | | If you entered through a delay door first the system |
| * Exit buttons on some keypads allow you to open a | | | | will let you walk in front of a motion detector if needed |
| door for 30 seconds if the alarm is on. This is handy | | | | to get to the keypad, for the complete entry delay |
| for letting your pets out and back in without having to | | | | period. |
| disarm the system. This is also a great feature if | | | | Turning your system on for the evening- When you |
| someone in the house has to exit in the middle of the | | | | are staying at home you will want to turn on your |
| night. | | | | perimeter system but not your interior devices such as |
| * Panic buttons for Police, Fire and Ambulance are on | | | | motion detectors on the main floors. |
| most keypads. Make sure you don't have to contort | | | | Press "STAY"- This will let the system know that |
| your fingers into strange configurations to use them. | | | | there will be activity inside the home so it will turn off |
| The better-designed keypads are the easiest to use. | | | | the assigned motion detectors and any other interior |
| * Your keypad should have the ability for the alarm | | | | traps you may have. It will arm the perimeter doors, |
| owner to program in a code for each user. Some | | | | windows, glass break detectors and any other |
| people use one general code for the whole family and | | | | perimeter devices you may have. |
| have a different one for the real estate agent, builder, | | | | In the STAY mode the system knows nobody is |
| maintenance companies, boy or girlfriends that they | | | | leaving so it does not emit a goodbye countdown from |
| don't expect to be around that long, baby sitters and | | | | the keypad. If nobody leaves through the doors within |
| so on. You can easily remove a code at will, and the | | | | 60 seconds or so, the system will remove the entry |
| more sophisticated systems have a timer on how | | | | delay time from your usual delay doors. This means |
| many times a particular code can be used before it | | | | that if someone opens even a delay door while you |
| erases itself if desired. Having different codes for | | | | are armed in the stay mode the alarm will sound |
| employees at your business is important for obvious | | | | instantly. If someone does leave within 60 seconds or |
| reasons and many high-end systems can track what | | | | so, the system will activate the entry delay so they will |
| time a code user entered and exited. Some like this | | | | get a welcome home tone and time to disarm upon |
| feature at home to track what time the cleaning | | | | their return. |
| service or their teenagers entered and exited. (you | | | | Disarm in the morning- When you are ready to turn |
| would need an alpha keypad to read such information) | | | | your alarm off simply enter your code. The red armed |
| Some systems can hold up to 40 different code users. | | | | light turns off. |
| * A "distress code" should be able to be programmed | | | | Returning home to a violated system- If your system |
| into your system. This is a code that will be easy to | | | | was violated while you were away the siren will sound |
| remember for the whole family. When the system is | | | | for a pre-programmed period of time. After this alarm |
| turned on or off with this code it simulates normal | | | | time expires the systems will re-arm preparing for a |
| function while notifying your monitoring company that | | | | second attempt. When you return home the keypad |
| you are in a hostage situation. Almost all systems | | | | will be emitting a high pitch and rapidly beeping tone. |
| have the ability to have this programmed in and it | | | | The keypad will also tell you where the security |
| amazes me how many people I have consulted that | | | | breach occurred in the order of violation. If you hear |
| didn't know they had a distress code. Make sure this is | | | | such a tone on your return you should LEAVE |
| discussed when you are choosing an alarm, as it is | | | | IMMEDIATELY! as the burglars may still be in the |
| one of your systems greatest features. | | | | house. Go to a neighbor's house and make sure the |
| (HOT TIP!) | | | | authorities clear your home as safe to enter before |
| Write your distress code on the inside of your keypad | | | | re-entering. When it is safe to return just enter your |
| cover door with a marker so that it is there as a | | | | code to reset the violation alert. |
| reminder for you at possibly the worst time of your life. | | | | This is yet another way that your system protects |
| If a burglar breaks in and sees this code they will think | | | | people as well as property. This feature coupled with |
| to themselves "look how stupid these people are to | | | | the distress code is for me the best reasons to have |
| write their code down" and they will turn your system | | | | a system. When you are thinking about what is |
| off. A dispatch will promptly be made to your local | | | | irreplaceable in your home I hope you are placing your |
| authorities as a hostage situation or holdup in progress. | | | | loved ones and yourself at the top of that list. |
| This is the highest priority response you can get. Who's | | | | On the lighter side there is the opportunity to eliminate |
| stupid now? | | | | another future worry from your life. There is nothing |
| Lets take a look at how easy it would be to use your | | | | better than returning home and knowing as you unlock |
| keypad by reviewing some common every day | | | | your door that nobody has been or still is in your house. |
| scenarios. The flexibility and complexity of how your | | | | If you open the door and hear a normal welcome |
| keypad can be programmed often scares people into | | | | home tone, all is well. If your keypad was removed |
| thinking that an alarm would be hard for them to | | | | forcefully by an uninvited quest, you will not hear your |
| operate. It is important to remember that once your | | | | tone and you will still suspect that something is wrong. |
| alarm system is set up to your specifications by your | | | | The scenarios I have just gone over with you will |
| installer, it is quite easy to use. Most of the keypads on | | | | pretty much cover your daily use of your security |
| the market are designed for use by anyone who is | | | | system. As you can see the system is not |
| older than 7 years old. The systems will even have | | | | complicated for you to use. |