There used to be a time when you couldn’t purchase a wireless home security system. Even after wi-fi and wireless home networks were fully established, home security companies were not ready to jump right in. It took a while for the wireless revolution to reach the security industry. Now that it has, wireless has definitely taken over.
These days, it is much harder to find new wired home security installations in residential settings. Those wired systems that do exist are mainly installed in commercial spaces. For the home, wireless is king. Some say that this is good for homeowners, others say wired systems are still better.
If you are considering investing in home security for the first time, note that most of your choices are going to be wireless. It might be easier to wrap your brain around wireless if you understand the top five reasons it has taken over the home security market:
1. Plug-And-Play Set Up
The number one factor responsible for driving the popularity of wireless home security is its plug-and-play set up. Unlike first-generation security systems requiring moderate construction, setting up a wireless system does not involve opening up walls or tapping into a home’s electrical system. That’s huge for homeowners.
A wireless system utilizes devices that are plugged into the wall or run on batteries. All the devices communicate through a central hub by way of a home wi-fi network. Some of the most basic entry-level systems are as easy to set up as a wireless router.
2. Integration with Home Automation
No doubt home automation has helped wireless home security gain a larger market share. Providers like Vivint Smart Home are not afraid to package automation and security devices together. They actually encourage consumers to integrate both concepts in order to maximize the benefits of each one. It is a winning strategy that seems to work well for both providers and consumers.
3. The Death of the Landline
The introduction of the cell phone marked the start of the demise of the landline. Today, landlines are all but dead thanks to smartphone proliferation. In light of that, wired home security systems are much less practical. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to invest in a wired system for residential security when a home has no landline attached to it. Wireless is a more efficient and practical way to go.
4. Home Security for Renters
Wired home security has always been a problem for renters. Being unable to drill holes or make electrical connections has historically prevented them from getting into home security. But with wireless technology, renters have the freedom to join the millions of homeowners who have long enjoyed the benefits of home security. They can install wireless system without violating their leases.
5. System Flexibility
Wireless technology has brought something else to home security that wasn’t available before: flexibility. This flexibility plays out in several ways. For example, going wireless gives a homeowner the opportunity to move video cameras around as needed.
A wireless system is also flexible in the sense that it can be packed up and moved whenever a homeowner changes housing. Gone are the days of paying a lot of money for an expensive wired system and then leaving it behind when you have to move.
Wired security systems still have their place. However, wireless technology has definitely taken over the market. It has taken over because it is more convenient, it is easier to install, and it allows for quite a bit more flexibility. Homeowners and renters alike appreciate the benefits wireless brings to the table.
