Why PowerG is Technology Worth Having in Your Home Security System

Score a win for peace of mind if you’ve already made the wise decision to invest in home security.  The nighttime scaries have likely been banished, and along with this, your kids may be sleeping better, which is also a win for mom and dad.  As for morning work departures, we’re guessing they’re less anxiety-ridden.  Rover, although still best dog ever, is no longer in charge of home protection.  Definitely a wise decision!    

If you haven’t yet made the jump and are shopping for home security right now, good for you!  Stay focused and give all of the options fair thought.  While we favor the reliability of a professionally installed and monitored system, the options are worth exploring.  Either way, it always makes sense to have a good understanding of what you’re getting for your money.

The Unexpected Importance of Security System Sensors

An important part of every home security system and likely the majority of your investment are its sensors.  Without them, your system would not be able to detect threats such as break-ins and movement through the rooms of your home when no one should be there.  Water leaks, room temperature changes, and the activity of smart door locks and lighting modules are also made detectable thanks to the sensors in a security system.

Since sensors are key to the effectiveness of your system, it’s a good idea to become more knowledgeable about them and to check out our guide to home security system sensors.

How Were Security System Sensors Invented?

In the 1870s, a sensor was created using a method involving wires pulled tightly enough to produce tension. The sensor was able to trigger a gong to signal a door being opened.  But if we take a step back, 20 years before, to be exact, there was groundbreaking work that actually set the foundation for the electrodynamic-based sensors we are more familiar with today.  

In 1853, patent number 9802 was issued to Augustus Russell Pope for his development of a sensor capable of breaking an electrical current and triggering an alarm when doors or windows were opened. A Harvard graduate who served as a pastor in various Unitarian churches in New England, Pope made a point of also crediting Dr. William Channing, who had designed a fire alarm telegraph in 1845, similar to the burglar-alarm device Pope invented and installed at his own home. 1

Security Sensor Advancements

Sensor technology continued to evolve, and the 1900s marked the arrival of alarm sensors that used radar and electrical components to create a web of ultrasonic waves to detect movement, according to the University of Southern California.  In the same time period, according to in-depth research by Hans Keller of Silverlight Ltd., Passive Infrared or PIR motion sensors were developed to detect people by sensing the thermal infrared radiation emitted by the human body.

Today, our home security systems feature sensors that continue to use PIR technology as well as acoustic-, vibration-, and Wi-Fi-sensing technologies. These combine to deliver conveniences we appreciate, such as the ability to integrate sensors not only with doors and windows, but also with lights, locks, thermostats, and cameras.

What’s Different About PowerG Sensors?

PowerG sensors, first developed in 2012, bring a readiness to scaling and expanding with the needs of your property and your security network. Their integration in two-way wireless home security systems empowers the system to deliver a greater signal range by overcoming the limitations created by walls, distances, and other types of interference within your home environment. This range of coverage is enhanced with 128-bit encryption on a 900MHz band, which helps to protect signals within the range from being hacked.  A longer battery life is another benefit of PowerG sensors.

Used in quality security components by trusted manufacturers, such as Qolsys IQ and DSC Neo, PowerG is a proprietary technology owned by Johnson Controls. PowerG sensors are now used by Guardian Protection in its smart security systems, which have received positive public reviews from customers.

How to Know if PowerG Sensors Are a Good Choice for You

As homeowners, we hope to resolve certain concerns when we choose a security system for our home.  These can be different depending on our family, our routine, and the characteristics of our home.  Here are a few key things to consider in determining if PowerG sensors will make a difference for you.

·  Does your home have rooms separated by one or more walls?

·  Is there a notable distance between your basement level and the other floors in your home?

·  Is there a notable distance between one end of your home and the other?

·  Do you have a garage or outdoor shed that stores valuables?

·  Do your children and pets play outside?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and if your system utilizes a Qolsys panel IQ2Plus and higher, or a DSC PowerSeries Neo panel, then you’ll be well-served by choosing a home security system that includes sensors with PowerG technology.  Their long-range and two-way communication capability serves to prevent interference in communicating with your security panel and will also require far fewer battery changes.

The Technical Advantages of PowerG Sensors

· 128-bit AES encryption, frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)

· Unlike traditional fixed-frequency sensors, PowerG can help to effectively avoid interference from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or malicious jamming devices. 

· Adaptive Transmission Power that allows the sensor to adjust power based on proximity to the panel, which improves performance and battery life (five to eight years).  

·  An extensive range of up to 2,000 feet in open air when used with Qolsys panels IQ2Plus and higher, and a range of up to 6,000 feet in open air when used with DSC PowerSeries Neo panels.

·  Capability to add a PowerG wireless repeater which can optimize the range in environments with unusual interference challenges.

· Generally faster to install

·  Features like visual indicators for signal quality right on the device. 

Particularly important is the expansive range of PowerG technology. It uses the Sub-1 GHz frequency, 915MHz, versus a traditional 2.4MHz frequency. The signal emitted through PowerG sensors bends around walls and propagates through walls, bending around corners and adding to the robustness of the link between it and other sensors. This mid- to long-range frequency also uses much lower power, making it practical for smart security systems.3

“Range is a huge improvement over the PowerG sensors versus the legacy sensors,” said Randy Roberto, Technical Care Manager at Guardian Protection. “The sensors can just talk back to the system [given] the range, and they have improved battery life. We no longer see sensors going into failure due to their range,” he added. 

Which Devices in a Home Security System Use PowerG Technology?

PowerG technology is available on hundreds of components for residential security systems. Fully integrated, they achieve your goal of enjoying a fully featured alarm system for your home that delivers both state-of-the-art benefits and old-fashioned peace of mind. Here are just a few of the PowerG sensing devices, all manufactured by Johnson Controls, that you will find PowerG on.

· Security Panels Qolsys IQ Panel 4, IQ4 Hub, IQ4 NS, IQ Pro, and DSC PowerSeries Neo/Pro

· Motion Detectors including indoor and outdoor PIR motion detectors; some with built-in cameras for visual verification

· Door/Window Contacts

· Safety sensors such as smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide detectors

· Temperature and flood monitoring detectors

·  Wireless keypads and key fobs

·  Wireless sirens, repeaters, and outdoor photo beams

Putting PowerG Technology to Work for You

Wireless devices can be installed faster when PowerG technology is in the mix, and additional modules couple more easily, helping ensure optimal connectivity across all your security devices.  

Having your security system detect and deter danger, whether in the storage shed at the end of your yard, the rec room on the lowest level of your home, activity at the far perimeter of your driveway, or through a panic pendant you’re wearing while gardening, PowerG sensors are up for the challenge.

Where in the home do we see the best use of PowerG?  “Everywhere,” says Guardian’s Roberto. “When able to, use a PowerG sensor.”

1  Alarm Industry History by Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum P.C.

2 Johnson Controls white paper

3 Video: Connect: Why Sub-1 GHz by Texas Instruments