Marmitek, specialists in the field of X-10 home automation, has introduced the CM15Pro computer interface, which along with the supplied ActiveHomePro software enables you to control and operate affordable home automation on your computer.

Marmitek brings comfort and safety to your home in an innovative manner, using the very latest techniques in the field of multimedia, video surveillance, home automation and security:

Once your settings are programmed in your computer, you can save them in the memory of the CM15Pro and it can be turned off:

• Your lighting and appliances are easily switched on and off with the CM15Pro and appropriate receivers.

The choice of settings is limited only by your imagination – random switching of your lighting, create a home movie theatre, control your exterior lighting, or have your coffee ready when you wake.
 
Using macros you can programme your preferred environment e.g. the main lighting in the living room only switches on when someone enters the room, its dark outside and the atmospheric lighting is off.
 
Furthermore the CM15Pro has more extended programming possibilities and a memory for about 1400 macros/timers, with which you can expand your home automation almost without limitation.

• The mutual compatibility of Marmitek products is one of the main benefits, allowing you to construct your own ideal system, adding the latest user options at any time in the future.

The recommended retail price for the pioneering CM15Pro (Computer module + ActiveHomePro Software) is £59.95 incl. VAT.

Web: http:// www.marmitek.com
 

Neighbourhood Watch, which exists to promote and support the voluntary work of 170,000 Neighbourhood Watch groups, has launched an online shop offering discounts on a range of household security products.

The aim is to provide affordable home security solutions, bringing peace of mind and protection to UK property-owners.

The number of break-ins in Britain is nowhere as high as it was a decade ago; even so, a home is burgled every two minutes, according to the latest recorded crime statistics and burglaries can cost a home around £1000 in stolen goods and damages.

Neighbourhood Watch has teamed up with Scottish and Southern Energy to offer discounts on the very latest monitored wireless alarm system to registered Neighbourhood Watch members:

• The home security system is connected to an advanced monitoring service to alert you the moment there is a problem at home.
• If an intruder, panic alert, or fire activates the alarm, your nominated contacts will be notified within seconds by phone, text and email.
• The hardware for this home security system is supplied free of charge and available on a two-year plan, at a special discounted monthly charge of £14.99 (that’s just 49p a day).

Also on offer online are discounted home personal security products from Helix, including personal attack alarms, security boxes and DIY household security devices.

Web:  http://www.neighbourhoodwatch.net/

Tel: (0800) 1979720 quoting NW1

AlertMe the provider of people-friendly home security, launched the AlertMe intelligent home security and monitoring system as promised on 28th January.

This new system lowers the cost of home security and provides peace of mind and positive reassurance for homeowners, wishing to protect their homes and possessions, by mobile phone and the Internet.

AlertMe allows people to take proactive steps to secure their homes - often their greatest asset and investment - and an aspect of home protection that is often overlooked.

Cambridge U.K., Feb 19th 2008 – The AlertMe Company announced that their broadband home monitoring and security service is the first security system, to obtain the coveted product certification by the ZigBee Alliance.

“AlertMe is about people-friendly technology, which is easy to install even for non-technical users” said AlertMe CTO Paul Fellows.” “We’re delighted to have achieved certification as ZigBee is the perfect fit for our application - it gives us an open, standards-based and future-proof platform.”

We are now working with other ZigBee companies - and others to extend our platform and offer new services.”

AlertMe is an Internet-based service, which communicates with an in-home ZigBee network; each system incorporates a ZigBee Coordinator and twelve ZigBee Routers and End Devices installed around the home.

AlertMe is now available in the UK priced at £399. See our previous two articles for more information.

Web: http://www.alertme.com

Tel: (0845) 200 2873

Visonic’s recently launched wireless CO sensor has been accredited to EN 50291:2001 (detection of carbon monoxide in domestic premises) and is the only wireless CO sensor to be accredited by the  Loss Prevention Certification Board.

Carbon Monoxide is often referred to as the “silent killer” as it is odourless, colourless and tasteless - most frequently caused by badly maintained heaters and boilers.

Even in small quantities the gas can cause headaches, nausea and dizziness, often mistakenly thought to be Flu by the sufferer; over time CO gas inhibits the blood’s capacity to transport oxygen around the body and can eventually lead to brain damage and death.

Every year it is estimated that 20-30 people, in the UK alone, die from CO poisoning directly associated with a domestic gas appliance and another 200 are seriously injured.

A report commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive, found that 23 per cent of homes had one or more defective gas appliances, which makes the need for CO detectors, like the Visonic, strongly recommended.

The Visonic sensor operates as a standalone CO alarm, with its own onboard sounder, but is also capable of sending a signal wirelessly to any Powercode receiver or Powermax control panel.

Using Powermax, the panel will alert the user to the presence of gas, whilst also being able to call to a central monitoring center, or mobile phone number to raise the alarm.

The Visonic MCT-442 is currently available through national distributors of security equipment.

Web: http://www.visonic.com/visonichomepage.nsf

Tel: (0870) 7300810

Looking for an inexpensive and easy-to-install intruder detection system, ideal for residential applications? The Bosch Intruder Alarms Easy Series could be your ideal solution:

• Simple Installation. - Easy series replaces text menu displays, with voice-prompted control of operations and programming, either on the premises or by telephone, making set-up and operation very fast and easy.
• Installers can specify up to eight points, connect up to four external sensors and up to four control centres. Fire detectors can also be added to the system.
• Ease of Use - An RFID disc on a key-ring permits authorised users to be identified without entering access codes.
• Alternatively, entering a pass-code or pressing a single button can arm the panel.
• Users can set detection for All zones, or just for Selected zones if they are on the premises.
• Anyone including children can easily and reliably turn the intruder alarm system on and off, by means of the token and voice-prompting.
• Unlike common keypads, the control centre uses only symbols and colour with no text. By means of the high-contrast LCD display, the user can see at a glance whether the panel has been turned On in either the Occupied or Unoccupied mode.
• After an alarm transmission to an alarm-monitoring centre, the Bosch Intruder Alarm can also send an individual text or voice message to the mobile phone of the owners, or to key-holders and/or neighbours.
• Remote operation of the system is available and extremely simple.

The new Easy Series Intrusion Control Panel from Bosch, features
a unique Control Center that is extremely simple to operate and offers a multiple choice of protection levels.

Web: http:// www.boschsecurity.co.uk

BT, the UK’s largest supplier of Broadband Internet access, has been working with Intamac Systems the Internet monitoring and control specialist, to show the additional benefits of broadband.

Together they developed BT Homesafe, an innovative new IP wireless alarm system with CCTV capability for easy home installation.

The system provides people and their property with new levels of protection using broadband connectivity and at much lower cost than with conventional alarm systems.

Using Intamac technology, the BT Homesafe system:

• Can be managed over the web or a mobile phone and when activated is able to send personal alerts by text, email and phone messages.
• Homeowners can programme their system remotely via the easy-to-use secure Web portal and enable the system to automatically provide alerts, including informing them when their children are safe home from school, or to monitor elderly relatives in their own homes.
• Increase your personal safety –the panic alarm facility automatically messages all of your contacts if you feel vulnerable, without making your presence known by making a phone call.
• Accessories (up to 20) can monitor for fire, power failure and flooding and the system has a CCTV option, which allows individuals to view their property from anywhere in the world with low cost IP cameras that store pictures online.

You will need: Broadband Internet Connection (any provider), Telephone Line, Broadband Router with an available Ethernet port.

Retail price is £220 plus monitoring service £5 per month.

Web: http://www.bthomesafe.com

Tel: (0870) 111 7234

Visonic is an international developer and manufacturer of high-quality electronic security systems and dedicated to enhancing people’s way of life by increasing their sense of security.

The company’s AMBER Independence & Safety Support Solution enables friends and family, to provide senior adults with comprehensive 24/7 remote support, enhanced safety and appropriate emergency response.

The Amber safety and support options is one of the most sophisticated wireless alarm systems on the market and includes:

Automatic medication reminders, smoke, gas and flood detection, instant two-way hands-free voice communication, remote social contact, inactivity monitoring and telemedicine capabilities.

Amber is specifically designed to meet the needs of seniors, with its display, which has large backlit buttons and a powerful speaker and speed dialling facilities. Supplied with an Emergency call button wrist-pendant.

The system is updateable by phone, therefore does not require technician visits and enables the selection of up to four (4) private phone numbers as emergency call numbers; also capable of saving up to three (3) speed dialling numbers permitting one-touch access to family and friends.

The ease of installation and remote programming make Amber the ultimate in convenience, security and responsiveness for senior adults and their carers, while maximizing their dignity, independence and convenience.

Web: http://www.visonic.com/visonichomepage.nsf

Tel: (0870) 7300810

Elite Security Products supply the remarkable professional installer grade, Infinite wire-free intruder alarm system, with GSM and home automation capability, plus a comprehensive range of PIR intruder alarm detectors.

Wire free has now come of age and Infinite offers a comprehensive and reliable burglar alarm solution that can be fitted with ease and minimum disruption to property.

Secure transmission methods, long battery life and superbly designed detection accessories, enable the installation of infinite to be trouble free and more importantly wire free!

Infinite wireless alarm is easily expandable by a series of plug-in modules so that users can enjoy the full benefits of the system, including home automation.

Elite Security offers a choice, Infinite® or Infinite® prime:

A typical Infinite starting kit includes: an Infinite Control Panel, 2 x PIR Motion Detectors, 1 x Magnetic Switch, 1 x MFB Multi-function Key-fob and 1 x Wireless External Sounder.

The Infinite prime in our picture provides all the functionality of infinite, plus some enviable additional capabilities including, Integral PSTN communicator, Speech Dialler, Digicom functions and Remote set/unset using a standard phone.

Also suitable for use with the Home Manager alarm monitoring service, which alerts up to 6 contacts by telephone call to landlines and mobile phone text message upon an alarm activation.

Retail price around £299.

Web: http://www.espuk.com 

Tel: (0121) 7898 111

AlertMe is an intelligent home security and monitoring service that connects directly to you; it uses your broadband and smart sensors around your home to put you in control. (See our previous article)

This wireless alarm system alerts you to any incident and enables you to check it out or respond to a problem, via your mobile phone or the Internet.Your key fobs, sensors etc.enable you to securely talk to the Hub controller wirelessly using Zigbee technology.

The Hub keeps an eye on the home and communicates any activation to you.It also forwards encrypted information over the broadband line and the mobile phone network to the AlertMe servers.The servers then respond appropriately: either immediately forwarding an alert to your contacts, or keeping activity notes for you to view on your private AlertMe web pages.

If there is a problem, you and your chosen friends, family, and neighbours will then receive informative text messages.The nearest contact can then act to safely verify the problem; if it is a simple mistake, they can give the all clear, preventing the emergency services being troubled with a false alarm, or if a problem is confirmed, the police or fire service can be called.

AlertMe is affordable, friendly technology for everyone; it puts you in control, not someone in a distant call centre; easily personalized to suit your lifestyle and no expensive service technician required.

The Kit - Hub, 2 Alarm Detectors, 3 Door/Window Sensors, 2 Motion Sensors, 1 Panic Button, 3 Key Fobs and the Lamp/Status Indicator.

Web: http://www.alertme.com

Tel: (0845) 200 2873

Founded in 2006 and based in Cambridge, AlertMe.com the provider of people-friendly home security, is launching an intelligent way for people to directly protect, control and keep a close eye on their homes, wherever they may be, by mobile phone and the Internet.

AlertMe is an intuitive home monitoring system that can easily be set up within an hour, without the need for tools, drilling, wiring or waiting for servicemen to turn up.

People are then in complete control of their home security; they can personalise this wireless Alarm for their own concerns and to suit their lifestyle, whether they need to accommodate pets and visiting guests or a cleaner.

The direct alerting system, via text message, email or phone call, means people are no longer at the mercy of alarm call centres, or the fear that strangers in the street will ignore their noisy siren.

Friends, neighbours and family can be immediately alerted about incidents such as break-ins or fires and can take immediate action, which means people can avoid false alarms, as well as the resulting penalties and blacklisting by the police.

AlertMe offers security services and more, allowing people to further personalise it to fit with their lifestyle. It can inform them about normal activity, enabling them to check their home is OK while on holiday, or that children are home safely etc.

AlertMe will be available from January 2008 and is priced at £399 for the comprehensive kit in our picture, plus £10 per month for the service; this includes 24/7 monitoring, alerts, mobile SIM card for backup communications, automatic software updates, battery replacement alerts and customer support.

Web: http://www.alertme.com

Tel: (0845) 200 2873