Home monitoring and remote control for the next generation: energy management and home security from your Intamac portal account. http://www.halohomesecurity.co.uk/ Intamac Systems Ltd 2012 Thu 14 Apr 2011 18:34 GMT NFC, or Near Field Communication is a technology that looks destined to be with us in the near future as handheld devices take another step forward and play an ever increasing role in our lives.  The rise of the smartphone has been dramatic to the point where a generation of young people, who have grown up with mobile devices, can no longer do without them.  A study called \"Going 24hrs without media\" took 1,000 students from around the world and \'deprived\' them of their smartphones and took them completely offline for a 24hr period.  The research found that \"A clear majority in every country admitted outright failure of their efforts to go unplugged.\"  Bigger screens have meant that the mobile browsing experience is a slick one, with social media and apps providing the glue that keeps people stuck to their smartphones around the clock.  It is therefore not surprising to hear that companies\' mobile marketing spends are forecast to quadruple over the next 5 years, with traffic to mobile sites and apps doubling every quarter.  NFC will have a huge part to play in mobile commerce as the technology can facilitate payments with your mobile, in conjunction with a mobile wallet.  Users will be able to pay for goods using the contactless technology, and in some places it is already being used in a way that allows the phone to replace a hotel room key.  These are just a couple of examples of its application, telecoms and financial services companies are testing and developing it further in anticipation of the next big thing. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/future-tech-nfc.html Thu 31 Mar 2011 14:54 GMT The Government rollout of over 50 million smart meters by 2020 is the most comprehensive yet planned in any country and will require a huge logistical effort and cost in the order of £11 billion.  Although this may seem like a vast amount of money for the Government to be spending, they are also predicting that the potential savings will equate to approximately £7 billion over and above the cost of the project.  Based on these figures the Government is predicting that the average household in the UK will save approximately £23 per year on there energy bills.  This is up from the previous estimate of £14 saving per year.There has been some dispute as to how accurate these figures on savings are, most notably from the consumer group Which? who argue that it is too hard to accurately predict how much the smart meter rollout will save the average consumer because there is not enough data available. It would seem sensible that making an accurate prediction at this stage would be almost impossible, not least because there are so many variables to take into account that would affect whether a consumer would make any savings or not.  However, there is a general consensus that there are savings to be made, both for the consumer and the supplier as they improve their efficiency. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/smart-meters-predicted-to-save-23-per-year.html Tue 22 Mar 2011 16:10 GMT The UK\'s mobile network is already behind the US and Japan who both already have 4G networks, and now UK users have been told that they will have to wait until 2013 before 4G mobile speeds are available.  Licenses for the 4G bandwidth will go on sale in the UK next year, to be auctioned off to the highest bidder and it is estimated that it will be another year on top of that before 4G services are available to consumers. The auction will the be the largest ever distribution of mobile spectrum, covering 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands. Waves at this frequency carry less interference and allow for the faster transfer of data. For consumers it means that they can experience a better mobile browsing experience as richer content, including video, will be delivered faster and more reliably. The introduction of 4G in the UK will also improve network coverage to approximately 95%.  The last auction, of the 3G licenses, made £22.5 billion for the government back in 2000. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/uk-4g-mobile-broadband-set-for-2013.html Mon 7 Mar 2011 11:00 GMT In 2010, 30.1 million adults in the UK accessed the Internet every day or almost every day.  That\'s 60% of the population, and double the estimate from 2006.  This is not the only figure that is increasing, the number of internet users has also increased whilst the number of people that have never accessed the internet is decreasing.These figures, produced by the Office for National Statistics, can tell us a great deal because Internet use is linked to a range of socio-economic and demographic indicators, such as age, location, marital status and education.The increase in the use of the Internet can be attributed in part to the growth of the smartphone market and improvement of mobile networks. The global number of smartphones is expected to quadruple from today\'s estimate of 500 million handsets to almost 2 billion by 2015.  With users now able to access the Internet on the go we have witnessed the growth of the number of users making purchases on their mobile devices.  As apps become available for popular shopping sites and people place their trust in the security of mobile networks, more and more people are using the Internet to make purchases, with 62% of all adults shopping online in 2010. Source: ONS http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/60-of-the-uk-population-using-the-internet-every-day.html Thu 3 Mar 2011 14:09 GMT A recent study estimates that there are an incredible 1.85 million cameras in Britain monitoring people\'s movements. That equates to one camera for every 32 people and is made up of predominantly privately owned cameras, with only about 4% run by public bodies.  The high proportion of privately owned cameras suggests that people see camera surveillance as a fundamental part of their security system, and are fully aware of the benefits of having a camera system, whether it is guarding their business or their private property.  It also shows how far technology, and people\'s understanding of technology, has come in recent years as they are not afraid have such systems installed.The study is based on data collected by police community support officers in Cheshire, which was then used to extrapolate the results nationwide to give a figure for the UK.  For more information click here. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/study-reveals-uk-has-one-cctv-for-every-32-people.html Wed 16 Feb 2011 12:53 GMT One of Britain\'s richest men could be facing a jail sentence after he broke into his neighbour\'s home to silence an \"annoying\" alarm with a shotgun.  Peter Shalson shot the alarm to silence it after the siren was left repeatedly sounding because the neighbours were away and unable to re-set the alarm.This type of incident is not in isolation, there are numerous cases of irritated neighbours forced to take action because they simply cannot stand the noise any longer.  In one example, local residents cut the wires to an alarm at an unoccupied property because the siren was sounding for 20 minutes every 2 hours.... for 2 months!  After trying to contact the owners without success they tried the local authority and the police to try to silence the alarm but neither would help.This type of incident highlights the need for home owners to have a greater degree of control over their home alarm systems.  With technology available that allows the user to monitor and control their alarm system remotely, nuisance alarms can be a thing of the past.  It is now possible to control your alarm system via an app on your smartphone, so that if there is an alarm whilst you are away you will not only be notified, but able to reset the alarm remotely.  So you can leave the system armed whilst on holiday, safe in the knowledge that even if there is a break-in or false alarm, it does not need to irritate your neighbours, which will certainly mean a warmer welcome home!Burglar alarm systems\' sirens going off at unoccupied properties was a recent discussion on BBC Radio 2\'s Jeremy Vine show - you can listen to the discussion from the show on the 15th Feb here (listen from 1.38.00 onwards).But what do you think?  Do sirens do nothing more than annoy the neighbours or are they a still a valuable feature of a modern alarm - what do you do when one goes off in your street? Get in touch and let us know, we would be interested to hear your thoughts. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/tycoon-who-shot-burglar-alarm-may-face-prison-after-blasting-annoying-device.html Wed 2 Feb 2011 13:30 GMT The website www.police.uk was launched yesterday and instantly attracted thousands of visitors all eager to see the crime statistics for their local area.  The website was so popular that for a period of time after it\'s launch it was getting nearly 18 million hits an hour, making it one of the most visited sites in the UK.The service allows people to enter their post code and see the crime statistics relevant to their local area.  The stats are shown on a crime map so you can see exactly where crime is happening right down to street level.  The popularity of the website shows how much people are concerned by localised crime, and their safety and security.  Those living in areas with a high crime rate or, more specifically, a high burglary rate might wish to protect themselves with a wireless burglar alarm system.  If you live in one of these areas, just the sight of a burglar alarm at your property is enough to deter a lot of would-be burglars.  If the worst does happen and a burglar does break into your house, having the Halo 100 Starter Kit should give you some peace of mind because you will be notified straight away to the event by SMS or email and can even see recorded images of the burglar if you have an IP camera set up as part of the system. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/policeuk-website-shows-crime-map-of-your-area.html Tue 25 Jan 2011 17:40 GMT We found a few stats on social media, mobile and the internet that we thought were worth sharing.  Some of which are mind-boggling!  Have a read and see what you think...We create more information every 2 days than in the history of the planet before 2004It would take 28 years without sleeping to watch all of the video uploaded to YouTube this weekAt Facebook’s current growth rate it will exceed the world’s population by 201410 years ago it took 72 hours to download the Godfather today it takes 10 minutes, It still takes 3 hours to watch12,000 books fit onto 8 Kindles, an entire library in your backpackThere are now 2,000,000 apps for smartphones1910: mass media spreads news faster than word of mouth, 2011: word of mouth spreads news faster than mass mediaTeens watch more video online than on DVDs and don’t know a world without the internetBy 2017, there will be 7 trillion connected devices, 1000 for each person aliveWhile you read this 150,000 messages were sent on Twitter, 15 million text messages were sent, 300 million email messages were sent, Ashton Hutcher gained 6 new followers on Twitter and 5 cats did something really cute on YouTubeSource: Rogers: Next is Now http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/amazing-social-media-mobile-and-internet-stats.html Fri 14 Jan 2011 15:02 GMT Traditionally, monitoring your home was done by connecting a burglar alarm to a manned alarm receiving centre.  In the event of an alarm, a signal was sent over the phone line to the centre where someone could pick up the alarm activation and call the home owner to alert them to the problem at their home.  The problem with this method is two-fold.  Firstly, there is an obvious expense incurred from running a manned response centre, and these costs are inevitably passed onto the consumer.  Secondly, connecting to the alarm centre over the phone line means that whenever there is an alarm event, the home owner has to pay for the phone call the alarm initiates.  This may not sound a lot but if you have a lot of false alarms then the phone bill will quickly rack up.  In addition, the communication only occurs when something has triggered the alarm, it’s not feasible for the phone line to be open all the time to allow for a constant flow of data from the sensors in the home to the alarm receiving centre, so the user will only have access to information about events that have actually triggered the alarm when it is set.   But with improvements in technology and in particular the fact that residential broadband is virtually ubiquitous, home monitoring companies can now offer much more for much less.  By connecting a burglar alarm to the internet via a broadband connection the home owner can cut out the middle man (the alarm receiving centre) altogether, and in doing so save money.  The reason the alarm receiving centre is no longer required is because all of the monitoring services can be managed automatically from a monitoring web platform, so essentially all of the information is processed over the Internet.  This is the method of home monitoring utilised by Halo.  This way when an alarm is triggered at the home, instead of the manned response an SMS text message, email or automated phone call can be sent out to inform the home owner. Another crucial advantage of having an alarm system that connects via broadband rather than through a phone line is that the connection is permanently open, meaning that information from the alarm and it’s sensors can be constantly streamed to the monitoring platform even when the alarm has not been set and triggered.  From here it can be presented to the user in the form of an online account where the user can view real time activity from their home.  Broadband enables the user to login to their account through a single, simple web interface at any time to see live data from the home, from anywhere with an Internet connection, whether that be at home on on the go via a smartphone.  What Halo allows users to do is monitor their home from anywhere in the world.  The real time information available means that a standard burglar alarm system can become a system for monitoring elderly relatives at home, as all movement can be recorded and customizable alerts set up based on user preferences, for example, an SMS can be sent if no activity is recorded between 8am and 10am. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/modern-day-home-monitoring.html Thu 6 Jan 2011 15:43 GMT Last month the Halo 100 Starter Kit, Halo 110 Wireless Camera and Halo 104 Smoke Detector were chosen to appear in the Man\'s Dream Pad, a luxury apartment in London\'s newest and most iconic building, Central St Giles. Christer Holloman, Chairman of First Tuesday UK and Sky News columnist, was asked by Sky News Tech Talk to put together the Pad, choosing from \"the world’s best furniture and technology manufacturers and suppliers to bring the vision to life\".  The Halo kit was chosen as the security option to protect all the gadgets in the apartment.  Christer has written a blog on the subject for Sky News and also keeps the site www.mansdreampad.com up to date with news and information about all of the gadgets included in the project. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/halo-featured-in-mans-dream-pad.html Tue 21 Dec 2010 17:38 GMT It’s not new, the idea that a device can connect to the Internet.  What is new, it would seem, is the acknowledgment that this is the way forward and now there are a plethora of devices that are “web-enabled”, from your TV, to your DIY alarm system and even your fridge.  More and more companies are starting to develop products that can connect to the Internet, and there is a benefit for virtually every device, whether it\'s receiving up to date content or enabling two way communication with the user.  This emerging trend seems to be reflected in the TV advertising too, as we see big brands start to use terms like \"the Cloud\" and \"web-enabled\" in mass consumer promotions, whereas they were previously reserved for the more technically savvy among us.The evolution of fixed and mobile broadband has had a big part to play in this emerging trend. Without the networks being able to support the growing amounts of data going back and forth then connecting these devices to the web would be entirely pointless.2010 has already seen the introduction of web enabled TVs and set top boxes, allowing the user to access content on the web from their TV, but 2011 is likely to see this go one step further with the launch of IPTV services such as YouView, the BBC-backed offering, and Google TV. Vinton Cerf, Google’s “Chief Internet Evangelist” believes that in the future “virtually any appliance is going to be online.  Appliances will talk to each other and to the power generation system.  Our appliances will pay attention to our preferences.” Energy monitoring and home automation devices are already available, but the growth of this market is likely to accelerate over the next year as the term “web-enabled” becomes heard more often and consumers start to see the potential benefits of having devices connected to the internet, particularly as people begin to see how easily devices can be controlled by using the smartphones and apps that they are already familiar with. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/will-2011-be-the-year-everything-connects.html Fri 10 Dec 2010 14:00 GMT According to Steve Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of National Grid Plc, electric cars will make up 20% of automotive sales by 2016, with the growth in this market helped along by Government subsidies and lower fuel costs.The Government is keen to push electric vehicles because of the obvious benefit to the environment by a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.  Motorists could receive as much as £5,000 if they buy an electric car or a plug-in hybrid car from January.  This coincides with the launch of the new Mitsubishi iMiev and the Nissan Leaf electric cars.  Although expensive to buy, these cars boast cheap running costs, with a range of about 80-100 miles at a cost of about 3p per mile.  The cars will cost in the region of £30,000 but can be charged from a common household plug, says Colin Couchman, a London based analyst with consultant HIS Automotive.Although the range of these cars seems rather limited at less than 100 miles per charge, the cost of this charge could be as little as 96p.  If you take into account statistics from the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the estimated average daily distance traveled by British drivers is 25 miles and the length of a single journey is 8.6 miles, so the average driver should not have a problem recharging the car between journeys.Other incentives that could potentially be used by the Government to encourage the use of electric vehicles include waiving the congestion charge in London for drivers of electric vehicles, and free parking.  So with the cost savings clear to see and the Government making efforts to make the prospect of owning an electric car even more attractive, it would seem likely that the market for these cars will take off in the next few years and grow as expected. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/electric-cars-to-reach-20-of-uk-vehicle-sales-by-2016-grid-ceo-says.html Tue 23 Nov 2010 12:42 GMT One of the UK’s leading eco-retailers has come up with tips and advice that will help people save money and as well as the planet this festive season.Nigel Berman, founder of Nigel\'s Eco Store, says there are lots of ways to have a sustainable Christmas, from saving energy to making sure gifts are low-carbon and useful.Here are ten tips for reducing your carbon footprint at Christmas. 1) Don\'t forget to turn off your fairy lights 2) Christmas cards - Send environmentally friendly e-cards instead3) Recycle wrapping paper4) Candles - Paraffin candles are made from petroleum residues, so don’t do your health or the environment any good5) Deck the halls with real holly 6) Christmas trees - real trees are the more eco friendly choice7) Be battery wise - use re-chargeable batteries in your Christmas toys8) Buy an organic turkey9) Recycle your unwanted presents 10) Give a charity or environmentally friendly gift Read the tips in full here. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/ten-tips-for-a-green-sustainable-and-moneysaving-christmas.html Tue 9 Nov 2010 17:09 GMT Cloud-based monitoring Platform service provider makes list for second consecutive year. The company behind the new Halo home monitoring products & service range has been included in the prestigious Deloitte Technology Fast 50 list for the second consecutive year. Intamac Systems Ltd. ranks 24th for 2010, improving on its success of the previous year where it featured at number 27. With an impressive 1112% year-on-year growth, Intamac is one of only ten companies to be included consecutively, providing a strong validation of the organisation’s continued success and market interest. The Deloitte Technology Fast 50, one of the UK\\\'s foremost technology award programmes, is a ranking of the country\\\'s 50 fastest-growing technology companies based on percentage growth over five years. Previous winners have included some of the most dynamic players in hi-tech, biotech and digital media technology. Intamac is a leading provider of managed cloud-based monitoring services for the connected home market. With platforms and offices on 3 Continents, and partners including BT, Bell Canada, IAG, Lockon, WoonVeilig, Intamac is global force powering the smart-home.  The Halo product & service is a true plug-and-play self install IP based home monitoring system, which utilises the Intamac platform to provide a range of value added services direct to consumers including enhanced home security, telecare, IP cameras and smart energy monitoring and control. “It’s a real honour to make the Deloitte Fast 50 for the second year in a row” comments Kevin Meagher, CEO Intamac Systems Ltd, “This acknowledgement from Deloitte is a validation of our ongoing growth and success in the connected home market. This achievement is a validation for our customers and partners, who believe that technology developments can power new and innovative products and services which offer real value and improve lifestyles for consumers”. “Making the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 is a testament to a company’s commitment to technology,” said Mark Doleman, Deloitte Technology partner for the East Midlands. “With its 1112% growth rate over five years, Intamac Systems Ltd has proven that its leadership has the vision and determination to grow in competitive conditions.” http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/power-behind-halo-home-monitoring-is-ranked-24th-in-deloitte-technology-fast-50.html Mon 8 Nov 2010 18:01 GMT We were pleased to hear that our Halo 100 Starter Kit and the Halo 110 Wireless camera were both awarded the maximum rating - 5 stars - when they were reviewed by Able, the disability lifestyle magazine.  They were particularly interested in the Care application of the Halo system which allows users to see all activity recorded at a property even when the system is not set, as well as offering a panic alarm for those at the property which, when activated, alerts a number of nominated contacts at once to notify them of the alarm.  Users can also set up Trigger alerts - time based alerts whereby messages will be sent to named contacts if, for example, no movement is detected between 8am and 10am.This Halo products will be listed in the Nov/Dec issue of the magazine. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/halo-starter-kit-and-camera-rated-5-star.html Thu 28 Oct 2010 12:37 GMT Many people still use good old-fashioned techniques such as secure door locks, chains and a simple hard-wired burglar alarm system, however, as technology has advanced and prices have dropped, more sophisticated wireless DIY home security systems are replacing their wired counterparts - and this is down to the fact that as technology improves, the alarm systems are becoming increasingly more like plug-and-play devices, with very little effort needed to set them up.  A big part of this ease of set-up is down to the fact that these DIY systems are wire free, so a professional installer doesn’t need to come out to your home and spend days routing wires around your house.Wireless technology is now commonplace in most people’s homes in one form or another, and this familiarity with the technology gives confidence that wireless alarm systems are reliable.Once you’ve purchased a DIY wireless alarm package, you’ll never look back. You’ll have peace of mind, your prized possessions will be less likely to be stolen and you will avoid the possible hassle of dealing with all the upset and inconvenience that goes with being broken into. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/the-benefits-of-a-wireless-diy-alarm-system.html Fri 15 Oct 2010 15:48 GMT Sadly this is not the case and most people now just ignore these sirens going off and put them down to false alarms because of the frequency with which they occur.  Over 98% of sirens are just ignored and the police will not come out to the property without good cause i.e. someone has reported an incident in progress.How many times have you heard a siren and done nothing? http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/security-myths-an-external-siren-will-attract-attention-and-scare-off-an-intruder.html Thu 14 Oct 2010 15:45 GMT There are systems on the market that not only charge up to £25 per month for the monitoring service alone, but also tie the user into a contract that can be up to 3 years in duration.  That’s £900 before you even take into account the cost of the alarm itself or any maintenance charges! The Halo 100 Starter Kit allows you to monitor you property from anywhere in the world for as little as £2.49 per month and there is no contract so the user can cancel at any time.  The user can control their system via an online interface or smartphone (i-phone app available) and the service will send out alarm notifications via SMS text message, landline phone call, email and even Twitter.  Not only is there no contract to tie-in a user for any length of time but there are various monitoring options to choose from, including a free level of service that offers a basic level of monitoring for those not wishing to pay any monthly charge. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/security-myths-a-monitored-system-will-tie-me-into-a-costly-contract.html Tue 12 Oct 2010 13:24 GMT The majority or motion detectors now are sophisticated enough to be able to distinguish between pets and people and therefore having pets at home whilst the alarm is set should not cause false alarms.  The ‘pet friendly’ sensors may still be triggered by pets, particularly cats that are able to climb up onto furniture, but these sensors greatly reduce the risk of false alarms. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/security-myths-my-pets-will-just-cause-false-alarms.html Tue 12 Oct 2010 13:13 GMT The weather may be balmy but winter is on its way, bringing increased costs for many. Now is the time to get your home and finances ready for winter, to avoid sky-high energy bills and a chilly and expensive season indoors.The gas and electricity regulator Ofgem is predicting that energy prices might rise as much as 13 per cent by spring, while long-term forecasters are predicting a cold winter. Temperatures could dip as low as minus 20 Celsius.However, there are plenty of things you can do now to prepare yourself for the big freeze, so follow the checklist below to make sure you are ready.SWITCH YOUR ENERGYThe biggest change you can make to winter\'s energy bills is by making sure you are on the cheapest tariff for gas and electricity. This won\'t make any difference to the quality of the energy supplied to you, but it could make a vast difference to the cost.The average customer can save more than £250 over the course of a year just by switching energy companies, while if you\'ve stayed with the same gas and electricity company for many years you could save far more. Now is a good time to consider switching, since deals are being put together to lure customers in.It\'s important that you do a proper price comparison, however, rather than being dazzled by cashback offers. A good way of doing this is to use a comparison site such as Uswitch, Confused or Energy Helpline (who will also talk things through with you over the phone on 0800 074 0745). Have your monthly bills ready, since you\'ll need this information to calculate which tariff is best for you.You could save even more by taking the information from the comparison site and then using it via a cashback site such as Topcashback or Quidco. These are offering up to £100 cashback for new customers with some providers.Make sure you\'re aware of what you are signing up to, since tariffs have different and confusing names, and many also impose charges if you want to leave early. It is possible to fix your energy for several years if you prefer certainty, and although the deals are slightly more expensive than the cheapest deals, you may end up saving more in the long run. Paying by direct debit will give you the best discount, and you may be charged less still if you pay your bills online.DEAL WITH YOUR BOILERBefore the cold snap really hits, it pays to have your boiler serviced. The savviest people do this in the summer, when companies offer special deals, but even if you do it now your boiler should run more efficiently, saving you money.If you buy boiler insurance cover you may get a service with it – however, this has risen by as much as 20 per cent since last year and now costs between £150 and £200, so it pays to check whether you really need it.For a start, do not assume that your energy provider has the cheapest cover, since there are standalone providers who sometimes offer the cover more cheaply. Comparison sites such as Moneysupermarket can also help you with boiler cover, while it is always worth checking cashback offers with the sites mentioned above.nPower recently launched a new boiler care product for £10.50 a month, which is the same as with British Gas, but with the twist that if you don\'t claim on the cover at the end of 12 months you\'ll get half your money back.It is possible that you may already have your boiler covered by your home insurance policy; check before signing up to anything. Often it is covered but limits tend to be relatively low. For example, Prudential includes as standard home emergency cover of up to £500 for call-out fees, labour costs and materials.Sheilas\' Wheels also includes emergency cover in its home policies. This pays up to £500 for call-out charges and two hours\' labour costs, and parts and materials up to £100 for the sudden failure of the main heating system.In reality, you may just want to pay for boiler repairs as and when they arise. Bear in mind that if you already have a new boiler, you may already be covered by a warranty.If your boiler is really old and does need replacing, it may pay to do it sooner rather than later. The Energy Saving Trust calculates that the difference between gas bills from a home with an old boiler to one with an ultra-efficient new one is as much as £225 a year for an average three-bedroom semi. Getting a new one sorted before winter kicks in could be sensible if you know that yours is on its last legs.SEAL YOUR HOMEThere\'s no point in spending money heating your house if what you are actually warming up is the whole neighbourhood, so make sure your home is as insulated as possible. According to the Energy Saving Trust, cavity wall insulation is the most effective energy-saving measure you can take.This simple measure, which involves injecting foam into the gap between your walls, can save £110 a year. There are grants available for installing this, especially if you are over 60. Try the Energy Saving Trust\'s grant search tool on www.energysavingtrust.org.ukLoft insulation, which saves around £40 a year on the average house, can also be installed at a subsidised cost, if you can get a grant. Most homes have some loft insulation, but normally fall short of the recommended level of 220mm.BLOCK YOUR DRAUGHTSYou can also increase your winter comfort factor by blocking draughts, especially if you have single-glazed windows. Just fitting draught stripping across your doors could save you £25 this winter. Even when the figures sound unimpressive, don\'t underestimate the extra comfort that thick curtains, draught excluders and other cheap measures can bring.Rosalyn Dungate, of the Energy Saving Trust, suggests blocking cracks between floors and skirting boards with material, paper or decorator\'s caulking, a cheap home-made solution that could save money and make life far warmer.Plenty of heat is also lost through your chimney if it is open, so if you\'re not having fires, try using a chimney balloon to seal it. These are easily deflated and removed.MONITOR YOUR USAGEFinally, if you want to keep on top of spiralling costs, consider an energy monitor. These can be attached to your electricity meter, and can act as a powerful incentive to switch off lights and appliances by showing you exactly how much your usage is costing.Studies suggest you could save five per cent of your electricity bills by using one, although of course this is a behavioural saving- you won\'t get cheaper bills just from looking at the monitor.Sadly, these do not yet exist for gas meters. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/how-to-cut-your-energy-bills.html Mon 11 Oct 2010 14:11 GMT That may well have been true in the past, but technology has moved on considerably in the last few years and wireless alarms can now be as reliable as their wired counterparts.  This is reflected by the fact insurance companies are increasingly accepting wireless house alarms as acceptable systems for the home.  To improve reliability of your wireless alarm it is recommended that the alarm you choose operates on the Government’s approved 868MHz frequency.  The Halo 100 Starter Kit operates using the approved 868MHz frequency. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/security-myths-i-want-a-wireless-system-but-they-are-too-unreliable.html Tue 5 Oct 2010 11:37 GMT Over the next week we will be looking at some of the most common Home Security myths and hoping to dispel them.  In this first post we address the common misconception that all Home Security systems are too expensive, but make sure you check back here to see the rest of the series. In the UK, professionally installed alarm systems can cost upwards of £300 and the average cost of having them installed is £475, according to research by Which?With this type of alarm there is usually the option to then subscribe to a monitoring contract, which means the alarm will connect to a receiving centre contracted by your installer or via a monitoring company.  They call keyholders in the event of an alarm going off.  If you have a professionally installed system with a monitoring contract, you will also have to pay an annual maintenance charge, which will on average equate to a further £60 per annum on top of the cost of the monitoring service, which is typically between £69 and £176 per year.According to these figures from Which? you could pay as much as £1,000 in the first year of having your alarm, assuming you have it professionally installed, maintained and on a monitoring contract. But there are cost effective, reliable and flexible alternatives that can give you the same benefits without the expensive initial outlay, high monthly charges or restrictive (and sometimes lengthy) monitoring contracts.  There are now a range of DIY kits that are, thanks to the fast pace of technological advances, as reliable as their professionally installed counterparts but without the complex installation.  An example of one such solution is the Halo 100 Starter Kit – a DIY burglar alarm system that can be easily installed and set up in 30 minutes and requires no technical or alarm system knowledge whatsoever to install it.  Priced at £249.99 (or £199.99 with discount code INT1025) with a range of monthly monitoring options starting at only £2.49 per month and no maintenance or monitoring contracts to tie customers in, the Halo system is beneficial to those people who desire a cheaper and more flexible security solution.In the event of an alarm, instead of the user being contacted by an alarm receiving centre they will receive an SMS text message, automated call to a landline, email and even Twitter message to alert them to the alarm activation.  As the process is automated, the monitoring costs are considerably lower than those associated with a manned receiving centre. With the Halo system there is also no lengthy contract to tie you to the monitoring service, and there is even a free level of service which gives the user some basic monitoring functions and allows them to get an idea of what the monitoring service has to offer before paying for the full subscription. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/security-myths-home-security-systems-are-too-expensive.html Thu 30 Sep 2010 18:01 GMT Two recent studies of burglary statistics by researchers at the University of Leicester have revealed surprising information about what criminals look for – and what they wear.Dr John Bond, Honorary Research Fellow in the University’s Forensic Research Centre and PhD student Matthew Tonkin from the School of Psychology worked with Northamptonshire Police (where Dr Bond is attached as Scientific Support Manager) to catalogue and analyse identifiable footwear impressions from 155 burglaries where the identity of the offender was known. Details of brand and price were then compared with the burglar’s background and lifestyle to identify trends.The results showed no correlation between expensive shoes and age or gender but there was one clear trend. Burglars wearing higher-priced brands on their feet were more likely to be unemployed and to live in areas of social and economic deprivation.“We have found it is possible to make general statements about the sort of offender who left the impressions,” explains Dr Bond. “Specifically, the cost of footwear can tell us something about the offender’s employment status and where they live.“Where reliable relationships exist between the cost of footwear left at crime scenes and the type of person responsible for the crime then footwear evidence could be used by the police in a revolutionary way to narrow the search for offenders during an investigation.”Meanwhile, in the Department of Criminology, Lecturer James Treadwell has been researching not what criminals wear but what they pinch. What he has discovered is that this ‘shopping list’ has changed over time and that burglars are less likely to break into houses and steal domestic good than they were ten or twenty years ago. The apparent reason being: it’s no longer worth it.“The last decade has been a remarkable one where crime is concerned, with massive changes and shifts,” says Treadwell. “If we look back to the 1980s and 1990s, the type of staple crimes would be, for example, very often burglary and car crime and those crimes worked because they followed a business model and it was possible to break into a house and steal a video recorder and sell that at a profit.“Cheap labour in China has had an impact on the type of crime that’s committed in the UK and the type of goods that are stolen today. Gradually, the prices of such goods have fallen so low that they almost have no resale value. If you can buy a DVD player for £19.99, it’s simply not worth stealing.”It would seem that the ready availability of cheap electronic goods from the Far East has, to some extent, rendered the traditional burglar ‘redundant’. But, as Treadwell observes, the knock-on effect of this is not a reduction in crime per se but a criminal career change. After all, they have to pay for those expensive shoes somehow…“While we might have seen a decline in some types of crime, we have seen a rise in other forms of criminal activity, particularly young people who seem to be mugging one another.“While DVD players for example, got cheaper, certain consumer items became smaller and were very, very expensive and sought after and so the latest mobile phone, or the latest ipod, which people carry about them, have become targets for robbers.”James Treadwell’s research will be presented at the British Society of Criminology conference, to be held at the University of Leicester in July 2010. Source:  Leicester University http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/criminal-shoes-and-what-criminals-choose.html Mon 27 Sep 2010 17:08 GMT According to the Home Office, the elderly are no more at risk from crime than any other section of society. But if you feel vulnerable, follow these top tips to keep safe.Keep your possessions safe by securing your home. You may be entitled to help towards paying for security improvements from your local council. Check with the housing department about these payments.Don\'t keep large amounts of money in your home. Keep it in a bank or building society where it is much safer.Get to know your neighbours, as it will be helpful to both of you if you get to know each other\'s routines. Why not join or set up a local.Make sure you have good exterior lighting on your home. Call the council and let them know if streetlights have burnt out on your road.It is especially important not to let strangers into your home. Fit a door chain and viewer, and remember:1.  Never give out personal details such as credit card information to strangers who come to your door or call you2.  Never let a maintenance or service man who has just turned up at your door into your home3.  Always check ID of maintenance men that you are expecting. You can check these details with their employer before you let them in. Some may use a pre-arranged password system to protect vulnerable people but if you are ever in doubt – ask them to come back when someone else is with you.Source: BBC http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/home-security-tips-for-the-elderly.html Fri 24 Sep 2010 14:48 GMT There are a number of things burglars will look for when they case a house to see how easy it will be to get in. Find out how to protect yourself and deter thieves. 1. Spare keys Think it\\\'s still OK to keep a spare key under the flowerpot? Think again. Burglars know all the hiding places – better to leave your spare keys with a neighbour or friend you trust. 2. Patio doors and ground floor windows These are a particular favourite for burglars, keep them shut and locked, especially when you leave the room. If you have patio doors make sure you invest in secure glazing and locking systems. 3. Small and expensive Your 42-inch TV might be safe because burglars these days tend to target small, expensive items they can easily grab. Keep cash, watches, jewellery, laptops, mobile phones and games consoles safely hidden. 4. The vulnerable Students, the elderly and people moving house are all particularly susceptible to burglary. 5. Tools Tools have long been a favourite of burglars because they can be easily sold or traded. There is a never ending demand for specialty tools on the illegal market. 6. Unsecured firearms If you have a licence to keep firearms be responsible about how you store them. Firearms have a high black-market value - don\\\'t put them out there. 7. Electrical equipment Electronics are also favourite targets for criminals because they can be easily sold or used for personal use. Electronics are not hard to find in the home as people often use them on a daily basis. Consider buying \\\'lock down\\\' plates for your electrical equipment, back up your computer data regularly and look for products with built-in security devices when you buy. 8. Good getaways and hiding places Burglars like houses that have easy escape routes or plenty of bushes to hide in should they be disturbed. Simple things such as placing flower pots beneath ground floor windows makes their lives harder as does putting good external lighting over any dark corners or bushes. 9. Scatty residents People who leave their ground-floor windows open or leave ladders carelessly placed against a wall are advertising their house to burglars. Do not assume that because you are in the house you can keep those windows open or let your guard down either, many burglars will go for occupied homes at night knowing that they will contain wallets and mobile phones. 10. Holidays Leaving the newspapers building up on the doorstep or forgetting to cancel the milk are all sure-fire signals to a burglar that the house is empty.   Source: BBC - Crimewatch http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/10-things-burglars-love.html Thu 23 Sep 2010 17:43 GMT In a survey of almost 2,400 consumers, research by Which? found that a third of people think that the Smart Meter and Energy Monitor are the same thing.  Although it is early days, and the adoption of Energy Monitors and Smart Meters has been limited so far, the survey highlights that there is a great deal of confusion surrounding the smart grid and the differences between these two devices.  So here is an explanation, along with some of the crucial differences between them. Energy Monitors Energy Monitors are simple devices that show real-time energy consumption.  Information is typically presented on a simple display that can be placed anywhere in the home that gives the consumer an insight into the amount of energy they are using.  Most monitors show consumption in KWh along with cost information, but there are some available that have additional features like being able to set daily targets for consumption. The fact that consumers have more information about their usage means they can immediately see the impact changes to their consumption habits have on their bill, which in turn acts as an incentive to keep changing the way they use energy in the home. Energy Monitors, although very good, are not 100% accurate because they are not using the meter reading to show usage information, they use a clamp attached to the mains supply, which monitors the flow of electricity and transmits this data to the display. Smart Meters Whereas Energy Monitors can only monitor electricity, Smart Meters can be used for either electricity or gas metering.  The Smart Meter is not a device that can be self-installed because it is connected to the mains supply and will therefore require a professional to fit it.  The Smart Meter is what will eventually replace the conventional meter, as the Government’s plans for every home to have one by 2020 get underway.  As Smart Meters are connected directly to the mains supply they provide much more accurate information than an Energy Monitor and they have the ability to communicate this information directly to the utility company.  This means the end of the estimated bill and also allows energy providers to introduce more flexible tariffs, for example, improved time-of-day rates that offer cheaper rates during times of lower demand. Although Smart Meters will help consumers save money on their utility bills, it will be the Energy Monitor rather than the Smart Meter that consumers will use to keep track of their consumption, the Smart Meter will just ensure that the information they are getting is accurate.  At the end of the day though, savings will come from a change in consumer behaviour and NOT from this technology. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/smart-meter-and-energy-monitor-the-differences-explained.html Wed 15 Sep 2010 18:14 GMT Putting control of your home in the palm of your handFollowing the successful launch of the Halo self-install IP home security product & service, the supporting Home Halo iPhone® application is now available as a free download from the iTunes® store. Home Halo provides iPhone users with the ability to easily monitor, manage and control their connected home devices from anywhere in the world, directly using their handset.Key features of the Halo Home iPhone app include:The ability to view the current status of, and recent events from, connected devices in your homeRemotely control your home, switching the Security system on and off.Set the order of nominated Contacts who will receive messages via voice-call, SMS, email and even Twitter, if an alert is triggered.Track ‘trigger’ events, raising alerts if specific events do / do not occurThe ability record and view video from connected Halo IP cameras.Featuring a slick and easy to navigate user interface, the app allows users to remotely control a range of Halo devices in their home directly from an iPhone, and provides real time information via a variety of services including SMS, email and Twitter. The Halo home monitoring service can also be accessed via a PC, and can be tailored to a broad range of useful applications, specific to individual needs including;Home security – automated monitoring & messaging service, collecting real time data from a wide variety of sensors including intruder, fire, flood, panic and much moreVideo  – view live streaming images from connected Ip cameras via PC or smartphone, or capture and save recorded clips to be viewed at a later dateCaring for your family members – including emergency alarms, daily activity tracking, and user definable alert triggers to allow you to passively monitor and care for loved ones from afar and at all timesUsing the latest wireless connected home technology, Halo offers a complete and highly customisable wireless product and service bundled solution, which allows you to monitor and control any aspect of your home or family. With Home Halo now available on the iPhone, you have control of your home in the palm of your hand, whenever and wherever you are in the world. Whether the end aspiration is to have a fully integrated smarthome, or simply a burglar alarm that offers a bit more, Halo products and services give you real choice and flexibility, and help make the connected home a reality.The Halo 100 starter kit is available now from www.home-halo.co.uk at a special price of £199 until 30thSeptember 2010 by entering the discount code INT1025 when purchasing the kit.To download the free app for your iPhone search for \"Home Halo\" on the iTunes app store or click here to find the preview. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/free-halo-iphone-app-available-to-download-now.html Wed 15 Sep 2010 10:02 GMT 1. Turn off your phone charger when not in use.  This will save you around £4 a year.2. Putting the kettle on? Boil only the amount of water you need. This will save around £27 a year.3. Replace bulbs with new energy saving light bulbs. This will save around £24 a year.4. Turn Off instead of Standby.  This will save around £30 a year.5. Turn your thermostat down by 1 degree. This will save around around £41 a year.Just by making these simple adjustments to your everyday energy usage habits you can save around £126 a year and this is without even making any drastic changes to your everyday consumption.  Imagine how much you could save if you were really proactive?!Source: homeheatingguide.co.uk/ http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/5-energy-saving-tips.html Fri 20 Aug 2010 09:45 GMT The new range of Halo products and services were launched this week, with \"burglars\" prowling the streets of London to promote the occasion.  With the holiday season still in full flow, this is typically a time of year that opportunistic burglars try to take advantage of, by watching for the tell-tale signs that a property has been left unoccupied.  Unless people take precautions to safeguard their property whilst they are away they might be making themselves targets, when in fact research shows that even by taking some basic steps towards securing the home, you will greatly reduce the risk of being broken into.  With the Halo 100 Starter Kit set up you can ensure that even when you\'re away, it\'s you that\'s watching your home!To mark the launch of the Halo range we are offering £50 off your basket before the 30th of September if you use the discount code INT1025 when purchasing your products.  UPDATE:  This special introductory offer has now been extended to the 15th of October 2010! http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/whos-watching-your-home-when-youre-away.html Thu 19 Aug 2010 11:46 GMT Introducing Halo – a simple, effective home monitoring solutionNew levels of protection for people and their propertyA survey of a random sample of 1000 UK respondents conducted by Intamac Systems Ltd found that over 74% of respondents were most concerned about a home disaster like a fire, flood or burglary when going away on holiday. The statistics were revealed today at the launch of Halo, a unique, easy-to-install home monitoring service that allows you to monitor or manage your home from anywhere in the world through your broadband connection.“As the holiday season gets fully under way, its open season for housebreakers and accidents,” said Kevin Meagher, CEO, Intamac. “The level of home security is the key risk factor for burglary victimisation, and over half the respondents of our survey had no home security system in place, and relied on friends or neighbours to keep an eye on the place. What people really want is a system that’s easy to set up, that can tell someone who can then quickly do something about it – whether it’s a broken pipe, or break in.”Halo is your first step towards creating a truly connected home, a place where your security and care sensors and video communicate wirelessly and can be monitored and controlled using a single, simple user interface - your online Halo home monitoring account. Whether at home or on the go, securely access your account from via the web or smartphone.The Halo 100 Starter Kit can be bought for as little as £199 (with discount code INT1025), it is completely wireless and you can install it yourself in just 30 minutes – no need for expensive contractors or rewiring. There are no lock-in periods or expensive contracts with security agencies, offering you complete control of your home monitoring.Home office statistics state that Households with ‘less than basic’ home security measures were six times more likely to have been victims of burglary than households with ‘basic’ security and ten times more likely than households with ‘enhanced’ home security measures. However, the high price and effectiveness of “traditional” burglar alarm systems puts many people off.The Halo product range consists of a variety of products from a starter kit, wireless camera, key fob, movement detector, door contact, smoke detector, external siren, external dummy siren, water / flood detector and keypad. You can pick the products for your specific needs, and add or remove sensors at any time. Install your products, register them to your online Halo account and your service is activated and ready to go – it’s as easy as that!“Advances in wireless technology and internet based computing have enabled us to offer a completely automated and affordable home monitoring solution,” said Meagher.  “There is a low level of trust in how effective traditional burglar alarm systems are in actually getting somebody on the scene in time, so we developed Halo to send alerts discreetly to someone who cares and can actually check quickly to see if action is needed. Halo ensures that home security is more effective than simply sounding an alarm that nobody responds to, and by connecting to the internet, a whole host of other services can be added to turn your home security system into a complete home monitoring solution.Should an alert be triggered, rather than trying to alert the police or passers-by, the system instantly notifies you, or those you have nominated, by SMS, email, Twitter and voice call – a feature likely to be appreciated by the 50% of respondents who have said they would like to be notified of a security problem even if they were away.You can tailor Halo Home to a range of useful applications, depending on your specific needs including: Home security – real time data including video, as well as a range of alerts including intruder, fire, flood, panic and much moreVideo  – view live streaming images via PC or smartphone or capture and save recorded clips to be viewed at a later dateCaring for vulnerable young or elderly family members – including emergency alarms, user definable alert triggers and video to allow you to monitor and care for loved ones from afar and at all timesThe Halo 100 starter kit is available now at a special price of £199 until 30th September 2010 by entering the discount code INT1025 when purchasing the kit. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/three-quarters-of-people-are-most-concerned-about-home-safety-when-away-on-hols.html Thu 22 Jul 2010 16:51 GMT In a survey undertaken by the insurance company More Than, it was found that many burglars carried out a considerable amount of research before attempting to steal from someone\'s home.  The information from the survey was collected by consulting with 50 reformed criminals. Richard Taylor, a former burglar who is now a Methodist minister, said: \"In the old days you could buy information from a postman or from a milkman, about who was away on holiday. Now people are online giving you updates about going to the airport, about sipping their coffee, about everything.\"I always say that on Facebook it says you have 900 friends. You don\'t really. You have one friend and 899 nosy people who vaguely know you.\"Pete Markey, a spokesman for More Than, said: \"The research suggests that burglars still use tried and tested methods when it comes to breaking in to properties but that they\'re keeping up with the times too.\"Using Facebook or Twitter to boast about a big night out or a fortnight in Barbados may impress friends and colleagues, but it\'s enough to give the social-media savvy burglar all they need to know.\"The survey found that 68% of those questioned said they collected information about their target’s home and routine in advance of committing a crime, with 12% turning to sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare to pinpoint the whereabouts of a target and establish how long they would absent from home.While nosey neighbours made little difference to the ex-burglars’ plans, an alarm, followed by a dog or CCTV were identified as the biggest deterrents.  The research highlights the need to be a bit more careful about what you post to your social network because you don\'t want to advertise your home to burglars.  A home burglar alarm system is also an important deterrent and one that should be considered if you plan to leave your home for any period of time, to go on holiday for example.You can use the Halo security system as a deterrent to burglars while you are away, but an equally important feature of this system is its ability to alert you to any events that happen at the home.  If you are unlucky enough to be burgled while on holiday, wouldn\'t you like to know about it straight away so you can take action?  Even if that action is to ask a friend to go round to your home to check up on it.  The Halo Starter Kit, used in conjunction with the monitoring service can let you know if an alarm is triggered by sending you a message by SMS, email and even a voice call via a landline phone.  Login to your online account to reset the alarm, view the events and even see live streaming images by connecting wireless IP cameras to your Halo alarm for your total peace of mind. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/burglars-watching-your-social-network.html Mon 12 Jul 2010 12:39 GMT With home security a topic high on the agenda of most home-owners, many of them are looking for ways to improve the security at their property.  One way to do this is to use an IP camera and there are now a range of systems available that facilitate the connecting of such cameras, including the latest Halo security system.  The wireless IP camera (a camera that you can connect to your broadband in order to access it via the internet) offers an extra level of security for the home.Wireless ConnectivityBroadband access and the wireless home network is now commonplace in most homes, with over 18.2 million broadband subscribers in the UK (OECD, Dec 2009).  A wireless IP camera is therefore an increasingly viable option.  One of the main benefits of an IP network camera is the ability to have a wireless connection to your home network.  It’s easy to install your wireless IP camera to your existing network and this will also limit the amount of wires running to the camera as it will only require a power cable.Remote ViewingUsing IP cameras for home security offers the ability to view the cameras remotely from any location using a standard web browser. With the Halo security system you can access the images remotely from anywhere in the world through your secure online account, whether you want to see live streaming images or a recorded clip that was captured when the alarm was triggered.  This gives you peace of mind knowing everything is safe back home.When your IP camera is used in conjunction with a Halo security system, in the event of an alarm activation you can be sent notifications by SMS, email, land-line voice call or even Twitter.  You can then login to your account to see the images that were captured by your IP camera.Remote RecordingRecordings from the Halo wireless IP camera are stored remotely and saved for you to access at any time (depending on the level of service you opt for) which means you don’t have the worry of saving recordings to your computer or even to a disc or tape, as is the way with some CCTV systems.Using an IP camera to monitor your home will give you many benefits and the peace of mind knowing your home and belongings are safe. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/using-a-wireless-ip-camera.html Mon 5 Jul 2010 10:16 GMT Wireless Alarms – 6 Good Reasons to Choose OneSo you want to install an alarm system and amongst the many questions you are likely to ask before buying is, “why should I choose a wireless alarm?”  And the answer? Well, the traditional method of protecting a property has been by a hard wired system but with the advances in technology wireless systems are becoming increasingly more reliable and cost effective and consequently more popular.  We believe there are six good reasons for choosing a wireless alarm. Aesthetics – no need to drill through walls and no unsightly cable or wiringEasily Installed – no skill or experience required.  An easy DIY projectLess Expensive than professionally Monitored systemsReliability – Systems built to the Government approved operating frequency enhance reliabilityAdd additional detectors – add an extra detector wherever and when ever you likeTake it with you – Take your wireless alarm with you when you move house or leave student digs Now let’s look into each one of these in more detail:Aesthetics - the main, and probably the most obvious benefit to having a wireless alarm system is that you don’t have to drill holes through walls and run unsightly cable around the house.  The only time that a wired system should be considered is when the property is being built and the facilities for a wired system can be installed during the first fix process and hidden away – the same way as your electricity cables for lighting and heating are tucked away between the walls and floors.  After that, any wiring will appear on top of the walls and whilst it can be covered it can never be completely hidden.Easily installed.    Hard wired systems need you to be proficient in using 6, 8 or even 12 multi-core, colour-coded cable which run between the various detectors and the control panel.  Now that’s not everybody’s cup of tea.  The beauty of a wireless alarm system is that it can be installed by almost anybody.  The detectors can easily be positioned in rooms, hallways, the garage and even the shed with simple fixings.  After that the detectors “talk” to the control panel using a radio frequency and that’s it.  For added reliability it is strongly recommended that the wireless alarm you choose operates on the new Government allocated 868 MHz frequency.  The Halo range of wireless alarms do operate on this frequency.Less expensive than a monitored system.  When comparing a wireless alarm system with a monitored alarm system one of the areas to consider is cost.  To install a fully monitored, hard wired system will cost in the region of £450 to install plus £150 per year for monitoring and maintenance.  A Halo wireless alarm costs considerably less and the ongoing monitoring cost starts at only £2.49 per month up to a maximum of £12.47 per month for the full services.  Reliability.  In the past, lack of reliability was the stick used to beat the wireless alarm companies about the head (usually by companies selling hard wired systems!!).  To get past this issue and to ensure you purchase a reliable system it is recommended that the wireless alarm system you choose comes operates on the Government\'s approved 868 MHz frequency - the Halo system operates on this frequency.Easily movable.  Another major benefit of a wireless alarm system is that it is mobile.  Because it isn’t hard wired you can move the various detectors around the house and when you move house you can take the whole system with you.  Just remove the various components from the walls and doors, pack them away and set them up in your new house – simple.  This is particularly useful for students or those living in rented accommodation where you do not own the property.Adding Additional detectors.  Because each PIR, magnetic contact or other device in a wireless alarm system “talks” directly to the main control panel it is easy to install extra detectors.  For instance, once you’ve set up your wireless alarm in your house you may decide that you want to protect your shed at the bottom of the garden – after all garden theft is big business.  Well, with a wireless alarm system you can easily obtain another PIR or magnetic contact and fix it to the shed and programme it into your existing house wireless alarm system – as easy as that.  No wires or armoured cabling required.  The Halo system will even allow you to add cameras if you have a power source nearby. And so, with its cost effectiveness and ease of installation a wireless alarm system has the ability to provide the security and peace of mind you need for yourself and for your family. (Source: information taken from wirelessalarmsreview.co.uk) http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/why-buy-a-wireless-alarm.html Mon 17 May 2010 21:26 GMT Here are a few home security tips to help you keep your home and your family protected:1. Install a burglar alarm and make sure it is visible.2. Always fit good quality locks on doors and windows, a burglar is less likely to break in if they have to smash a window.3. If you go out even for a short time, make sure you lock up and turn on your alarm system.4. Always keep keys away from windows and doors.5. Fit a \'spy hole\' and chain to your door so you can see/hear who is calling.6. If you can get into your house without keys, so can a burglar.7. Put timer switches on your TV and lights so it looks like you are at home when you\'re out.8. Visible burglar alarms, locks/grilles and security lighting are excellent deterrents.  9. Don\'t forget to cancel any deliveries such as milk and papers when you go on holiday.  Papers piled up next to your door are tell tale signs that a burglar might look for.10. If you\'re not going to be around for several days, ask a friend or neighbour to empty your postbox. http://www.home-halo.co.uk/news/home-security-tips.html