We are trying to decide on sensors for our system. Not sure whether to use door/window open sensors plus glass break detector or use the shock sensors. For a sliding glass door, would 2 shock sensors be needed or just one? Also, where is the best place in the home to out the control panel? We were doing to out it favong the front door and windows in order to utilize the camera and the glass break detector it has in it; however, I have some read on here that it is not recommended to out near any entrances. What is the point of it having a glass break detector then? Or has that recommendation changed and it would be ok to face a front or back door? Thanks!
General wisdom is to “hide” alarm panels to add difficulty to crash and smash attempts where someone kicks in an entry door and rushes the panel to disable the communicator. Alarm.com implements Crash and Smash detection, so that if your panel indicates a door is opened and entry delay turns on, if a follow-up signal is not received, either a disarm or alarm, it is treated as an alarm.
The difficulty with all-in-one panels is they cannot be hidden away in a basement, they need to communicate to sensors and on cellular network, so it the general advice for them is usually for the main panel to be in a central-ish location near an exterior wall.
Ultimately most homes won’t have a lot of range issues, and PowerG will help overcome most range concerns. Place the panel where it has a quality cellular signal and can be used.
I would avoid letting it be visible from a window if possible.
Sometimes users will install the panel on a second floor and a secondary keypad near the entry door.
Ok that helps thank you. For a large sliding glass door, will one qolsys shock-shock sensor work for that or is two needed? I saw the Honeywell provides covers a shock area of 10-12 feet but did not see any specifications for the IQ one with qolsys. Trying to decide between shock window sensor or window sensor (open/close) plus the glass shatter detection. Thanks!
The shock sensors will generally only cover one pane of glass. For a sliding door, the door would require one, and any glass window that does not move will need one.
If you have a lot of windows nearby a glass break detector is more cost efficient. If it would just be coverable by a couple shock sensors I would generally recommend shocks for fewer false alarm hazards.