Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can wireless security systems be used anywhere?
   Yes. The system is highly flexible and can be run from batteries. No phone lines or other connections are required.
   
   
2. Is there any situation where normal wired systems have to be used and you could not use wireless?
   As our systems are radio based, a radio connection is needed from the detectors (which we call tags) to the Base Station and from the Base Station to the Control Centre. However, this communication is continuously monitored to ensure that all detectors are operational and their status is visible at the control centre.  If this communication is interfered with in any way the Control Centre is notified and an engineer’s visit can be arranged to establish the nature of the communication interference and resolve it.
   
   
3. Doesn’t the wireless equipment, such as alarms and CCTV cameras, need some power to run them?
   The detector units have internal batteries that typically last between 8 to 12 months – the frequency of the battery change. The condition of the battery is continually monitored at the Control Centre and battery change warnings are given by the equipment approximately 4 weeks before the detector unit will stop working – this is ample time for a service visit to be arranged to change the battery.
   
   The Base Station can also be run from batteries – typically 60Ahr car / leisure batteries. Again the condition of the batteries is constantly monitored at the Control Centre so that a battery change can be programmed into the servicing schedule.
   
   
4. What happens when the batteries run out – does the equipment stop working?
   Yes, the unit will stop working – however alarms are sent to the Control Centre when a “low battery” is detected giving adequate time to change the batteries. In the case of tags there is generally up to one month to change the battery.  Base Stations rely on external power either from mains or from batteries (as above).  They also have an internal battery that will maintain operations for several days after external power is lost.  A further alarm is displayed when any unit stops working and will stay with this “missing” notification until the unit has had the battery replaced.
   
   
5. Are there applications where it would be better to use wireless than conventional wired systems?

• In all cases where extensive wiring is required – this is both expensive and time consuming.
• In buildings where wiring is unsightly, vulnerable or prohibited e.g. historic building.
• Where ground works and ditches would normally be needed, this is especially useful where there are tarmac and concrete areas e.g. roads, car parks.
• No ground working is required with Tag Guard systems.
• Where an area requires a rapid alarm installation:
• Tag Guard Systems can be deployed and operational in hours – not days.
   

6. How reliable are wireless systems – are they only as good as the wireless signals they need to work?
   Wireless systems depend on the ability to transmit radio signals – Tag Guard systems require a mobile communication network.  In extremely rare circumstances local radio interference can reduce the range of cover but we have only experienced this occurrence twice in fifteen years – in both these cases investigation found these to be illegal radio generators and they were removed / destroyed by the local Radio Agency Inspectors (the government radio policing organisation).
   
   
7. What kind of guarantees or warrantees do you provide?
   All our rented equipment is fully guaranteed during the rental period. Equipment sold carries a 12 month warranty, as set out in our standard terms and conditions of business. The equipment is not guaranteed against damage and abuse.
   Servicing, repairs, replacement and rebuilding of a damaged products are charged at very reasonable rates (terms and conditions available on request).
   We do not and cannot guarantee to prevent theft or damage.  Our systems and support services offer the most appropriate and cost effective means of reducing these risks
   
   
8. Are wireless systems more costly to install than conventional wired security systems?
   No – they are much cheaper and quicker to install than any “equivalent” wired product (if an equivalent is available at all).
   
   
9. What would you say were the main advantages of an equipment-based security system compared to manned security?

• Even the best guards can only be in one place at a time and can only see things in places they can safely go to.  The worst guards can be unreliable due to illness, attitude, boredom, tiredness and so on.  Such issues do not exist with equipment- based security systems like TagAlarm or TagCam.
• Tag Guard equipment is robust and will work in all weather conditions.
• Our systems can cover very large areas that are not capable of being monitored or even seen by a guard.
• Health and Safety can now impose very serious restrictions on how guards operate on sites.  Many sites have lots of areas that would be dangerous for a guard to patrol, particularly in the dark.  Tag Guard systems overcome these problems;  they don’t fall into “blind” holes while on patrol. Therefore it is a much safer site.
• Areas invisible to a guard e.g. round the back of a building, are continually monitored by a TagAlarm system.
  The equipment is monitored at the Control Centre and response decisions are made by highly trained security specialists, not by a lone guard in often difficult conditions. 
• Full audit trail reporting is maintained for later examination when needed.
• Remote monitoring removes the intimidation element that guards on-site might be subjected to.
• A  guard is often alone in a guard hut and may be unaware of thefts happening on the site. Even when sites are patrolled, thieves can wait for the patrol to pass before resuming their activities. Tag Guard systems report each individual activation and its exact location overcoming this risk.
• Other important benefits to consider with our equipment is that they:
  • Don’t sleep on the job
  • Will not leave the site
  • Don’t listen to i-pods
  • Cannot accept bribery
  • Cannot be intimidated or blackmailed
     

10. We use manned security at present and it’s a reasonably low cost option – if I install an equipment-based systems like your system surely it will takes years to get a payback?
    Not so.  Typical costs for a guard on site are upwards of £4,000 per month or £900 per week.  A complete Tag Guard site system package including the response is typically £1500 per month or £375 per week, so potentially there are substantial savings available.  This provides an immediate monthly cash saving.
     
11. Even with your equipment won’t I still have to pay for a guard to monitor the CCTV footage?
    No.  The charges we make are for the complete service including the response to the alarms. We work in partnership with locally based response security companies capable of giving a fast reaction time to any incident. We only work with a network of reliable, trusted companies to ensure that you have a complete service – giving you peace of mind that your site, buildings  and equipment are always protected.
    
    
12. I understand that you do vehicle tracking systems too – do these work like the well known tracking devices used on more expensive cars?
    Yes.  They are currently fitted to high value cars, Ferraris, Bentleys and many other high end vehicles.  Increasingly they are also fitted to high value construction plant and equipment like excavators and diggers. The system we have developed is a proven product that is used for after theft recovery of vehicles worldwide.The system is amongst the best on the market for fleet management of commercial vans trucks.  An easy to use web based software system provides full reporting on journeys and driver behaviour leading to increased efficiency, reduced time wasting and unauthorised use – all producing a serious reduction in costs.
    
    
13. How easy is to fit the vehicle tracking device? And can’t a criminal easily locate them?
    The units are small and can be concealed in many places on a vehicle and so can be very hard to find.  Detection is not easy without specialised equipment not usually available to the common criminal or car thief. Fitting is carried out by professional car system installer’s.
    
    
14. Don’t criminals just get wise to where CCTV cameras are and find ways of avoiding them?
    Yes.  CCTV acts a visible deterrent but is frequently of little value on its own.  Hoodies, balaclavas, false number plates, poor lighting all contribute to images being of little value in many remote sites and it usually prohibitively expensive to place cameras so that all areas of a site can be under surveillance.  Tag Guard offers a unique integration between its TagAlarm and TagCam systems that overcomes many of these problems.  The TagAlarm system detects the presence of an intruder the cameras, where fitted,  are directed automatically to view this exact area within seconds.  The control centre staff then have a significantly improved opportunity to see what has caused the activation and to take appropriate action. 
    When the alarm is first triggered the response is despatched and video information is also relayed to the guard going to site – so he is made aware of who is on site and where they might be.
     
15.  You are not a very large company so what kind of back-up can you provide?
    Tag Guard operates throughout the UK, Holland, Belgium and Denmark and has recently opened operations in Germany.  Whilst we are not a large multinational company we have the resources to provide the best security service of its kind in the areas we currently work in.  At Tag Guard we pride ourselves on giving the service that you need and we will provide a solution to match your requirements.
    
    We regularly develop systems and detectors specific to individual needs using our own research and development team.  We have a successful track record of producing award wining systems.