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ADEM Compac II – A Very Smart Security System Product Review by Ross Tester D espite “everyone knowing someone” who has suffered the misfortune of a home or business burglary – often the someone is themselves – fitting a security system is still not one of life’s priorities to many people. If you did want to fit a system, until now, there have been two basic choices: do-it-yourself or pay a security company to do it for you. The first method scares many people, especially the non-technical, because of the difficulty of installation, particularly retro-fitting an existing building. All those cables to run and more particularly hide, sensors to fit, power to connect . . . it’s no wonder that people are scared off. And that’s before we start to consider renters who aren’t permitted to install security systems. The second method scares many people simply because of the cost. Sure, a lot of security companies heavily subsidise the alarm capital cost and the installation. But they get you in the end with the on-going costs: back-to-base monitoring is often expensive ($10-20 per week is not uncommon) and the charges for action after an alarm (and most likely a false alarm) can really hurt. Sending a patrolman around to inspect the premises is often not included in the basic monitoring price. Now there’s a new security product on the market, easily fitted and operated by even the most non-technical of people, which combines the best features of both the above methods at a fraction of the cost of either. It puts you back in control of the situation – monitoring the alarm and what action to take when you have checked it out. It’s called the ADEM Compac II and it comes from another company in the group which developed the Moving Message Display (see elsewhere in 80  Silicon Chip this issue) – 4D Systems Pty Ltd. In fact, we only discovered it by accident when we were talking to them about the display. We were so intrigued we just had to have a closer look … We’re talking about an alarm system which is completely free-standing and self-powered (though it can be run from a plugpack supply). The only installation you need to do is fix a couple of mounting screws to the ceiling, attach the unit and then plug a (supplied) phone plug into a phone socket. OK so far, but what does it do? The ADEM Compac II has a built-in Passive Infrared (PIR) detector which senses movement just like the PIR sensors used in most alarm systems these days. However, that is where the similarity ends. Instead of sounding an alarm, it then dials one of two pre-programmed phone numbers and delivers a message – one you record yourself. It could be along the lines of “This is 27 Smith Street. An intruder may be on the premises”. When the phone is answered (or the second phone, if it cannot get through to the first) the system delivers that message and then waits for a security ID number (which, of course, you program yourself!) to be entered via the phone dial pad. Then the really tricky bit starts! An inbuilt microphone listens for any sound being made at the premises – all without the possible intruder knowing about it. Now if you watch the movies, you’ll know that every good crook sneaks around without making a sound “…a fly’s foot-fall would be distinctly heard…” and all that (with apologies to Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan). In real life, crooks aren’t that clever. With rare exception, they reef out draws, pull contents out of cupboards, turn over furniture – in fact, they make quite a racket. And that’s what you can listen in on.You can remotely set the sensitivity of the unit to pick up even the faintest sound – say from a room or so away. You can even mask background sounds. And if you don’t like what you hear, you can do one of three things. (1) You can cut the call off and summon help – the Police, a neighbour, the 120kg guy down the street with the baseball bat . . . (2) You can remotely set off a siren within the ADEM Compac II which hopefully will scare the pants off the crook (or at least force a hasty retreat), or … (3) You can actually talk back, via the phone, to whoever is in the premises. Just imagine the impact of that on the poor crook. He (perhaps she) could be told anything you like. I seem to remember a movie some time ago where a burglar was startled by a voice from the dark (was it a parrot?): “Stay where you are and put your hands up,” it said. “Jesus is watching you.” “As if I care,” said the crook, starting to get brave. “You should,” said the voice. “Jesus is that dirty great big hungry Rottweiler standing in the doorway . . .” Enough friviolity – because this product is anything but frivolous. Each ADEM Compac II comes with its own coded infrared controller which is used to arm or disarm the system. Or if you wish, you can call the unit from any phone, fixed or mobile, anywhere in the world to enter your code and arm or disarm it. Just the shot if you’ve flown to Vladivostok and thought “damn, I forgot to turn on the alarm.” Not only that, you can remotely pro- The ADEM Compac II looks a lot like a smoke detector. But it’s a very clever alarm system in a similarsized package. It’s shown here with its remote control unit but it can also be armed and disarmed via any phone - from anywhere in the world! gram the unit, including change your code, change your message, adjust the audio sensitivity, change the numbers it will dial to and so on. Incidentally, there is no restriction on the type of phone it will call – mobile or fixed, local/STD or even international, with a number up to 18 digits long. (Seeing most mobile numbers are only 10 digits long and even the longest direct dial overseas numbers are only 15-16 digits that gives it pretty wide scope). Hey, it will even call you and tell you that the batteries are getting flat! All this, by the way, is housed in an attractive package which looks and mounts a lot like a smoke detector. At 180 x 180 x 35 mm, it’s about the same size, too. A comprehensive instruction manual is included as is the previously mentioned keyring-sized remote control. The system carries a 12 month warranty. At $699 (inc gst) it might sound expensive. But when you consider what you’re getting for your money (a complete system!) AND how much it will save you in the future (possibly even a big loss of property!) we think it’s a bargain; even more so when you consider not only the convenience (especially for those in rental properties) but also the technology involved. As you’ve probably gathered by now, we’re pretty impressed by the ADEM Compac II. It’s a great example of where technology and a worthwhile application marry perfectly. The ADEM Compac II is available through security specialists or direct from 4D Systems Pty Ltd, Suite 2, 3-5 Station Rd, Auburn NSW 2144. Phone (02) 9649-5065; Fax (02) 9649-4324. Their website is at www.4dsystems. com.au SC JULY 2000  81