There have been several burglaries in my area, and police have reported that thieves used jammers to prevent the alarm system from accessing cellular signals while breaking into homes. Is my Frontpoint system sensitive to this type of device?
In recent years, questions about Wi-Fi or cellular surveillance and its reliability in the presence of signal jammers have come up with increasing frequency. This is still a problem for anyone who has (or is considering) a wireless home security system.
A jammer is an illegal device that uses radio wave frequencies to block wireless signals. Under the Communications Act of 1934, its use is considered a form of property theft. What's more, these devices prevent someone from calling 911 in the event of an emergency or a crime. Even though jammers are illegal in the United States, that hasn't stopped some people from using them.
In this blog, we discuss the types of jammers, how jammers affect home security systems, and how to protect your home.
There are three types of jammers used to block different types of wireless signals:
Telephone jammers specifically block cellular signals, known as cellular devices. If the jammer is active, your phone will have no network signal.
wifi jammers create a frequency to block Wi-Fi connections and prohibit devices from "connecting to 3G, 4G, GPRS, or wireless Wi-Fi networks."
GPS jammers block satellite frequencies. GPS jammers have little to do with home security systems, but are often used to deflect surveillance or espionage.
Regardless of the frequency used, some thieves may try to block security cameras using wireless security camera jammers.
Jammers can disrupt signals from cellular and Wi-Fi home security systems. Your camera and sensor will not be damaged, but the sensor's ability to transmit signals will be limited. This may not be the answer you want to hear, but home safety is unlikely to be affected.
