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Mosquito Loitering Solutions RDAS+ with RaiderVision Visual Verification
PRODUCT TEST
The Mosquito Loitering Solutions RDAS+ is a monitored (via GPRS) wireless, battery powered security system intended for temporary applications such as vacant buildings, construction sites and scaffolding protection. The system has been designed to exceed the requirements of the SSAIB Code of Practice for Enhanced Temporary Alarm Systems (ETAS), 2012. The system product range is quite extensive in terms detection devices and accessories but for evaluation, we were supplied the following:
RDAS+ control unit – The system controller/communication unit is supplied with a battery pack providing up to three months normal operation of the system. These are housed within an IP65 crush resistant Peli case together with the aerials for both the interconnected system detectors and the GPRS alarm transmission equipment. A facility is provided on the Peli case to bring a cable in from an external high gain aerial if required. In total, four battery packs may be connected to the controller to provide around 12 months standard operation.
Remote keypad – The system keypad is manufactured in a high strength IP65 ABS housing. This unit is intended as both the general user interface and an engineering tool for the installer, providing information on signal strength and battery life of system devices via a two-line liquid crystal display. The unit’s lithium ion batteries are intended to provide in excess of 12 months use. Multiple keypads may be installed on the system.
External siren – The siren unit comprises of twin piezo sounders, RF transceiver and battery pack; housed within a rectangular ABS IP65 rated enclosure Battery life again is intended to provide around 12 months normal use.
Entry exit PIR – A standard wireless PIR modified to provide entry exit tones from a piezo buzzer mounted on the side of the unit.
BUG detector – A small rectangular ABS box containing an accelerometer based motion detector, RF transceiver and batteries. This unit is designed to detect movement of any object to which it is attached (or indeed just placed within).
RaiderVision – The latest addition to the RDAS+ system is the RaiderVision external dual optic detection PIR with visual verification module containing a VGA resolution day/night CMOS camera. The range of detectors available for the systemalso include magnetic contact, smoke, flood/water level, emergency call point, active IR beam and several PIR motion detection devices for various applications.
Training in person
The RDAS+ has no installation manual supplied with it, nor even is there one available for download from the manufacturer’s website. This seems a little odd but relates to the product route to market – direct from the manufacturer Mosquito Loitering Solutions. In order to ensure their product is installed correctly and to reduce the likelihood of technical support calls for minor queries; Mosquito Loitering Solutions has a policy of delivering any customer’s first order by hand and providing detailed training on installation and configuration of the product. Whether this is reasonable is a matter of opinion but once shown the product, installation and configuration is straight forward.
“Mosquito Loitering Solutions has a policy of delivering any customer’s first order by hand and providing detailed training on installation and configuration of the product”
The RDAS+ system has been designed with function in mind rather than its appearance. Many of the system components are plain grey boxes, the exception being the bright yellow Peli case housing the system controller. That said, the system is designed to be rapidly deployed within vacant buildings or construction sites on a temporary basis; for which the product needs to be rugged, robust and of good build quality; the manufacturer has certainly achieved this.
Rather than manufacturing everything in house, Mosquito Loitering Solutions has chosen to use battery operated motion detectors of third party manufacture and mate these to their own RF transceiver technology, providing a product capable of a stated 1km range (open air) and up to 3km with a high gain aerial. Local transmissions use the 434MHz frequency for improved penetration of solid non-metallic building materials rather than the now common 868MHz. All transmissions are encrypted.
Offsite monitoring (and configuration) of the system is achieved using GPRS signaling in conjunction with Mosquito Loitering Solutions’s secure server. Customers are provided with a secure login to the Mosquito Loitering Solutions secure online portal enabling direct configuration and monitoring of their system(s). This meets many customers’ needs directly but the signaling can also be connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) if independent monitoring is required.
The online portal itself may not be as pleasing to the eye as many software applications you see today but it’s clear and simple to use and functioned efficiently during our evaluation. Configuration of the system is simple once you have been shown the portal (and there’s a help tab if you need reminder of software functions).
Once programming is complete, any changes need to be uploaded to the RDAS+ system via a separate command within the software application. Live or retrospective system events may be viewed via the portal.
Using the RDAS+ system is simple enough. The system may be armed/disarmed at the remote keypad using either a code or the inbuilt iButton reader. As with many wire-free systems, RDAS+ devices go to sleep to extend battery life; an initial button push is therefore necessary for the unit to re-establish its communication link with the system controller. Thereafter you just offer your iButton to the reader or enter your code and follow the instructions on the LCD screen. An engineering mode is also available at the keypad providing information on the status of each device on the system and iButton programming.
RDAS+ SYSTEM: OUT OF THE BOX
Packaging: Suitably packaged
Installation Manual: Some instructions supplied but no overall manual – see review
Size: Controller Peli Case – 270mm x 156mm x 82mm
Construction: Metal / Plastic
Mounting: Mounting positions supplied within most systemdevices (except Peli case controller which is free standing)
Overall Appearance: Functional
Comments
- Designed for function over form
- Good wireless coverage
- Easy operation
- Quick installation and remote configuration
Visual verification
The latest addition to the RDAS+ family of devices is the RaiderVision visual verification motion detector. Designed for external use, this unit utilises an Optex VX-402R passive infrared detector providing 12m x 90 degree coverage with Mosquito Loitering Solutions’s own RF transceiver and colour/mono camera assembly with 110 degree fixed lens and VGA resolution. This device transmits a short sequence (variable up to 10seconds) of MJPEG images to the system controller for any activation of the motion detector. Overall transmission time of an event to Mosquito Loitering Solutions’s secure server is stated as less than a minute. Don’t expect evidence quality images from the unit, the purpose is to visually confirm whether there is an intruder present, not identify them.
During our evaluation, the system performed reliably and efficiently. We were able to review alarm events from all detection devices via the online portal including video images for events associated with the RaiderVision detector. The number of images transmitted varied for between 5 and 12 over the course of our testing for various levels of illumination. The unit was tested in both internal and external applications and performed reliably throughout. The camera has an integral LED illuminator for low light conditions and whilst image quality decreased significantly at very low light levels, all images were sufficient to confirm the presence of an intruder.
In summary the RDAS+ security system is simple to install requiring very little configuration during the physical installation stage, most can be completed remotely via the online portal. The system is very suited to the rapid deployment and temporary applications for which it was designed. GPRS communication to the manufacturer’s secure server online portal provides an effective control and monitoring tool.
The evaluation system performed efficiently and reliably throughout testing.
PSI Product Tests are carried out by an independent testing house – not our editorial team. Equipment manufacturers have no influence in the testing process or with the final results of the review.
Scored 9 out of 10 