PhoneWatch is an Irish home security company that installs professionally monitored alarm systems and connects them to its own Alarm Receiving Centre in Dublin. When a sensor is triggered, the signal reaches that centre in an average of 15 seconds, where a trained operator verifies what has happened and contacts the homeowner, nominated keyholders, or emergency services as required.

PhoneWatch at a Glance

  • PhoneWatch has protected Irish homes for over 33 years and monitors more than 120,000 homes

  • Alarm signals reach the PhoneWatch Alarm Receiving Centre in Dublin in an average of 15 seconds

  • Monitoring covers burglary, smoke and fire, water leaks and SOS alerts

  • Every system is designed around the property at survey and demonstrated at installation

  • Systems are checked remotely every day, so faults are identified before an emergency

  • PhoneWatch operates under PSA licence number 00621
Phonewatch-secuirty-advisor

What Is PhoneWatch?  

PhoneWatch is a home security provider that has been protecting Irish homes for over 33 years and currently monitors more than 120,000 homes across Ireland. PhoneWatch installs the alarm system, monitors it from its own Alarm Receiving Centre in Dublin, and maintains it for as long as the home is protected. It operates under PSA licence number 00621.

 

About PhoneWatch
PhoneWatch is a home security provider sales assitant explain the security process

How PhoneWatch Works, Step by Step

A PhoneWatch system works as a chain rather than a single device. Sensors detect an event, the control panel sends an encrypted signal to the Alarm Receiving Centre, a trained operator verifies the alert, and the right people are contacted. The steps below describe the PhoneWatch service specifically. For the general mechanics of alarm systems and the components they use, see our guide to how alarm systems work.

 

What Happens When Your PhoneWatch Alarm Goes Off?

When a sensor activates, the signal reaches the PhoneWatch Alarm Receiving Centre in an average of 15 seconds. That is the point at which verification begins, not the point at which anyone arrives. Where a camera motion detector is installed, the operator reviews the image before acting, then contacts the homeowner or nominated keyholders. If the situation calls for it, the operator contacts An Garda Síochána or the fire service. An unverified activation is not passed straight to emergency services.

What Is Included in a PhoneWatch Alarm System  

A PhoneWatch system is built from wireless components chosen for the property at survey. Most homes include a control panel, door and window contact sensors, motion detectors, an indoor siren and an outdoor bellbox, with optical smoke detectors, water leak detectors, glass break detectors and security cameras added where they are needed. Keytags, remote controls and an SOS-enabled portable voice unit are available as part of the same system, and everything is managed from the PhoneWatch app.

Does PhoneWatch Work Without Broadband or a Landline?  

A PhoneWatch system does not require a landline and does not depend on home broadband to reach the Alarm Receiving Centre. Sensors communicate with the control panel over encrypted wireless signals, and the panel sends alarm signals over a mobile connection, with battery backup so the system continues to operate during a power cut. Connectivity is checked at the property during the survey and the system is configured around the coverage available.

PhoneWatch for Houses, Apartments and Holiday Homes

PhoneWatch protects houses, apartments and holiday homes, and the system is specified differently for each. A house is usually covered at every ground floor entry point plus the main internal routes. An apartment typically needs fewer perimeter sensors but more emphasis on the front door and any balcony or patio access. A holiday home or second property relies more heavily on remote checks and monitoring, because nobody is there to notice a problem.

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How PhoneWatch Installation Works

Installation starts with a survey of the property, where a PhoneWatch security advisor identifies the entry points that need cover, checks connectivity, and agrees the system design with the homeowner. The system is then installed and tested, and the advisor demonstrates arming, disarming, part-arm mode and the app before leaving. Monitoring begins once the system is live. For more details, check out our home alarm installation guide. 

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Why Homeowners Choose PhoneWatch


PhoneWatch is chosen by homeowners who want a system that somebody else is responsible for keeping working. The Alarm Receiving Centre is based in Dublin and staffed 24 hours a day, systems are checked remotely every day so faults are identified before an emergency rather than during one, and installation and servicing are carried out by trained PhoneWatch security advisors.

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FAQs about How Does PhoneWatch Work

Does PhoneWatch work without internet?

Yes. A PhoneWatch system does not rely on home broadband to reach the Alarm Receiving Centre. Sensors communicate with the control panel over encrypted wireless signals, and alarm signals are sent over a mobile connection, so monitoring continues if the internet goes down.

Do I need a landline for PhoneWatch?

No. A PhoneWatch system does not require a landline. The control panel communicates over a mobile connection, and coverage at the property is checked during the survey before installation.

Does PhoneWatch call the Gardaí?

PhoneWatch contacts An Garda Síochána when an activation has been verified and the situation requires it. An activation is first assessed by an operator at the Alarm Receiving Centre, who reviews any camera image and contacts the homeowner or nominated keyholders. Emergency services are contacted after that assessment, not automatically.

How quickly does PhoneWatch respond to an alarm?

An alarm signal reaches the PhoneWatch Alarm Receiving Centre in an average of 15 seconds. That is the point at which a trained operator begins verifying the activation. Arrival time for emergency services depends on the property and on which service is required.

Is the PhoneWatch alarm wireless?

Yes. PhoneWatch systems are wireless. Sensors communicate with the control panel over encrypted wireless signals, so installation does not require cabling through the house.

Does PhoneWatch work in an apartment?

Yes. PhoneWatch installs monitored alarm systems in apartments as well as houses. An apartment system usually concentrates on the front door, any balcony or patio access, and internal movement, and is specified at survey.

What happens to a PhoneWatch alarm during a power cut?

A PhoneWatch control panel includes battery backup, so the system continues to operate and stays connected to the Alarm Receiving Centre during a power outage. Backup duration depends on the system configuration.

Does PhoneWatch have a panic button?

PhoneWatch systems can include SOS-enabled devices, including a portable voice unit that allows a household member to raise an alert and speak to the Alarm Receiving Centre directly. Availability depends on the system specified at survey.