What is the most expensive part of your retail security system?

Part 1

They are called antennas, or pedestals, also known as Towers. The savvy may call them receiver, transmitter, or transceiver. What ever you call it, it is the single most expensive part of a full retail security system. I say full retail security system because the detection system is useless without security tags of some sort.

Everyday people ask me for a Checkpoint Quicksilver Dual Antenna Detection System. I ask them the dimensions of the exit, and they tell me 8 ft. That's great if you want 5 ft of unprotected exit.

Sticking with our December detection system theme we are going to provide you with the ultimate shoplifting detection security system cheat sheet. This will be a two part posting, the first one being Checkpoint Systems and the second Sensormatic Systems.

Checkpoint has 5 detection systems: Quicksilver, QS 2000, QS 4000, Strata, and the Liberty.

1. Quicksilver – Consists of 2 pedestals, transmitter and receiver. Both are required for the system to work. The dual antenna system will cover a 3 ft exit. Additional pedestals can be added, each one expanding the exit 3 ft. Antennas can not be placed more than 36 inches apart. 3 towers will cover 6 ft, and 4 towers will cover 9 ft. There is no visual alarm on this Checkpoint model.

2. QS 2000 – Very similar to the Quicksilver, the major difference being that there are both visual and audio alarms on this Checkpoint model. Consists of 2 pedestals, transmitter and receiver. Both are required for the system to work. The dual antenna system will cover a 3 ft exit. Additional pedestals can be added, each one expanding the exit 3 ft. Antennas can not be placed more than 36 inches apart. 3 towers will cover 6 ft, and 4 towers will cover 9 ft.

3. QS 4000 – This system has both visual and audio alarms. Consists of 2 pedestals, transmitter and receiver. Both are required for the system to work. The dual antenna system will cover a 4 ft exit. Additional pedestals can be added, each one expanding the exit 4 ft. Antennas can not be placed more than 48 inches apart. 3 towers will cover 8 ft, and 4 towers will cover 12 ft.

4. Strata – The Strata pedestal is a transceiver. This means that a single antenna can operate by itself. The Strata is best used as dual or multi antenna system, designed to cover large exits and high traffic areas. Two Strata post will cover a 6 ft exit. Towers should be no more than 6 ft apart. 3 antennas can cover an 18 ft exit, and 4 antennas will cover a 24 ft exit. System has both visual and audio alarms.

5. The Checkpoint Liberty – This system works exactly the same as the Strata system. The major difference between the 2 systems is the appearance. The Liberty being a newer system is more aesthetically appealing. This system has both visual and audio alarms. 2 antennas cover 6 ft, 3 antennas cover 12 ft, and 4 antennas cover 24 ft.

We will break on this note,

Know Your Exit! Know Your Exit! Know Your Exit!!