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Ajax solves security communication range issues

A large casino situated in Polokwane – the capital city of the Limpopo province – attracts local and international gamblers and fun seekers. With over 400 slot machines and 17 gaming tables, security needs to be kept tightly under control.

The establishment required an upgrade of its security system to cater to the needs of the multi-storey building. With thick concrete floors between each storey of the building, the wireless communication range of the existing alarm and panic button system was not sufficient to give adequate coverage.

Bidvest Protea Coin was enlisted by the client to find a solution that would meet several non-negotiable criteria. “From the outset, the choice of technology was clear. Bidvest Protea Coin elected to order several Ajax systems from Elvey, which they were confident would cope with the challenges experienced on the site. The wireless range needed to be both ubiquitous and scalable in order to grow as the facility grows. Increased and reliable range is synonymous with Ajax technology,” says Ingo Mutinelli, head of sales, southern Africa for Ajax Systems.

Prior to the order being placed in late March 2022, an extensive site survey was undertaken by Bidvest Protea Coin, together with the Elvey and Ajax technical teams. Thereafter, a proof of concept (POC) was instituted on site to ensure that the client was satisfied with the technology provided and its ability to meet the demands of the site.

Phase one of the three-phase project commenced at the end of March with the supply and installation of two Ajax Hub 2 Plus control panels, along with 10 Ajax ReX 2 radio signal range extenders for extended range and user identification (the unit identifies who activated the panic button) and 73 Ajax panic button remotes.

The Ajax Hub 2 Plus supports 64 scenarios that minimise human impact on the security of a location. It can automatically arm and disarm the entire security system or certain groups by schedule.

Phase two, which commenced in May, involved the installation of 37 Ajax smoke detectors. The Ajax FireProtect is a wireless fire detector that provides instant alerts about smoke detection or a rapid temperature rise. The device detects smoke by means of a camera with photoelectric sensor. If no smoke is emitted, the additional detector registers temperature increases in the room.

Phase three will involve the supply and installation of 11 Ajax Hub 2 control panels, 94 Ajax MotionCam indoor motion cameras and four outdoor Ajax StreetSirens.

Hub 2 manages all the Ajax devices in the system to alert users about open doors, broken windows, threats of fire and flooding. If somebody breaks into the facility, Hub 2 will notify the monitoring station and send photos from the MotionCam detectors.

The MotionCam detectors detect human presence using a passive IR sensor. The data received is digitally processed to prevent false alarms. The device automatically increases or decreases the sensor sensitivity to accurately detect motion during hot and cold weather.

The Ajax StreetSiren responds to alarms and tamper triggering by activating the buzzer and LED frame in less than a second. The buzzer can be set to generate sound from 85 to 113 dB for an adjustable period from 3 to 180 seconds, or it can be completely silent and respond only with LED indication (indicates the armed/disarmed status of the system).

“These specific Ajax products were chosen because the Ajax Hubs are uniquely scalable up to 200 devices; they are distinctive in application as they can have panic buttons, cameras and smoke detectors all on one platform; and the Ajax PRO Desktop 3.0 app integrates tools for connecting, maintaining, and monitoring Ajax security systems,” says Mutinelli.

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