PIR (passive infrared) detects heat differential of a moving body against a static background; reliable, low false-alarm, low power. Microwave detects motion via Doppler shift of reflected RF — sees through windows and walls, useful for outdoor perimeter, but more prone to false alarms from environmental motion. Dual-tech sensors require both PIR and microwave activation simultaneously and are the gold standard for commercial intrusion.

Most lithium-battery wireless sensors run 3-5 years on a single battery. PIR motion sensors with frequent activations sit at the lower end. Door/window contacts with infrequent state changes can reach 7-10 years. Modern panels report low-battery proactively. Schedule preventive battery replacement at year 3 rather than waiting for low-battery alerts to avoid coverage gaps.

Almost certainly yes for any insurance-grade intrusion system. Phone-line communication is being deprecated as telcos retire copper; broadband IP communication fails if the burglar cuts power or unplugs the router. Cellular communicators (Verizon, AT&T LTE or 5G) provide independent path-of-last-resort. Many insurance discounts and central-station UL listings now require dual-path (IP + cellular) communication.

Yes — most modern panels expose REST APIs, ONVIF Profile A, or vendor SDKs that bridge intrusion events to access control and video. Integration depth varies: simple arming/disarming from the access platform is broadly supported, while bidirectional event correlation (intrusion alarm causes camera handoff to monitoring) typically requires the same head-end vendor or a middleware product.

Well-tuned commercial intrusion systems run under 1 false alarm per zone per year. Single-tech motion sensors with poor placement can hit 10x that. False-alarm reduction starts with sensor placement and continues with two-factor verification (audio, video) before central-station dispatch. Many municipalities fine commercial sites for repeat false alarms — sustained false-alarm rate above 3 per year per address triggers fees in most jurisdictions.