How Far Outside My Home Will My Medical Alert System Work?

The original medical alert systems helped increase safety and security for people while they were at home. Changing technology has greatly enlarged consumer options for medical alerts. You can now choose between landline, cellular, GPS, and smartwatch systems.

When considering home-based systems, the service range (how far outside your home the medical alert system works) is one of the most important features.  You need complete in-home coverage, of course, but also consider your regular outdoor activities like picking up the mail, doing yard work, walking from the house to the garage, etc.  A system with limited service range could leave you or a loved one unable to call for help during an emergency.

How far outside your home will your medical alert system work?  Here’s how to find out.

1. Check service range before you choose a medical alert system

Don’t assume that any system will do. Some home medical alert systems have short service ranges of just 200-300 feet. If you can’t find service range information on a medical alert provider’s Web site, call and talk with a sales representative.

The help buttons on our Bay Alarm Medical SOS Home systems have a signal range of up to 1,000 feet from the base unit. The SOS All-In-One system has a 600-foot range from the base unit at home. It combines a home system with a wearable help button for communication and GPS tracking away from home.

2.Test the system in every room of your home and outside

Once your medical alert system arrives, be sure to test it on each floor of your home, every room, basement, garage, etc. Press the help button and make sure it triggers an alarm at your base unit.

Next, walk around the edges of your property and press your help button. You may not be able to hear the base station respond, so have a friend or family member inside to listen for the base unit’s alert. Test the system in all areas you frequent outdoors – mailbox, garden, storage shed, etc.

3.Pay attention to connection signal availability and signal strength on mobile alert devices

New technology means that you can use a medical alert system away from home too via a cellular connection and GPS location services. You or a loved one can have protection at home or on-the-go via a personal emergency response system.  These systems connect via cellular networks, so be sure to check cellular coverage maps before purchase.

Our SOS All-In-One and SOS Mobile systems are available on AT&T and Verizon networks and features GPS and wifi location services. The cellular service for the system is included in your monthly monitoring fee. Learn more about the benefits of GPS medical alert systems.

The SOS Smartwatch doesn’t require a smartphone. It comes with either an AT&T or Verizon SIM card preinstalled. The watch contains many extra features, including a connection signal strength indicator. A quick glance at the color-coded display shows the strength of your connection signal.

Our Bay Alarm Medical mobile medical alert systems have a caregiver tracking portal included that works with a tablet, computer, or smartphone. It’s an extra layer of safety for the wearer and offers peace of mind to family members.

Bay Alarm Medical offers medical life alert systems you can trust

Don’t just take our word for it!

PC Magazine, Forbes Health, The Senior List, and CNET have listed our award-winning medical alert systems as top choices in their categories. From Caring.com:

“Bay Alarm Medical has the fastest average response time of any company we reviewed, at an average of 10 seconds, meaning that customers get the help they need sooner than with other companies. Bay Alarm Medical also scored highly in this category thanks to its generous 30-day free trial period, easy-to-navigate website with a live customer service chat feature, and its A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.”

Still have questions? Contact us at 1-877-522-9633 to discuss your individual needs and options. We can guide you through the selection process and help you build a system that meets your needs and your budget.

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