Entry Sensor Installation in Leicester
We install hardwired entry sensors on doors and windows across Leicester homes and businesses. Each sensor runs on Power over Ethernet - no batteries, no wireless signal, and no cloud dependency. The moment a door or window opens, the system logs the event, identifies exactly which opening was breached, and triggers whatever response you have configured - push notification, siren activation, or camera recording.
By the Doberman install team · CCTV system designers & installers, Leicester · Last reviewed February 2026
By the Doberman install team
CCTV system designers & installers, Leicester
Last reviewed February 2026
What you get
Entry point assessment
We walk your property and identify every door, window, and accessible opening that warrants a sensor. You get a written specification showing sensor count and positions before any work starts.
Hardwired PoE sensor installation
Each sensor is wired back to your PoE switch over Cat5e or Cat6. No batteries to go flat, no wireless dropouts, and no range limitations. The sensor reports status in real time.
Per-sensor identification
Every sensor is individually named on the system - "Front Door," "Kitchen Window Left," "Side Gate." You know exactly which opening triggered, not just that a generic zone activated.
Alert and response configuration
We configure what happens when each sensor triggers - push notification, siren activation, camera event recording, or a combination. Rules can vary by time of day and sensor.
How it works
Survey
We assess every entry point, identify which doors and windows need sensors, and plan cable routes from each position back to the PoE switch.
Install
Sensors fitted to door frames and window frames with discreet mounting. Cables run through lofts, wall cavities, and conduit to keep the installation clean.
Configure
Each sensor named, alert rules set, and integration with cameras and sirens tested. Full walkthrough so you understand every notification and what it means.
How entry sensors work
An entry sensor uses a magnetic reed switch in two parts - one mounted on the door or window frame, the other on the moving door or sash. When the two halves separate, the circuit opens and the sensor reports a breach to the system. It is the simplest and most reliable intrusion detection method available. There are no moving parts, no lenses to clean, and no detection algorithms to tune. The door opens, the sensor triggers. That is it.
The sensors we install communicate over PoE, which means the status update reaches the system in milliseconds over a hardwired connection. Wireless entry sensors introduce latency, battery dependency, and signal reliability issues that make them unsuitable for a security system you need to trust. A flat battery on a wireless sensor means a door that is unmonitored until someone notices - and in our experience, nobody checks.
Where we install entry sensors
The minimum specification for most Leicester homes covers the front door, back door, and any accessible ground-floor windows. Side gates, garage doors, and conservatory doors are common additions. For a terraced property, you are typically looking at two to four sensors. A detached property with a side return, rear patio doors, and a garage adds another three or four. We assess each property individually because layouts vary widely even within the same street.
For commercial properties - shops, offices, warehouses - entry sensors cover all staff entrances, delivery doors, fire exits, and any accessible windows. We also sensor internal doors where access control matters, such as stock rooms, server rooms, or restricted areas. The sensor count depends entirely on the number of openings, and we specify every one during the site survey.
Integration with CCTV and sirens
Entry sensors are most effective when they trigger a coordinated response. When a sensor detects a door opening at 3am, the system can simultaneously activate a siren, start recording on the nearest camera, and send a push notification to your phone with the specific door identified. All of this happens within seconds because every device shares the same PoE network - there is no gateway translation, no cloud roundtrip, and no app delay.
If you do not yet have a siren installed, entry sensors still provide immediate value - you get real-time notifications and event logging. But the combination of sensors, siren, and cameras creates a layered security system where each component reinforces the others. Our glass break detection covers how acoustic sensors complement entry sensors for full perimeter coverage, catching break-ins through glazing that a magnetic reed switch would not detect.
Wired vs wireless entry sensors
Wireless entry sensors are popular in DIY security kits because they are easy to stick on a door frame. The tradeoff is reliability. Wireless sensors depend on batteries that last one to three years depending on usage. When the battery dies, the sensor stops reporting. Wireless signals can be interfered with by Wi-Fi congestion, thick walls, or - in a worst case - deliberate jamming. Range limitations mean sensors on outbuildings or far-flung windows may not reach the hub.
The PoE entry sensors we install have none of these issues. Power comes from the Ethernet cable. Data transmission is wired and instantaneous. There is no range limitation within the 100-metre PoE cable spec. The only drawback is that installation takes longer because cables need to be routed - but that is our job, and we run them through cavities, lofts, and conduit so they are invisible once fitted.
Entry sensor installation across Leicester
Doberman installs hardwired entry sensors for homes and businesses across Leicester and Leicestershire. Whether you need two sensors on a flat in the city centre or twenty across a multi-unit commercial property, the approach is the same - we survey, specify, install, and configure everything ourselves. For a complete overview of our smart security and sensor range, visit our Leicester home automation solutions.
Pricing
Entry sensor costs depend on the number of sensors, cable run lengths, and whether sensors are being added to an existing PoE network or installed as part of a new system. We provide a fixed, itemised quote after the site survey.
Why Doberman
Hardwired, not wireless
Every sensor runs on PoE. No batteries to replace, no wireless signal issues, no range limitations. The sensor works as long as the network is powered.
Individual sensor identification
Each sensor is named on the system. You know exactly which door or window opened - "Back Door" rather than "Zone 3."
Real-time status reporting
Open/close events are reported over hardwired Ethernet in milliseconds. No wireless latency, no cloud processing delay.
Works without internet
Sensors operate on your local PoE network. If the internet drops, detection and siren activation continue locally. Only remote push notifications require connectivity.
About Doberman
Doberman is a Leicester-based security installer specialising in hardwired PoE systems for homes and businesses. Every sensor, siren, and camera we install is wired over Ethernet for maximum reliability.
We do not install wireless sensors or battery-powered devices. Everything is hardwired, PoE-powered, and configured on site. If you want to understand our approach before getting in touch, our technical guides cover how we design and install security systems across Leicester.
Areas we cover
We install entry sensors across Leicester city and the surrounding areas, including Clarendon Park, Stoneygate, Oadby, Wigston, Braunstone, Hamilton, Thorpe Astley, Glenfield, Groby, Coalville, Market Harborough, Hinckley, Loughborough, and everywhere in between.
Frequently asked questions
- How many entry sensors does a typical house need?
- A typical three-bedroom Leicester home needs sensors on the front door, back door, and two to four ground-floor windows - usually four to six sensors in total. Detached properties with side access, garages, or patio doors may need more. We specify the exact count during the survey.
- Can entry sensors trigger my cameras?
- Yes. When an entry sensor detects a breach, the system can start recording on the nearest camera, switch to a higher frame rate, or tag the event for easy playback. This gives you video verification of every door or window opening.
- Will I get a notification when a sensor triggers?
- Yes. Each sensor event generates a push notification to your phone identifying exactly which door or window opened, with a timestamp. Notifications can be filtered by time of day so you are not alerted every time you open your own front door.
- Do entry sensors work on sliding doors and garage doors?
- Yes. The magnetic reed switch works on any opening that creates a gap between the two sensor halves. We fit them on sliding patio doors, roller garage doors, and side-hinged garage doors. Mounting method varies depending on the door type and material.
- Can I add entry sensors to my existing CCTV system?
- Yes, provided there are available PoE ports on your switch or we can add a switch to expand capacity. The sensors integrate directly with your existing PoE network and management interface.
- What happens if the cable to a sensor is cut?
- If the cable is cut or the sensor loses power, the system registers a connection loss and alerts you. Unlike a wireless sensor with a dead battery - which silently stops reporting - a wired sensor failure is detected and flagged immediately.