The Home Alarm is designed to work within the home, however depending on the size of your house, you may also have coverage in your back and front yard. The base unit has a range of 50-70 meters.
During the installation process, MePACS will test the strength of the signal around your home and let you know how far from the base unit your alarm will work.
For coverage further away from your home we recommend the MePACS Mobile Alarm. It works on the 4G mobile network and you can take it with you anywhere in Australia. It can be purchased as bundle with the Home Alarm.
The MePACS Home Alarm pendant is completely water resistant (IP67 rating), and you can wear it in the shower, bath or swimming pool.
In fact, we highly recommend that you wear it in the shower because slippery surfaces can sometime lead to falls.
Yes you can. We can actually connect up to four pendants to one Home Alarm base unit.
No, a landline phone is not required for the Home Alarm system.
We do however recommend that you have a phone (mobile or landline) in case we cannot contact you through the alarm in an emergency.
The Home Alarm system does not require the internet or the NBN. The alarm is connected to MePACS via the 4G mobile network in your area.
The Daily Call is a check-in service for your wellbeing and peace of mind.
The process is very simple:
- Press the Red ‘Call’ button on the base unit between 6-11am every day.
- MePACS will reply through the base unit and confirm that your daily call has been registered.
If you forget to do the daily call, MePACS will try to contact you after 11am to make sure that you are okay. If we cannot get in touch with you, we will contact your nominated contacts to check in on you. If your nominated contacts are not available, we will send emergency services to conduct a welfare check on you.
The base unit has backup battery that will last at least 38 hours, so your Home Alarm will continue to work even if the power goes out.
If your power goes out, MePACS will receive a signal from your alarm and will call to confirm that you are okay.
If you lose your pendant, please press the ‘Call’ button on the base unit to let MePACS know. We will organise a replacement pendant to be sent to you.
Once you receive your replacement pendant, you must test it by pressing the blue button for 4 seconds. You should see a small Red light on the pendant and hear beeping.
MePACS will then respond and talk to you through the base unit. Just let the Monitor know that you are testing your new pendant.
If you find your lost Pendant, please contact our Help Desk Team on 1800 451 300, and they will arrange for it to be returned.
The battery in your pendant should last 2-3 years. Because the pendant is waterproof, the battery cannot be replaced.
If the battery is running low, MePACS will receive a Low Battery signal, and arrange for a replacement pendant to be sent to you.
Once you receive your new pendant, you must test it by pressing the blue button for 4 seconds. You should see a small Red light on the pendant and hear beeping.
MePACS will then respond and talk to you through the base unit. Just let the Monitor know that you are testing your new pendant.
Carefully using a fine flat tool such as a screwdriver, lever out the pendant from the neck casing. It is a tight fit so you may need assistance.
The pendant can now be fitted into the wrist strap casing. Press firmly to ensure a tight fit.
If you have any questions please the MePACS Help Desk Team on:
Free call (within Victoria only): 1800 451 300.
Carefully using a fine flat tool such as a screwdriver, lever out the pendant from the wrist strap. It is a tight fit so you may need assistance.
The pendant can now be fitted into the Neck Casing. Press it firmly in to ensure a tight fit.
If you have any questions, please contact the MePACS Help Desk Team on 1800 451 300.
If you have been sent an external / high gain antenna for your alarm please follow the below instructions:
Step-by-Step instructions:
- Please remove existing aerial and replace with new external / high gain antenna. Now screw in the new antenna to the base station.
2. Before attaching antenna to window frame, please hold up against window and press the “Green Cancel” button to check signal strength, when the number 3 or greater appears you can then remove the red plastic strip from base of antenna and secure to the window.
If you have any questions, please contact our Help Desk Team on 1800 451 300.
To avoid it being a choking hazard, the chain on the pendant is designed to break quite easily. If the chain on your pendant has broken, MePACS will provide you with a new chain free of charge.
Please contact our Help Desk on 1800 451 300 to request a new chain.
Please do not move the base unit by yourself, as it may not work properly.
If you’d like to move the base unit to a different location in your house, please call our Help Desk team on 1800 451 300, and they will assist you with relocating the unit.
Yes you can. MePACS operates throughout Australia so you can take your alarm with you when you move.
Before you move, please contact us on 1800 451 300 to let us know your new address and to arrange the installation in the new house.
If you’re not going to be at home for a period of time and will not be able to complete you Daily Call, please contact MePACS a few days in advance to let us know. Once you provide the dates you’ll be away, we will place the alarm on standby for those days.
If you are not sure when you’ll be back home, we can place the alarm on standby until you let us know that you’re back home.
When you return home, please press the button on your pendant to let us know that you are safely home again.
Yes, you can. Please call us on 1800 451 300 and let us know your preferred time (must be between 6-11am). Our tech team will then change it for you remotely.
Please allow 2-5 business days for the new reminder time to take effect.
Clients who have a 3G Home Alarm will need to have their alarm upgraded to the 4G Home Alarm before June 2024. The upgrade is done by MePACS technicians and is free of charge.
If your alarm needs to be upgraded, you will be contacted by a MePACS technician to arrange a suitable time for the upgrade. Until then, your alarm will continue to work as normal, so please do not move or disconnect your alarm.
Only clients who need the upgrade will be contacted.
The Mobile Alarm works on the 4G mobile phone network. It works anywhere in Australia where there’s good mobile phone coverage.
In areas where there is no mobile reception, like black spots, underground car parks, mountainous and rural areas, the alarm will not be able to connect to the MePACS response centre.
The Mobile Alarm has a built-in SIM card, so it doesn’t require you to have a mobile phone. In an emergency, you can talk to MePACS directly through the alarm.
The mobile alarm is rain proof and splash proof, but it is not completely waterproof.
Please do not use the Mobile Alarm in the shower, bath, or submerge it in water.
The Mobile Alarm relies on the 4G mobile phone network. In some areas where there’s limited or no reception, the alarm will not work.
If the orange light on the alarm is flashing, it means that there’s no mobile reception and the alarm cannot connect to MePACS.
Try moving to a different spot or near a window. The alarm will automatically connect as soon as it picks up a signal.
If there are no lights on the alarm it means it has gone flat and needs to be recharged. Place the alarm in the charging unit provided. A solid green light indicates the alarm is charging. A flashing green light means that alarm is fully charged.
The 3G mobile network is being phased out by the network providers (like Telstra and Optus) and will be completely shut off in June 2024.
If you choose not to upgrade your 3G mobile alarm to the newer 4G device, it will no longer work after June 2024.
The Solo watch is completely waterproof and can be work in the shower, bath, or swimming pool.
Waterdrops from the shower can sometimes accidentally activate the alarm, so you can place the watch in an easy-to-reach location in the shower instead of wearing it on your wrist.
You can increase the volume on the watch by turning the bezel around, but only while you’re talking to MePACS.
While the watch cannot store your medical information, MePACS does keep your medical history, allergies and other relevant health data on your file.
In an emergency, MePACS will provide all the necessary information to emergency services so that they can expedite the response.
The Solo watch is a personal alarm that is designed to provide prompt help in an emergency. As such, the watch can only be used to connect to the MePACS emergency response centre.
Other apps cannot be installed on the Solo watch because they can interfere with the MePACS emergency response software.
MePACS personal alarm and emergency response service operates 24-hours, 365 days a year, so we are always available to help when you need it. Our goal is to ensure you are safe and well by getting you the right help quickly and efficiently in an emergency.
If you feel unwell, experience a fall, medical event or other sort of emergency, simply press the button on your alarm device. This will send an alert to the MePACS response centre and a trained monitor will respond within 2 minutes and talk to you through the alarm.
The monitor will assess the situation, provide reassurance and determine the actions required. If emergency services are required will provide them with all vital information so they can tailor and prioritise their response accordingly. We will also inform your close contacts and stay in touch with you until help arrives, because your safety and wellbeing are our priority.
Nominated contacts are people who you trust and can assist you in an emergency.
They should be well known to you and ideally live no further than 30 minutes from your home. They should be available and willing to assist you in an emergency.
Nominated contacts can be family members, friends or trusted neighbours. They should have access to your home, or you may choose to have a key safe for easy access.
In an emergency, MePACS may call your nominated contacts to check on your welfare during the day or night.
You can choose up to three people as your nominated contacts.
Yes, you can. In addition to your nominated contacts, you can also list other people, such as family members, as ‘Information Only’ contacts. They will be advised of any emergency event concerning your wellbeing.
Your safety and wellbeing is out top priority. If we are unable to get in touch with you or your nominated contacts, we will contact emergency services such as police or the ambulance service to conduct a welfare check on you.
MePACS recommends that you ensure you’re covered for ambulance expenses.
No, you don’t. All calls from the alarm unit are covered by the MePACS monthly service fee.
There will be no additional call charges on top of the monthly service fee.
MePACS doesn’t have lock-in contracts, so you can cancel the service any time without penalty or additional charges.
There’s a range of government programs that provide funding for personal alarms to eligible customers. The level of funding will depend on your personal circumstances.
MePACS is an approved provider for the following government-funded programs:
– Personal Alert Victoria (PAV)
– Personal Alert SA (PASA)
– Home Care Package
– NDIS
If you’re eligible for one of these programs, please contact us on 1800 685 329 to find out more about getting funding for a personal alarm system.
MePACS offers two types of installations:
– Self-installation: Done over the phone with our help desk team
– Tech installation (not available for all locations): Done by a technician who comes to your home
Tech installations are usually completed within 7-10 business days of signing up for the MePACS service. You will need to schedule an appointment for the technician to come to your home.
Self-installations are quick and easy, taking approx. 15-20 minutes. You will receive a step-by-step installation guide with the new alarm system by mail.
In the event of a power failure, your alarm will still work. The alarm unit has a battery back-up which is designed to provide power to the alarm unit for a minimum of 38+ hours. MePACS will contact you if a ‘power failure’ signal is received from the alarm unit.
MePACS alarms use 4G technology for voice-to-voice and data communication. 4G technology works on both 4G and 5G mobile networks.
Currently, the 4G mobile network has the most coverage in Australia, but the 5G network is gradually building across the country. The 5G network is expected to be over twenty times faster than 4G.
The 3G mobile network is currently being phased out and will be completely shut off in June 2024. MePACS is currently in the process of upgrading all our old 3G alarms to 4G technology.
MePACS products comply with the Australian Standards in relation to Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) for devices such as pacemakers.
Please don’t worry if you accidentally activate the alarm, as these things happen. MePACS will still respond to the call and try to contact you just to make sure that you are okay.
A key safe is a small secure metal box, fitted outside your home and used to store your house keys. The key safe requires a four-digit access code which will be recorded by MePACS. If emergency services are called to your home, they will be provided with the details of the key lock device.
If your nominated contact does not have a key to your home, it is recommended that you provide them with the code to the key safe.
MEPACS can provide you with a key lock when your alarm is installed, or we can send one by post. Key locks can also be purchased from your local hardware store.
Due to our duty of care, MePACS can only disclose the key lock code directly to the user or to emergency services. It is up to the client to decide whether they verbally disclose the key lock code to other individuals of their choice.
Currently MePACS does not have any shops, and we do not work with any retailers.
You can only purchase a MePACS personal alarm through our sales team by calling 1800 685 329 or by placing an order on our website here.
A personal alarm is a small device you can use to call for help if you are experiencing a fall or other medical emergency. All you have to do is press the button on the alarm to send a signal to the MePACS 24/7 emergency response centre.
Some alarms have Falls Detection sensors which can be triggered by a drop to the ground or impact to the body during a fall. The sensors automatically activate the alarm and send a signal for help.
Depending on the type of device, your Personal Alarm can be used both at home or away, so you can feel safer wherever life takes you.