Chirp-protect provides security solutions to many types of business, but especially retail.
We provide a type of EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) that offers something a little different to the standard floor-mounted gates you’ve probably seen in your local supermarket.
Our system is discreet and easy to set up, so you can install it yourself and have a fully-functioning anti-theft system in no time at all.
Chirp-edge is the name of our main system and sits at the edge of your store, by the exit. Place a Chirp Tag on each product you wish to keep safe, and if someone tries to take a tagged product to the exit without paying then the Tag will alarm to notify you.
Chirp-edge
Chirp-edge is the name of our main system and sits at the edge of your store, by the exit.
You place a Chirp Tag on each product you wish to keep safe, and if someone tries to take a tagged product to the exit without paying then the Tag will alarm to notify you.
About
The System Basics
There are 3 key components in this system - the Hub, the Tags and the Deactivators.
THE HUB
This is the ‘antenna’ in our system
Measuring just 14 cm cubed, the Hub can be mounted out of the way, leaving an open and uncluttered store entrance. This gives off a wireless signal of up to 3m in diameter.
THE TAGS
The Tags protect your products
We have a range of Tags to protect different types of products including apparel, electronics and alcohol. With our Tags, it's the Tag itself that alarms, not the antenna.
THE DEACTIVATORS
The Deactivators deactivate the Tags
Whether a Tag is alarming - or you wish to deactivate a Tag before removing it from a product - you can do this using either our Desktop Deactivator or our Remote.
How it Works
Chirp-edge requires a hard perimeter. In most cases this is the walls of your store. By placing a Hub at the Exits/Entrances there is no way a customer can exit your store without passing through the signal. In other words, if the area you want to cover has an edge, then Chirp-edge is probably the system for you.
Once a tag is attached to a product and activated, if it comes within range of the wireless signal emitted from the Hub, it will alarm. In other words, if a customer tries to take a tagged item through an exit, it will alarm.
To deactivate the tag. The deactivator is mounted next to the checkout till. Simply pass the tagged item over the deactivator and it will bleep. It can now be removed from the product.
The Technology
Chirp-edge uses a fairly basic but very effective RF (radio frequency) technology that communicates between the Hub and the Tags. The RF signal in the Chirp system is a different frequency to regular EAS antennas and so the systems can be used side by side if need be.
As an extra security measure, if a customer removes the Tag from the product (or in some cases tampers with the tag) then it will also alarm.
The range of the signal from the hub can be adjusted so that it covers bigger area, or if you want the tags to alarm further away from the exit. You can also add more hubs to expand the width of the area covered. Perfect if you have a wide open entrance.
Practical Uses
Chirp-edge is perfect in any bricks and mortar building as an anti-theft measure. Once you understand the simplicity of Chirp-edge, there are endless use cases.
Don’t want a customer to take an expensive handbag into the changing rooms? Simply add a Hub to the changing room. Want to stop customers taking goods into the outside Garden Centre? Add a Hub to the exit.
Our range of different types of Tags means Chirp-edge can be used in a whole variety of industries including Convenience Stores, Clothing and Apparel, Electronics and Hardware.
View Use Cases
Why should I choose Chirp-edge over EAS antennas?
Traditional floor-mounted gates are the industry standard. They are reliable and familiar, however:
- They are not always cost-effective, particularly if you have a low quantity of products to protect
- They take up a lot of shop space which could otherwise be used for merchandising
- Some retailers - especially high-end retailers and boutique stores - prefer a clean, uncluttered store entrance, which is hard to achieve with floor-mounted antennas
- They require commitment as they are installed into the ground, which may not be feasible on a short term premises lease
Chirp-edge
A reminder of the key benefits of Chirp-edge:
Self-installed
Uniquely, we can courier the system to you so you can set it up in-store yourself
Cost-effective
It’s cost-effective, especially if you have a low volume of products to protect
Uncluttered entrance
It can be ceiling-mounted to provide an open, clear and uncluttered store entrance
Not permanent
You can pack it down and transfer it to another location with ease
...or for requirements that are slightly different
Chirp-zone
While Chirp-edge offers a great alternative to EAS, we also offer Chirp-zone as a solution for situations where EAS just won’t work. This is generally when a hard perimeter can’t be created.
If your store is a department or concession store within a larger space, or you operate a kiosk or booth, or you just want to make sure certain products stay within a certain area, Chirp-zone is the perfect solution.
About
The System Basics
Chirp-zone uses the same 3 basics as Chirp-edge (Hubs, Tags, and Deactivators), however the configuration is different.
THE HUB
This is the ‘antenna’ in our system
Measuring just 14 cm cubed, the Hub can be mounted out of the way. The Hub casts a wireless zone up to 8m radius and you can add additional Hubs to create a larger zone.
THE TAGS
The Tags protect your products
We currently only supply the Lanyard Tag and Surface Tag for Chirp-zone but we're working on making more Tag types available soon. With our Tags, it's the Tag itself that alarms, not the antenna.
THE DEACTIVATORS
The Deactivators deactivate the Tags
Whether a Tag alarm is sounding - or you wish to deactivate a Tag before removing it from a product - you can do this using either our Desktop Deactivator or our Remote control system.
How it Works
Like Chirp-edge, the Chirp-zone Hub creates a wireless signal, however instead of the tag alarming when it comes within range of the signal, the Tag alarms if it leaves the range of the signal.
So effectively, the signal creates its own perimeter. If the tag goes outside of that perimeter (or zone) then it alarms.
The Technology
Like Chirp-edge, Chirp-zone uses RF (radio frequency) technology to cast a wireless zone out from the Hub. However it has a larger range than Chirp-edge so you can adjust the size of this zone from 1 metre radius up to approximately 8 metres radius. You can also add unlimited additional Hubs to cover a larger space if required.
Another interesting benefit of Chirp-zone is if a Tag is activated and alarms then if it is taken back within the zone then the Tag will stop alarming.
Practical Uses
Chirp-zone is ideal for the following environments:
Concession stores are becoming increasingly popular - an area within a larger building. Typically these retail spaces are open and don’t have physical walls. This makes installing conventional EAS problematic.
Instead, Chirp-zone ensures that products are kept within the concession area.
Some retailers wish to keep certain products restricted to a particular area of the store - for example power tools within a DIY store.
Using Chirp-zone allows products to be picked up and inspected by customers, but not taken away from the hardware section.
A temporary store - or one sited outdoors - has challenges for protecting against theft.
Chirp-zone can ensure all products are kept close to the retailer and not taken too far away.
These large, bustling halls have multiple booths with lots of high-value equipment - and not many effective ways of keeping this equipment safe.
Using Chirp-zone, exhibitors can Tag items such as demo products and even IT equipment and be notified if anyone tries to remove them from the exhibition stand.
Concession stores are becoming increasingly popular - an area within a larger building. Typically these retail spaces are open and don’t have physical walls. This makes installing conventional EAS problematic.
Instead, Chirp-zone ensures that products are kept within the concession area.
Some retailers wish to keep certain products restricted to a particular area of the store - for example power tools within a DIY store.
Using Chirp-zone allows products to be picked up and inspected by customers, but not taken away from the hardware section.
A temporary store - or one sited outdoors - has challenges for protecting against theft.
Chirp-zone can ensure all products are kept close to the retailer and not taken too far away.
These large, bustling halls have multiple booths with lots of high-value equipment - and not many effective ways of keeping this equipment safe.
Using Chirp-zone, exhibitors can Tag items such as demo products and even IT equipment and be notified if anyone tries to remove them from the exhibition stand.
Examples of a Typical Installation
We have created a variety of Use Case examples which show the floorplan of stores within different industries, illustrating how Chirp-protect can be used to protect inventory in different environments.
Compare the Systems
See which components are compatible with each Chirp system
Chirp-edge
If the area you want to cover has a perimeter (or edge) to it, then Chirp-edge is probably the best option for you
Chirp-zone
If not - and you need to create your own perimeter (or zone) - then Chirp-zone if probably the best option for you
Comparison Examples
Here are some examples showing how and why one Chirp system might be better suited to a particular store environment than the other
Chirp-edge
Days Convenience Store
This convenience store wishes to protect 50-75 bottles of wine and spirits.
1x Chirp-edge Hub
The store has one single exit and so only requires 1x Chirp-edge hub to protect the whole store.
If a bottle that's been fitted with a Chirp Bottle Tag is taken too close to the exit then it will alarm.
6x Chirp-zone Hubs
Each Chirp-zone Hub covers up to 8m radius and so would need 6x Hubs to cover the entire store.
This is feasible but would be a much more expensive solution thn just using 1x Chirp-edge Hub.
Chirp-zone
Bags, Bags, Bags
This boutique concession store wishes to protect a couple of hundred handbags.
1x Chirp-zone Hub
Because the retailer is a concession in the corner of a larger department store it is unable to install traditional EAS antennas.
It is instead able to fit 1x Chirp-zone Hub and means if any handbag is taken outside of the concession space then the tagged bag will alarm.
5x Chirp-zone Hubs
To protect the concession space with Chirp-edge, the retailer would need to fit 5x Chirp-edge Hubs, which would be cost-prohibitive and not necessary, considering the alternative of using Chirp-zone.