Wireless Shock Sensors
The best wireless shock sensor for forced-entry detection catches the break-in attempt — before the intruder is inside.
A shock sensor isn't there to tell you a window broke — it's there to tell you someone is trying to break in. For forced-entry detection on doors and windows, the Versa Wireless SHOCK-319 is a strong choice: a 319.5 MHz wireless shock sensor with adjustable sensitivity, a built-in door/window contact on the same supervised zone, a 5+ year battery, and UL/FCC listing — compatible with the Qolsys IQ Panel 4, IQ Panel 2+, and GE/Interlogix panels. Mounted on the frame, it feels the vibration of a pry bar, a kick, a hammer, or a drill and trips the panel during the attack — before entry. This guide explains what to look for in a forced-entry shock sensor, how wireless shock sensors work, how they differ from an acoustic glassbreak detector and a plain door contact, and how to mount and tune the SHOCK-319 so it catches real forced entry without nuisance trips.
What a wireless shock sensor actually detects
Most perimeter protection is reactive. A standard door/window contact watches a magnet: when the door opens and the magnet separates from the sensor, the zone trips. That's useful — but by the time the contact reports, the opening is already breached and the intruder is on their way in.
A shock sensor moves the trip point earlier. Inside the housing is a vibration-sensing element with an adjustable threshold. When the protected surface takes a blow — someone prying a window sash, kicking a door, drilling a lock cylinder, or hammering a frame — the resulting vibration crosses the threshold and the sensor signals the panel. Because the SHOCK-319 is wireless (a fully supervised 319.5 MHz transmitter), it reports that blow to the panel over the air, with no wire runs to the frame. The alarm happens during the attempt to force entry, not after it succeeds. On a perimeter zone, that earlier warning is the entire point.
What to look for in a forced-entry shock sensor
Not every "shock sensor" is built to catch forced entry reliably. For doors and windows, four things separate a sensor that protects an opening from one that just generates nuisance trips:
Adjustable sensitivity
You need to tune the trip threshold to the actual mounting surface so a real pry or kick alarms while wind and normal use don't. A fixed-sensitivity sensor can't do both.
Frame mounting + contact
It should mount on the door, sash, or frame — not the glass — and ideally pair the shock element with a door/window contact so one device covers both "being forced" and "now open."
Supervised wireless
A fully supervised transmitter so the panel knows the sensor is alive and reporting, with a multi-year battery you're not replacing every season.
The fourth is simple: it has to match the panel you run on the right frequency. The Versa SHOCK-319 is built to all four points — which is why it's a strong pick for forced-entry detection on 319.5 MHz systems:
- Adjustable shock sensitivity tuned from the final mounting position, with a green pre-shock LED so you can dial the threshold in precisely instead of guessing.
- Shock + door/window contact in one housing on a single supervised zone — the forced-entry warning and the open/close report from one wireless device.
- Fully supervised 319.5 MHz transmitter with a 5+ year battery, UL/FCC/IC listed.
- Direct panel fit: Qolsys IQ Panel 4, IQ Panel 2+, and GE/Interlogix-class 319.5 MHz panels — the same slot a Qolsys IQ Shock-S or IQ Shock Mini-S would take.
Wireless shock sensor vs. glassbreak detector vs. door contact
These three device types are easy to confuse because they all protect openings. They detect completely different things, in different ways, from different mounting positions.
| Device | What it senses | How & where it mounts | Trips when… |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wireless shock / vibration sensor SHOCK-319 |
Physical impact & vibration on the surface it's attached to | Directly on the door, sash, or frame | Someone strikes, pries, kicks, or drills the protected surface — the attempt |
| Acoustic glassbreak detector | The sound signature of breaking glass (thud + high-frequency shatter) | Wall or ceiling, facing the glass — covers a whole room | Glass actually shatters within audible range |
| Door / window contact | Magnet separation (open vs. closed) | On the frame, magnet on the moving part | The opening is breached and the door/window moves |
A shock sensor can certainly respond to the vibration of someone striking glass — but that is not the same job as an acoustic glassbreak detector, and it is mounted in a different place for a different reason. A glassbreak detector only earns its keep once the pane is already breaking; a shock sensor is designed to react to the broader act of forcing an opening, often before anything actually breaks. For full coverage, many installers use them as complementary layers, not substitutes.
Inside the SHOCK-319 wireless shock sensor
The SHOCK-319 combines four things in one low-profile enclosure: an adjustable shock-sensing element, a magnetic reed switch (the door/window contact), a tamper switch, and Versa's patented Bluefield LED indicators. Here's what each LED tells you in the field.
| LED | What it means |
|---|---|
| Blue | Magnet is within range (1" max on wood). Active for 5 minutes after the battery is installed or the cover is removed — your placement confirmation. |
| Green | Pre-shock. Flashes when the sensor detects a vibration that's near — but not quite strong enough to reach — the alarm threshold. Your tuning guide. |
| Red | Shock alarm. Lights to indicate a shock strong enough to trigger an alarm is in progress. |
That green "pre-shock" stage is the feature that makes tuning practical. You're not flying blind between "nothing" and "full alarm" — the green LED shows you when you're getting close to the threshold, so you can set sensitivity precisely against the real install surface.
The reed-switch DIP: two jobs, or one
The SHOCK-319 has a single DIP switch, and its only job is to enable or disable the reed switch — the magnetic door/window contact. That decides whether the device does two jobs or one:
- DIP ON — reed switch enabled. The SHOCK-319 works as both a shock sensor and a door/window contact. The magnet is in play, so the panel sees open/close events alongside shock detection.
- DIP OFF — reed switch disabled. The reed switch and magnet are not used. The SHOCK-319 works as a shock sensor only.
Where to mount a wireless shock sensor
- SHOCK-319 (sensor + included magnet)
- Small flat-blade screwdriver (for the sensitivity dial)
- 319.5 MHz panel — Qolsys IQ Panel 4, IQ Panel 2+, or GE/Interlogix-class
- The sensor's built-in serial number (for enrollment)
- Mount the sensor to the stationary part (the frame), and the magnet to the moving part (the door or sash) — the same way you'd place a contact.
- Mount on the frame or sash, not on the glass. Like Qolsys's own shock sensors, the SHOCK-319 is designed to be installed on window frames and doors with or without glass inserts — not on the glass surface itself.
- Keep it away from metal and wiring. Avoid large amounts of metal, electrical runs, foil wallpaper, furnace and utility rooms — they interfere with both the magnet and the RF signal.
- Avoid moisture and locations that exceed the 32–122°F (0–50°C) operating range.
- Confirm RF before you commit the tape. Run the panel's Go/No Go (walk test) from the intended spot to verify signal strength.
Setting shock sensitivity
Sensitivity is set with a screwdriver dial (potentiometer) inside the housing, and it's tuned from the final mounting position — the surface, fasteners, and frame all affect how vibration travels, so bench-tuning won't match the real install.
Mount first, tune second
Secure the SHOCK-319 in its permanent location before adjusting. Sensitivity set on a workbench will not behave the same on a door or window frame.
Tap the surface with your palm
Gently strike the protected surface with the palm of your hand to simulate an impact. Watch the LEDs: green flashes at the pre-shock threshold, red lights when the impact is strong enough to trigger a shock alarm.
Dial it in
Turn the sensitivity dial clockwise to increase sensitivity (or gradually increase your tap pressure) until you get the response you want for that surface. The goal: a real forced-entry blow trips it, normal use doesn't.
Reject the nuisance triggers
Make sure everyday vibration — wind, window coverings, a slamming adjacent door, normal door/window operation — does not trip the sensor. Back the sensitivity off until those are ignored while a deliberate strike still alarms.
Enrolling the SHOCK-319 on a Qolsys IQ Panel
The SHOCK-319 enrolls like any 319.5 MHz transmitter. On a Qolsys IQ Panel the shock sensor and the contact come in as a single supervised zone:
- Put the panel in auto-learn mode (Settings → Advanced Settings → Installation → Devices → Security Sensors → Auto Learn Sensor).
- Trip the sensor: open/close the magnet, or tap the cover, to send the signal.
- The panel captures the serial number. Set the sensor name, group/zone type, and chime, then touch Add.
SHOCK-319 wireless shock sensor specifications
Physical specs below are taken from the official SHOCK-319 installation guide, which is the source of truth for the hardware.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 319.5 MHz (wireless, fully supervised) |
| Device type | Dual-function door/window contact + shock sensor (single zone) |
| Panel compatibility | Qolsys IQ Panel 4, IQ Panel 2+, GE/Interlogix-class 319.5 MHz panels |
| Supervision | Yes — fully supervised transmitter |
| LED indicators | Blue (magnet in range) · Green (pre-shock) · Red (shock alarm) |
| Shock sensitivity | Adjustable via screwdriver dial |
| Reed switch (DIP) | DIP enables the reed switch (shock + door/window contact) or disables it (shock sensor only) |
| Magnet gap | 1" (25.4 mm) max on wood; ~1/4" on metal frames |
| Dimensions | 2.85" × 1.15" × 0.75" (73 × 30 × 19 mm) |
| Battery | 1 × 3V lithium — Versa CR2U (or Panasonic CR2) |
| Battery life | 5+ years |
| Operating conditions | 32°–122°F (0°–50°C), indoor — residential & commercial |
| Mounting | Surface mount (double-faced tape included) — on frame/sash, not glass |
| Listings & warranty | UL · FCC · IC · 2-year warranty |
Two-in-one perimeter protection for Qolsys IQ and GE/Interlogix panels.
Browse the full shock sensor collection, see the rest of the door/window contacts and motion detectors, or read more installer guides on Insight.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best wireless shock sensor for forced-entry detection?
For forced-entry detection on doors and windows, look for adjustable shock sensitivity, frame (surface) mounting, fully supervised wireless reporting, and compatibility with your panel's frequency. The Versa SHOCK-319 meets all four: it's a 319.5 MHz wireless shock sensor with adjustable sensitivity (and a green pre-shock LED for precise tuning), a built-in door/window contact on the same supervised zone, a 5+ year battery, and UL/FCC listing — compatible with the Qolsys IQ Panel 4, IQ Panel 2+, and GE/Interlogix panels.
What is a wireless shock sensor?
A wireless shock sensor is a vibration detector that mounts on a door or window frame and signals the alarm panel over the air when the surface takes an impact — a pry, kick, hammer, or drill. The Versa SHOCK-319 is a 319.5 MHz wireless shock sensor that also includes a door/window contact, so it reports both forced-entry vibration and open/close on a single supervised zone.
Is the SHOCK-319 a glassbreak detector?
No. The SHOCK-319 is a shock (vibration) sensor. It mounts on a door or window frame and detects the impact and vibration of a forced-entry attempt — prying, kicking, drilling, or hammering. An acoustic glassbreak detector is a separate room-mounted device that listens for the sound of shattering glass. The two are complementary, not the same.
Can the SHOCK-319 be used as a shock sensor only?
Yes. A single DIP switch enables or disables the reed switch (the door/window contact). With the DIP ON, the reed switch is enabled and the device works as both a shock sensor and a door/window contact. With the DIP OFF, the reed switch and magnet are not used and the device works as a shock sensor only.
What panels is the SHOCK-319 wireless shock sensor compatible with?
It operates at 319.5 MHz and works with Qolsys IQ Panel 4, Qolsys IQ Panel 2+, and GE/Interlogix-class 319.5 MHz panels. The shock sensor and door/window contact enroll as a single fully supervised zone.
