Repllent termiticides have been around a little longer. The most readily available active ingredient used in these products is Bifenthrin. The R&D company who brought Bifenthrin to the market is FMC Australasia with their product called Biflex.
These products are very cost effective and will bind with the soil well once placed. If a termite comes in contact with treated soil it will either die or be repelled from the treated area.
Repellent termiticides do not have a "chain reaction" that affects the rest of the colony.
If the treated soil barrier around your property is complete (no gaps) and bedded down in good soil, then it will provide many years of protection for the structure.
If termites are active inside your property and a repellent soil barrier is placed around your structure, you can run the risk of 'locking" them inside your property and this has caused concern for some property owners in the past.