Wireless alarms

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In general, are they any good?

Years ago I can remember someone saying you have to replace the batteries in the sensors every other week..have they moved on?

Brands...ones to avoid?...recommended ones?

Obviously Yale are a well known brand..you see them in most of the sheds, but are they a bit 'market stall' or do they do the job well?

Opinions well received..

Thanks
 
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Hmmm...thanks Breezer..all my questions answered in one post..

In other words..'give em a miss'!..

Trouble is I hate wires...cant stand the sight of them on skirtings etc..thats what is putting me off getting a wired one installed at the moment.

BTW Are there any radio alrms that will work in a car and a small box in the house?
 
totally disagree with that sticky. ive been fitting wireless stuff for 7 years now, and never have any problems. that sticky may be relavent 10 years back but not now. i know a few wireless sytems with with smaller detectors than wired ones. batteries now adays last 3-5years. i never get problems with jamming. i have to admit i hate wireless bells but i have started using them now and they have proved to be fine aswell.
the whole alarm industry is going wireless. from honeywell - risco - visonic - menvier and more. if they were that crap why is everyone making them. they are good now. i personal think breezer has had a bad experience with them many years ago. don`t let that sticky put you off.
 
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The sticky i wrote is not an opinion of years ago, its recent, Yes radio alarms are better than they were, but they always have and always will suffer the same problem and there is nothing you can do about it. That problem is jaming or interfearance (neither are intentional to the alarm)

The question is what is causing it, because its radio you cant see the cause.
Its "pot luck" if you get it or not, yes a radio scam shoul be carried out first but no one does, and what if its ok at the time but not later?

Radio alarms do not work very well in new builds because the walls are foil lined (buiding reg)

If a pro company installed an alarm and you could see all the cables on the skiirting etc (except near the panel) You should demand your money back. Cables are always hidden from view on a good install.

Hardwired alarms never need individual batteries changing, and unless you change them all at the same time they could prove to be a pain change this one this week, that one next week. (it does happen)

Don't get me wrong, i have seen radio alarms that do work trouble free for a couple of years (they are only that old) but its the majority I have seen that "cause problems"

I should also point out that the majority of radio alarm equipment is really is bigger than its hard wired counterpart (to hold the battery)

I shall have to get some and update the sticky.

as an aside Risco and Visonic are at the bottom of the list of overall reliability
 
A burglar who knows what he is doing and can get access to the wires of a burglar alarm can easily defeat the average domestic alarm installation wired or wireless if he or she can access communication between the components of the system.

Protecting the communication to the bell box is vital to ensure the alarm sounds when intrusion occurs and is detected.

Protecting the communications to each sensor is also necessary to prevent the sensor being taken out of action.

Wired systems require that the burglar can get access to the wires before attempting entry.

Wireless systems provide access to all the communications between sensors and control box.

Interference from other transmitters is a problem that tends to fail safe in a false alarm.

Interception from a burglar with the right equipment "disconnects" real sensors and replaces them with simulated sensors that tell the control unit all is OK.
 
Never had a problem with Visonic PowerMax+.

These are insurance approved too. (If fitted by endorsed installer)
 
Burglars only atempt to defeat an alarm if its a movie. since for the average house its just not worth the bother.

As for the visonic detectore being insurance aproved, aproved generaly means some one paid some one else some money
 
Burglars only atempt to defeat an alarm if its a movie. since for the average house its just not worth the bother.

True.. it is not worth the effort to get the wires for the average domestic job. But if the wireless bell can be tricked into remaining silent by a box of bits outside the house then there is a bit less chance of the occupiers being woken while their house is being quietly ransacked.

And it can.
 
I have a Visionic Powermax + installed for last 2 years. No problems at all.

It has some excellent features: It dials my mobile if tripped or a problem and its hooked into my home automation system so that when armed night or day it signals for the house lights to be switched off.
 
So does my hard wired alarm, and I can have flush mounted door contacts, and I don't ever have to change batteries in detectors.
 
Not sure how that answers his question about wireless alarms....;)

easy. You said

It has some excellent features: It dials my mobile if tripped or a problem and its hooked into my home automation system so that when armed night or day it signals for the house lights to be switched off.

RF Lighting is saying his does that too, but unlike you he does not have to change batteries in detectors
 
lol changing batteries every 3 years doesn`t really sound like a hassel does it. its not like they need changed everyday . you change the main cp battery about that time. im sure a extra 4 sensors say isn`t that bad.

as for the comment about the visonic kit. i agree its a good kit. im even fitting one tomorrow. fitted about 20 now and all has been good
 
anyone who doesnt consider radio really doesnt understand modern electronics











thats breezer then.
 

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