Have just bought a new house which is in the process of being 'gutted' and re-decorated / extended. Give the option of hiding wires now, etc. What is the general recommendation for alarm type / brand for average 3-bedroom house semi? Checking on reviews of some of the big players and they come out disappointing.
Recommended alarm type / brand?
- Thread starter katatutu
- Start date
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Are you going to be living there?
If you are gutting and re-decorating then go for a wired system.
The only advantage of wireless is that there are no wires to install. For retro fitting in a decorated building this can be a strong motivation to go wireless. This might outweigh the dis-advantages of a wire-less system.
There are some good wireless systems where sensors are checked using two way communication each time the alarm is set. These are the more expensive ones.
There are low cost systems where a sensor can be removed from site and the panel is un-aware that the sensor has gone. This means the alarm can be set with an area no longer protected and the owner is not informed of this "fault" in the system.
The only advantage of wireless is that there are no wires to install. For retro fitting in a decorated building this can be a strong motivation to go wireless. This might outweigh the dis-advantages of a wire-less system.
There are some good wireless systems where sensors are checked using two way communication each time the alarm is set. These are the more expensive ones.
There are low cost systems where a sensor can be removed from site and the panel is un-aware that the sensor has gone. This means the alarm can be set with an area no longer protected and the owner is not informed of this "fault" in the system.
M
mdf290
One problem with your scenario . .
'sensors can be removed from site'?
All the sensors you mention have microswitches in constant tamper state so anyone removing a sensor from site would trigger the alarm. I install the sensors using screws and plugs so removing the covers to unscrew the sensors from their location would set off the alarm.
If the alarm is armed then attempts at removing the sensors would also result in an activation.
Removing the sensors as you describe would mean someone with access to the property when the alarm was not set. In that case why would they not just steal what they wanted at the time?
It all depends on the level of cover you need and the perceived threat you are worried about.
If its an opportunist thief through an open door when the alarm is not set then no alarm will protect you.
If its something to wake you if someone breaks in then the lower priced system mentioned will do that job.
If its something to protect your empty property when there is noone around and thieves have access to tools and cover from view and have knowledge of alarms then no alarm will protect you there either.
Physical security is just as important.
These days while people do not tend to have such expensive jewellery personal items take the form of phones and music devices instead and the results of losing your laptop , iphone or digital music can be traumatising.
I would always recommend a safe. I have two in my home...
One for everyday items like keys, car keys , passports memory stick back ups of digital media (photos.music etc) and another for birth certificates.marriage certificates.insurance policies jewellery and watches etc.
'sensors can be removed from site'?
All the sensors you mention have microswitches in constant tamper state so anyone removing a sensor from site would trigger the alarm. I install the sensors using screws and plugs so removing the covers to unscrew the sensors from their location would set off the alarm.
If the alarm is armed then attempts at removing the sensors would also result in an activation.
Removing the sensors as you describe would mean someone with access to the property when the alarm was not set. In that case why would they not just steal what they wanted at the time?
It all depends on the level of cover you need and the perceived threat you are worried about.
If its an opportunist thief through an open door when the alarm is not set then no alarm will protect you.
If its something to wake you if someone breaks in then the lower priced system mentioned will do that job.
If its something to protect your empty property when there is noone around and thieves have access to tools and cover from view and have knowledge of alarms then no alarm will protect you there either.
Physical security is just as important.
These days while people do not tend to have such expensive jewellery personal items take the form of phones and music devices instead and the results of losing your laptop , iphone or digital music can be traumatising.
I would always recommend a safe. I have two in my home...
One for everyday items like keys, car keys , passports memory stick back ups of digital media (photos.music etc) and another for birth certificates.marriage certificates.insurance policies jewellery and watches etc.
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Not if it was still glued or screwed to the bit of wall or door frame.
The visitor could not carry the stolen items out of the house if the owner was there. But if they disable or remove the sensors without the owner seeing them then they can come back later knowing the alarm will not be triggered.
Very true, but there is also a need for the wireless system to be fully explained to the purchaser so they can make a fully informed opinion as to whether the alarm will provide the level of cover required. It woud appear that many of the people selling wireless DIY alarms to the general public do not have the full information about the alarms they are selling.
Not forgetting that some one way wireless alarms can be fully set with a protected door open.
Well I will write this again as my first one didn't post lol.
There many alarms all made to different specifications but all intended to do the same job.
You have several factors in that will come into what alarm you want to install.
First off always and up most budget what can you afford. Or what price wold you put on protect what matters most?
Secondly what kind of protection do you want to put in place? Anti theft, flood, fire or all three?
Thirdly do you want it to page you?
As below. fourthly what an alarm doesnt do!
There are other factors too take into conciderstion,
But I go by those factors.
Then you want to look at area of protection.
I am old school and preference a wired alarm over wireless but I can't deny that 80% of my business is wireless. Client don't want wires all over there house in ugly trunking. But you have the option to hide these wires... It's your choice.
Now as for the alarms. There ae many many brands out there. From Honeywell to risco. Allot of people will go galaxy galaxy, or texecom as that's all they know!
The fact is I can sit here now and list 21wireless alarm manufactures and 11 wired alarm manufactures mostly the same companies granted lol.
I would say if you have no experience at all try and stay low tech but has a good rating. If you can read then you will have no problem at all installing a alarm just make sure each cable goes in the correct hole. And relates to the right source.
Again it all depends on rooms and what you want it to do.
Security assessments are essential to getting the most of a security system and making sure you have the right one installed.
There many alarms all made to different specifications but all intended to do the same job.
You have several factors in that will come into what alarm you want to install.
First off always and up most budget what can you afford. Or what price wold you put on protect what matters most?
Secondly what kind of protection do you want to put in place? Anti theft, flood, fire or all three?
Thirdly do you want it to page you?
As below. fourthly what an alarm doesnt do!
There are other factors too take into conciderstion,
But I go by those factors.
Then you want to look at area of protection.
I am old school and preference a wired alarm over wireless but I can't deny that 80% of my business is wireless. Client don't want wires all over there house in ugly trunking. But you have the option to hide these wires... It's your choice.
Now as for the alarms. There ae many many brands out there. From Honeywell to risco. Allot of people will go galaxy galaxy, or texecom as that's all they know!
The fact is I can sit here now and list 21wireless alarm manufactures and 11 wired alarm manufactures mostly the same companies granted lol.
I would say if you have no experience at all try and stay low tech but has a good rating. If you can read then you will have no problem at all installing a alarm just make sure each cable goes in the correct hole. And relates to the right source.
Again it all depends on rooms and what you want it to do.
Security assessments are essential to getting the most of a security system and making sure you have the right one installed.
An assessment of how the system works is also essential and the purchaser must be informed of any shortcoming in the systems they are looking at. Salespeople dealing with the public often "overlook" items that might lose them a sale.
This is very true. Sales teams aren't always trained in the knowledge of how an alarm works! You need to know all pros and all cons in all systems no system is 100% and I beg to differ anyone who says they are! If they were my insurance would cover me for a failing System but they don't.
Make sure you know what the alarm does and DOESN'T do. Plus any potential floors with it such as no tamper switches or if a PIR sensor is removed then the mercury switch inside is activated when it gets tilted over 5%. So the alarm is activated. Also battery backups so if the power fails to a house or business the alarm is still running for 12 hours ect ect.
I see it time and time again big companies employee sales people that know how to sell a flogged donkey to a Spanish man. Ur don't know the floors in doing it.
Soxrry I'm old school. Mercury isn't used! They have a tilt sensor inside so if say the wall or frame is removed as well if there is a sudden shock on the sensor they activate.
I know Yale, Honeywell, texecom, kasp, power max ect ect. Have this function.
I know Yale, Honeywell, texecom, kasp, power max ect ect. Have this function.
Saw that, just bit my typing finger
Haha yes that's good old predictive text for you flaws.
It did it again then manual typing back to the way it should be!
Anyone know how to turn predictive text off an ipad. All this tec stuff... I'm 55 give me pen and paper.
It did it again then manual typing back to the way it should be!
Anyone know how to turn predictive text off an ipad. All this tec stuff... I'm 55 give me pen and paper.
You mean ANTI TAMPER
How is the magnet on the door contact protected ?
With a wired alarm removing the magnet would create a "door open" state and the panel would be aware of this and show this fault when attempts were made to set the alarm.
With some wireless alarms the state of the door is not ( cannot ) be tested when the alarm is being set and the alarm will set as normal even though the loss of the magnet means the sensor is in "door open" state.
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