Terraced house alarm system

ckl139 · 7 Jun 2012

Hi,

We want to get an alarm system fitted and someone has recommended a scantronic alarm system.

The specific system was the ION16 with multiple PIRs, door contacts and window shock sensors.

Are these good?

Also what other brands should I be going for when getting quotes?

What else should I be checking with installers?

And last but not least wireless vs. wired?

I look forward to your replies.

Thanks

9651 · 7 Jun 2012

I-on is a good quality system, we dont fit them but, they have a good rep generally.

We fit Galaxy, something like a G2-12 or G2-20 is the same type of panel. These too are robust and can support wired or wireless zones. We fit loads, super robust, great catch with the PIR's..... something the Scantronic wirefree units are not so great at imo.... Built into the galaxy is an SMS txt feature which is handy as a low cost signalling system. I believe the Ion can do this with an add on module.

Wired imo is better as once the wire is installed any device can be connected to it, so in a way its future proof. Wirefree is great, but eventually the product will become obsolete, so in 10-15 years time parts may become a problem

Regards.

ckl139 · 20 Jun 2012

Hi Thanks for your response.

Another question how good are kits such as:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/yale-wireless-4-room-alarm-kit/54473

other DIY type kit suggestions welcome.

and are they simple enough to DIY?

My main concern is around if they need any special positioning or aligning.

streaker99 · 20 Jun 2012

They are excellent systems if fitted properly - This is a DIY site and that is the best DIY system you can get.

The pros will be along to say the opposite of course.

bernardgreen · 20 Jun 2012

As you want to go DIY then seriously consider a wired system.

As has been recently discovered some wireless systems can be set into alarm mode even though one or more doors or windows are open. This is because the control panel does not know the state ( open or closed ) of doors and windows when the alarm is set. The control panel only gets a "door open" message when the door changes from closed to open. With a wired system the panel always knows whether doors are open or closed and will not set the alarm if a door is not shut. Some professional wireless systems will ask sensors to report the state of the door before setting but this requires two way wireless between control panel and sensors. This increases the price for DIY systems as the sensors have to have receivers as well as transmitters and also battery life is very much reduced as the receiver has to be permanently active..

ckl139 · 20 Jun 2012

Thanks for the responses.

BernardGreen - if you are an installer please can you PM me your website / trade contact details if you do new installs.

thanks.

streaker99 · 20 Jun 2012

Bernard always paints the picture that all wireless systems are doomed to fail.

Definately NOT my personal experience.

ckl139 · 20 Jun 2012

streaker99 said:
Bernard always paints the picture that all wireless systems are doomed to fail.

Definately NOT my personal experience.

Understand.

Its a balance that I need to strike.

How much config and set up would be needed on say the Yale system? Do the PIRs need micro adjustment attention or just pointing in the right direction is ok.

bernardgreen · 20 Jun 2012

streaker99 said:
Bernard always paints the picture that all wireless systems are doomed to fail.

With 12 years of designing wireless communication systems (in a forty year career in electronics design ) I am fully aware of the limitations of one way wireless communication systems using licence exempt radio frequencies. I do not say all wireless systems are doomed to fail. I recognise that many systems will be compromised by interference from other systems using the same radio frequency.

ckl139 said:
BernardGreen - if you are an installer please can you PM me your website / trade contact details if you do new installs.

I am not a professional installer, but have experience of linking alarm systems ( intruder, personal safety and equipment failure ) to radio paging equipment in safety critical ( high reliability ) applications.

streaker99 · 20 Jun 2012

ckl139 said:
streaker99 said:

Bernard always paints the picture that all wireless systems are doomed to fail.

Definately NOT my personal experience.

Click to expand...

Understand.

Its a balance that I need to strike.

How much config and set up would be needed on say the Yale system? Do the PIRs need micro adjustment attention or just pointing in the right direction is ok.

The sensors have a 110 degree view so just put them in the corner of a room about between 1.75m and 2.3 m and it they are fine as long as you dont position towards or over a heat source

Workers · 21 Jun 2012

If your considering wireless then go Visonic. Then a bit more expensive I-on. Next would be Castle. Ending with Honeywell Galaxy. All easily found on Google.
As noted before Yale is one way reporting. You can set with a door or window open and not know.
If you want cheap then go with it.
If you want COMPLETE protection spend a little more.

A 110 degree detection on a right angled wall gives no added protection, but might look at a radiator or boiler heating rapidly. Although not a moving IR target it can cause a false alarm.
Have you pets?

As for the best DIY system, although advertised as professional. It has to be Visonic as you cannot set if any detector is compromised and has a better battery life and features.

streaker99 · 21 Jun 2012

Workers said:
A 110 degree detection on a right angled wall gives no added protection, but might look at a radiator or boiler heating rapidly. Although not a moving IR target it can cause a false alarm.

Look to strike that remark , your honour.

The comment above applies equally to the Yale or Visonic sensors Mlud.

(Why was is even pointed out as a problem?)

'Gives no added protection' EH? are you for real?

Having a 110 degree splay means that ALL the room gets covered without blind spots. The idea is to site the sensors NOT directly above radiators OR directly at a heat source. Thats is achievable with just a minutes consideration in any room.

Like I said the PRO installers on here will rubbish the Yale even if it makes them look silly.

streaker99 · 21 Jun 2012

Workers said:
As noted before Yale is one way reporting. You can set with a door or window open and not know.

What he is saying here is stating the obvious.

If you leave your home with doors and windows open you have created a security risk.

I am quite sure that in a terraced house you are more than capable of ensuring you lock your doors and windows before you leave home.

ckl139 · 21 Jun 2012

What is the visonic DIY equivalent.

Powermax plus or something ...? There are a few so it's confusing links would be appreciated

Thanks

bernardgreen · 21 Jun 2012

streaker99 said:
If you leave your home with doors and windows open you have created a security risk.

Obviously but you would expect that an alarm that is suppose to raise the alarm when a protected door or window is opened would raise the alarm ( or provide a clear warning ) if the alarm was set while a door or window was open.

Or when the door or window was closed but was seen by the systeme as being open due to a defective sensor which, being defective, would not detect the door or window being opened by an intruder.

Even YaleGuy3 recognised this as a weakness of the system he promoted.

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Terraced house alarm system

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