Powermax, Powermaster, Ricochet or other?

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I am looking to self install a wireless alarm - I have an alarm already but it is of unknown manufacture, is 10 years old and the installer wants £500 to move it to a new location because of all the cabling! Looking around i can get a new wireless alarm for the same/similar price and do it myself.

Our house is a semi, with numerous entry points downstairs (front, side and rear) so looking at about 5 pirs downstairs, 2 upstairs as well as the main door and a couple of windows upstairs (kids rooms - wife wants the added comfort).

Needs to have:
8+ Wireless zones
Wireless window intruder detection (forced entry, vibration type i think)
Usual door and movement sensors
proximity tags (for ease of use, esp. elderly relatives etc who don't use the code all the time)
pleasant looking prox/keypad unit rather than 'functional'
Voice dialler for notifications to mobiles (recorded message rather than chirps and beeps)
Wireless External sounder
Notifications of low batteries in devices

Would like to have:
Remote prox/keypad so i can install the main unit elsewhere for added security
SMS notifications/alerts
Remote setting (either via sms or over the internet directly not through a central service provider - don't expect them to provide the service forever so would want to be able to access the alarm myself via my own host name etc.)
Internal sounder (either built in to the unit or separate)

Maybe have:
Camera PIR that I can access via smartphone app or internet (again directly) but I am unsure about this (gimmick/hacking/added value...)


The powermax pro/complete seem to do most of the above but without the remote Prox keypad,
The Powermaster appears to potentially require going through the central Visonic hub (and there isn't much of a price difference to the powermax) and has more modern technology
The rocochet isn't very forthcoming on the website as regards capability, doesn't mention prox tags on the website but i see people selling them.
People often mention the Honeywell galaxy but i have heard mixed messages about its reliability.

Please correct me if the above assumptions are wrong or let me know if i have missed something out.

Thanks for any advice.
 
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No...

I have priced up a couple of the options above and know that it will be more expensive, but i also get a new alarm out of it.

I just don't know which will suit my needs best...
 
Why do you want to move it?

Wireless can have relibility problems, requires annoying battery replacements and locks you into one brand.
 
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We are having work done on the house and what was a garage, will become another room. I am at the end of the road so wireless interference should be minimal.
I appreciate I will be locked into the one brand which is why I wanted the advice. These wireless systems have been out for a while and most of the users posting on this site seem happy with them.....
 
with the texecom panels, if you go for the posh looking keypads they have prox on them SMK/FMK

other than that the kits come an a basic lcdp keypad (p) indicating prox.

With wireless, avoid large metal objects, super thick walls (may have to bounce round the wall rather than go through it) make sure wireless expanders are not close to other devices that could interfere with the expander and you shouldn't go far wrong.
 
Thanks.

Is the Texecom as expandable/future proof as the Visonic kits appear to be?

What about the powermaster 10 - can that be used without going through their control centre?
 
Galaxy G2 Series with 2-Way wireless.

G2-12 panel £35
MK7 Keyprox Keypad £40
Panel Battery £15
Internal Speaker £10
External Sounder £35
10 RF sensors + RF Portal £290
IP module for direct app control £50
(IP self monitoring SMS Etc. from £1 a month via provider)

You're looking at £475 for your spec of system with 7 x RF PIR's and 1 x RF contacts and 2 RF Viper vibration.

>> People often mention the Honeywell galaxy but i have heard mixed messages about its reliability.

The Honeywell G2 is solid. Perhaps you've heard issues with the Flex, but definitely not the G2 or Dimension. The G2 has been around for a good few years.
 
When you say expanadable yes they are expandable.

Like many things depends on what model you start with to how far you want to expand.

The 24 panel or 640, 24(16 wireless) zones or 640(512 wireless) zones but cant see many domestics going up to the 640, thats a mansion.

The Galaxy G2 would probably be the cheaper option than the Texecom kit
 
Thanks for the info, Texecom doesn't seem to have as many wireless devices yet compared to visonic. but It sounds like it may suit needs as well.

The G2 is also sounding pretty good - i will look again.

Does the Powermaster allow direct control via sms? or does it require the powerlink module?
 
The best thing to do with a system is to write a list of what you want it to do.

Out of that what is essential ie you wont compromise on.

Find the best system/s that fits your needs, then ask some questions to make your mind up.

There is lots of stuff out there.
 
@Hoover - I was trying to do that with my original post....I am trying to understand which of the systems are capable of doing those things and which aren't/

@socdesign - do i need the ip module for the voice dialling/sms control or is that just for access via the web/smartphone?
 
@socdesign - do i need the ip module for the voice dialling/sms control or is that just for access via the web/smartphone?

I have the Galaxy G2 that socdesign mentions and can confirm that the alarm will work as a stand-alone without the ethernet module. It does have a built-in dialler but it's geared towards calling an Alarm Receiving Centre (like ADT) and responding to a handshake. Theoretically you could have it call your mobile, but it would use your landline to make the call and I've no idea what the panel would do when it didn't get the handshake. Maybe it would repeatedly call you, maybe it would end in a two hour call from landline to mobile? There was also a way to have text messages forwarded from a message centre but I believe the service is almost extinct now too.

The ethernet module and selfmon is cheap to run and works a treat.
 
As per Alan, the IP module enables three separate things-

1. Programming settings with Honeywell RSS software direct to the panel
2. Android or iPhone app control direct to the panel
3. SelfMon monitoring for SMS/Voice/Email events and line path checking - £1 a month

The on-board dialer can be used for SMS via TAP, but it's 17p a message and old technology.
 

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