Why not wireless?

Hi there. I hope I don't manage to cause upset with my first post! Seems a fantastic site btw, pleasure to be here. I've been doing some research into which new alarm system I am going to buy. Initially I was interested in getting a professional installer to supply and fit the system, but after some quotes that made me reach for the nearest chair I'm thinking of installing it myself. I've read plenty of topics in which wireless alarms are slammed in favour of wired systems. But then I've been told by numerous individuals that wireless is completely reliable and safe these days. Ive heard it mentioned that wireless alarm signals can be jammed by professional burglars, but then I've also been told this is nonsense... so I'm a bit confused which way to turn.

To be honest, I would rather fit a mostly wireless system if they are reliable as my house makes it very difficult to hide ugly wires without channaling all the walls - and I've only just finished decorating. Also would benefit me as I'm looking at alarming the garage at the bottom of the garden, and wires will be very hard to run there.

I realise you get what you pay for and I have been looking at what I think are the more expensive wireless alarm systems like the Texecom Excel. I've been told these systems work on frequencies far broader than cheaper systems so they wont be set off by neighbours car alarms/house alarms etc. on the same frequency. Is that right?!?

Finally, if wireless is indeed the way I go, could I ask the more experienced than me (that probably everyone! ) to have a quick look at this alarm and tell me if you think it is of a suitable standard? http://www.global-gadgets.com/House_Alarms-Professional_Wireless_GSM3_Alarm_System.html

I particularly like it as you can arm and de-arm the system remotely from a telephone and you can listen in to the house if the alarm is triggered to see if its a false alarm or not.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks in advance for any helpful answers/advice.

Welcome to the site mate. There are many pitfalls and reasons why wireless is despised by most on this site. The key ones being reliability e.g. batteries only lasting 6 months to a year, delays between one operation and another and interference. If you do a search on the site you ll see where this has been covered in greater detail.

Personally I would never recommend wireless systems. You are much better to install a good quality wired system I know you said it was difficult in your house but with a good installer you can generally hide most cabling.

A good wired system should give many years of trouble free operation with just a 5 year standby battery change and regular maintenance. I notice your in surrey so if I can be of nay help drop me an e-mail. Address in my profile

I have to agrree, try a search for wireless alarms, this week i also heard about a "new gadget" that is 99.9% g teed to how shall i say, "upset" all radio alarms, its not designed to do that, it has another peurpose, but its an interesting side effect.

one thing is for sure, it won't can't upset a hard wired alarm

as for the link, i think the website name says it all.

Thanks for the advice guys. That confirms the battery life situation I was wondering about. I'll do another search on the forum and do some more reading into known issues. And cheers for the offer of advice/help Ivsystems. Breezer, I didnt get what you meant about the web addy "saying it all"... do you mean it looks cheap quality or something?

yes, the link you supplied is called gadgets.................

so they are probably very good if you want a gadget, but an alarm is not a toy or gadget

eyedee

go for the old fashioned wired thingy, install and forget is better solution...i was also very tempted by wireless but it just does not look very convincing now,after i've been reading some stuff in here and the help from the wired guys

Breezer, I see what you are saying, as much as I would like to believe it could be a good system... I can't. And thanks for the advice flipfloppi, I totally agree as I've wasted enough time and money on a previous alarm install that was utter rubbish and caused nothing but grief (yep, it was wireless - very cheap wireless! The shame...)

Knowing what I now know, could I be pretty cheeky and ask for some pro advice as to what you think I should buy... I want to go down the wired route and fit a system myself costing no more (if possible) than £200 which is made by a trusted and reliable company. Sensor wise, the system would need to consist of 4 PIR's, 3 door contacts, 1 shock sensor (for rear patio door). I also definately want it to have an external bell box. It must be able to be part armed so that I can just arm downstairs at night, and it would be great if it can just arm ONE of the door contacts (on the garage) the majority of the time. I would also like it to be connected to an auto dialler that no only calls mobile phone numbers to alert the user that the system has been tripped, but also allows the user to listen in to the system remotely and reset the alarm remotely from the telephone.

I would be really really grateful if the pro's in the know could offer their advice as to what I should purchase.

Ok eyedee assuming you want a bells only system i.e not monitored you have 3 viable options as far i'm concerned : Texecom, Scantronic, Pyronix. Pyronix is a slightly cheaper option but you get what you pay for. As for detectors id recommend Texecom or Optex. As for Patio door when you say shock sensor do you mean a viper i.e vibration sensor or a glass break sensor. The former are usually very prone to false alarms. As for dialler Pyronix do a good one called a vocaliser with 2 way comms.

All of there are similar in their functions and I actually have no real favourite. You would probably looking at closer to 300-400 for that system plus installation cost. You can of course install it yourself but unless you are competent with running cables and from your original post I would say your not, you maybe better to get someone in to do it.

As for your setting options all of the systems listed would be capable of this function.

Thanks for your advice on the shock sensor. I've removed that from my list and replaced it with a glass break sensor instead. Ok, I've worked out the cost for a complete Texecom system as follows:


1 x Texecom Impaq Glass Break Detector

£20.48

1 x Panic Button

£3.14

3 x Surface Contact, White

£1.23 each

3 x Prestige Digital PIR With Mirrored Optics

£18.56 each

1 x Texecom Odyssey 3 / 3E Decoy Bellbox

£9.67

1 x Texecom Odyssey 3 115db triangular External Sounder

£32.81

1 x Texecom Remote Microphone Unit

£18.46

1 x Texecom Speech Dialler with SMS Text

£88.10

1 x Texecom Exodus 12v Optical & heat multisensor

£18.21

1 x Texecom Premier 48 (8-48 zones) control panel

£78.91


This system comes to £329.15 which is steeper than I'd hoped for. Maybe a few ways of saving some money (other than going for a cheaper system of course!)? I know a battery and wire needs costing in too.

I read that the Texecom Premier 24 only allows for control of 1 area. You need to buy the Premier 48 for dual area control - is this correct?

Re: installation, I'll probably do it myself. I bought a wreck of a house with no house based diy experience and have since taught myself electrics and plumbing and finished the majority of the home to a pretty high standard. I'll prob give it a go anyway.

Do you think the system I have put together is okay?

Thanks again

Sounds about right don't scrimp on the battery though go for Yuasa 7AH should be ideal. I'd go for CQR 8 core cable if I was you. The Premier 48 seems like a good panel afaik. Out of interest are you sure on your prices they seem very cheap.

CHEAP??? I THOUGHT THEY WERE EXPENSIVE!!! LOL! Yeah, prices include VAT. Delivery is on top tho.

That's great, I'll make sure I pick up one of the Uuasa 7AH batteries and lots of 8 core cable too. I wonder how much a pro installer would charge just to fit a system? I may well call round to find out - just to know I'm making the right decision in fitting it myself I mean.

Thanks very much for your help so far. I'm bound to be asking more questions very soon tho!

Well there cheaper than my prices from a well known distributor. Won't post prices on here (too many variables) but if you do need to know then ask.

You forgot a keypad off your list

Oh and you need an interface to make the remote microphones work with the onboard modem.

And yes you are right. You need at least the prem 48 for multiple area setting.

i some how think this plan is going down hill fast

Cheers Ivsystems, if I need anything I'll certainly ask.

Thanks for your input RFLighting. I think the Speech Dialler control panel is the keypad - it certainly looks like one? The microphone connects directly into the system which is ready to recieve it and work with it (from what I've been told) so no interface needed.

And thanks for the vote of confidence breezer.