wireless burglar alarm

[crow11]

does anyone have any recommendations for a decent wireless full system, also roughly how long do the batteries last in the pir's and door contacts, i don't bother with wireless normally but customer insisting he doesn't want wired cheers

 

[telectrix]

will he accept hard wire to bell and keypad with all wirelesss detectors? if so, i recommend gardtec 600.

 

[amlu]

been fitting some all wireless yale, around £150 worth as far as I remember.
Stick the siren somewhere high from a big ladder, install keypad and some sensors around.
Not sure about the batteries, they should last at least a year.
Setting it up was really easy it worked straight out the box. It was my regular customer house and so far no problems with unwanted visitors.

 

[crow11]

will he accept hard wire to bell and keypad with all wirelesss detectors? if so, i recommend gardtec 600.

hi tel yes hard wired for bell and keypad not a problem as wires already there so thats not a problem, what as happened is he had an alarm system in and had new windows and doors fitted and for some reason the fitters cut all the original alarm wires lol, then he had all the hallway and kitchen/dining room tiled and they have cut the wires, as the alarm had been disconnected after the window fitters had butchered it

 

[telectrix]

if you google "risco.co.uk" then register as an installer. you can buy the kit over phone or net, pay by card and have next day delivery. detector batteries last a min. of 2 years. risco ( gardtec) are based just outside manchester. sometimes have deals on, like a kit with pane, battery, sounder and 6 detectors ( PIRs and contacts) at good price.

 

[billy badger]

Found response wireless alarms to be the best. Wireless is becoming essential if a customer with a modern property wants a system. Life was so much better in the old days of proper floorboards.

 

[crow11]

cheers tel, i fitted plenty of gardtec panels many years ago or should i say many many years ago, never had a single problem with any them, don't know if they are still the same company or not, seen some cheap nasty wireless 1's about, just looked at the gardtec 600 and that will do the job nicely, just checked there location and there only 10 mins down the road cheers

 

[SKY]

We fit Yale all the time - very good systems.
Batteries last about 2-3 yrs in each device.

 

[haj]

Scantronic ion 16 for me.

 

[telectrix]

cheers tel, i fitted plenty of gardtec panels many years ago or should i say many many years ago, never had a single problem with any them, don't know if they are still the same company or not, seen some cheap nasty wireless 1's about, just looked at the gardtec 600 and that will do the job nicely, just checked there location and there only 10 mins down the road cheers

it's a fantastic panel. just be sure to follow the setting up procedure as in the installation manual. they can be a bit tricky to programme if you're not used to them. a bonus is their tech. help line is a normal 0161 number and the guys there are spot on with advice.

 

[timbobelfast]

Scantronic Ion if the money is there. Pricey, but you get what you pay for. And ideal if the SAB cable is still intact!

 

[chris murphy]

We fit Yale all the time - very good systems.
Batteries last about 2-3 yrs in each device.

"Hello SKY / Crow11",

In general I am happy with my Yale HSA 2500 `Wireless` Alarm System - although as You will read below it is NOT really a `Wireless system` any longer:

But I am only still happy with it because I have been capable of finding out what has caused the various problems that I have had - and been capable of rectifying these myself - it would have been completely different if I was NOT capable of doing the `Fixes`.


I fitted the Yale HSA 2500 Wireless Alarm system in my Home about 13 Years ago to replace an Alarm system on which the Control Box malfunctioned.

Before I purchased the HSA 2500 I contacted the Yale Alarms Technical Department to ask some questions - especially about the possibility of Radio Frequency Interference to the Alarm / Detectors.

I was informed that the `Wireless Alarm used a Frequency that nothing else uses` so there should definitely NOT be any Interference.

I purchased the Yale HSA 2500 Kit and also a few more wireless PIR Detectors - a couple of wireless Door Detectors - the Cable Protector for the Siren Box and some Remote Controls.

When I opened the Box containing the HSA 2500 Kit and saw the Control Box the first thing that I noticed was that there was a Light to warn of Interference !

If there is Definitely NOT any possibility of Interference why is there the Interference warning light ?

I installed the System which at that time required the Siren Box to be wired to the Control Box - but all of the Detectors were wireless.

About a Month after installing the Alarm system the Alarm went off at about 3 AM - there was no Interference Light illuminated at that point but I did find out that the Alarm was caused by a particular PIR Detector which it seems had not communicated with the Control Box with the monitoring signals for I think either 3 or 5 consecutive instances.

This happened again a couple of Days later and during the Evenings I had seen the Interference Light illuminated a few times.

As this was a New System I contacted Yale - sent them the Detector that was instigating the Alarm for a replacement - but I was concerned about seeing the Interference light a few times.

As I had purchased a couple of Spare PIR Detectors I fitted one where the other PIR had been `malfunctioning` - that same Day the Alarm went off - caused by the New Detector - having not communicated with the Control Box for either 3 or 5 consecutive instances.

After speaking to the Yale Alarm Technical Department We concluded that this was because something was definitely Interfering with the Monitoring Signals from the PIR Detector that was fitted to the Utility Room inside my Home`s Back Door.

There was still the comment / attitude that `We cannot understand this happening` - and that `Nothing else uses the Frequency that the Alarm uses` - although when I brought it to their attention that there was an Interference warning light on the Control Box and it was mentioned in the Installation Manual that some Electrical appliances could cause Interference to the Alarm they were lost for a reply.

Something was Interfering with the PIR Detector in that location and I ended up having to Wire it to the Control Box.

Throughout the Years since then there have been similar problems with the Wireless Detectors and I ended up Wiring some more to the Control Box.

Also over the Years I have had to replace the PIR`s - I used Honeywell Wired PIR`s as I rate Honeywell as the absolute Best Manufacturer of Heating Controls - I used the Honeywell Intellisense IS-215T.


Unless I could find out that there was a Technical / Design / RF Frequency reason why there is NOT as much chance of RF Interference with the more recent Models of Wireless Alarm Systems I would definitely NOT install a Wireless Alarm System again in My own Home.


Regarding Battery Life - I used to ensure that I used only Duracell Ultra Batteries since they became available on the wireless PIR`s and wireless Door Detectors and although they probably would last 2 Years or more I made sure that I changed them every Year.

Note on Calendar's to do so as well as the Smoke Alarm Batteries.

Although Wireless Detectors usually go into `Sleep Mode` for a short period each time when people are walking around the Home / Business obviously the more often the Detectors sense movement / `Flash` the more use the Battery gets regarding somewhere that is occupied all Day / all Night.


I have also replaced the Control Box Rechargeable Battery 3 times in the 13 Years.


Regards,


Chris

 

[UNG]

Always found the Yale and Response systems to be more of a DIY system for those home owners who decide against the cost of having a professionally designed and installed system fitted that avoids the problem of badly sited detectors and other site specific problems that may prevent the system operating correctly

Always been a wired alarm man myself as the only real way of identifying and ironing out interference problems on wireless alarms is to do a full wireless spectrum analysis of the frequencies used for a minimum of 24 hours to check for any anomalies that may cause false alarms

 

[oldtimer]

Been doing intruder for 30 years and I have yet to see a wireless system do better in fact I have stripped out 3 this year alone plus last year a customer of mine was told she was ripped off as the guy next door chucked a couple of Yale systems in around the area well a year on as she says my system has not missed a beat where the others have had problems.

Wireless can work if you set them up but where some fall down is that they have specialist camera batteries fitted to them and they aint cheap so for me I advise customers with alarms to get a front end upgrade ie panel battery sounder

 

[chris murphy]

Always found the Yale and Response systems to be more of a DIY system for those home owners who decide against the cost of having a professionally designed and installed system fitted that avoids the problem of badly sited detectors and other site specific problems that may prevent the system operating correctly

Always been a wired alarm man myself as the only real way of identifying and ironing out interference problems on wireless alarms is to do a full wireless spectrum analysis of the frequencies used for a minimum of 24 hours to check for any anomalies that may cause false alarms

"Hello UNG",


I would obviously agree that the Yale Wireless Alarm system is a DIY Alarm System as it is marketed and sold as that.

When I have to replace my existing Alarm System I will definitely be installing a Wired system and when I will be taking up Floorboards for altering parts of my Home`s Heating System and doing some work in the Roof space I will also be running in Alarm cables to the Detector positions throughout the House - possibly Years in advance of installing the New Alarm System.

I don`t want to offend Members on here - especially those who are Intruder Alarm Experts - But a Basic Wireless / Wired Alarm system is NOT a particularly difficult thing to Research / `Design` and Install - obviously not for an Electrician - OR for other `Technically minded` persons - such as myself.

THAT IS NOT THE SAME TYPE OF COMMENT AS THE RIDICULOUS STATEMENT ABOUT ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS `NOT BEING ROCKET SCIENCE` - WHICH I VIEW AS AN INSULT TO THE ELECTRICAL PROFESSION AND ALL ELECTRICIANS / ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS.

Even for People who are not as `Technically minded` / Skilled as Electricians and Heating Engineers etc. it should be a relatively simple Job - although People can obviously get into difficulties when a malfunction occurs regarding not being able to find exactly what is causing the problem.


The Yale Wireless Alarms and similar Wireless Alarm Systems are ideal for someone like Me who has enough Training and experience in minor Electrical Works - having taken ACOPS Training in Essential Electrics / Electrical Safety and Electrical Installation for Mechanical Services and a Honeywell Heating Controls wiring Course in the 1990`s and later the CORGI Defined Scope Part P Training and Assessment in 2005 - to be able to install the Electrical power supply to the Alarm Control Box and obviously wire up the 12 Volt Supply to the Siren Box - and as I later found necessary to wire up some of the PIR Detectors to the Control Box.


Before I purchased the Alarm system and extra Detectors - cable protector - remote controls etc. I did speak to the Yale Alarms Technical Department and I did research the ideal positions for the PIR Detectors and noted the `Avoid positions` for example in direct Sunlight / near a Radiator / immediately adjacent a Wireless Telephone base unit / Fax machine / Microwave / TV etc.


When I purchased the Yale Wireless Alarm I did not really do so specifically to avoid having to run the Detector cables - as I am taking up Floorboards most Days throughout my working life that would not have presented any problem for Me.


I did not get my Home`s Alarm system `Professionally` Designed and Installed by a Company because the Quotes were RIDICULOUSLY high and also I felt that the Yearly `Maintenance` charges were simply an unnecessary expense.

Also - I think that I remember being told that the Alarm Companies that quoted at that time used Control Boxes and PIR Detectors which were NOT compatible with other Manufacturers Alarm components - Hence the `Yearly Maintenance` Charges etc.


This was obviously deliberate so that in the event of anything malfunctioning You would either have to deal with them for the Repair / New Detector or whatever had malfunctioned - or remove the Alarm system and install another using Alarm Industry compatible Alarm components - which would be a deterent to some People regarding getting rid of the Company`s Alarm system.

This non compatible Detectors etc. situation MAY have been an `Urban Myth` as it was questioned by some people that I knew at a later date - but it was told to Me by an Electrician at the time and it was enough to put Me off - combined with the Exhorbitant Quotes !


I have seen some Alarm components over the last few Years that are on systems that Friends have had installed by Electricians and just from looking at the external appearence I was NOT impressed by the `Quality` of the Manufacture - compared to the Yale Alarm components - or even the inexpensive Honeywell Intellisense Detectors.


I suppose that it could be that the Detectors / Control Panels just looked like Cheaply made items - But were in fact reliable Alarm components - ?


Obviously my Friends MAY have been ripped off and these Alarm components may have been Cheap items - But the Alarm systems were NOT Cheap to have installed !


Regards,


Chris