Wireless burgler alarms

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Has anybody got any experience of these? I'm looking to improve the security of my home and garage, and was looking at either a Yale alarm like this:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/54473/Security/Alarm...

or

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/20347/Security/Alarm...

or a Response alarm like this:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/49867/Security/Alarm...

or

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/95136/Security/Alarm...

Any advice much appreciated!

[Dave_ST220]

I've got the Yale, added extras like two live bell boxes and extra kep pad. Seems to work fine and covers garage easily(15m away, about 20m from where main key pad is).

[s3fella]

Yale stuff is good and reliable and their tech support is meant to be pretty ok too.

[Kuroblack350]

I chose the Yale a few years back mainly to have a fuss free installation. In the end it turned out to be a bit pants, a very quiet siren, and lots of occasions when the sensors didn't pick anything up. That, coupled with replacing batteries etc. was just too annoying.

In the end I took it out and had an ADT system installed. The work the guy did was fantastic, and when I say it was seamless installation, I'm not kidding - not even a hole in sight - genius installer

Although some slate ADT, I can't help but wonder why 90% of the high street have the systems installed, it works fantastically - the dual mode sensors are excellent and never fail to detect - the siren is LOUD and to date (3 years) we've never had a single issue with any spect of the system.

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Dave_ST220 said:

I've got the Yale, added extras like two live bell boxes and extra kep pad. Seems to work fine and covers garage easily(15m away, about 20m from where main key pad is).

Thanks Dave, that's good to hear. When you mention the extra keypad, do you mean one of these?



If I put one of those in the garage, could I disarm the alarm directly from that to avoid having to go into the house to disarm the alarm before putting the car in the garage?

[Sixpackpert]

I've got a Yale system, has been faultless for the last 18 months.

Ours dials out to their control centre thingy when you set it and then emails/texts you if there is a problem such as; being burgled, power cuts, flood etc.

Does make your phone bill rise a tad though!

[TheCaseAce]

I need to look into something like this... our burglar alarm constantly has the "tamper" light on... so we just switch it off. Nice to see you can get something for £200.

Most annoying thing is that if you switch off the main breakers for the house (e.g. to change a light switch) the bloody alarm goes off constantly.

[Dave_ST220]

TheGreatSoprendo said:

Dave_ST220 said:

I've got the Yale, added extras like two live bell boxes and extra kep pad. Seems to work fine and covers garage easily(15m away, about 20m from where main key pad is).

Thanks Dave, that's good to hear. When you mention the extra keypad, do you mean one of these?



If I put one of those in the garage, could I disarm the alarm directly from that to avoid having to go into the house to disarm the alarm before putting the car in the garage?

Yep that's it, the pad comes out of the plastic holder so you can take it with you if you like.

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Kuroblack350 said:

I chose the Yale a few years back mainly to have a fuss free installation. In the end it turned out to be a bit pants, a very quiet siren, and lots of occasions when the sensors didn't pick anything up. That, coupled with replacing batteries etc. was just too annoying.

In the end I took it out and had an ADT system installed. The work the guy did was fantastic, and when I say it was seamless installation, I'm not kidding - not even a hole in sight - genius installer

Although some slate ADT, I can't help but wonder why 90% of the high street have the systems installed, it works fantastically - the dual mode sensors are excellent and never fail to detect - the siren is LOUD and to date (3 years) we've never had a single issue with any spect of the system.

How long did you find the batteries tended to last, and how much was it to have your ADT system installed?

[Kuroblack350]

Not that long really, a few months and then it was back to replacing the whole lot of them, which aside from being slightly expensive was sodding time consuming, especially the external boxes.

The ADT was a little more at £1300 - but easily worth it given 1) the quality of the system and 2) the quality of the install. That was for all of the usual kit, 6 dual sensors (heat and movement apparently?) two keypads, door contacts, external boxes, etc... It's also nacoss approved so lowers the house insurance - similar to a Cat 1 alarm I guess.

Having lived with the system for a few years I have no regrets. I'd also have one installed asap if we move again...

[Dave_ST220]

The manual claims upto 3 years IIRC for the external ones? Was it always false alarming or something?? Mines been in 6 months now and no battery low warnings(that's done it hasn't it).

[Sixpackpert]

Had mine 18 months and not had to replace any of the internal or external batteries.

Think you may have got a duffer!

[Westy Pre-Lit]

Kuroblack350 said:

Although some slate ADT, I can't help but wonder why 90% of the high street have the systems installed

Because generally the alarm contracts are chosen by Head offices and ADT are able to get their foot in the door to win contracts with larger companies. Smaller companies won't even get a look in, mainly due to the size of ADT and being a well known name.

Not knocking ADT but be prepared with a deep wallet. I'd *****highly***** recommend getting 3 quotes and/or recommendations , also ask about call out charges etc.

I could go on LOL, but I'll leave it at that because I'm going to be little bit biased and end up ranting.

Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Tuesday 6th January 18:43

[HONEYMON57ER]

I used to sell the response system and have one on my own home
they're ok but the wireless bell box stops charging properly
after about 3 yrs or so. Happened to mine and about 5 customers.

[Westy Pre-Lit]

If it's a Yale alarm your after, give mark69sheer a pm. He maybe able to help you out.

http://www.fastalarms.co.uk/

Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Tuesday 6th January 18:58

[s3fella]

Sixpackpert said:

I've got a Yale system, has been faultless for the last 18 months.

Ours dials out to their control centre thingy when you set it and then emails/texts you if there is a problem such as; being burgled, power cuts, flood etc.

Does make your phone bill rise a tad though!

Do they have a control centre thing for monitoring it? How does it know if there is a power cut, that is a great benefit, we are always having them here and losing the fridge contents!!!

Do you have some details, ie model number of system, details of monitoring etc?

[Vron]

Dave_ST220 said:

TheGreatSoprendo said:

Dave_ST220 said:

I've got the Yale, added extras like two live bell boxes and extra kep pad. Seems to work fine and covers garage easily(15m away, about 20m from where main key pad is).

Thanks Dave, that's good to hear. When you mention the extra keypad, do you mean one of these?



If I put one of those in the garage, could I disarm the alarm directly from that to avoid having to go into the house to disarm the alarm before putting the car in the garage?

Yep that's it, the pad comes out of the plastic holder so you can take it with you if you like.

Does anyone technical know if this additional pad with work with an existing yale HSA500 that was in my house when I bought it.

[Westy Pre-Lit]

Sixpackpert said:

Ours dials out to their control centre thingy when you set it.

This feature is only really needed if it's a police response alarm, unless you require to know you are setting/unsetting a system.

Seems a bit pointless to me and will just bump up your telephone bills. Even monitored systems that have a physical person calling you to let you know your alarm has been activated don't require this feature to be turned on.

Just a thought.

Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Tuesday 6th January 19:33

[Swoxy]

I also bought and fitted a Yale telecommunicating alarm. It cost £240 including a bell box, a dummy bell box, five infra red sensors, two door sensors, the telecommunicating keypad and and additional keypad. It's given one 'false' alarm in approximately two years. I found it easy to fit, set-up and add additional sensors to. Professional burglars can deactivate them in seconds but they're a deterrent to opportunist burglars and youths and cost very little. I've read that the battery in the bell box should last for approximately three years.

[Westy Pre-Lit]

TheCaseAce said:

I need to look into something like this... our burglar alarm constantly has the "tamper" light on... so we just switch it off. Nice to see you can get something for £200.

Most annoying thing is that if you switch off the main breakers for the house (e.g. to change a light switch) the bloody alarm goes off constantly.

Tamper should be easily rectified, will either be tamper on the keypad, bell, main panel or detection circuits. Get a local company to come out and check it over for you and give it a service. Should cost about £60-£80 for a call out and service from a reputable company.

The reason why it goes off is because your back up battery in the panel will be flat. Should cost you around £15 for a replacement.

Bit cheaper than £200.