What House Alarm
Discussion
As we're in the process of replacing our external doors and windows, the existing house alarm is in need of either a major overhaul or complete replacement, as it is pretty old anyway - or so the alarm company says!
I'm told that wireless alarms save a lot of installation work but can be problematic and unreliable.
Does anyone here have any advice on what type of alarm to go for please?
Clearly, the alarm company that I use (and who didn't install the system initially) are pushing for the opportunity to install a new system.
I'm told that wireless alarms save a lot of installation work but can be problematic and unreliable.
Does anyone here have any advice on what type of alarm to go for please?
Clearly, the alarm company that I use (and who didn't install the system initially) are pushing for the opportunity to install a new system.
Davel said:
I'm told that wireless alarms save a lot of installation work but can be problematic and unreliable.
What's the latest on their interfering with car remote controls? We had a spell of several months here where people in a 200 yard radius were suffering all sorts of problems with their car remotes either not working or working spasmodically - then everything suddenly fixed itself.If you have a decent wireless alarm system fitted, that's installed properly, wireless alarms should pose no problems at all. A lot of the problems are due to cheap products, bad placement of equipment and bad installs. Apart from regular maintenance, as all alarms should have, they should only need batteries replaced every 2-4 years in the detectors depending on usage.
Some of the older professional equipment we have fitted can sometimes throw up strange faults at times, but 99% of these issues have been software faults rather than the equipment itself.
Generally with wireless alarms you pay for the equipment costs rather than the labour costs, so yes you are right in saying that they do cut down on installation times, although they are normally only used when wiring is a going to be a problem . But just because a system is wireless doesn't mean it's going to be problematic, far from it. A good quality wireless system will always be prefferable above a cheapo wired system. But a good quality wired system will always be preffered, if possible, as it's a 'closed system'.
All security companies will have their preferred alarm panels etc, but panels from Honeywell, Scantronic, Texecom, Visonic are all good. But as all companies will have their preferred panels, I very much doubt you'll be able to stipulate what they will use unless they are familiar with all these panel manufacturers. Best to have a System a company is happy with, used to and trusts rather than forcing a system upon them they have little knowledge or understanding of.
As for the alarm company pushing for an upgrade, there can be many reasons on that one, although rather than pushing they should be suggesting. Have they said why they want to upgrade the system ?
For example just saying it's old isn't really a reason if it's still working ok tbh. If it is no longer working, manufactured or installed to a standard stipulated by their inspectorate ( hopefully they are SSAIB or NSI ) and the upgrade is required for insurances purposes, then it is.
Hope that helps for now.
As a side note, we have just had our website redone which you can see in my profile. In the members section ( not a lot in it there atm till we get to grips with how to edit it properly, it only went live yesterday so needs a bit of tweaking
) we'll be writing hints and tips etc on finding a company that is suitable for you and cover questions like yours in as much detail as possible if your in no rush to get something sorted out. Anybody is welcome to become a member.
Some of the older professional equipment we have fitted can sometimes throw up strange faults at times, but 99% of these issues have been software faults rather than the equipment itself.
Generally with wireless alarms you pay for the equipment costs rather than the labour costs, so yes you are right in saying that they do cut down on installation times, although they are normally only used when wiring is a going to be a problem . But just because a system is wireless doesn't mean it's going to be problematic, far from it. A good quality wireless system will always be prefferable above a cheapo wired system. But a good quality wired system will always be preffered, if possible, as it's a 'closed system'.
All security companies will have their preferred alarm panels etc, but panels from Honeywell, Scantronic, Texecom, Visonic are all good. But as all companies will have their preferred panels, I very much doubt you'll be able to stipulate what they will use unless they are familiar with all these panel manufacturers. Best to have a System a company is happy with, used to and trusts rather than forcing a system upon them they have little knowledge or understanding of.
As for the alarm company pushing for an upgrade, there can be many reasons on that one, although rather than pushing they should be suggesting. Have they said why they want to upgrade the system ?
For example just saying it's old isn't really a reason if it's still working ok tbh. If it is no longer working, manufactured or installed to a standard stipulated by their inspectorate ( hopefully they are SSAIB or NSI ) and the upgrade is required for insurances purposes, then it is.
Hope that helps for now.
Simpo Two said:
What's the latest on their interfering with car remote controls? We had a spell of several months here where people in a 200 yard radius were suffering all sorts of problems with their car remotes either not working or working spasmodically - then everything suddenly fixed itself.
Never heard of any car remotes causing them a problem or likewise. Maybe a cheapo system was installed. Like in everything else, you get what you pay. As a side note, we have just had our website redone which you can see in my profile. In the members section ( not a lot in it there atm till we get to grips with how to edit it properly, it only went live yesterday so needs a bit of tweaking
) we'll be writing hints and tips etc on finding a company that is suitable for you and cover questions like yours in as much detail as possible if your in no rush to get something sorted out. Anybody is welcome to become a member.Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Thursday 1st October 08:03
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