wireless house alarms

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messyleo

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hi there, looking to get a wirless alarm (as i figure its the quickest and neatest to have fitted given the house isnt wired for one already) out in a 2 bed house im buying. now i don't know much about alarms (i did use the search and read the key posts etc! but am still confused) and all i'm looking for is the most basic set-up. we've an alarm (non wireless) in our family house and it doesnt have any of this fancy call monitoring stuff - is this really essential?? also iv checked out some of the installers listed and they dont seemm to do wireless??? is this because they are ultra expensive and/or specialist?

many thanks!
:)
 
Re: wireless house alarms??

They probably don't do wireless because they are so easy to install so that can't charge as much. Also when you talk about wireless the alarm installers think about computers and shy away from them.

A couple of things to be careful about with wireless is interference i.e. make sure other devices don't interfere with the signals.

Configuration - if your neighbour has a wireless alarm how do you make sure they don't clash.

I know that Eircom's alarms are all wireless (i.e. phone watch) and they are rolled out througout the country so they can't be that bad...

One good advantage is that you could put a wireless device on your shed if you've got some valuables in it.....I suppose you could even attach one to your car!
 
Re: wireless house alarms??

A disadvantage of wireless it that you'll either need to either wire the sensors to a socket or keep changing batteries. I'd put up with the wiring to avoid that if it was neatly done, some of it could be hidden behind skirting boards, the wires involved are quite thin so aren't that noticable.

Be clear what you mean when mentioning wireless to an installer, they may understand it as installing a system the will notify you or someone else via a mobile phone built into the system when the alarm goes off. In that case the wireless just refers to the fact that you don't need a phoneline for a monitored system.
 
Re: wireless house alarms??

I got a Yale wireless alarm in Argos about a month ago having has quotes between 1.5 to 2k for various other options (eircom etc)

Very simple to install, wireless sensors have 3yr battery life and warn when low. Anti tamper on external siren. Allows phone or mobile numbers to be called when alarm is activated.

It installed for a month, covers house and garage and is working fine so far.

Comes with 2 PIRs, 2 door/window contacts and 2nd outside sirens.


Weaknesses: batteries in sensors. Siren is 90dB
Stenghts: wireless. Cost 269euro. Supports Zones. Easily to add new sensors.
 
Re: wireless house alarms??

kyote00 said:
I got a Yale wireless alarm in Argos about a month ago having has quotes between 1.5 to 2k for various other options (eircom etc)

Very simple to install, .
Click to expand...

hmm when you saw simple to install - how simple?? i'm a pretty clueless girl who can't even use a drill, so i've a feeling this would be beyond me ??(tho i can follow instructions quite well!) ;)
 
Re: wireless house alarms??

The boyos can spot these wireless alarms that are bought in the like of argos and homebase now such as the Yale one. They have a jammer for each make of wireless alarm and can just jam it. You need one that goes off if its jammed to be safe.
 
Re: wireless house alarms??

It does need to be drilled onto the wall and the sensors have a number of switches that need to be changed to enable various features.

The yale one has an anti jam electronics which changes the signalling between the basestation and the sensors each time its alarmed. It cycles thro 65k different combinations. It uses the same maths principle as the immobiliser on cars.

They would need a very complex antenna to be able to jam it or very high RF power antenna (which I would not like to be near !).

I felt the Yale one is a reasonable compromise between the excessive cost of Eircom alarms.


Note: For the very deteremined thief, no alarm will stop him
 
Re: wireless house alarms??

Hello Gravity Girl, I just got an alarm with Eircom phone watch. I choose it because I think the Eircom brand name is a strong deterrant against burglaries, compared to other brands or not having an alarm at all. Their system does eventually ring through to the Guards and there are also panic buttons you can press which connect straight through to the gaurds, fire station and ambulance. I also think the alarm is just one part of securing your house, such as sensor lights near vulnerable access points, internal lights on timers, raising general awareness with your neighbours to be on the look out for anything suspicious.
 
Re: wireless house alarms??

kyote00 said:
I got a Yale wireless alarm in Argos about a month ago having has quotes between 1.5 to 2k for various other options (eircom etc)

Very simple to install, wireless sensors have 3yr battery life and warn when low. Anti tamper on external siren. Allows phone or mobile numbers to be called when alarm is activated.

It installed for a month, covers house and garage and is working fine so far.

Comes with 2 PIRs, 2 door/window contacts and 2nd outside sirens.


Weaknesses: batteries in sensors. Siren is 90dB
Stenghts: wireless. Cost 269euro. Supports Zones. Easily to add new sensors.
Click to expand...

I've had one of these alarms on my own house for almost two years now - still haven't had to replace the batteries as yet. Installation is simple enough too for those with basic DIY skills.

Only fault with it that I can see is that the door/window sensors are contacts and not shock sensors, so they'll only trigger if the contact is broken (i.e. door/window opened) and not if a burglar were to remove a pane of glass, for example. The PIR's act as a second line of defence in that case though, triggering when they detect movement within the house.

The total cost for our 3-bed semi was under the €500 mark. This system doesn't qualify for discounted home insurance as it's a DIY system, however I wouldn't be too pushed to take up that €30-40 a year saving anyway on the grounds that leaving your house without arming your alarm could negate your insurance cover.
 
Re: wireless house alarms??

Got an eircom wireless system at the moment. Had a hard wired system in my last house and wife felt safe so got the wireless for the new one. Only gone off once in 3 years (false alarm). Batteries are supposed to last for @3 years and send a signal to eircom when low and they are supposed to contact you. HOWEVER - when it did go off she was on way to work early and it was still dark - p/watch contacted her and she said she wouldn't feel safe returning to house by herself and could the ask cops to come out. She waited for an hour and called p/watch back. They said they call the guards but its up to them if they come out or not !!
Also they will charge you if you ever need a sensor moved or looked at (besides free 6 monthly service) and if you ever think of getting broadband your basically stuck with eircom ( unless you go wireless b/band).
Not a bad service overall but check out all your options first !!
 
Re: wireless house alarms??

kyote00 said:
Very simple to install, wireless sensors have 3yr battery life and warn when low. Anti tamper on external siren. Allows phone or mobile numbers to be called when alarm is activated.
Click to expand...

Hi Kyote00,

How did you install it to your phone system ? Does there have to be a landline in the house to work ? When the alarm goes off, what is the message that is relayed to your mobile ?
 
It plugs into your phone line.

You need to record a short (10 sec) voice message and this is played to the phone no entered on the system...
 
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