Alarms, wireless v wired

[bamboozle]

Hi All,

nearly finished work on house and forgot to ask electrician to wire for alarm, as plasterers are half finished i was wondering if the wireless alarm systems are as good/reliable as wired systems or should i bite the bullet and get it wired now?

thanks

 

[sfag]

All wireless gadgets are less than 100% reliable.
Never heard of wireless alarms but I would not trust them.
I had a new fangled alarm system in my new build that sent intelligent data back to the controller box rather than just a signal. Guess what it didnt work so take from that what you will.

 

[dinjoecurry]

I used to have eircom phonewatch wireless and it was good Changed to a wired system when I got the house redone it is better because it provides more info and sends alerts to mobiles showing each zone that gets activated no need to pay someone to monitor it so I would say bite the bullet

 

[jodi]

Hi Dinjoecurry, do you have more details of the wired system you installed please? I have a wired system installed and was thinking of having it monitored but what you have sounds interesting.Thanks

 

[Swallows]

It's interesting that you are talking about house alarms! I got a quote from Eircom for in the region of €1300 for a wireless system. This was for four sensors plus the control box and outside dummy box. This same system can be bought for in the region of £200 over the internet. Can only think that someone is making money>

 

[colm]

All wireless gadgets are less than 100% reliable.
Never heard of wireless alarms but I would not trust them.

As long as its professionally installed then it will conform to the same standards as wired alarms, therefore making it just as reliable

Hi Dinjoecurry, do you have more details of the wired system you installed please? I have a wired system installed and was thinking of having it monitored but what you have sounds interesting.Thanks

The Aritech CS250 with wireless reciever is good & also has a dialler built in for monitoring

It's interesting that you are talking about house alarms! I got a quote from Eircom for in the region of €1300 for a wireless system. This was for four sensors plus the control box and outside dummy box. This same system can be bought for in the region of £200 over the internet. Can only think that someone is making money>

As an installer can you show me a link as where to buy Eircoms wireless system online for €200?????
Most DIY systems online would not conform to EN50131 & therefore would mot be accepted for monitoring & Garda Response

 

[Petal]

I've often seen wireless sytems in B&Q and Homebase and have wondered if they're any good?

 

[RSMike]

Yale do good wireless DIY Alarm systems, I have had one for a couple of years now and its been very reliable, just need power for the central panel all the sensors and alarm unit are wireless and the system warns you if any batteries are getting low, though I found the batteries last quite a long time ( i.e. about a year or more).

The can be remotely activated/ deactivated/ listen in by dialling in, and can bet set up to dial various numbers, can't say I use all the features.

I think B&Q and some other DIY stores are doing them now.

 

[colm]

I've often seen wireless sytems in B&Q and Homebase and have wondered if they're any good?

They would not conform to the required standards

Yale do good wireless DIY Alarm systems, I have had one for a couple of years now and its been very reliable, just need power for the central panel all the sensors and alarm unit are wireless and the system warns you if any batteries are getting low, though I found the batteries last quite a long time ( i.e. about a year or more).

You should get about 5 years from batteries

I got a wireless system a few months back and it's fine. One of the guys who has the contract for Eircom did it, it's the same system just not monitored. Cost if I remember rightly 600/700. It was a nixer but pm me if you want his no.

Both you & him are breaking the Law as he is not installing this system for a PSA licenced installer & you should not be on here promoting the same..

 

[AlbacoreA]

I open to be persuaded otherwise. But I have suspicion that required standards are as much about locking people into contracts as anything else. This whole thing about a service being required every year in order to have an alarm monitored, and then in Eircom case, a guarantee on parts and labour adding still more to the annual cost. Not to mention all the get out causes about not calling out if only one sensor is triggered and not two. A yearly charge of 400+ seems very expensive.

What law are you breaking by fitting your own alarm?

 

[colm]

In relation to service & maintenance contracts ..
All systems now must be installed to EN50131
For a system to maintain that standard it must be regularly serviced by a PSA & NSAI Licenced company.
Is this maintaince needed???
The Guards & police forces across believe so as it is required for Police response.
Insurance companies also believe so as they give discounts for Alarm systems maintained to that standard.
In my years in the industry I have come across hundreds of people who never had thier alarms serviced only to have the burglars test it for them & then realise , too late that there was a fault.
Regular maintaince would have forund & rectified the fault first.

What law are you breaking by fitting your own alarm?

If you fit your own alarm you are not breaking any law.
But under The Private Security Services Act 2004 you are breaking the law if you employ an unlicenced company to install a security system.

 

[Petal]

Is there any kind of DIY system that would conform to the mentioned standards, and what standards exactly are they?

 

[colm]

No. Because to conform it must be installed by a PSA & NSAI licenced installer.

You can read up on the standards[broken link removed]

 

[Swallows]

Hi, I'm talking about a Yale alarm system. I dont need a monitored alarm, because, in my case I dont see why neighbours should have to come out when the alarm goes off. You have to give Eircom two phone numbers of people who will come out to see if it's a false alarm. Where I live I wouldn't expect someone to come here at 3 in the morning and then reset my alarm.Can't see the point in having a monitored alarm.

This Yale alarm is a perfectly good alarm and for me adequate to do the job. It can be purchased on line from [broken link removed] or retail websites Ltd. The price you can see for yourself. I am within hearing distance of a neighbour who will alert the Guards should the alarm go off.I am not employing anyone to fit this alarm as we will do it ourselves. There is no wiring.

 

[AlbacoreA]

In relation to service & maintenance contracts ..
All systems now must be installed to EN50131
For a system to maintain that standard it must be regularly serviced by a PSA & NSAI Licenced company.
Is this maintaince needed???
The Guards & police forces across believe so as it is required for Police response.
Insurance companies also believe so as they give discounts for Alarm systems maintained to that standard.
In my years in the industry I have come across hundreds of people who never had thier alarms serviced only to have the burglars test it for them & then realise , too late that there was a fault.
Regular maintaince would have forund & rectified the fault first.

I think a large part of that is to cut down on number of false alarms and calls, which suggests theres an issue with installation or configuration even with Licenced companies.

If you fit your own alarm you are not breaking any law.
But under The Private Security Services Act 2004 you are breaking the law if you employ an unlicenced company to install a security system.

I can't find the section. But whats the purpose of this law?

 

[spreadsheet]

Colm,

What law are you breaking by employing someone who doesn't have an Irish Standard Mark Licence from the NSAI to install a security system?
And where in the Private Security Services Act 2004 does it mention security systems?

 

[markpb]

And where in the Private Security Services Act 2004 does it mention security systems?

The Act he linked to defines a security consultant as (among other things) "an installer of security equipment" (p7). Since all security staff must be registered, it can be assumed that anyone not registered, is not allowed to install alarms.

 

[spreadsheet]

The Act he linked to defines a security consultant as (among other things) "an installer of security equipment" (p7). Since all security staff must be registered, it can be assumed that anyone not registered, is not allowed to install alarms.

I'm afraid thats incorrect, Markpb:

the Act states:
‘‘security consultant’’ means a person who for remuneration advises
on methods of protecting property, including information recorded
in non-legible form, from vandalism, intrusion, trespass, theft or from
being otherwise damaged or interfered with but does not include—
(a) a person who advises on such methods in the ordinary
course of carrying out an audit, or
(b) an installer of security equipment;

thanks for checking, but my questions to Colm still stand.

 

[markpb]

Oops, sorry.

 

[spreadsheet]

Oops, sorry.

No probs, i'm not trying to catch anyone out.

I was genuinely interested to know how the Act could define a 'security system' and would especially like it explained to me how someone could be 'breaking the law if you employ an unlicenced company to install a security system'.