Best House Alarm?

KoolKid

GSM signals can be blocked without any physical tampering.
Very cheaply also.

seawolf145

Reyman wrote: »

My Homeguard Scopetronic alarm that I installed about 14 years ago is starting to give trouble and I was thinking of replacing it with something more reliable.

I need maybe 8 zones and something good i.e. I'm prepared to pay plenty for a good quality alarm.

Would some of you experienced guys be able to reommend a quality alarm?
If I could plug in my laptop and do diagnostics on it now that would be a real bonus but maybe domestic alarms aren't that fancy yet?

Rottweiler and Pitbull.
And a remington 870

KoolKid

Amazing. ??
You dug up and quoted a post that is nearly 4 years old just to give that but of advice. ?
If you are going to post here please keep it in relation to what was asked for.
Thank you.

KoolKid

A dog is easily tampered with also.
The thread is re alarm equipment. Any further off topic posts will be deleted.

altor

novice wrote: »

Can either of you guys elaborate on this?

It is a device that can block the signals for the GSM network.

novice wrote: »

Where we live the phone lines and TV cables go through a white box at the side of each house. Anyone could have both snipped in 10 seconds. Surely jamming a GSM signal would be more difficult?

You could get the cables rerouted or else protect the white box at the side of the house. Tamper protect through your alarm is best so if someone opens or tampers with the white box it will notify the monitoring station or yourself which ever way you have it monitored.

KoolKid

Off topic posts deleted.
The thread is about house alarms. Nothing else.
The next offtopic post earns an infraction & a ban.

novice

altor wrote: »

Tamper protect through your alarm is best so if someone opens or tampers with the white box it will notify the monitoring station or yourself which ever way you have it monitored.

Good thinking.
Some kind of locking metal cover for the box may not go astray either.

altor

novice wrote: »

Good thinking.
Some kind of locking metal cover for the box may not go astray either.

There is a locking plate that you can get to go over these covers but it can be taken off also.

fred funk }{

altor wrote: »

There is a locking plate that you can get to go over these covers but it can be taken off also.

What I have done several times is hide the phone cables behind the white box and put in dummy cables that look like the originals. I also install a contact on the box so when it's opened the alarm will sound and they think they have cut the phone cables when they haven't and the alarm dials out as normal.

chamac

Hi
Sorry installers, I am a diehard DIY person.
Just went to UPC so wired landline going soon.
My landline dialler will no longer work.
My alarm is a 15 year old Maplin with dialler so could do with upgrade.
What do people think of this
http://www.quicksafe.co.uk/gsm-burglar-alarm.htm
It has a GSM dialler and supports X10.
Sold by Amazon among others in UK.

KoolKid

I would be looking at Visonic Powermax if that's the way you want to go.
The GSM is still as vulnerable as any other.Why not hardwire to your UPC line and fit a back up power supply? More secure than GSM in my opinion.

chamac

Hi Koolkid
Thanks for your rapid reply. I have been looking at that system just now.
Can the built in dialer be made to dial through the UPC cable ?
I don't understand what you mean by hardwire the UPC line.
Is that to keep an eircom line active?
I don't see a lot about X10 control. Is it the MCM-140 remote controller
that I need to say turn on the heating etc.?
Can I call the system and listen in to verify a break-in?

KoolKid

Hi Chamac

Can the built in dialer be made to dial through the UPC cable ? Yes
By hardwire I mean physically connect your UPC line to the dialler.
The powermax won't do X10, you can however ,hve 2 programmable outputs which you can switch remotly
You can't listen in to verify a break-in, but when the system calls you , you can hang up & call the system back. From there you have remote control & hear the status of the system.

chamac

HI Kool
I was looking at this one
http://www.powermaxshop.co.uk/products.php?product=Visonic-PowerMax-Kit-5-Bedroom-With-External-Wireless-Siren
The blurb states that it supports X10 protocol and can communicate with someone on the property through its duplex speaker-phone.
Is this one a better spec?
I tried my old alarm into the back of the UPC modem (phone socket)
but No Go) Maybe its too old and looking for a dialtone...

KoolKid

This is the one I was referring to.
It says it supports two way voice.I have never seen this set up.
No mention of X10.
I think your one is a bit older.Still very good value though.

http://www.visonic.com/Products/Wireless-Property-Protection/PowerMaxComplete

chamac

Thanks Kool
Is it PSTN I am looking for with UPC to communicate directly through their cable.?
Theres something in wiki about it being digital. They all use it including the Infinite Prime.
Looks like your new Visonic and my older one are much the same, just re cased.
The spec for the older one looks better, maybe its the way its written.
Thought voda. tech support was bad....24 hour phoneback with UPC :-(

KoolKid

The PSTN dialler connects toi the anolouge telephone line from your broadband modem. The easiest way to do this to to disconnect the Eircom incoming line & pug a phone cable from the modem into the nearest phone socket.

altor

The powermax complete does not support x10 devices. The old powermax can have 7 x10 devices, powermax + and powermax pro can have 15 x10 devices.
With this system connected to your phone line you can have remote access to dial into the panel to listen in plus talk into the house if you wish. This is set up by entering the relevant number when you ring. If the alarm activates it will ring the first phone number and let you know of the alarm activating, at this point you can either press 2 to acknowledge the call or press 6 for the two way talking and listening through the panel.

chamac

Thanks lads for that.
If you were to rely on just the UPC cable
Would it not be easy for Johnny Knack to go across the road and lift the manhole cover and cut the cable going to your abode.
Would it be better to have both hardwired and GSM?
Can they be set up to work simultaneously to watch each other or would that be overkill..
Thats why I liked the Infinite Prime, its has PSTN and GSM dialler built in. The dialler for the Visonic is c. £200

KoolKid

chamac wrote: »

If you were to rely on just the UPC cable
Would it not be easy for Johnny Knack to go across the road and lift the manhole cover and cut the cable going to your abode.

A lot more difficult & more obvious than cutting a regular phone line.
Could also turn off the power. Your modem should have a power supply with a back-up battery.

chamac wrote: »

Would it be better to have both hardwired and GSM?

Any back-up secondry device is always good.

chamac wrote: »

Can they be set up to work simultaneously to watch each other or would that be overkill..
Thats why I liked the Infinite Prime, its has PSTN and GSM dialler built in. The dialler for the Visonic is c. £200

PSTM & GSM can be set to back each other up or work together regardless with both reporting all events.

altor

chamac wrote: »

Thanks lads for that.
If you were to rely on just the UPC cable
Would it not be easy for Johnny Knack to go across the road and lift the manhole cover and cut the cable going to your abode.
Would it be better to have both hardwired and GSM?
Can they be set up to work simultaneously to watch each other or would that be overkill..
Thats why I liked the Infinite Prime, its has PSTN and GSM dialler built in. The dialler for the Visonic is c. £200

If they knew you where getting your phone through UPC it would be easy enough to cut this cable as most houses have it coming down the front of there house. Is yours installed like this ? Which powermax system where you thinking of installing.

chamac

Hi Altor
Luckily my cable is totally UG. The manhole would be the weak link.
I was thinking that the older Powermax was a better spec.
The Complete seemed to lack the X10.
What do you think of the Infinite Prime?
Maybe its not a common system but it has the GSM and PSTN disllers built in.
It looks very expandable too.

altor

You are lucky there as most places have it coming down the front of there house. I just had a quick look at the panel and you need to get mains to the external bell. 30 zones so if you want extra devices you can install them. It does not say anything about what standards that it complies too.

The powermax pro will cover all your needs 28 zones, x10, PSTN, GSM. You can order it all programmed in a kit if you want. Just a mater of sticking up the devices plus panel. I would rather use this panel than the infinite Prime. At lease it is available to buy in Ireland and if you have any problems you will get all the help you need here

chamac

Ok lads, Thanks for the useful advice.
I'm going for the Powermax pro if the price justifies the better spec.
Looks like the difference is that the pro has built in GSM module.(edit,It does not but its cheaper than the plus one)
I have cctv via Avermedia NV5000 streaming onto my iphone so less need for the camera feature.
Otherwise the Plus might fit the need.
Who can supply it at the best price?

altor

Thats because the plus GSM is external and the pro is internal. What area are you in ?

chamac

Galway city. I will be in Dublin on Friday.

altor

If you send me the spec of what you need by P.M I will get you a price

chamac

Ok, Got my Powermax Pro installed and working.
Now I need a sim to activate the GSM module.
I have heard that O2 sim's are the ones most people use.
Do people have any ideas on this?
Do they have to be topped up every month?

Also, whats the best method to connect the UPC line to the alarm?
I have the alarm plugged into the back of the modem via a standard telephone extension cable.
The red and green wires are connected to the alarm terminals.
Chamac

Davy

chamac wrote: »

I have heard that O2 sim's are the ones most people use.
Do people have any ideas on this?
Do they have to be topped up every month?

They only need to be used once every 6 months. So activate the alarm once every 6 months, and when it sends a text or makes a call, this keeps the sim active. You dont need to topup until your credit is gone, a tenner could last you 2 years or more

altor

That is great to hear, They are a very easy system to install

The sim card should be which ever has the best signal 085,086, and 087 I have used them with no problems. What you should do is register the sim on line so that you can check it on line plus top it up on line without having to take it out of the alarm. By you activating the alarm once every 5 months you are keeping the sim alive. Most service providers will allow you top up by 5 euro so this is all you will need depending on the amount of texts from the alarm. Remember when you install the sim make sure the unit is powered down completely.

That should be correct with regard the UPC connections, in the alarm is should be connected into line in the phone block.

KoolKid

chamac wrote: »

Also, whats the best method to connect the UPC line to the alarm?
I have the alarm plugged into the back of the modem via a standard telephone extension cable.
The red and green wires are connected to the alarm terminals.
Chamac

To connect UPC to an alarm digi you will need 1 RJ11 to RJ11 cable and one of these.


Use the red & green terminals on each & connect to a 4 core cable as follows.

Red> Red socket 1
Black to Green> socket 1
Blue > Red socket 2
Yellow > green socket 2

Connect modem to socket 1 using RJ11 to RJ11 lead.
Plug your phone into socket 2

At the alarm wire Red & Black to Line in & Blue & Yellow to line out.

chamac

Thanks Lads.... Big Respect to ye all.
I will try to find out what provider has the best signal at the panel and use their sim card.
Will try that circuit Kool and see what happens.
Chamac

iancr

how would i go about connecting up my dialler (standard HKC) to UPC line. UPC coming in with TV doesn't have a hard wired telephone point.

KoolKid

iancr wrote: »

how would i go about connecting up my dialler (standard HKC) to UPC line. UPC coming in with TV doesn't have a hard wired telephone point.

To connect UPC to an alarm digi you will need 1 RJ11 to RJ11 cable and one of these.


Use the red & green terminals on each & connect to a 4 core cable as follows.

Red> Red socket 1
Black to Green> socket 1
Blue > Red socket 2
Yellow > green socket 2

Connect modem to socket 1 using RJ11 to RJ11 lead.
Plug your phone into socket 2

At the alarm wire Red & Black to Line in & Blue & Yellow to line out.

altor

iancr wrote: »

how would i go about connecting up my dialler (standard HKC) to UPC line. UPC coming in with TV doesn't have a hard wired telephone point.

I am not sure if the dialer will text with UPC. As far as I know UPC does not do text from there line.

Cadzer

altor wrote: »

I am not sure if the dialer will text with UPC. As far as I know UPC does not do text from there line.

Yep i agree. UPC will not text an the DIGI uses the eircom messaging . It will go to a monitoring station or use in conjunction with a voice dallier.

chamac

Ok, Got an O2 sim. Made sure it was not sim locked and put it into panel.
Went through all the settings and gave it a test by activating the alarm.
Panel phones the phone ok but its about 8 minutes after the activation.
Is this right? Should it not phone out straight away?
Also, when I phone it, it rings once and gives three beeps.
It does not respond to any further inputs.
Any ideas would be great.

KoolKid

The beeps mean it trying to make contact with a central station.
Eight minutes does not sound right.
Have you just the one number programmed.
As Altor said UPC can not be used to text.

chamac

Who is a central station? Is that a remote technician at Visonic or me the self monitor ?
I changed the number of numbers to one and went through all the settings.
Took out PSTN where I could and left in Cellular
Tried again and still a delay of nine minutes.
I tried setting up the PSTN line like you described but no go.
Didn't get a chance to troubleshoot it yet.
Used a two to one splitter to do the job. Maybe thats the problem.
Jeezuz, Just had another call from alarm 20 minutes later this time
Maybe I should do a full reset and start again.

altor

What way have you set up the communications ? Is it voice or text ?

chamac

both

altor

chamac wrote: »

both

If you want to use the voice option then it needs to be set up for voice only. It wont do both together. I would not be too confident of getting remote access with the UPC or acknowledging the call if it rings you so I would ditch this and set up the GSM only. This way you will have remote access by text plus if the alarm activates you will get a more detailed text rather than the alarm has activated.

chamac

Hi Altor
I disabled text and left GSM enabled but still the same 10-12 minute delay before I get the first call.
They could be in the panel wrecked and no call in that time.
Theres something amiss I think. Its still phoning 30 minutes later....and texts are coming now too and they disabled.:eek::eek:
Will try again tomorra....
EDIT,
Did reset to defaults this am. Working now and phoning straight away. Firmware must have been corrupted somehow.
Will adjust one step at a time from here out.

KoolKid

Hi David85 & welcome to Boards.ie.
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Speculator

Hi folks,

Looking for some advice, I've just purchased a 3 bed semi-detached house and would like to get an alarm fitted, but I have no idea what I'm looking for.

I was hoping to get the front door and back door (back door is a sliding door) and front and back windows fitted. (2 large windows in total). Upstairs windows are not easily accessible unless you have a ladder.

The house does not have a phone cable/connection and I'm not sure if I would like to go down that path. There is an existing alarm in the house but it looks as if its about 20 years old and is currently obsolete.

I was thinking about getting an alarm system that would send me a text should it be triggered.

All suggestions greatly appreicated as I have very little knowledge in this area.

How how much on average should I be spending?

altor

If the cables can be tested and there are no problems with them then an upgrade of the old system might be the cheapest way to go. If not there are a lot of wire free system out there to choose from. HKC, SIGNET, VISONIC. With all these system you can add a GSM dialer for remote access plus get a text if the alarm activates.

Speculator

altor wrote: »

If the cables can be tested and there are no problems with them then an upgrade of the old system might be the cheapest way to go. If not there are a lot of wire free system out there to choose from. HKC, SIGNET, VISONIC. With all these system you can add a GSM dialer for remote access plus get a text if the alarm activates.

Hi Altor thanks for the advice. The cables are not usable as they are old and are disintegrating.

Which of the alarms (HKC, SIGNET, Visonic) would you recommend and approx how much would it cost to install including the GSM dialer?

altor

Speculator wrote: »

Hi Altor thanks for the advice. The cables are not usable as they are old and are disintegrating.

Which of the alarms (HKC, SIGNET, Visonic) would you recommend and approx how much would it cost to install including the GSM dialer?

Your welcome,

Out of the 3 the visonic would be the cheapest including the GSM.

Speculator

If I decided to purchase a monitored alarm do I require cables or can it be wireless?

altor

Speculator wrote: »

If I decided to purchase a monitored alarm do I require cables or can it be wireless?

All systems can be monitored be that wired or wire free.