Looking for new system, getting confused...

martin27

We are replacing our existing alarm, planning to go wireless (we have to move box/keypad so existing wiring is fairly useless). Planned setup is similar to existing - 2xdoor contact, 5xPIRs, smoke alarm, panics - fairly standard domestic setup. We also like our current provider but their recommendation is very expensive. However others seem to be more intent on ripping us off - e.g. monitoring/maintenance charges they "forgot to mention", major extra cost to remove existing system, etc.

Recommendation from our current supplier is HKC 10/70 but price (>1k) is much higher than any other proposal. Most of the things we can find out about this system don't seem relevant (e.g. capacity for up to 70 devices). One thing we have heard is that it enables continuous monitoring by station vs. activation-based monitoring, so if anyone brings a GSM blocker into the area the monitoring station will notice. Seems relevant but also seems prone to false alarms. Is this sort of thing important? Are there other features of a system like this that could be important in a domestic setup & that we have not grasped?

Any advice appreciated. We do like our current suppliers, but not enough to spend €500+ extra without understanding why...

KoolKid

For a decent system you would be spending a good bit . However the protection he is offering you with doors only & PiRs is minimal. What you should be spending your money on is perimeter protection on all accessible windows & doors & then a couple of PiRs in hall/landing areas.
Monitoring/Maintenance is optional & should not be a requirement on any system. With the exception of PW I have never heard of any company charging extra to remove the existing system. Also if he's quoting you HKC there will also be extra charges & annual subscriptions if you wanted to use their app & have notifications & remote access etc.
Shop around and get at least 3 quotes based on perimeter protection first. Compare like with like & also do some research on the different panels available. There is some good information on the apps available here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057394782
Knowing all the facts could save you the difference & more in the long run.

kub

OP i agree with Koolkid, perimeter protection should be the way to go. Think about it, having the ability to have the alarm system on and being able to move around the house, lot to be said for it.

Your existing installer might be a nice guy etc, but might be taking you for granted, tell him you have gotten other quotes and get him to explain the difference.

KoolKid

Also if he gives you the line about false alarms on inertia sensors & them being unreliable & can be bypassed etc then you know he is trying to sell you the system he wants rather than what you need.
The most important fact about PiRs is this: You alarm is never going to activate untill after someone has broken into your property. A good security system is about prevention, not just notification.

Sequence 365

The other downfall with PIR protection is that if you want to arm your system at night time you cannot move about your home freely also an intruder has gained access to your home before the system will activate. Perimeter system is a far better system.
You should also consider a keypad in the master bedroom .
Reasons 1 You have a panic button built into it
Reason 2 If you have your system armed at night time & it activates you can disarm it straight away from your bedroom & see exactly what zone has activated before you leave your bedroom .
A lot of systems can have two partsets For example if you had perimeter protection and say 2 pirs downstairs
You could have an evening set which would allow you to move freely around the house turning pirs off & perimeter on .
Then when going to bed you could do a night set which would arm everything .

So if the system activated at night & you disarmed it from your keypad in the bedroom & you seen Zone 5 Kitchen Door & Zone 6 Beam In Kitchen displaying on the keypad the chances of it been a false alarm would be quite slim

Like the others have said shop around and try and get value for money. You should get a decent system at a fair price . Try go for Reliable equipment & avoid App charges . App charges are free with a lot of systems

Damien360

Just to give you an idea and help you decide, this is my system on 3 bed semi.

All downstairs doors and windows have sensors for vibration and opening (that is 2 on each window opening). PIR's on all ground floor rooms. Upstairs has vibration sensors only as we wanted to open windows upstairs when out to air the house (all windows have locks on openings anyway). PIR on landing.

We have 3 ways to set alarm.
1. Full arm of all PIR's and sensors
2. Part arm. No PIR's armed but all sensors armed. That allows us to arm house while we are inside in the evening.
3. Part arm night time. All downstairs fully armed and on upstairs everything but the PIR is armed so we can use toilet without setting off the alarm.

Unit is monitored with hard line to the phone line. Not a mobile connection. Choice of self monitor (call me) or security monitor. This helps control costs as it is easy to change number dialled out and therefore change monitoring service provider.

It is a HKC but not sure which one. I had PIR's only before that so the main panel had to be upgraded. Installer laughed for a good 5 minutes at my previous system.

I have seen installs using wireless and they are neat but you have to change the batteries on them every year or so. The panel should tell you which one needs changing but my installer said to stay away from them as he had trouble with them for reliability (his words). They are also not on permanently as it would drain battery life so they monitor every few seconds. Someone here might be able to give better specs.

If your installer will not play ball, go somewhere else.

martin27

Thanks, all really helpful folks.

The experience with false alarms was our own - thunder, footballs kicked, high wind when the windows were on 'vent' all caused problems for us. Also the house plan is very open so we needed 24 window sensors (expensive) but only 5 PIRs to cover the whole property (so that anyone entering by a window would have set off the alarm before their feet hit the floor). System working well and loving the remote controlling - can turn off alarm before you walk through the door with an arm full of shopping. We are adding some more perimeter sensors in areas that might be more sensitive (secluded, no footballs, no wind!).

KoolKid

With a system like that it is not going to stop a burglar it's only going to notify you after they have gained access. I a burglar gains entry before the alarm goes off he's not going to leave empty handed. On the other hand if the alarm activates and he has still not gained entry, it's going to be harder for him to hang around.

2011

martin27 wrote: »

Also the house plan is very open so we needed 24 window sensors (expensive) but only 5 PIRs to cover the whole property (so that anyone entering by a window would have set off the alarm before their feet hit the floor).

One of the main drawbacks with a system such as this is that it can not be set on part guard. This means that the alarms system is useless when the occupants are at home as it has to be turned off. Let's not forget many an intruder has stuck when while the occupants are at home.

This does not apply to an alarm system that has proper perimeter protection.

kub

martin27 wrote: »

Thanks, all really helpful folks.

The experience with false alarms was our own - thunder, footballs kicked, high wind when the windows were on 'vent' all caused problems for us. Also the house plan is very open so we needed 24 window sensors (expensive) but only 5 PIRs to cover the whole property (so that anyone entering by a window would have set off the alarm before their feet hit the floor). System working well and loving the remote controlling - can turn off alarm before you walk through the door with an arm full of shopping. We are adding some more perimeter sensors in areas that might be more sensitive (secluded, no footballs, no wind!).

Did you ever get your previous system checked for faulty inertia shock sensors?