Wireless alarm

[RBailey]

Hi All,

Has anybody fitted a wireless alarm system recently? Any comments, feedback, thoughts or other abuse welcomed.

I am thinking about the RING system.

As a side note I understand RING is zigbee, will any zigbee repeater work (we have a few hive ones already)?

Thanks,
Richard B.

 

[Feltwell]

Hmmm. I'm very much of the school that things connected with wires are inherently much more reliable than anything wireless.

In-laws ran a small business installing and monitoring alarms, cctv etc. It was a few years ago now, but my father-in-law wouldn't touch wireless kit, too unreliable - I think "rubbish for diy-ers" was his comment!

I have a wired alarm system here, fitted it myself, the wiring bit is easy the running the wires is a pain. It's always been reliable over 16 years, barring 1 duff sensor. I have a wired data network of sorts, with wi-fi routers and repeaters plugged into it - the wired bit is fine, it's the wireless that occasionally needs resetting.

I have a wired CCTV system, apart from one wireless camera on an outbuilding. The wired cameras have always been fine, the wireless one has been an intermittent pain in the arse!

I have a wireless heating system with controls on every radiator. Fairly regularly - every few weeks - one will get the sulks and need reconnecting.

Neighbours have a professionally installed wireless alarm system, they keep having problems with the wireless link to an outbuilding dropping out and setting the alarm off.

Personally, I'd go wired every time for an alarm system. False alarms are a pain. Changing batteries is a pain. Worth the effort to fit wired, very easy to replace elements in future as well, you don't need the same system's sensor, you can use a different one - no compatibility issues.

For outbuildings, the panels are cheap enough it's easier to fit a separate independent system - that's what I've done with my garage.

 

[a twig]

Have done wireless CCTV but not alarm I’m afraid.

All I would say is get a system that still functions if the internet access gets cut off (not all do).

 

[fernicarry]

I'm also in the wired is better than wireless camp. The wall thickness here means wireless anything struggles anyway.

You can make a much neater job with wired alarm sensors. I've been steadily alarming all my doors and windows with sensors mortised into the stiles. Invisible. Unlike the previous job where the contacts were surface mounted (after hacking huge lumps out of the mouldings of course) and the wires stapled onto the skirting board. Wireless sensors are always going to be big plastic boxes that are impossible to hide, Most retrofit things are wireless because its easy. Nail it on the wall, press the pair button and collect your 'installer' fee whilst making a note to return in a couple of weeks because it will all have spontaneously stopped talking.

Granted running the wires can take some effort. But if you are pulling things apart to re-wire (mains electrical) and re-plumb, as many of us are, then its no extra effort to do the security/network/heating/TV wires at the same time. Plan a few 'hubs' around the building you can use as jumping off points and put in some flexible conduit between them for later expansion once its all closed up and the decorative finishes are on (no personal experience of that last part so far...). Most things can be made to run over CAT cable, you can never have too much of it.