Best professional wireless burglar alarm system?

[eveares]

I am in the need to get a new wireless intruder alarm system for our house as the old wired one (Honeywell Optima G4) got ripped out when we had a large extension done back in 2012 and no provisions were made for a wired one to be installed at a later date.

Thus I have been given the task to research wireless intruder alarm systems. Now I have stayed away from looking at brands like Yale (Even though Yale advertise a so called professional range that meet EN50131 Grade 2) and Response as I don't personally classify them as professional level systems - After all, we need a system for content insurance purposes.

So far I have only looked at the ESP/Infinite range sold at TLC, although I would like to know what other systems brands are good such as Visonic, Texecom, etc...

Also I know that many years ago when wireless intruder alarms were a new thing, they could easily be jammed/disabled by intruders; Is this still the case or is this a not an issue these days.

Any advice and help would be much appreciated.

Regards: Elliott

 

[sparkymarka]

Texecom or Pyronix for me ....Texecom more of a hybrid system , better if you want to hardwire bell and other devices.

 

[EightyTwo]

We'd offer Risco Agility 3. If you need it for insurance purposes, you should check the details of your policy - you might need to get it professionally installed and maintained.

Others will suggest Galaxy and, possibly, Scantronic iON range... Bernard will tell you that the devices must be 2-way (too easy to jam 1-way ones). There are plenty of similar posts on this forum - float your mouse pointer over the "similar threads" below.

 

[eveares]

If you need it for insurance purposes, you should check the details of your policy - you might need to get it professionally installed and maintained.

Well my old Optima G4 was installed by myself back in 2011 when we moved in and no proof of professional instillation was required IIRC. Not sure on our insurance policy, I don't personally deal with it although I do believe they still think we have an active intruder alarm. Installing it and configuring it is half the fun, not to mention the importance of the owner having the engineering code. (Yes I know it can often easily be reset.)

How good is this system btw: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ESCOMMPKITslashWES.html Is it easy to jam or got any critical weaknesses, anyone used it?

 

[secureiam]

we offer Agility 3 and Texecom Elite, the only things on Agility 3 is they are only available to installers and not all devices are 2 way at the moment, but a lot of them are. Ask the installer for information to confirm they are two way.

 

[bernardgreen]

Any and all wireless communication systems can be jammed to the state of being totally non-operational. Anything operating on a licence exempt frequency can be jammed by items bought on the internet. Not illegal to own but illegal to use.

Communication systems that have to be kept functional will be licenced and thus have the use of several frequencies and they can hop from one frequency to another if the first one is jammed. Other techniques to combat jamming can even use the jamming signal as part of the data transmission. But that extremely high level of sofistication is extremely expensive and would never be allowed on licence exempt channels. Each sensor would cost a few thousand pounds and require a lot of power ( more than a battery ) so wiring would have to be installed.

 

[eveares]

we offer Agility 3 and Texecom Elite

Thanks , but I am not looking for an installer. Just advice on different brands and products.

Ask the installer for information to confirm they are two way

As I will very likely be installing it myself to keep costs down, i will do extensive research before hand of course. Max spend is £500 - 6 PIR's + 1 Door Mag required


I guess fancy words like "66 bits encryption with SecuriCodeTM" is meaningless then if it's still one way?

Is this a good site: http://www.cts-direct.net/

 

[sparkymarka]

For a easy to program system you can't go wrong with the Pyronix enforcer, forget the esp wireless stuff , old technology , I believe they are now owned by risco , so may be fazed out ... The pstn 3 kit has 4 pirs plus a door contact you will only need 2 more , a back plate and a cover so it will come in on/ under your price

 

[secureiam]

You can probably just about do a Texecom ricochet system on that for the size your talking about, the pyronix enforcer should be a less expensive.

Always look at what is in a kit and add the extra bits to it usually the kits work out cheaper.

with sparkymarka on the esp

 

[eveares]

I may go with this: http://www.pyronix.co.uk/wireless-enforcer-pstn-kit-3.php ; Plus get an extra 2 PIR's, plus a cover for the bell. £375 from cts-direct - Not bad IMO.

 

[eveares]

Does anyone know when the Enforcer HomeControl+ will be available.

i.e. http://www.pyronix.co.uk/enforcer-homecontrol.php

 

[Siclark]

If you need it for insurance purposes, you should check the details of your policy - you might need to get it professionally installed and maintained.

Well my old Optima G4 was installed by myself back in 2011 when we moved in and no proof of professional instillation was required IIRC. Not sure on our insurance policy, I don't personally deal with it although I do believe they still think we have an active intruder alarm. Installing it and configuring it is half the fun, not to mention the importance of the owner having the engineering code. (Yes I know it can often easily be reset.)

They may not ask for proof when taking out the policy, but in the event of claim they may ask for details of who installed it and who was monitoring it, and can provide logs etc, and if they discover its all you, then they could refuse to pay out. You should clarify this in advance rather than rely on their not asking in advance as if really required paying to install yourself is a waste of money and leaves you uninsured. Otherwise tell them you no longer have one and have fun installing it, as I have done.

 

[Europlex]

......................................................... Otherwise tell them you no longer have one and have fun installing it, as I have done.

...... something happens, an assessor arrives to sort out your claim, sees the alarm, Do you have an alarm Mr. ?

It goes on from there. They are still in dispute about it two years later.

.... Mr. ? is now a customer of the firm I work for.

Insurance companies always like to cross the Tees & dot the Eyes, they don't miss much & in general don't like DiY alarms

 

[bernardgreen]

The Association of British Insurers says: "If you are considering installing an alarm, get advice from your insurer before buying one." But it adds: "Most alarms only warn that someone has already broken in. Your first priority is to stop them getting in at all."

It may be from year 2008 but still valid.

And as Europlex points out. If you declar "no alarm" on the application form for insurance when there is an alarm then you have made a false declaration and the insurance can legally be declared void as result. Likewise adding an alarm is a material change and must be notified to the insurance company. If a material change is made without notifying the insurance company then the policy can be declared void. Read the small print of the policy.

 

[Europlex]

........................................... not to mention the importance of the owner having the engineering code.

If a professionally installed alarm system is fitted, following the regulations we have to adhere to you are not allowed the Engineer Code.