[mysticsniper]

Hi there everyone,


I am just about to move into my first house. I am going to buy myself an alarm system, but I am unsure of which system to buy. I have seen a selection of systems with similar prices, but most of them have the same amount of equipment, but I don't know enough to know which is a good system compared to a bad one

The systems are:

Visonic PowerMax+ Wireless 3 Room Alarm Kit
YALE P-FAKIT5 Wirefree alarm kit
SA5MK Response Wireless Alarm System
BT Home monitor VP1000 System

If you have any other better systems, I would like to hear about them as well.

TIA

[fabbers]

I'm going through the same conundrum at the moment, i'm swaying towards the BT Home monitor VP1000 System at the moment as it seems a good system and can be had for £82 from savastore, the only downside is there's no bell box but these can be purchased from eBay for about £80.

[JohnS]

The BT one is just a rebadged Powermax, they are better than the yale or response ones but are both very much inferior to the stuff the pros use. Poor wireless is extremley poor and unreliable.

Pick a SSAIB or NACOSS installer and get a quote. I use the Scantronic hybrid stuff or Rokinet /Guardner Technolgy depending on the type of install.

[mysticsniper]

Originally Posted by JohnS

The BT one is just a rebadged Powermax, they are better than the yale or response ones but are both very much inferior to the stuff the pros use. Poor wireless is extremley poor and unreliable.

Pick a SSAIB or NACOSS installer and get a quote. I use the Scantronic hybrid stuff or Rokinet /Guardner Technolgy depending on the type of install.

Thanks for that, but I think that my house won't be targetted by any pro's as I am moving into a 2up 2 down Terraced house, and nothing fancy. That's why I am going for something cheaper and will be a deterrant more than anything else

[davee]

Originally Posted by mysticsniper

Thanks for that, but I think that my house won't be targetted by any pro's as I am moving into a 2up 2 down Terraced house, and nothing fancy. That's why I am going for something cheaper and will be a deterrant more than anything else

Great ..........what was the address?

[ZippyCat]

Most insurance companies will not recognise a DIY alarm system as qualification for a reduction in your premiums. The police will also not attend if your alarm system detects an intruder and would therefore require an eyewitness to confirm somebody is within your house. If you’re after a deterrent then why not just purchase a pair of dummy ADT bell boxes from Ebay, they would give the impression of a monitored alarm system. There not exactly my favourite security specialists, however there is no denial that they are the most recognised, which should act as a good deterrent to deter opportunists.

[blicky_1]

Nacoss systems can start from £375 fitted with cert. if you shop around

[mysticsniper]

Originally Posted by blicky_1

Nacoss systems can start from £375 fitted with cert. if you shop around

Any chance of a linky m8

[ZippyCat]

You won’t find any reputable security company advertising prices on the web, as all installations should be subject to a site survey/risk assessment. Your best bet would be to look through the Yellow Pages for intruder alarm specialists who are NACOSS (NSI) Silver/Gold or SSAIB approved. They will do a risk assessment of your property, select the appropriate equipment and issue you with a formal quotation. The figure quoted above is certainly achievable for a small, non-monitored bell only installation; however do not only go on price.

[blicky_1]

Originally Posted by mysticsniper

Any chance of a linky m8

Just contact you local Nacoss/NSI company and ask, we advertise at the £375 starting price for a small bells only system but do not sell that many as most situations require more kit. As stated above there is no average price as you need to see the property first to survey/risk assess.

[sy278]

Originally Posted by fabbers

I'm going through the same conundrum at the moment, i'm swaying towards the BT Home monitor VP1000 System at the moment as it seems a good system and can be had for £82 from savastore, the only downside is there's no bell box but these can be purchased from eBay for about £80.

you can get a pro quality bellbox for around £30 straight from the suppliers like alarm supplies or gardner technology. (PS I am an Alarm Service Engineer, the website the security installer will help you track down suppliers in your area, and the mass of pros that frequent the forums on their will generally be helpfull with any problems you have as will I where I can on here.)

[ZippyCat]

The only problem with the BT system is that it is a wireless system, so it may be difficult to integrate a wired self-actuating siren. I know some wireless systems do provide this facility, but as far as I’m aware the BT system does not.

Blicky 1, I hope I did not offend you with my comments above, I just wanted to point out it’s not a simple as finding a security company that advertising prices for a complete system under the pretence of one size fits all.

[blicky_1]

Originally Posted by ZippyCat

Blicky 1, I hope I did not offend you with my comments above, I just wanted to point out it’s not a simple as finding a security company that advertising prices for a complete system under the pretence of one size fits all.

No problem mate no offence taken......

I agree with what you say about companys who advertising fixed prices when they have not even seen the property, this is why we say 'start at £375' even though it is just possible to fit one for £375 to a small property (but not much profit!)

There are alarms to suite all needs it seems. For me i have a really small apt so I bought the protector plus from X10 (http://www.x10securitysystems.com) it is inexpensive and works with my existing phone line to call 4 emergency contacts of my choice. It was easy to setup and hasn't let me down yet.

[dobbin]

Tom

It looks quite good but I assume that it only works in the US?

[Strobe]

DIY systems are not worth it to be honest. You are much better off going with a properly installed hard-wired system from an NSI/SSAIB certified installer. As previous posters have said, they will carry out a risk assessment of your home, install to the relevant BS and EN standards and ACPO guidelines, and provide you with a service contract. It may be cost you a little more in the outset but will be worth it from the perspective of far less hassle. It may also be worthwhile talking to your home contents insurance company to see if they would offer a discount if you had an alarm installed. Probably wouldn't amount to much, but every little helps.

My brother had a home wireless system installed (a Yale from memory) which was next to useless, false alarming, annoying the neighbours. In the end, he never used it, so the little that it did cost was wasted.

On a counter arguement...
You should also be conscious of advertising the fact that you may have something to steal by sticking a bell box up. Ie. if you are the only house in the street with an alarm box.
Might be wise to ensure that your physical protections are up to speed first with good quality window locks and British Standard five lever mortice deadlocks.

Yeah I imagine so, X10 had a uk site but i don't see it now.

Visonic PowerMax+ is the way forward. I've had the basic 433MHz PowerMax for 4 years now without an issue, and it does work well believe me, I've come home the wrong side of a few beers on occasions and woken all the neighbours :-(

The newer systems are on the 868MHz frequency which is apparently better, yes they are wireless but they also have the added advantage of being web viewable (link 4 cams to it and watch from afar) and they link to x10 for home automation control too. All that for about £200 starting kit, cannot be bad value.

[fabbers]

Originally Posted by letsautomate

Visonic PowerMax+ is the way forward. I've had the basic 433MHz PowerMax for 4 years now without an issue, and it does work well believe me, I've come home the wrong side of a few beers on occasions and woken all the neighbours :-(

The newer systems are on the 868MHz frequency which is apparently better, yes they are wireless but they also have the added advantage of being web viewable (link 4 cams to it and watch from afar) and they link to x10 for home automation control too. All that for about £200 starting kit, cannot be bad value.

Isn't the BT system mentioned previously based on this system?

[ZippyCat]

Originally Posted by fabbers

Isn't the BT system mentioned previously based on this system?

Yep, Visonic manufacturers the system for BT.

[JohnD76]

I have heard good things about the castle care-tech products:

http://www.castle-caretech.co.uk/product-menu.html

This range in particular:

http://www.castle-caretech.co.uk/prod-g2g3.html
http://www.castle-caretech.co.uk/prod-g2id.html

J.

[JohnD76]

Originally Posted by Strobe

Might be wise to ensure that your physical protections are up to speed first with good quality window locks and British Standard five lever mortice deadlocks.

If you read your contents insurance small print you will find that this is normal a pre-requisite to being covered. The number of people who have insurance that would never pay out on a theft is really quite scary.....

Cilla Black springs to mind:

"UK - TV Star 's Claim Denied
TV star Cilla Black has had her claim for the theft of jewellery worth over £1 million turned down because of a breach of a warranty in respect of window locks on ground floor windows."


The moral of the story is read your insurance documents and get the door and window locks sorted.

J.

[blicky_1]

Originally Posted by JohnD76

I have heard good things about the castle care-tech products:

http://www.castle-caretech.co.uk/product-menu.html

This range in particular:

http://www.castle-caretech.co.uk/prod-g2g3.html
http://www.castle-caretech.co.uk/prod-g2id.html

J.

Thats what panels we fit!!

[JohnD76]

I am very impressed with the alarm system and would recommend it. Decent price too.

[Strobe]

Originally Posted by JohnD76

If you read your contents insurance small print you will find that this is normal a pre-requisite to being covered. The number of people who have insurance that would never pay out on a theft is really quite scary.....

Cilla Black springs to mind:

"UK - TV Star 's Claim Denied
TV star Cilla Black has had her claim for the theft of jewellery worth over £1 million turned down because of a breach of a warranty in respect of window locks on ground floor windows."


The moral of the story is read your insurance documents and get the door and window locks sorted.

J.

I do actually know this. I am a security adviser (amongst other things) for an insurance company. Was just trying to make the point that if you had a finite budget for 'security', in my opinion, you would be better off getting the doors and windows sorted before thinking about adding an alarm; particularly if you are thinking about the DIY type alarm systems.

[Goonboy]

Originally Posted by JohnD76

I have heard good things about the castle care-tech products:

http://www.castle-caretech.co.uk/product-menu.html

This range in particular:

http://www.castle-caretech.co.uk/prod-g2g3.html
http://www.castle-caretech.co.uk/prod-g2id.html

J.

I have one of these installed and can highly recommend it. Especially with the SMS text add-on so that you also get notified if the alarm is set off.

[eilz]

Originally Posted by letsautomate

Visonic PowerMax+ is the way forward. I've had the basic 433MHz PowerMax for 4 years now without an issue, and it does work well believe me, I've come home the wrong side of a few beers on occasions and woken all the neighbours :-(

The newer systems are on the 868MHz frequency which is apparently better, yes they are wireless but they also have the added advantage of being web viewable (link 4 cams to it and watch from afar) and they link to x10 for home automation control too. All that for about £200 starting kit, cannot be bad value.

Is it possible to use the web functions on this alarm without the subscription, I mean could you control it using your own intranet site to control the features you have to subscribe for, obviously not all of them but the basic ones to control it and allow you to add a IP camera?, Also, if you link say an x10 camera can you control it without the subscrption.

[iFrame]

Just to let you know that the Visonic that we fit is also supplied by NACOSS approved installers and is an excellent system. We fit it and do a survey of the premises for a starting price of about £350.

I have worked for Chubb and various other companies for year fitting and selling systems and I have to say that the visonic is top notch. You wont be dissapointed but it is still best to get it installed professionaly.

John