After a new house alarm

[mdavenport]

We are just doing our house up and want to install a new alarm system. I am unsure of the best manufactuers etc and was hoping someone may be able to point me in the direction. I am looking for the following from the alarm:-

1. Exterior alarm sounder
2. Control panel to be in the hall so it can be de-activated when entering the front door
3. Wireless sensors (about 5 required with the support for more)

These are the basics I would require, however I would be interested in something that can be added to like the following:-

1. Ability to SMS you when the alarm goes off
2. Ability to set/unset the alarm over the internet (I have a wireless router at home)

I'm not too bothered about having this monitored by a third party company.

My budget is around £500 but would stretch to 700-800 if a bargain.

All suggestions/recommendation are very much appreciated.

Thanks

[The Moog]

I have been looking into a similarly specced system,

The nicest one that I could find on the web was the Siemens Sintony 60 setup, which seems very modular and can cater for most of those needs:

Siemens Sintony 60

I can't seem to find anywhere that sells them, or can install them though


The Moog

[LINDY Tech]

Hi,

I managed to get a wireless Yale alarm for £100

It came with 2 PIR's, 2 door sensors, control panel, front and rear box (rear is a fake)

It will also phone 3 numbers when the alarm goes off, plus you can set it over the telephone.

You can also add more sensors really easily,

For your budget you may be able to find better systems, as this one requires the batteries in the main box changing every odd year. Better ones have solar power to charge them.

Best Regards

Chris

[spiderman78]

Originally Posted by mdavenport

We are just doing our house up and want to install a new alarm system. I am unsure of the best manufactuers etc and was hoping someone may be able to point me in the direction. I am looking for the following from the alarm:-

1. Exterior alarm sounder
2. Control panel to be in the hall so it can be de-activated when entering the front door
3. Wireless sensors (about 5 required with the support for more)

These are the basics I would require, however I would be interested in something that can be added to like the following:-

1. Ability to SMS you when the alarm goes off
2. Ability to set/unset the alarm over the internet (I have a wireless router at home)

I'm not too bothered about having this monitored by a third party company.

My budget is around £500 but would stretch to 700-800 if a bargain.

All suggestions/recommendation are very much appreciated.

Thanks

I've been using a wireless system called Alertme for over a year now and I'm very happy with it. You install it yourself and they provide fantastic customer support. System can call/text/email you and/or your alternative key holders and is very configurable through a user friendly secure webpage.

You can arm/disarm from the internet including on your mobile phone via internet or SMS. It doesn't have a traditional control panel for your hallway but you use a keyfob and press the HOME button to deactivate it or have the system sense your keyfobs presence arriving home and deactivate automatically. Also can monitor your smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. You can add more sensors as and when including cameras to the system as well as SmartPlugs. More info on their website and a user forum that is very active by owners and customer service.

Check out their support site they have a very active forum and also video tutorials on different elements on the system. There is a demo site so you can look around and see what the secure website is like and what you can configure. Click 'sign in' on the first page of the demo site.

Currently is no external sounder but some owners hook up their own with the use of an Alertme SmartPlug to turn power on to it if a break in is detected.

Alertme.com
Alertme Support Site
demo alertme site

Best of luck with your search.

[mdavenport]

Just looked the Yale one on the internet and it does sound interesting. I do have a couple of questions:-

1. The site says this is 100% wireless. How do you power the alarm box outside? Is this battery driven?

2. Is the keypad also battery driven?

3. Are the PIR sensors all battery driven

4. How often do you get through the batteries?

5. Is there an alert to tell you when the batteries are running out?

6. So can I simply bolt this to the wall outside and my hallway without any wires at all - seems almost to good to be true?

7. How does this interact with the phone line? Surely this must be plugged into a phone socket from the control panel?

Sorry for all the questions...

[mdavenport]

Originally Posted by spiderman78

I've been using a wireless system called Alertme for over a year now and I'm very happy with it. You install it yourself and they provide fantastic customer support. System can call/text/email you and/or your alternative key holders and is very configurable through a user friendly secure webpage.

You can arm/disarm from the internet including on your mobile phone via internet or SMS. It doesn't have a traditional control panel for your hallway but you use a keyfob and press the HOME button to deactivate it or have the system sense your keyfobs presence arriving home and deactivate automatically. Also can monitor your smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. You can add more sensors as and when including cameras to the system as well as SmartPlugs. More info on their website and a user forum that is very active by owners and customer service.

Check out their support site they have a very active forum and also video tutorials on different elements on the system. There is a demo site so you can look around and see what the secure website is like and what you can configure. Click 'sign in' on the first page of the demo site.

Currently is no external sounder but some owners hook up their own with the use of an Alertme SmartPlug to turn power on to it if a break in is detected.

Alertme.com
Alertme Support Site
demo alertme site

Best of luck with your search.

This look very interesting also. Just out of interest, with regards to the monitoring of the boiler and heating etc, how do you activate these as both my boiler and boiler clock have a fixed switch type plug. Would you have to change for a normal plug and then plug that into the alert me socket?

[spiderman78]

Originally Posted by mdavenport

This look very interesting also. Just out of interest, with regards to the monitoring of the boiler and heating etc, how do you activate these as both my boiler and boiler clock have a fixed switch type plug. Would you have to change for a normal plug and then plug that into the alert me socket?

Hi those are good questions and all of us on the alertme forum are awaiting the answers The SmartPlug is the first 'energy product' released and we're waiting for them to release the meter clip and heating controller. Their last newsletter said there was exciting product news to follow soon. There is a 'before you buy' section on their forum so might be worth posting any questions you have. I'm happy to answer any I can here.

You can sign up to their newsletter that is released at the end of each month Click Here

[mdavenport]

Are there any options with the alertme.com that don't require a month subscription? I notice a pay as you go option but it doesn't show this for more advanced options. Any ideas?

[Super Andy H]

Originally Posted by mdavenport

Just looked the Yale one on the internet and it does sound interesting. I do have a couple of questions:-

1. The site says this is 100% wireless. How do you power the alarm box outside? Is this battery driven?

Yes. D Size batteries. 4 if I remember correctly.

2. Is the keypad also battery driven?

No. But has battery back up.

3. Are the PIR sensors all battery driven

Yes.

4. How often do you get through the batteries?

Haven't changed any in 2 years. As long as I've had the alarm.

5. Is there an alert to tell you when the batteries are running out?

Not sure. I would hope so.

6. So can I simply bolt this to the wall outside and my hallway without any wires at all - seems almost to good to be true?

The Sounder. Yes. The sensors (of which I had a mixture of PIR's and Door sensors), Yes. The Keypad. No. Needs 9v PSU running off the mains.

7. How does this interact with the phone line? Surely this must be plugged into a phone socket from the control panel?

Yes. To get a text you need to connect the panel to a phone point.


Sorry for all the questions...

I am an Electronics Engineer and have set-up a lot of alarms. Not as a living mind you, but for friends and family. When I set my Mums up I wanted wireless, as they weren't happy with me tearing into their house, it'd just being majorly overhauled. But they wanted insurance approved. So I installed a visonic alarm. Very good. But Pricey.

When I bought my last house it was a converted bungalow. The wife wasn't happy with the kids downstairs alone at night while we were upstairs. So I bought a cheap alarm until I had time to install a proper one. That was the Yale. It was so easy and user friendly I kept it. And even though I no longer live with my wife, when I get a new place I will be getting a Yale.

See my responses to your questions in blue above.

[spiderman78]

Originally Posted by mdavenport

Are there any options with the alertme.com that don't require a month subscription? I notice a pay as you go option but it doesn't show this for more advanced options. Any ideas?

You would have to buy the 'Starter Kit' as they call it for pay as you go and add the other sensors you require to your order. It doesn't have the GPRS backup facility which is what a month subscription mostly pays for.

[mdavenport]

Does the starter kit have any alerts? Can it alert? Do you just pay for each text message with a Pay as you Go sim card?

Can't quite understand why a monthly subscription pays for a battery backup. This isn't a service. its hardware in a device so why have a subscription?

I could understand it if it was for all the SMS's but £10 a month would take some alerts?

Somewhat disappointed by that fact. Are there other manufacurers that you would recommend that don't have a monthly subscription.

[spiderman78]

Alertme customer service have said previously

The difference between PAYG and SUBS is that with SUBS you get priority upgrades and new features first, you can have email alerts, you get GPRS backup and the battery backup in the hardware and text and call alerts are a third cheaper on average.

If you need more clarification on this side of it I recommend giving them a call they're a very helpful bunch.

[mdavenport]

Ok, so I am close to making a decision and it looks like I may have to go for the Yale alarm as its reasonable priced and doesn't have a monthly subscription.

I would have gone for the alertme but I don't want a monthly fee. Are there any others I should consider that provide similar functionality but don't have the monthly subscription.

Thanks

[Tfish]

let us know how it go's