Hi Folks,

Looking for some advice around selecting a security alarm specifically
around whether to go wireless or wired... Most companies that have quoted
for me have advised wireless although the major independent one in the area
came out very heavily for a wired system (interestingly they quoted for both
and the prices were similar). I'm comfortable with either but am attracted
to the wireless for the convenience of installation and supposed ease of
adding to it. My main concern is the reliability in that my understanding
was that wireless systems are more susceptible to interference and
false-alarms - is this still the case?

We intend to redecorate so the disruption to the decor caused by a wired
fitting isn't a major issue.

Any thoughts, comments or advice...?

Thanks.

On Saturday, 19 May 2018 10:36:18 UTC+1, Endulini wrote:
... the wireless for the convenience of installation

and inconvenience and cost of changing batteries in the detectors

and supposed ease of adding to it.

as long as the bits remain available and haven't been discontinued by the manufacturer. You also have a much smaller choice of detectors and accessories with wireless as each system is usually proprietary to its own manufacturer. Most wired systems are more-or-less standard so you can add eg safe limpets, artwork movement detectors, or appropriate smoke detectors [1], and outputs such as GSM diallers or smoke cloaks.

My main concern is the reliability in that my understanding
was that wireless systems are more susceptible to interference and
false-alarms - is this still the case?

Yes, for any wireless system likely to be considered for an ordinary domestic installation. High security wireless systems are available but will cost a lot more.

However, most ordinary wireless systems will probably be 'good enough' for domestic, unless you have a particular requirement for higher security.

[1] They won't comply with requirements for a fire detection system, but can be useful along with an autodialler to tell you your house is burning down when you're on holiday.

Owain

In article ,
Endulini wrote:
Hi Folks,

Looking for some advice around selecting a security alarm specifically
around whether to go wireless or wired... Most companies that have quoted
for me have advised wireless although the major independent one in the area
came out very heavily for a wired system (interestingly they quoted for both
and the prices were similar). I'm comfortable with either but am attracted
to the wireless for the convenience of installation and supposed ease of
adding to it. My main concern is the reliability in that my understanding
was that wireless systems are more susceptible to interference and
false-alarms - is this still the case?

We intend to redecorate so the disruption to the decor caused by a wired
fitting isn't a major issue.

Any thoughts, comments or advice...?

You presumably have a mobile phone etc and any number of 'wireless'
devices? Some point in those as they do move around. But is 'reception' on
those always 100% perfect?

The *only* reason to have a wireless alarm is to save money on the
installation costs. It can't perform better than cabled.

--
*Can fat people go skinny-dipping?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
"Endulini" writes:
Hi Folks,

Looking for some advice around selecting a security alarm specifically
around whether to go wireless or wired... Most companies that have quoted
for me have advised wireless although the major independent one in the area
came out very heavily for a wired system (interestingly they quoted for both
and the prices were similar). I'm comfortable with either but am attracted
to the wireless for the convenience of installation and supposed ease of
adding to it. My main concern is the reliability in that my understanding
was that wireless systems are more susceptible to interference and
false-alarms - is this still the case?

We intend to redecorate so the disruption to the decor caused by a wired
fitting isn't a major issue.

Any thoughts, comments or advice...?

Wired are generally considered better although there's plenty
of overlap such that a good wireless system would be better
than a poor wired system.

Wired are vastly more expensive to retrospectively install well,
particularly if you want conceiled cables, etc, and that's why
domestic installers would tend to steer clear. (This is where
DIY can significantly win, where you aren't charging for your
time.) I have never seen wireless used in commercial premises
where there's anything of value to protect.

Wired tend to be less proprietary (although there are some
proprietary wired systems). This means you will be able to
replace your sensors for decades, replace the controller when
you want more features, etc. Also a much wider range of sensors
will be available to you. Wireless have a window of a few
years when you can obtain compatible parts while the product
is still on sale (much of which may have passed before you
bought yours), and after that you've normally had it and
would have to replace the whole lot. Specialist sensors are
unlikely to be available at all, and there may be no option
for higher quality sensors (such as dual tech motion sensors).

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On 19/05/2018 11:09, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Endulini wrote:
Hi Folks,

Looking for some advice around selecting a security alarm specifically
around whether to go wireless or wired... Most companies that have quoted
for me have advised wireless although the major independent one in the area
came out very heavily for a wired system (interestingly they quoted for both
and the prices were similar). I'm comfortable with either but am attracted
to the wireless for the convenience of installation and supposed ease of
adding to it. My main concern is the reliability in that my understanding
was that wireless systems are more susceptible to interference and
false-alarms - is this still the case?

We intend to redecorate so the disruption to the decor caused by a wired
fitting isn't a major issue.

Any thoughts, comments or advice...?

You presumably have a mobile phone etc and any number of 'wireless'
devices? Some point in those as they do move around. But is 'reception' on
those always 100% perfect?

The *only* reason to have a wireless alarm is to save money on the
installation costs. It can't perform better than cabled.


I presume that a wireless system must have many batteries that must be
replaced on recharged. Changing the battery in a sounder might be quite
awkward.


--
Michael Chare

On 19/05/2018 10:36, Endulini wrote:

We intend to redecorate so the disruption to the decor caused by a wired
fitting isn't a major issue.

Any thoughts, comments or advice...?

Thanks.



Wired.


--
Adam

In article ,
Andrew Gabriel wrote:
Wired are vastly more expensive to retrospectively install well,
particularly if you want conceiled cables, etc, and that's why
domestic installers would tend to steer clear. (This is where
DIY can significantly win, where you aren't charging for your
time.) I have never seen wireless used in commercial premises
where there's anything of value to protect.

It really is the same argument as wired doorbell versus wirelss. If you
can be bothered installing the cables (and of course houses vary on how
easy this may be), it's no contest.

--
*It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Michael Chare" wrote in message
news
On 19/05/2018 11:09, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Endulini wrote:
Hi Folks,

Looking for some advice around selecting a security alarm specifically
around whether to go wireless or wired... Most companies that have
quoted
for me have advised wireless although the major independent one in the
area
came out very heavily for a wired system (interestingly they quoted for
both
and the prices were similar). I'm comfortable with either but am
attracted
to the wireless for the convenience of installation and supposed ease of
adding to it. My main concern is the reliability in that my
understanding
was that wireless systems are more susceptible to interference and
false-alarms - is this still the case?

We intend to redecorate so the disruption to the decor caused by a wired
fitting isn't a major issue.

Any thoughts, comments or advice...?

You presumably have a mobile phone etc and any number of 'wireless'
devices? Some point in those as they do move around. But is 'reception'
on
those always 100% perfect?

The *only* reason to have a wireless alarm is to save money on the
installation costs. It can't perform better than cabled.


I presume that a wireless system must have many batteries that must be
replaced on recharged. Changing the battery in a sounder might be quite
awkward.

Lot easier to provide power than to wire back to the alarm system.

Endulini wrote:
Hi Folks,

Looking for some advice around selecting a security alarm specifically
around whether to go wireless or wired... Most companies that have
quoted for me have advised wireless although the major independent one
in the area came out very heavily for a wired system (interestingly they
quoted for both and the prices were similar). I'm comfortable with
either but am attracted to the wireless for the convenience of
installation and supposed ease of adding to it. My main concern is the
reliability in that my understanding was that wireless systems are more
susceptible to interference and false-alarms - is this still the case?

We intend to redecorate so the disruption to the decor caused by a wired
fitting isn't a major issue.

Any thoughts, comments or advice...?

Thanks.
Wired every time. Wireless are too easy to defeat by experts.

"Bob Minchin" wrote in message
news
Endulini wrote:
Hi Folks,

Looking for some advice around selecting a security alarm specifically
around whether to go wireless or wired... Most companies that have
quoted for me have advised wireless although the major independent one
in the area came out very heavily for a wired system (interestingly they
quoted for both and the prices were similar). I'm comfortable with
either but am attracted to the wireless for the convenience of
installation and supposed ease of adding to it. My main concern is the
reliability in that my understanding was that wireless systems are more
susceptible to interference and false-alarms - is this still the case?

We intend to redecorate so the disruption to the decor caused by a wired
fitting isn't a major issue.

Any thoughts, comments or advice...?

Wired every time. Wireless are too easy to defeat by experts.

None of the stupid druggys trying to loot your house are experts at
anything.

On 19/05/2018 21:29, Huge wrote:
On 2018-05-19, Bob Minchin wrote:
Endulini wrote:
Wired every time. Wireless are too easy to defeat by experts.

No alarm is going to keep an "expert" out. And they aren't going to burgle a house, anyway. House burglaries are, in the main, performed by useless ****stains who climb in through an open window.

I don't think it takes an expert to jam a system running on the
unlicensed bands at the low power permitted.

Andy

On 20/05/2018 21:15, Vir Campestris wrote:
On 19/05/2018 21:29, Huge wrote:
On 2018-05-19, Bob Minchin wrote:
Endulini wrote:
Wired every time. Wireless are too easy to defeat by experts.

No alarm is going to keep an "expert" out. And they aren't going to
burgle a house, anyway. House burglaries are, in the main, performed
by useless ****stains who climb in through an open window.

I don't think it takes an expert to jam a system running on the
unlicensed bands at the low power permitted.

Andy

Are the systems not failsafe?

Bill

On 20/05/2018 21:15, Vir Campestris wrote:
On 19/05/2018 21:29, Huge wrote:
On 2018-05-19, Bob Minchin wrote:
Endulini wrote:
Wired every time. Wireless are too easy to defeat by experts.

No alarm is going to keep an "expert" out. And they aren't going to
burgle a house, anyway. House burglaries are, in the main, performed
by useless ****stains who climb in through an open window.

I don't think it takes an expert to jam a system running on the
unlicensed bands at the low power permitted.

Andy

Which should set it off.
Any decent one will have stay alive.

False alarms are likely to be more of a problem with wireless ime.

My wired one has had about three false alarms in 15 years, the
neighbours wireless one was getting one every few weeks but doesn't now,
I expect its turned off.