Early days in the search to source and self install a wireless system.. have done the usual google and internet trawl and then lurk in specialist forums etc to glean insights... have even spoken to end users and trade suppliers....

in doing all the above its getting increasingly difficult to distinguish one brand from the next apart from the marketing and buzzwords?

im wondering whether at least in the wireless world, has there been so much standardisation that fundamentally choices are driven by installers preferences only rather than fundamental differences in kit?

for example, isnt it the case that most of the blue chip brands now offer 2 way wireless technology and similar hardware etc

i expect im being too naive but just trying to figure out whether there are any substantive differences in any of the offerings that may make my house more secure!

As with everything in life you get what you pay for, an alarm that keeps going off will end up getting ignored or not used, and for a cheaper system to be cheaper means it had to of either be made using cheaper components or the manufacturer paid their staff less to make it, or made less profit from the sale, either way it will all have an effect on the end product. Whenever I am thinking about a purchase over a couple of hundred pounds I always research to be sure I am getting the best I can afford for my budget I never buy the cheapest I can find unless it doesnt matter, and what could matter more than security

There is a topic here debating the benefits of 2 way wireless. and although you will pay more for a two way system ultimately you will save money on batteries in a couple of years

I would suggest a better question would be to ask for pro's and con's of the panels that take your interest

Avoid 1 way wireless, and no not everyone makes a 2 way panel. There are also mesh network types available as well as zigbee based or unique to said manufacturer.

I like the honeywell 2 way wireless, the HKC has better range. If the system is slightly larger on paper the texecom richochet has the best theory (but i have reservations on very small systems due to batt life)

But ther is more to it than just the interconnects

I had a meeting with the Texecom rep the other day and the Ricochet sounds pretty amazing to me. If we install one we would build the cost of batteries into the maintenance agreement and change them every year or two depending on there life. I didnt actually ask how long they last.

Id agree on paper its the most flexible system. But if 1 sensor is acting as the forwarder for all sensors then it will affect the batt life.

I would suggest a better question would be to ask for pro's and con's of the panels that take your interest

i did consider it but then it would have implied a pre-selection on the basis of very limited knowledge! i dont know enough to make an informed choice yet hence the open ended question

i think its like many goods; diminishing returns set in after a certain point once you have your broad parameters set