Help selecting new intruder alarm

[Hollanda]

Hello all

 

Hope you’re doing well. My first time on the forum. Finally bought a house after nearly two decades of dreaming. I know I’ll be on here often as I’m very security conscious. Happy to be here and hope to contribute to the community!

 

At the moment, I need your help trying to decide between 3 different wireless intruder alarm quotes.

 

The property is a London home, around 1,100 sqft with hallway, lounge, dining room and kitchen on ground floor. Upstairs there’s a landing and 3 bedrooms. No pets.

 

All 3 proposed systems are wireless and meet Grade 2 requirements (not an insurance requirement - just trying to future proof as I know insurers can be flaky. I actually asked for Grade 1 but all the providers state they’re quoting for a Grade 2 system).

 

The only wired components will probably be the alarm keypad, and I’d like the siren to be hardwired as I’m not keen on climbing up 2metres+ to change the battery. I also like it to be backlit which I don’t think you get with a wireless siren?

 

The alarms I’m considering are:

• Pyronix. Not sure the model (Enforcer I think) nor the amount of zones supported but I expect at least 32 zones supported.
• Texecom Premier Elite supporting 64 zones.
• Banham - supporting 32 zones.

 

They all have the following in common:

• Price wise they’re not far apart from each other.
• Similar number of PIR sensors.
• Similar call-out charges.
• I’m not subscribing to a monitoring service (although I may in the future when the family grows).
• Similar number of proposed wireless components. Two providers offers window contacts in the quote.

 

Differences:

• The company offering one of the systems won’t install the spur for the alarm, so I need my electrician to sort that out first.

 

Questions:

• Which one would you choose and why?
• Does anyone have any experience with the features of these alarms that mitigate the risk of RF jamming of wireless components? So far I’ve understood that Texecom uses a ricochet mesh system as well as supervision that triggers the alarm if any “pulse” is lost.
• Should I consider hardwiring instead of wireless? I don’t like the idea of replacing the batteries for all these components every 1-2 years, but not exactly looking forward to chasing and dust (although we do have suspended floors which might make things easier).
• What’s your experience like of call-out charges for these wireless systems?
• How often do you really need these companies to come out and service the alarm?
• When it comes to moving door/window contacts e.g. if you’re getting a new window, so you do it yourself? One of the security companies said that I’d risk misconfiguring the system, and it’s safer if I call them out to recalibrate the system.
• Is there a benefit to hardwiring the siren apart from the battery not needing replacing.
• How often do you get your alarms serviced, and what does a “service” entail for you?

 

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is not posted in the right sub topic.

Edited 17 hours ago by Hollanda
Typos

[al-yeti]

3 minutes ago, Hollanda said:

 

Hello all

 

Hope you’re doing well. My first time on the forum. Finally bought a house after nearly two decades of dreaming. I know I’ll be on here often as I’m very security conscious. Happy to be here and hope to contribute to the community!

 

At the moment, I need your help trying to decide between 3 different wireless intruder alarm quotes.

 

The property is a London home, around 1,100 sqft with hallway, lounge, dining room and kitchen on ground floor. Upstairs there’s a landing and 3 bedrooms. No pets.

 

All 3 proposed systems are wireless and meet Grade 2 requirements (not an insurance requirement - just trying to future proof as I know insurers can be flaky. I actually asked for Grade 1 but all the providers state they’re quoting for a Grade 2 system).

 

The only wired components will probably be the alarm keypad, and I’d like the siren to be hardwired as I’m not keen on climbing up 2metres+ to change the battery. I also like it to be backlit which I don’t think you get with a wireless siren?

 

The alarms I’m considering are:

• Pyronix. Not sure the model (Enforcer I think) nor the amount of zones supported but I expect at least 32 zones supported.
• Texecom Premier Elite supporting 64 zones.
• Banham - supporting 32 zones.

 

They all have the following in common:

• Price wise they’re not far apart from each other.
• similar number of PIR sensors.
• similar call-out charges.
• I’m not subscribing to a monitoring service (although I may in the future when the family grows).
• similar number of proposed wireless components. Two providers offers window contacts in the quote.

 

Differences:

• the company offering one of the systems won’t install the spur for the alarm, so I need my electrician to sort that out first.

 

Questions:

• which one would you choose and why?
• does anyone have any experience with the features of these alarms that mitigate the risk of RF jamming of wireless components? So far I’ve understood that Texecom uses a ricochet mesh system as well as supervision that triggers the alarm if any “pulse” is lost.
• should I consider hardwiring instead of wireless? I don’t like the idea of replacing the batteries for all these components every 1-2 years, but not exactly looking forward to chasing and dust (although we do have suspended floors which might make things easier).
• What’s your experience like of call-out charges for these wireless systems?
• How after often do you really need these companies to come out and service the alarm?
• When it comes to moving door/window contacts e.g. if you’re getting a new window, so you do it yourself? One of the security companies said that I’d risk misconfiguring the system, and it’s safer if I call them out to recalibrate the system.
• is there a benefit to hardwiring the siren apart from the battery not needing replacing.
• how often do you get your alarms serviced, and what does a “service” entail for you?

 

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is not posted in the right sub topic.

Banham is just a trader security supplier do all sorts 

 

What are they actually installing ? They also install the enforcer which will dooooo your head in eventually 

[al-yeti]

Hard wire if it's possible,

windows contacts most better wireless in my view for aesthetics and headache 

Some service every 6-12 months, some after a few years, some people wait until a fault develops, that's advantage of contract , they do the service and book it in as matter of course

Good solid wireless system doesn't have many call outs ,except if your WiFi isn't behaving , then you might opt for dual path and gsm option addition 

If your not competent get your installer to move devices, most usually mess it up trying to avoid paying, it's normal

Edited 17 hours ago by al-yeti

[Hollanda]

3 minutes ago, al-yeti said:

Banham is just a trader security supplier do all sorts 

 

What are they actually installing ? They also install the enforcer which will dooooo your head in eventually 

Thanks for your response. I’m not sure, I’ll definitely find out when they turn up for the survey next week. I suspect it’s a Pyronix system as i read somewhere that the Banham app is a white-labelled Pyronix app?

[Hollanda]

5 minutes ago, al-yeti said:

Hard wire if it's possible,

windows contacts most better wireless in my view for aesthetics and headache 

Some service every 6-12 months, some after a few years, some people wait until a fault develops, that's advantage of contract , they do the service and book it in as matter of course

Good solid wireless system doesn't have many call outs ,except if your WiFi isn't behaving , then you might opt for dual path and gsm option addition 

Thanks @al-yeti  what’s included in a service? I suspect different companies will mean slightly different things by a service, but I expect they check the battery, and run a few tests to make sure the system is working?

 

I am actually looking at plugging in a 4G router as a second WAN.

Edited 17 hours ago by Hollanda

[al-yeti]

7 minutes ago, Hollanda said:

Thanks @al-yeti  what’s included in a service? I suspect different companies will mean slightly different things by a service, but I expect they check the battery, and run a few tests to make sure the system is working?

 

I am actually looking at plugging in a 4G router as a second WAN.

But most alarms will only connect to one router at a time 

 

Unless you have a router with dual path in itself I remember that I think on those old drayteks, not sure if new stuff does it

 

Service ? Yes battery checks , replace wireless devices, check signalling , check all devices operate 

 

Again servicing yourself ususally means you will forget something or cost cutting, which is ok if you know what your doing 

 

If it's texecom Vs enforcer , go with texecom 

 

But either way you will need an installer when you get stuck, or to setup your app control 

 

Where in London ?

[PeterJames]

Banham will be rebranded Pyronix.

If they are all similar price to Banham then they are all dearer than average. Banham tend to be on the expensive side. Thats not to say thats a bad thing, as you should not be looking for the cheapest 

 

Out of Texecom and Pyronix Id probably choose Texecom. Wireless kit is far more reliable than it was 10 years ago, I would always recommend hard wired over wireless but I am old school.

 

Batteries can last up to 3 years we tend to replace them yearly though because its cheaper than calling us out between services, and that has happened a few times for us, we are happy to leave them for two years but insist the customer signs to say they understand the consequences.

 

Servicing is probably the most important bit to alarms, these things go wrong and when they do they are a nuisance. Having a service contract isnt just about having a service visit either, think of it as being a bit like having  AA or RAC for your alarm. A service contract means someone is available 24/7 365 days which I am sure you can imagine is quite an expensive service to provide. 

[Hollanda]

Thank you both for your replies. Are you able to recommend anyone that can install a Texecom alarm in South London? I’ve come across one security company that does it but they quoted  around 2.2k + VAT for all costs. Would you say that’s average cost?

 

I’m definitely thinking I’m better off with hardwired as I’m a bit worried about the amount of things I have where the batteries need replacing. I may struggle to keep on top of it.

 

I will enquire about a service contract, thanks for the tip.

[PeterJames]

20 minutes ago, Hollanda said:

Thank you both for your replies. Are you able to recommend anyone that can install a Texecom alarm in South London? I’ve come across one security company that does it but they quoted  around 2.2k + VAT for all costs. Would you say that’s average cost?

 

I’m definitely thinking I’m better off with hardwired as I’m a bit worried about the amount of things I have where the batteries need replacing. I may struggle to keep on top of it.

 

I will enquire about a service contract, thanks for the tip.

Its hard to give a price without seeing the property and whats involved, did they give you a proper specification detailing what and where items will be installed.

Its not unusual for companies not to do the fused spur as officially you have to certify them. (From your original post I forgot to add it to my first reply)

The panel does let you know when the batteries are low.

Al-yeti and I both cover South London, Al-yeti may be your better bet though as we are quite busy. Neither of us sell Texecom though, only HKC.  

[al-yeti]

19 minutes ago, Hollanda said:

Thank you both for your replies. Are you able to recommend anyone that can install a Texecom alarm in South London? I’ve come across one security company that does it but they quoted  around 2.2k + VAT for all costs. Would you say that’s average cost?

 

I’m definitely thinking I’m better off with hardwired as I’m a bit worried about the amount of things I have where the batteries need replacing. I may struggle to keep on top of it.

 

I will enquire about a service contract, thanks for the tip.

What they giving you for that price ?

Hard wired , are you refurbishing? Probably cost maybe more in some cases