Which Home Alarm?

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  • tonythetiger
    Automated Home Lurker
    • Jun 2004
    • 5

    #31
    Re: Which Home Alarm?

    I fitted a Visonic alarm which I'm happy with. It's wireless except bell box.

    When I bought it the Pro version wasn't available, but still the only wiring needed was between the control panel and the bell-box. The Pro allows you to fit wireless bell box too.

    You can get flood detectors, smoke detectors, PIR and magnetic contacts.
    It has phone dialler built in and can be armed/disarmed from phone (remote control may be disabled).
    Mine has the optional X10 box on it so X10 can be controlled over phone or by timed events on panel, or by alarm condition, or by arm/disarm etc.

    Being wireless means I've protected my garage without any hassle, but does mean batteries galore ! Batteries last around 4-5 years, mine are 3 years old and not been changed yet.

    Only problem is there isn't an easy way to have a remote keypad, so I decided to put panel in a cupboard along with the battery backed-up PSU. This does mean you lose some of the toys on the panel (like being able to leave a voice message for the wife when she returns), but does keep everything tidy. You just need to use the remote keyfob instead.

    Comment

    • Kemik
      • Mar 2024

      #32
      Re: Which Home Alarm?

      How easy is the Comfort Alarm to fit yourself?

      I am thinking of purchasing one but would like to know from someone who has done it before

      Thx

      Comment

      • CableTie
        Automated Home Jr Member
        • Jan 2005
        • 35

        #33
        Re: Which Home Alarm?

        Originally posted by Kemik
        How easy is the Comfort Alarm to fit yourself?

        I am thinking of purchasing one but would like to know from someone who has done it before

        Thx
        So am I but hardly dare ask the question in case I got flamed for not being an alarm engineer :lol:
        http://www.kendal-i.co.uk

        Comment

        • phcjpp
          Automated Home Jr Member
          • Oct 2004
          • 23

          #34
          Re: Which Home Alarm?

          As a previous comfort owner .... that is one complicated alarm system. It certainly does a lot of things but we ended up never using it The wife certainly didn't get on with it. We had it professionally fitted - took about 3 days. I don't think the fitting was too hard - the programming on the other hand was more tricky - let alone their software which is some of the worst designed I have seen (others have said this before). Don't get me wrong BTW its a high quality very flexible system its just we found it far too much for daily life.

          We, by the way, are going to have our new alarm fitted by a local - medium sized firm, and have a redcare gsm contract also. I like the idea of 24 hour support because I have had the alrm fail late at night and its not funny when the bloddy bell will not shut up.

          Unfortunatley a professionally installed alarm with redcare gsm is coming in between £2500 and £5500 !

          Chris

          Comment

          • CableTie
            Automated Home Jr Member
            • Jan 2005
            • 35

            #35
            Re: Which Home Alarm?

            Interesting Feedback

            I am looking for a system for my mum in the first instance who is disabled. The comfort system appealed from the ability of using the phone to control the system along with being able to answer callers at the door and allow them entry (it would take her 5 minutes to get to the door) with some automation included like curtains and some lighting. However if its complicated for her to use then it's a none starter.

            Cheers
            Paul
            http://www.kendal-i.co.uk

            Comment

            • AlarmEngineer
              Automated Home Lurker
              • Jan 2005
              • 9

              #36
              Re: Which Home Alarm?

              Originally posted by phcjpp
              As a previous comfort owner .... that is one complicated alarm system. It certainly does a lot of things but we ended up never using it The wife certainly didn't get on with it. We had it professionally fitted - took about 3 days. I don't think the fitting was too hard - the programming on the other hand was more tricky - let alone their software which is some of the worst designed I have seen (others have said this before). Don't get me wrong BTW its a high quality very flexible system its just we found it far too much for daily life.

              We, by the way, are going to have our new alarm fitted by a local - medium sized firm, and have a redcare gsm contract also. I like the idea of 24 hour support because I have had the alrm fail late at night and its not funny when the bloddy bell will not shut up.

              Unfortunatley a professionally installed alarm with redcare gsm is coming in between £2500 and £5500 !

              Chris
              Hi Chris

              What part of the country are you in? Im sure I will know an approved company that will do better than the prices your being quoted.

              Pete

              Comment

              • joe90wido
                Automated Home Jr Member
                • Sep 2005
                • 13

                #37
                Re: Which Home Alarm?

                Also looking to install new alarm into self build. Been recommended and quoted for a Menvier TS690- with 7 Optex RX 40 QZ Infra red detectors, 4 mag. reed switches, internal and external sounder plus installation- £1100.

                What are the benefits of having this professionally installed?

                Am i just as better off to install a cheaper alarm myself? :?

                Comment

                • AlarmEngineer
                  Automated Home Lurker
                  • Jan 2005
                  • 9

                  #38
                  Re: Which Home Alarm?

                  Originally posted by joe90wido
                  Also looking to install new alarm into self build. Been recommended and quoted for a Menvier TS690- with 7 Optex RX 40 QZ Infra red detectors, 4 mag. reed switches, internal and external sounder plus installation- £1100.

                  What are the benefits of having this professionally installed?

                  Am i just as better off to install a cheaper alarm myself? :?
                  £1100 Could be quite reasonable, it is really hard to say without seeing the property.

                  My advice would be to get three quotations(any more will just confuse you), if you can from personal reccomendation if not searchwww.nsi.org.uk for a quality assured company in your area.

                  You could try DIY but the equipment available to non trade is not that good. And ive yet to see a diy install that I would class as acceptable standard.

                  I hope this helps

                  Regards Pete

                  Comment

                  • joe90wido
                    Automated Home Jr Member
                    • Sep 2005
                    • 13

                    #39
                    Re: Which Home Alarm?

                    Can you recommend any DIY alarm?

                    What about getting Menvier TS690 over the counter?

                    Comment

                    • pwhite8314
                      Automated Home Lurker
                      • Mar 2004
                      • 6

                      #40
                      Re: Which Home Alarm?

                      Can the Visonic Powermax also report it's status to, say, Homeseer? I can see that it can issue X10 codes, but my interest is more in knowing it's status via Homeseer.

                      Also, another question. I'm nearing the end of my selfbuild, so have already run alarm cable everywhere. Would I be mad to install a wireless system, if I already have the wires, and therefore more reliability? The Powermax does a lot of what I want, but it barely supports wired contacts. Comfort is OTT for what I need, and somewhat old-fasioned, unless you go for the expensive colour screens. Any other recommendations for an alarm that can integrate with X10, and does other clever stuff, but not to the extent of Comfort?

                      Thanks, Pete

                      Comment

                      • KW1816
                        Automated Home Jr Member
                        • Feb 2004
                        • 28

                        #41
                        Re: Which Home Alarm?

                        Pete,

                        I've just been through the same process you're going through, looking for an alarm system that would interface with Homeseer. I looked at quite a few panels, including this one from TLC http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...ain/index.html and decided, in the end, that only Comort through it's Homeseer plugin gave the level of integration I was looking for.

                        I've just installed it and contrary to a lot of peoples opinions, I found the programming fairly straightforward, although I'm not using it to anywhere near the level of complexity it's capable of - all that is done in Homeseer !

                        Kevin.

                        Comment

                        • pwhite8314
                          Automated Home Lurker
                          • Mar 2004
                          • 6

                          #42
                          Re: Which Home Alarm?

                          I still think Comfort is OTT for what I need; I'm all for getting gadgets, but I'm not sure it's worth paying the premium for features I'd never use. I'd always assumed I'd use Comfort, but having finally taken th etime to read up on it, I'm not sold (plus I think the Comfort website isn't very good).

                          I've been looking at this one, but I don't have a price yet...

                          Comment

                          • adamc
                            Automated Home Lurker
                            • Oct 2005
                            • 1

                            #43
                            Re: Which Home Alarm?

                            Have you considered a DSC system, i fitted a power 832, it has x10 control even via the "escort" telephone interface, fire, can do wireless and all sorts, has been very reliable for me.



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