Intruder Alarm Systems. How good are they really?

fishdog

Like many people that post here I have installed intruder alarm systems. The more I installed the more I though just how easy it would be to get around the ones that are poorley installed, yet some of these still meet current regulations.

I will not describe how to get around them for obvious reasons, but most of you that have installed alarm systems have figured it out long ago.

Am I the only one or do other people here think that the public at large have a false sense of security about intruder alarm systems??

Do they really protect to the levels that people think?

Why is Ireland the country with more alarms per household than almost anywhere else in the world?? Are we all just paranoid?

I know some do, but IMHO most of the systems installed in Ireland provide very little protection.

northdublin

when dealing with the general public on any install i found it best to tell them the truth and when asked if an ias would stop somebody breaking into their home i would say no but a good one will deter them and let you and others know.in my experience installing there is higher false sence of security around monitored alarms
as you know monitored alarms are only as good as the integrity of the phone line they are connected to and following the breakdown of the pstn line unless a gsm or radio back up is in place then its no better then a standalone system. ive also found that certain companys and certain types of system carry more weight then others which are usually distingishable by their sab or decoys.

Sparky

I never touched intruder alarms purely due to the fack that they were a headache.
I've studied them alright, but still I was baffled as to how our house got broke into with the alarm still set and without it activated. So personally I dont trust intruder alarm systems unless they have some sort of additional backup feature/bulletproof tamper feature.

northdublin

Spankeh wrote: »

I never touched intruder alarms purely due to the fack that they were a headache.
I've studied them alright, but still I was baffled as to how our house got broke into with the alarm still set and without it activated. So personally I dont trust intruder alarm systems unless they have some sort of additional backup feature/bulletproof tamper feature.

like fishdog stated there are many ways to get around them but if installed propperly they should work. depending on the circumstances i could name atleast 10 ways around a badly installed or badly serviced system.

fishdog

in my experience installing there is higher false sence of security around monitored alarms

I agree 100%

gsm or radio back up is in place

I think the above should be a minimum. Alarm installers should push for it to be a regulation. They would also make more money:D

So personally I dont trust intruder alarm systems unless they have some sort of additional backup feature/bulletproof tamper feature.

Alot of installers do not connect the tamper circuit. Some systems if you do not connect the tamper they will not work. This makes more sense INHO.

I think the regulations need a serious overhaul. If installed correctly intruder alarm systems such as Astec, HKC, and Aritech are impossible to get around.

Jnealon

Ive had this conversation before with people who have no clue about alarms and think that after watching some film or tv program that they can bypass an alarm.
With the new regs a proper risk assessment has to be carried out on the property and this should eliminate any potential holes or weaknesses in the property. I know I could get past some of the many nixer/ blank box alarms installed today but I challenge anyone to get past one of mine before they get nabbed or smothered in smoke:)

fishdog

With the new regs a proper risk assessment has to be carried out on the property

I know but as northdublin pointed out phone lines are often not protected to a sufficient level.

The current risk assesment is not done to high enough a standard INHO. This risk assesment in the main ignores the fact that all the monitoring in the world is no good if the alarm system can not contact the people that are monitoring it.

I challenge anyone to get past one of mine before they get nabbed or smothered in smoke

This sounds like you install alarms to a high standard.

My issue is with people that dont, yet they have still met the current standards.

I know I could get past some of the many nixer/ blank box alarms installed today

My point exactly.

But one of the best selling residential alarm companies (not saying any names) in the country uses a dummy bell box in most of its installations, yet it comforms with the standards. I think this is a major security issue.

northdublin

exterior bells have had a bad stigma attached to them due to the lack of servicing and impropper installation. now with the new regs they have to be silenced after 15/20 mins.this means that such companys that dont fit them as standard dont have much of an excuse and i know the company you refere to and there main reason i feel is the wiring aspect of an sab plus the cost they charge to put one in would deter most ppl from having one;)
with the technology thats available there should be an optional gsm unit that is simple and easy to install.....like the digi on the hkc the way it plugs onto the board.the gsm units ive fitted in the past were a pain in the neck mainly due to the installation policy of the company i previously worked for, but there size alone would again deter most from buying them.

fishdog

i feel is the wiring aspect of an sab plus the cost they charge to put one in would deter most ppl from having one

Yes I know what you mean. After all they are trying to sell a 100% wireless system.

IMHO the customer should be made sign a piece of paper to show that they aware of the disadvantages of not having a working bellbox.

Lets face it most houses have double glazing (great for sound proofing), this means that the internal siren often can not be heard from outside. With no outside siren even your nearest neighbours may not know that your alarm is going off.

If your alarm is unable to contact anyone due to the ease at which the phone line can be attacked, your entire alarm system is useless! Yet it still meets current standards.

with the technology thats available there should be an optional gsm unit that is simple and easy to install

There is. I have used it many times. It is a small PCB, compatible with any panel and easy to install. They are made by Sony Ericcson. I bought them from Astec.

It just needs 12v in, phone line in (optional) and phone line out.

northdublin

There is. I have used it many times. It is a small PCB, compatible with any panel and easy to install. They are made by Sony Ericcson. I bought them from Astec.

It just needs 12v in, phone line in (optional) and phone line out.

ive used those a few times but we were made put the into a psu in a location remote to the main panel, if installed anywhere near the panels you could hear the digi dialing over the speaker like when you hold your mobile up to a stereo.

fishdog

ive used those a few times but we were made put the into a psu in a location remote to the main panel, if installed anywhere near the panels you could hear the digi dialing over the speaker like when you hold your mobile up to a stereo.

Really? I never had any problems with them. What speaker do you mean? The speaker on you phone? What PSU do you mean? I normally power them from the panel and sometimes I have an additional 12v battery unit (cant think of the name!)

Even if you do as you suggest they are a great device. They make an alarm system so much more secure for relitively small money. The next step is to have them fully integrated into the panel as standard.

northdublin

some of the panels i used to install had a speaker built into the front or a hardwired internal speaker which allows you hear various commands and messages off the system and if the gsm was too close to the panel it would interfere.......ie the panels used by the company we didnt mention in previous posts;)

fishdog

I see. I was wondering what speaker you were talking about.