Alarm install Quote

3 Dollar Bill

Hi,

I've recently bought a holiday home and I'm looking at getting it fitted
with an alarm, I've been quoted EUR 1,800 :eek: for the installation which I
think is a bit excessive and over my budget. I was thinking more around
the EUR 1,200 mark. The house is already prewired with 6-Core alarm
cable so really all that has to be done is fit the contacts, sensors,
bellbox etc. and then program the panel.

HKC SW1212 Control Panel with Keypad & GSM Unit
HKC Internal Siren
SABB Bellbox
1 X HKC Magnetic Door Contact Type M101
1 X HKC Inertia Sensor with Magnetic Contact Type GS613
10 X HKC Inertia Sensor Type GS612
3 X DS PIR Type 940Q

What would be the norm to fit an alarm system with a GSM unit as I don't want to have a fixed landline?

Jnealon

Just put those details in to the online quote and it came up with 1170 so yes 1800 is a bit excessive.
Get a few more quotes before you commit to one

KoolKid

Yes around €1200- €1300 for the same Spec with SigNet 100 & GSM unit
About 1400- €1500 SigNet 220 ip & GSM unit
There is really no reason or benefit to putting HKC into this installation.
Astec Fusion does not have a GSM dialler yet.

3 Dollar Bill

Whats the difference between the Signet 220 & HKC? Whats the advantage of putting in a Signet over the HKC?

All of the alarm installers in the Wexford region won't put in anything other than HKC or GE.

How much is the Signet 220 Panel?

KoolKid

Siget 220 is around €200 dearer.
The differences between that & HKC???? Where to start...
It would be better for you to get a company to arrange a demonstration.
+ Wireless
+ more zones
+ More users
+ More Keypads
+ Pace reader keypads
+ Access Control
+ x10 control
Almost limitless automation control of X10 & user outputs by cause & effect.
ie Any status change of any alarm device or output can trigger any out put or any X10 device.
+ Built in secure web server for remote access
+ GSM dialler accepts text commands to the panel
Shall I keep going...........
HKC Securewatch is technologhy which is over 10 years old.
Even compared to the basic Signet 100 or Astec fusion it still falls far behind.
I cant think of 1 plus HKC would have over these systems.

major bill

hkc is user friendly and more reliable. signet is likely to cause you more problems.

Tim M-U

The problem with a GSM dialler is that you will pay more for GSM diallers and you will need to topup the sim every few months (on meteor you must topup every 5 months atleast).

Tim M-U

koolkid wrote: »

Siget 220 is around €200 dearer.
The differences between that & HKC???? Where to start...
It would be better for you to get a company to arrange a demonstration.
+ Wireless
+ more zones
+ More users
+ More Keypads
+ Pace reader keypads
+ Access Control
+ x10 control
Almost limitless automation control of X10 & user outputs by cause & effect.
ie Any status change of any alarm device or output can trigger any out put or any X10 device.
+ Built in secure web server for remote access
+ GSM dialler accepts text commands to the panel
Shall I keep going...........
HKC Securewatch is technologhy which is over 10 years old.
Even compared to the basic Signet 100 or Astec fusion it still falls far behind.
I cant think of 1 plus HKC would have over these systems.

customers are intersted in the price now adays!

i hate the look of SigNet

2011

The problem with a GSM dialler is that you will pay more for GSM diallers

To buy them initially? Yes, but this is a once off payment that considerably improves the security of you alarm system.

and you will need to topup the sim every few months

Why?
I know people that only top up by €5 per year.

i hate the look of SigNet

The HKC keypad is no work of art either!

TBH I like the HKC myself, it is a good reliable system.

But as far as I am concerned Koolkid makes a far more convincing arguement for the Signet.

I think that some alarm and electrical companies find something that works and are very reluctant to ever change. Sometimes this is because they are afraid that a newer product might not work or they are too lazy to learn how to use something else or they have lots of the old product in stock! None of these reasons benifit the consumer.

IMHO with a new installation it is good to move with the times.

To answer the OP's question, the price seems to be over the top.

Tim M-U

Why? I know people that only top up by €5 per year.

The mobile operators like meteor have a policy that the sim will not work it not topuped every 5/6 months, the minimum topup is €5 and that twice a year is €10.

this is a once off payment that considerably improves the security of you alarm system

What happens when the mobile operator is down or the burglar has a GSM jammer and the telephone/landline can be cut outside the property?

KoolKid

Tim M-U wrote: »

The problem with a GSM dialler is that you will pay more for GSM diallers and you will need to topup the sim every few months (on meteor you must topup every 5 months atleast).

Yes a GSM dialler is more expensive. But it has more features & is more secure form of monitoring

major bill wrote: »

hkc is user friendly and more reliable. signet is likely to cause you more problems.

A keyswitch is user friendly. I wonder why we dont use those any more.
Can you elaborate on the problems you refer to.?
I have had none.

Tim M-U wrote: »

customers are intersted in the price now adays!

Funny that the SigNet 200ip is our best selling panel ???????????
In my experience people are more interested in their security these days.

If you want cheap then the SigNet 100 works out the same as HKC & still has more features.

major bill

very seldom worked on them so wouldnt have seen it meself but have heard of other lads that installed them in sites that the software tends to act strange.europlex gear in general can be like that.

Tim M-U

good point! but they dont want to spend a fortune!

2011

The mobile operators like meteor have a policy that the sim will not work it not topuped every 5/6 months, the minimum topup is €5 and that twice a year is €10.

With O2 you must top up or make "chargable use" of your account once every 6 months. See link:

http://www.o2online.ie/wps/wcm/connect/O2/About+O2/Terms+and+Conditions/Speak+easy/Speak+easy+service

Anyway, I think that €10 a year represents value for money.

What happens when the mobile operator is down

The intruder would have to know what network your GSM unit was on and when the network would be down and for how long to be able to take advantage of this situation.

or the burglar has a GSM jammer

I have never seen or heard of one of theses devices being used successfully (or unsucessfully) in Ireland. That is not to say it has not happened! The intruder would have to know that you had a GSM module installed in the first place. I agree with you that it is possible to jam the signal with the correct equipment and knowhow, the GSM unit is the solution to everything. My point was that does increase security level considerably compared to a land line for (relatively) small money.

If "GSM jamming" is a genuine concern a radio link is the answer, but this will cost more and as you said:

customers are intersted in the price now adays!

KoolKid

major bill wrote: »

very seldom worked on them so wouldnt have seen it meself but have heard of other lads that installed them in sites that the software tends to act strange.europlex gear in general can be like that.

THB I hear lads who have problems with every panel. I have been out to jobs where the customer has had 2 or 3 different installers tell them ahh there are problems with this panel & that panel. Usually the problem is with the installer.
There is no issues with the SigNet software (1.4) that I have come across.
If there were problems why would I install it. It would only be giving me more work.

Tim M-U wrote: »

but they dont want to spend a fortune!

SigNet or Astec Fusion vs HKC 8/12 there is no difference in price.
But both Fusion & SigNet 100 have more features than HKC.
So why us the oldest technology?????

3 Dollar Bill

Koolkid, you have presuaded me to go with the Signet 220 panel.

Where can I pick this up & how much should I expect to pay for it?

Do Europlex do their own contacts, bellbox, PIR etc?

What sensors would you recommend to use in conjunction with the Signet 220?

How much should I expect to pay for the following?

1 X Signet 220 Control Panel
1 X GSM Modem (9122-009)
2 X Standard Wired keypad (3721)
1 X Internal Sounder
1 X External Bellbox
1 X Decoy Box
10 X Inertia Sensors
1 X Magnetic Contact Front Door
1 X Magnetic Contact Sliding Patio Door

KoolKid

Around €1000 try www.rspl.ie in Druncondra

All sensors & bells are global so go with what ever you like the look of.

3 Dollar Bill

Got a 2nd quote today for a HKC panel to compare against the 1st, quote was pretty similar to the 1st @ €1,800 :eek:

Does anyone know of any companies willing to travel to Gorey to install the Signet 220??

Also, when wiring Dual EOL, What resistors should be used 22K or 4K7? I want to be able to have each window as a zone but the front bedroom windows seem to be looped as are the back.

The patio door also looks to be looped to the kitchen window, is this the norm?

altor

3 Dollar Bill wrote: »

1 X Signet 220 Control Panel
1 X GSM Modem (9122-009)
2 X Standard Wired keypad (3721)
1 X Internal Sounder
1 X External Bellbox
1 X Decoy Box
10 X Inertia Sensors
1 X Magnetic Contact Front Door
1 X Magnetic Contact Sliding Patio Door

Hi 3 dollar bill,
Just a few things missing from your quote if you want them on separate zones.
you will need a zone expander so you can do this as the signet is only a 8 zone panel. Each sensor will then be on its own zone so you will know what window activates when you get a text from the panel.
Your sliding door is missing a shock sensor, it needs a shock to detect someone trying to cut, or take out the glass which is commonly done on sliding doors glazed from the outside, it will also pick up on someone trying to force open the door. The contact is needed to to detect the opening of the door.

I noticed from your first list of components that you have left the pirs off the list.

If you are going to be using the house as a holiday home then i would advise you to install them as you need a internal pir in the house to know someone is in rather than a false alarm going off and you not knowing if someone is in the house or if it is just a false alarm. hope you get what i mean

The resistors signet use are 2k2. Most houses are cabled with the windows looped but any good alarm installer can get around this.

KoolKid

we have no problem installing in Gorey .
Pm me your contact number if you want us to look at this for you..

3 Dollar Bill

altor wrote: »

Hi 3 dollar bill,
Just a few things missing from your quote if you want them on separate zones.
you will need a zone expander so you can do this as the signet is only a 8 zone panel. Each sensor will then be on its own zone so you will know what window activates when you get a text from the panel.
Your sliding door is missing a shock sensor, it needs a shock to detect someone trying to cut, or take out the glass which is commonly done on sliding doors glazed from the outside, it will also pick up on someone trying to force open the door. The contact is needed to to detect the opening of the door.

I noticed from your first list of components that you have left the pirs off the list.

If you are going to be using the house as a holiday home then i would advise you to install them as you need a internal pir in the house to know someone is in rather than a false alarm going off and you not knowing if someone is in the house or if it is just a false alarm. hope you get what i mean

The resistors signet use are 2k2. Most houses are cabled with the windows looped but any good alarm installer can get around this.

Thanks for the info Altor, I forgot to include the PIR's on the list, there will be 3 in total, Sitting Room, Kitchen & Landing.

koolkid wrote: »

we have no problem installing in Gorey .
Pm me your contact number if you want us to look at this for you..

Thanks Koolkid, I'll send you a PM now shortly.