Smart Intruder Alarms

Get an iot sim, dirt cheap and nit locked to any network, so unless all 3 networks go down, you should always have a connection

What's an IoT SIM? I know the letters meaning but is there a difference from a normal SIM?

It's not a case of a network going down, it's just really problematic getting signal here.

Thankfully the hub can be placed up high in the house rather than where the old alarm controller is so I might have some chance.

The internet is solid enough here though. Only had a few days outage in years.

Cheers again! I'd prefer not to have to top up by X amount every month to keep the SIM active though.

That'll do me!

Thanks so much. I'm not objecting to the money as such. It's just having to remember topping up at set intervals. And I know you could set a reminder or schedule a top up but with something like a security system you'd want to take as much human intervention out of the mix as possible.

I'm a big fan of the Swiss cheese model of accidents. I've seen it too often in real life where multiple things just had to line up perfectly and boom!

Thanks for your time. It's appreciated.

Lyca mobile it is. Their website kept failing on checkout. Down to Dealz for a SIM it was. €1.50 if it doesn't work.

Good stuff, mine is ticked, as is “ignore network registration error”… mine also says unknown number but it makes no difference!. Glad you got sorted

It’s very good to be fair, but kinda like Apple stuff - once it’s set up you don’t really mess with it cause it just works

Hi All

Im still reading backwards, but it looks like Ajax is a winner here so im going to research. As a rough guide, how much would this system cost me (as i said i need to research it exactly). Average 3 bed semi, just a rough cost.

Second question, is there a good time to buy? Is anywhere known for summer sales, black Friday sales etc?

Thanks in advance

Just wanted to share recent experience on this.

I priced up an Ajax system on the usual sites, and then looked at homesecure. They do install for €49 and then €30 a month monitoring. But you can cancel your contract after a year and pay them 400 to keep the equipment.

They installed approx 900-1000 euro worth of equipment (keypad, hub, sensors etc), so if I break the contract I'll pay 800 for the year of monitoring plus the equipment, plus a year of monitoring, plus professional installation.

Am I missing something here? Because it seems like this is a better deal than self monitoring and installation.

Hub 2 Plus, keypad, 4 DoorProtect, 2 DoorProtect Plus, 2 MotionProtect and an indoor siren.

I asked about the admin code when I buy the hardware and they said that they provide it on request.

I'll update here if there are any, but I'm struggling to see the downsides. I can't admin it now, and add pieces or hook it into the home assistant one way integration, but that's not a big deal. The app seems pretty decent to use for a year.

One piece that was mentioned is that the contract break notice is three months, so that's something to watch out for.

Just to reply to my own question, the Hub 2 Plus would work fine on Wifi/Cellular alone without the need for a wired ethernet connection, but the ethernet is more reliable, so it just wasn't worth the trouble of positioning it where the old Phonewatch box was located. Supply into the old Phonewatch control panel was standard domestic supply, so would have been easy to use it to power the Ajax hub. Got the hub, siren, keypad plus, and sensors all mounted and wired up in a couple of hours. Very nice and straightforward piece of kit. Great that it works over longer distances, as it made it simple to add sensors in the shed at the back of the garden.

Anyone have/use the curtain sensors? Just wondering how pet-proof they are?

What video cameras are you using with Ajax?

Arlo have end of lifed all of my cameras, so I need to find something new... Preference for subscription free and wireless connection... Any recommendations?

To help me what Lycamobile plan. Any plans I see need a top up after 30 days.

If someone can recommend a World Sim I'd consider that as well

Thanks

Did you go ahead with this, interesting to hear if it works out?

One additional point on the above. If you're going with Home Secure, go through exactly what kinds of windows you have in advance. How many openings etc. I ended up with an extra 2 euro on my monitoring monthly charge because the installer needed to add a device. I'm sure I could have had that waived if I'd noticed in advance.