Wireless CCTV and Intruder Alarms

Stoner · 23-07-2003 2:11pm #1

http://www.diyhomealarm.com/

Not bad prices for this stuff, the wireless CCTV camera has a good spec some nightvision and sound only €200, based in Ireland too, got a camera myself easy to set up, did not bother with the PC based one though so i cant comment on it.

Dotsie~tmp · 23-07-2003 8:59pm

The prices reflect the quality of the equipment. These cameras have basically no nightvision past twilight except at 0 to 2m range. Im not even sure installing an IR lamp would help. The housing will most likely steam up in certain weather conditions without fans or heaters and the poor resolution means you wont be able to make out things that you thought you would.

For residential daytime and very close range these are good cameras at decent prices but remember that these thing need installing and if you dont want a tangle of wires visible everywhere you had better know what you are doing. Just making sure people dont buy these thing and not get what they expected.

A good high resolotion colour camera that switches to black and white at night with good night vision and a high quality housing + power supply will cost about €400 + VAT and no installation, just for comparisson purposes.

About the wireless alarms there. The cheap ones can be bypassed using jamming devices and are often bulky. The dearest only come with 2 PIRs and 1 door contact. I installed an alarm today with 12 shock sensors on each window PIR in hall 2 door contacts, smoke detector, panics, strobe, keypad. About 17 sensors or so making what i consider the basic system. The control panel also has an extremely limited set of functions compared to my basic house alarm.

Buy all the extra sensors needed (say 6) for the full wirefree system plus sounders(1), strobes(1), remote keypad(1), panic button (2) and the cost will soon up to €700 euro plus! and still wont be as good as the basic system above which will cost less, plus the labour to do the complete install ! (say €650 + VAT). Plus remember all those batteries for each sensor will cost a pretty penny and must be replaced, total cost of that wirefree alarm is say €850. Now dont forget you still have to INSTALL IT YOURSELF or pay someone €300 to do it. Now its €1150 while an equivelant system thats far superior in every way except the wires (which a good guy like myself

will hide nicely) cost you just 700 to €750 or so incl. VAT. Dont be fooled, this is an inferior product.

Stoner · 24-07-2003 5:47pm

The CCTV camera is wireless and good value for what it does, up to a point the wireless intruder alarm is also good value for a fast installation, you can get a dialer set up so it calls your phone etc just like eircoms (wireless) system that can also be blocked, the alarms would not be up to IS standard and would not qualify for better insurance deals. I have never used one of these alarms and for a decent system the wired one is far better, I spec and price this stuff all day its what I am qualified to do.
Like I said I think the CCTV camera is good value as it only needs to be pluged in so it wont need the messy installation incorrectly quoted above i.e it does not need a co ax cable back to a recorder.
So I agree with the above , "do not be fooled" be fully informed.

Redshift · 25-07-2003 5:53pm

As Dotsie says those wirelesss alarms on that site are basically crap. I install security systems for a living and I get the impression Dotsie does too and you will get a good quality professially installed system for the same money. Don't be fooled into buying a useless alarm system.

Ryan

Stoner · 25-07-2003 6:31pm

Right lads the cctv cameras are good value, thats all!

you might not like them, and they are threat to the electrical trade, but decent ones cost alot more and require the services of a professional to fit. Not everyone can fit their own, I can also I fit the hardwired stuff, its much better I've worked in the industry all my life and I have seen the industry change.
Regarding the intruder alarms there is a market for people who only have 200 Euro to spend and can't wire thing up and these systems fit that market and this site has good value for this type of product thats all.

However maybe we should destroy the technology and keep the stuff in the trade;)

And wireless systems are being used more and more often, my company has installed a good few wireless fire alarms and received the required L1 certification the IS standards require quaterly maintenance by specialists anyway, so checking batteries is not an issue. So i guess as the technology grows (and improves) it seems that the skill is being built into product and maybe taken out of the hands of man again. Maybe we'll have a wireless revolution lol.
But I do agree for a full system with PIRs , mag contacts and inertia sensors (that dont seem to be available on this site) a hard wired system is the way to go

I'm off on hoildays good luck, my hard wired alarm will protect my house.

Redshift · 25-07-2003 7:13pm

Don't get me wrong there are some very good wireless systems out there which meet with IS199 the intruder alarm standard I have installed wireless systems myself and I would recomend them if they are up to standard. I am just saying the alarms on that site are mickey mouse alarms, thats all. Enjoy your holidays:cool:

Ryan

yankinlk · 27-07-2003 9:18am

i do a lot of work for small/medium business computer systems. I see the end result of the "professional installed" alarms and I have yet to be impressed.

The camera angles are generally too high, the lighting conditions are poor, and the after-care is next to nil. This is a cowboy filled industry that anyone with a ladder and 1000 euro (probably less)can get started.

What annoys me especially is the throw it up, get the money and disappear attitude of this business. Any reputable company should be offering a service or maintenance contract with this. That ensures that they will return phone calls after the check has cleared.

Dotsie~tmp · 02-08-2003 9:58pm

I agree yanklinlk i do mostly electrical work atm and the quality of some alarm installations i find is very poor ( the old clip it under carpets up walls and everywhere else, without that little bit of effort to try and hide your work by lifting some boards or going into attics etc.). Its not cowboys as u think thses seem mostly to me to be some of the bigger players wanting to kick the shít out of a house in one day then leg it.

My advice to prospect customers ask around friends family etc. and see if you can find companies with good word-of-mouth.

Wireless CCTV and Intruder Alarms

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