Home Alarm System recommendations please

[Nic-nfr74]

We have a Visonic system that is on its way out - false alarms and the old SIM card for calling is now not calling!!!

Anyway - we think its time for an upgrade

Engineer has recommended a Ajax system - waiting for his quote.

Looking at recommendations from you knowledgeable lot please

Thanks

[Belle427]

Texecom are pretty good, put one in my fathers garage around a year ago. Was a bit of a pita to programme but you tube helped.
Visonic are good too to be fair, installed a wireless one some years ago and that again was a pain to programme but has been very reliable.

[Andeh1]

How easy are they to DIY? I'm well versed with networking and home servers etc.

[lemonslap]

I would recommend Ajax, mines been fault free for the past 4 years and they keep adding products to their range including leak detection which I aim on installing this year.

[ade73]

Nic-nfr74 said:

We have a Visonic system that is on its way out - false alarms and the old SIM card for calling is now not calling!!!

Anyway - we think its time for an upgrade

Engineer has recommended a Ajax system - waiting for his quote.

Looking at recommendations from you knowledgeable lot please

Thanks

Is the sim card number still active? On our Visonic We were told to periodically send/receive a text to it to keep it that way (we do every 3 months) as for false alarms it could just be a failing sensor, if its the same one each time (ours was the garage door contact) just replace it. They're not much.

Edited by ade73 on Sunday 1st February 20:06

[AyBee]

I went with Texecom 5 years ago largely because it was old and well-known vs. the newer competitors. They've just changed the app and it's horrendous. Rumours are that they're switching to something else - can't happen quickly enough though.

I'd pick a few installers to get quotes - they'll recommend what they like fitting (support of the system once installed was important for me), you'll get a good idea of pricing and they'll likely all recommend a different array of sensors, etc, so you can pick the solution you think works best for you.

[Sir Bagalot]

lemonslap said:

I would recommend Ajax, mines been fault free for the past 4 years and they keep adding products to their range including leak detection which I aim on installing this year.

But how the hell do you buy one? Seem to be trade only?

Looking at this at the moment as well.

What's wrong with a Ring System?

[OldGermanHeaps]

All the good ones are supposed to be trade only.
Some of a reseller will sell you one against their agreement with the manufacturer though.
Previously I would have said pyronix is the best budget, then texecom for premium, but ajax is fantastic now, for domestic that is what I would go with.

[Nic-nfr74]

any opinions of the Ring home alarm system?

costed up the Ajax and it seems to be £1500 plus fitting.

Where as the Ring system in around £400 and I fit which seems simple and I already have and pay for the subscription as I have two cameras already

[Russet Grange]

Get a dag.

[Audis5b9]

Another AJAX happy customer here. Installed 5 months ago, faultless so far.

Beware of RING, will need annual subscription to be useful.

If you are staying in the house long term, I would go for AJAX.

[S1975]

Russet Grange said:

Get a dag.

...a Ridgeback no less

I bought a Cocker Spaniel and Texecom.
Used to use the app a lot but I haven't logged on in a while - from what i've just read I might have to give that a miss haha.
It used to be flawless.

Whole thing went nuts last year as all the batteries started running out - door sensors and PIR's.
That said, they lasted a good 5 years. Bought a job lot on amazon (Duracell) and had them all fitted within the hour.

The bell is hard wired. The dog only barks at foxes and people.

[Sir Bagalot]

Nic-nfr74 said:

costed up the Ajax and it seems to be £1500 plus fitting.

Where as the Ring system in around £400 and I fit which seems simple and I already have and pay for the subscription as I have two cameras already

£1,500 for Ajax for supply only? What units are you buying for that?

Audis5b9 said:

Beware of RING, will need annual subscription to be useful.

We have a subscription for RING anyway as we have their doorbell and three cameras

Lots of people saying Ajax, but no one saying why!

I still haven't heard anyone give reasons for not going down the RING route

[Sir Bagalot]

Also, the Ajax Hub. Power wise, is it adapter powered, or hard wired?

[dave7108]

Is this the same Ajax that's on Amazon for £600. I have a texecom but cut through some wires some time ago and we have since redecorated so want a wireless system now.

Also is the system laggy? I once had a Yale wireless alarm and the control pad was slow and felt cheap. I liked the texecom system as it was instant and responsive. Can you hard wire the keypad on the Ajax system?

Edited by dave7108 on Tuesday 3rd February 01:46

[Belle427]

Visonic wireless worked ok for my father but I did convert the external sounder to mains as I did not want to climb ladders to deal with battery changes.
Internal sensor batteries lasted around 3 years, were easy to change but you had to make sure the pir sensor covers went back on correctly or it remained in tamper fault.

[Wilco500]

Happy with ADT system. Aside from the box you can see from space works well.

[Griffith4ever]

I've got a Yale wireless system, works well, was cheap, was super easy to move from old to new house. Insurers give a discount for it without even asking which alarm it is! No need for an installer, nor any subscription. Depends on your risk level of course, but mine mine is mainly to keep an eye on outbuildings / barns.

[Nic-nfr74]

Any thoughts on the Ring system?

I think we are learning this way - but just needed some thoughts / feedback before I go for it

Ajax is certainly the top tier for an alarm but I cannot see or find why its 'that' much better than say the ring system

[mattybrown]

Nic-nfr74 said:

Any thoughts on the Ring system?

I think we are learning this way - but just needed some thoughts / feedback before I go for it

Ajax is certainly the top tier for an alarm but I cannot see or find why its 'that' much better than say the ring system

We have a Ring system and it's been excellent, easy to install and maintain. Yes you pay a subscription but it's still cheaper than having to call out an engineer just to service or change batteries in a sensor if not hard wired. We also have glass break sensors from Ring which have been known to go if in the morning if unloading the dishwasher with the alarm set.

When it has been set off accidentally we receive a call as well as an alert on our phone. The outdoor bell box is pretty loud, so far it has been as good as anything I have had installed professionally in the past. I am sure someone will be along to say they are easy to hack etc...