Burgal Alarm - Any Recommendations?

[Fuzzy Wuzzy]

Hi All,

My elderly parents' house was burgled recently, they are now looking for an alarm system to deter any other burglars from targetting the house.

They have a man coming round for a quote today, the house is a 3-bed semi.

Are there any fitters on PH here? I'd like to get a few quotes and hopefully it would also get somebody on PH a chance to earn a bit of money.

Also, any knowledge to pass on about the type of system they should have installed? Not sure about wireless, but open to suggestions. A relative recommended the type that phones you to alert you when the alarm has been set off, but discouraged us from ADT (didn't get to ask why).

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

FW

ETA: How do I edit a topic title? I noticed the typo (Burgal instead of Burglar) after submitting!

Edited by Fuzzy Wuzzy on Monday 14th December 12:03

[Vee]

We've always used ADT - more expensive but you get what you pay for imo.
If it was my elderly parents I'd want the police/emergency services called in case of problem, not a notification to my mobile which could be anywhere.

[Fuzzy Wuzzy]

Vee said:

We've always used ADT - more expensive but you get what you pay for imo.
If it was my elderly parents I'd want the police/emergency services called in case of problem, not a notification to my mobile which could be anywhere.

How much does subscription to that kind of service cost?

[Munter]

I started this thread a few days ago Fuzzy. Westy pre lit appears to fit them.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Doh forgot the link

Edited by Munter on Monday 14th December 12:06

[Fuzzy Wuzzy]

Munter said:

I started this thread a few days ago Fuzzy. Westy pre lit appears to fit them.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Doh forgot the link

Edited by Munter on Monday 14th December 12:06

Thanks for that Munter, I've had a look.

What did you decide to do in the end?

I also tried to open the document about finding an installer on Westy pre-lit's Website, but it requires a password.

[Munter]

Fuzzy Wuzzy said:

Munter said:

I started this thread a few days ago Fuzzy. Westy pre lit appears to fit them.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Doh forgot the link

Edited by Munter on Monday 14th December 12:06

Thanks for that Munter, I've had a look.

What did you decide to do in the end?

I also tried to open the document about finding an installer on Westy pre-lit's Website, but it requires a password.

I'll get a pro to come quote before deciding. But before that I'll get a pro to knock my back teeth out which might delay proceedings on the cash flow front.

[Vee]

Fuzzy Wuzzy said:

Vee said:

We've always used ADT - more expensive but you get what you pay for imo.
If it was my elderly parents I'd want the police/emergency services called in case of problem, not a notification to my mobile which could be anywhere.

How much does subscription to that kind of service cost?

Can't remebmer exactly but it is less than £30
This includes maintenance so odd issues resolved straight away.

[Goochie]

ADT always get mixed reviews on internet forums. Our house came pre-installed with one of their systems courtesy of the previous owner.

It has been more or less faultless with the only false alarm being due to the sun warming the front door and the position of the door sensor changing as a result - the system thought the door had been opened so it went off.

90% or the wiring is under the floor or suitably hidden - the only ugly bits are where the sensors are fitted onto the PVC window frames and they've stuck plastic trunking onto the frame - but I guess there was no wireless choice when they did it (or the previous owners were just tight)

Ours has integrated fire and carbon-monoxide detectors too.

It costs around £30 per month as said above.

[Westy Pre-Lit]

Fuzzy Wuzzy said:

Munter said:

I started this thread a few days ago Fuzzy. Westy pre lit appears to fit them.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Doh forgot the link

Edited by Munter on Monday 14th December 12:06

Thanks for that Munter, I've had a look.

What did you decide to do in the end?

I also tried to open the document about finding an installer on Westy pre-lit's Website, but it requires a password.

Hi there, sorry but just in the office quickly then out again.

If you 'become a member' first, whack in your email etc and it will give you the passwords ( we may change this later as a few peeps don't want to put in emails etc ). Don't worry we won't contact you.

To down load it you will need adobe 9 first. As said before though it's not finished yet but should be of some help.

Hope that helps for now, must dash.

[Fuzzy Wuzzy]

Thanks Westy Pre-lit, it think I need to upgrade the version of Acrobat I am using, hence the errors.

Regarding the alarm system, had a guy in yesterday who quoted £750 to fit a 8 zone panel, 6 pir sensors, a contact for the front door and 2 vibration sensors for the kitchen and patio doors (this would be on one cable, so either or).

That sound about right?

[Defcon5]

If you are having sensors on all possible enterances into the house, do you really need the PIR as well?

[Gareth79]

Defcon5 said:

If you are having sensors on all possible enterances into the house, do you really need the PIR as well?

Somebody could force a window, unload the contents of a house through it and the alarm wouldn't go off.

[Defcon5]

Gareth79 said:

Defcon5 said:

If you are having sensors on all possible enterances into the house, do you really need the PIR as well?

Somebody could force a window, unload the contents of a house through it and the alarm wouldn't go off.

But the sensor on the window would set it off

[Goochie]

Defcon5 said:

If you are having sensors on all possible enterances into the house, do you really need the PIR as well?

I believe you need the PIR in order to conform to the regulations. Certainally in a commercial property the system needs to be triggered by 2 sensors ( window/door then PIR) before calling the police - so I presume a domestic installation would be similar.

That way it wont call the police if someone shoves the front door too hard when it's locked etc.

[Westy Pre-Lit]

Hi Fuzzy Wuzzy,

Sorry I haven't been able to reply, have just got in from work and got to go back out again in a minute, this time of year is manic for us

Price I would say doesn't sound excessive atm, is that including VAT ?

Do you know what panel they are using etc as this will give a better idea as to what you will be getting ? i.e. is it capable of texting out or being monitored etc.

Will try tomorrow to help you out a bit more when hopefully I will have more time. If you are interested we do cover part's of the London area, but unfortunately due to work load atm we won't be able to do anything until the new year.

[Fuzzy Wuzzy]

Westy Pre-Lit said:

Hi Fuzzy Wuzzy,

Sorry I haven't been able to reply, have just got in from work and got to go back out again in a minute, this time of year is manic for us

Price I would say doesn't sound excessive atm, is that including VAT ?

Do you know what panel they are using etc as this will give a better idea as to what you will be getting ? i.e. is it capable of texting out or being monitored etc.

Will try tomorrow to help you out a bit more when hopefully I will have more time. If you are interested we do cover part's of the London area, but unfortunately due to work load atm we won't be able to do anything until the new year.

Hi Westy Pre-lit,

No problem, I understand, I am in a similar situation at work too!

Yes, the price includes VAT. The panel is a Risco one, it can dial up to 4 numbers if the alarm is triggered, also has a log - is this what you mean by monitored? We'd like it to be able to dial family members when triggered as a minimum, not interested in the type that alerts the authorities, but the guy did say that this panel allows this feature to be enabled later if we change our minds.

The PIRs are the microwave technology type (3 band or something, they have 3 lights on them - green, amber and red).

If there is any other information, I will update the thread as and when I get it.

Appreciate your help and input.

Cheers,

FW

Edited by Fuzzy Wuzzy on Thursday 17th December 09:58

[Westy Pre-Lit]

We don't use the Risco panels so can't really give you any info on it unfortunately. The company are using them as their preferred panels which they are happy with and don't get problems, so i'd say no worries there.

Monitored systems are basically systems that communicate alarm activations to a manned monitoring centre, who will inform a list of designated key-holders of any communicated events. There will be and a yearly fee for this service. But as you say, it be set up to contact 4 key-holders without the need for monitoring, so all good there. This will only cost the price of a text message or phone call so no yearly charges.

The microwave detectors are a lot more stable than normal ones but cost more per unit.

The log is, is a facility so you can see what has been happening with the system, i.e. when it was set or activated etc. Most quality systems have these know-days which is a good thing.

Price also seems about right as well.

Make sure though that you are happy with the proposed cable runs as this is a wired system.

Like I've said before make sure they are approved etc as this will be important for insurance approval.

Hope that helps.

Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Thursday 17th December 21:19

[maser_spyder]

Are you after the type of burglar alarm that, when you're upstairs, you can still hear the burglar crying downstairs? Or the other type?....

[Le Mans Visitor]

Our company installs Risco (Gardtec) panels and the one you mention above sounds like a 595 panel. We have been installing them for years as they seem very reliable.

Where abouts in the country are you?

[Le Mans Visitor]

Fuzzy Wuzzy said:

.....fit a 8 zone panel, 6 pir sensors, a contact for the front door and 2 vibration sensors....

Something doesn't add up here.