sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Security, Alarms and Paging help with new alarm

i have a new home complete all my walls are masonary concrete block it's 4 bedroom 1 kitchen living, dining and family room and 2 bathroom, 4 external door 11 windows any reccomendation on a system for that size house and which is better wire and wireless

I would suggest that you contact a security professional. Even if you do manage to install something yourself you won't be able to get central station monitoring.

-Hal

With concrete walls I would say you are limited to wireless equipment. You could use surface molding if you want hardwired but it is pretty expensive and it doesn't look all that great to me when you run it long distances.

Wireless or hardwired, there will be some cables involved such as power to the system, keypads, sirens, and the telephone line if the system is going to be monitored.

I think Bobby preaty much covered it. Without knowing the layout of your home it is hard to make any suggestions. If you have attic access you can probably use a mixture of hardwired and wireless. HArdwire ceiling motion detectors and glass break sensors and use wireless contacts on the windows and doors. You will need to wire at the very least a siren, keypad, tranformer, and a phone line if you intend to moniter the system. You can find "bring your own system" monitering on line for a very fair price.

Like Hal said you may want to consult a security professional, the upfront cost of a wireless or hardwired system can get preaty pricey rather quickly. Most companies offer you a basic system cheep as long as you sign a monitering contract.

Wireless will cost a little more and wired is always better, block walls can be fished sometimes windows are not a problem you don’t want to bug them anyway you should use motion detectors instead. If you do go wireless remember you will need to change a lot of batteries about every five years.

why would you not want to bug the windows? Remember this is a residence...motion detectors are great...once someone is in the home. The idea is to keep them out, motions also offer no protection when you are home and moving around. I like to wire all windows, at least the ground floors. back that up with glass break sensors and then finally motions. Is it a bit redundant...yes. But in my opinion it is well worth the extra investment.

For a business I agree, wire the doors, add glass break and motion an you are done.

I beg to differ. Granted, this may be specific to WA state (southeast of Seattle), but... When I installed our alarm system here at the house, I did the entire thing myself from core wiring to installing the peripherals to programming the system.

I had no problem setting up with a local company for central station monitoring. All they wanted to do was send a tech over (at no charge to me, since I was signing up with them) to verify that my programming was correct.

DIY alarms (and access control systems) are not only possible, but very practical just as long as you know what you're doing. Read the docs with the equipment, and don't be afraid to call for tech help. In my case, DSC and Hirsch have both been amazingly helpful.

Happy tweaking.

I believe the reason most central monitoring stations don't bother with DIY installed systems is because they can't determine if it has been installed properly. They can either be prone to false alarms or leave them open to liability if the system doesn't alert them properly. We all know the crap work that is the norm for the typical DIY who hasn't a clue and is motivated by saving a buck.

Central stations normally get their customers through deals with security installation companies. Most states require that they be licensed, bonded and insured and insurance can be quite expensive because of exposure to lawsuits stemming from the systems not working properly. So professional installers are going to do their best to avoid problems and the central station knows it. The company installs a system then signs the customer up for monitoring. In return the installer gets a monthly commission from the central station.

A customer doesn't have to stay with that central station and can choose another if one is available. In that case the modem in the system will have to be reprogrammed to call and communicate with the new central station and a tech doing that will have a chance to at least look at the installation in the process.

So, either things are different in Washington State or you did a professional job. Anybody else considering installing a system themselves shouldn't count on the same break.

-Hal