Wireless Alarm Systems
Advantages and Disadvantages.
Advantages:
- No wires
- Minimal Mess
- Fast installation
- Easy future expansion
- Remote control from your keyring
- Many extra detector features (see below)
Disadvantages:
- Regular battery replacement (usually 2-yearly)
- Only Grade 2 security available (fine for most houses)
A mixed system is also common, combining the advantages of both wired and wireless intruder alarm sensors and detectors.
External Sounders
Wired, or wireless?
We recommend that external sounders, are not wireless. These only require one wire. They can be permanently lit at night (with a very low energy lamp).
This indicates to potential intruders a "live" - and very modern system, professionally installed by a company (rather than being from a DIY store). They will prefer to go somewhere else.
It also means you don't need a ladder to change the batteries regularly!
Sensor Types
Movement or door opening?
On a wired alarm, a movement sensor is often easier than a door/window sensor.
However, this makes no difference on wireless alarms.
Many movement sensors are incorrectly installed nearer to the middle of the house (looking directly at a window) rather than across it.
Movement sensors only sense people walking across their view, not so much towards them. So it is better to have them looking across a window or door, rather than directly at it.
This also reduces any risk of draughts affecting the sensor and causing false alarms, which should not happen with a properly installed system.
A door/window sensor detects an intruder before he has entered the building and caused more damage, this is called "perimeter detection", and has the added advantage of warning you if you've left a door or window open when you leave the building.
You can see in these pictures how un-obtrusive detectors can be.
You can also see the battery within one of them as an example. The terminals at the bottom of that picture are for adding a local extra sensor to add extra zones without running cables back to the panel.
These can be "shock" sensors too, so that anyone hitting the door or window frame will cause the alarm to activate well before they've evn tried to open it!
Smartphone App
Allows access to your security from anywhere in the world
- Notifications of an alarm (multiple phones, requires internet data)
- Remotely Set/Unset/Reset (if you forgot or just want to check!)
- Live indications of movement within the building
- Full history, per second, of all incidents in the system
(check what happened, who set or unset the alarm, etc.) - Very low cost (as of 2025, £36 per year including VAT, first year FREE).
Special alarms
Car Defender (tilt/vibration)
(Notified by your app or main house alarm, also for bikes inside a garage)
Garden gate sensor
(notifications if someone enters your garden)
Smoke / heat alarms
(smoke detector with added notifications to your app)
Water Leaks
(early notification of sump pump failure, basement flooding, to minimise damage).
Valuable assets
(can be hidden out of sight inside the asset or made visible as a deterrent)
The CarDefender is an innovative solution to vehicle crime.
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