Wireless "Security"

programmergeek

Active Member
I have been doing some higher end installs and more and more people are asking for wireless, sometime I use one in a hard to reach area if necessory but I try to avoid it. I have a guy pressing me for a compleat wireless solution, he thinks the install will be faster and cleaner, this is not a big system (hate when the wife gets involved ^_^

Anyhow how is the "Security" on them. What happens if someone comes in with a wireless jammer, is it even possible. They jam the wireless it throughs a trouble they wate for the cops, do this 3-4 times alarm gets turned off or put into test mode police stop comming thinking the alarm is buggy and then they jam and break in.
 
I would simply explain to the customer how hardwire is always best for security and why. If he insists on the wireless then give the customer what he wants. Just make sure he understand he'll have to watch for low batteries, change them (granted probably not for 5 years or so) and there is the possibility a transmission does not get thru for any number of reasons. But the GE/ITI stuff is pretty reliable for wireless.
 
Personally I use the NX-650 and have not had any incidents at all. I have heard of people having having trouble with the internally mounted units.
 
They are supervised so the system will report if one becomes unresponsive and it will also alert for low battery. For some sensors thought that means complete replacement.
 
I have to agree with Steve, having installed GE/ITI wireless for about 10 years now, there's simply nothing better. If you want to use a hi-end system like an HAI Omni, you can get the GE/ITI wireless receiver for Omni. Also, GE has independent wireless receivers with a relay output that will allow you to use GE wireless on any hardwire panel.

As others have mentioned, most wireless systems have supervisory/trouble signals so that if the battery does go low, the panel will notify you (you could even send a trouble alarm to the monitoring company and view it in your log - service call!)

You don't necessarily have to use a "wireless system" to use wireless contacts. Besides, you'll still want to wire as much as you can just save some money.

I typically use a hybrid system like the GE Concord line.

Good luck!

Brandon
 
If you are looking for security against pros, go with hardwire. For basic residential use the GE/ITI stuff is well regarded. However, due to the low power of the transmitters, a determined thief CAN jam the signal quite easily. The result is not likely to be a false alarm, but a transmitter that can't signal a break-in. Yes, eventually the panel will figure out that the transmitter is AWOL, but this doesn't always, and probably shouldn't, trigger an alarm(think about case if the battery died while armed).
 
If you are looking for security against pros, go with hardwire.
Isn't that an oxymoron? :P There is no defense against a determined pro, you just slow them down.

Hmm, well, I don't really believe that, it just gets expensive. If you have redundant communication and well concealed and layered sensors than it is very likely the data will make it to the central station. Of course someone can always take out the meter and wait for the batt to die, trigger a bunch of false alarms until the system cries wolf, put a cattle prod to the keypad to zap the CPU, etc. But if all you want is a short distress call to be sent, it can be made pretty foolproof, how to interpret that info is another story.

I think the best way to do wireless is to use it for only 1 layer, have a second layer of defence that is hardwired.
 
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