Solarguard Security Systems

[sra]

Anyone fitted one of these (the wireless versions) ? Do they work and are they any good ? Thanks.

SRA

[BigWallop]

The professional trade don't like wireless systems due to the increase in radio use by the general public and commercial users. We used to fit the Scantronic systems until we found out that taxi cabs, AA, RAC, Police and Water Board Vehicles Etc. could set them into false alarm if they used their radio within a hundred yards of the system.

I would recommend fitting a hard wired intruder detection system for your own peace of mind. You'll also save money replacing batteries every six months.

[Alan]

I fitted the yale wireless autodialer alarm about 2 years ago, and I've not had a single false alarm yet, and I'm about 2 miles from an airport, so plenty of RF around.... Batteries seem to last well over a year in the sensors, and the bellbox ones are still the original and going strong. Just use decent duracell or similar. No hassle running wires everywhere and everything fitted in an afternoon. Garage at end of garden also covered.

Alan.

[froggers]

I used to distribute Response Wireless alarm systems and have had two different systems over the years. These are three zone systems, panic and smoke detectors, outbuildings and full system on types of zone.

I am a radio amateur and run 100 watts on all HF bands, 51 MHz and 145 Mhz, using both horizontal and vertical aerials for HF bands, and beams and collinear for 51 Mhz and 144 Mhz. (These increase the effective radiated power (ERP) to 2000 watts on 144 Mhz). I also run up to

50 watts into a 9dB collinear on 433 Mhz which gives an ERP of 400 Watts just about exactly on the frequency these units work at.

In some 15 years I have never had a false alarm from radio transmissions.

The only false alarms I have had is when someone enters a protected zone and a PIR detects them (hardly a "false alarm") and once when lightning struck a near neighbour's house, (just about demolishing it!) and several alarms around us went off as well (no doubt many wired ones).

I no longer distribute Response (or any alarms) but have no worries about radio transmissions affecting them, and have no connections with them.

I am sure the group would welcome any other wireless alarm users' comments - not just any adverse comments. If this was a widespread problem I am sure that the manufacturers would have given up with them. Of course the wired systems are cheaper to buy and they take lots of lovely hours to install for the installers, so it perhaps not un-natural for them to feather their own nests by putting them down. How do they explain the fact that wired systems are more immune to RF when they have tens of metres of aerial connected to the control box catching all sorts of radio transmissions and hash ?

Nick

[547]

Hello,

Well with that ERP on 70cm have you not thought of desensing? Very easy for someone to block the panel making it useless providing they take the TX timer off a handheld or have a mate sitting in a car with a bit more power. You might not get any false alarms, but it might not work either - have a go.

[froggers]

Interesting point - not tried as I would be here (with alarm off) if using the gear / transmitting, but ran it up on full power and walked round the house arming and disarming - seems to be unaffected by it - which slightly surprises me. must have a better RX in it than I would have thought !

Nick