has anyone bought an alarm from trademe

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tr2e

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#29379 5-Jan-2009 15:39

i am going on holiday soon, and am thinking to install a wireless alarm before i go. find some good deal alarm on trademe, just wonderring did anyone buy that from trademe or not, are they good or not, is trademe good place to buy or not, is it easy to install by myself or not.
cheers

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
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#187548 5-Jan-2009 15:42

Going by your post, i'd say you probably only understand enough to install a basic unit, which is not going to do much other than annoy an intruder after they have broken in.

I would suggest talking to a local monitoring company about an alarm.

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Samn0001

13 posts

Geek

#187867 6-Jan-2009 20:19

I did see a couple of deals of Trademe, cost approx about $400 and I beleive they charge about $75 for installation.

sbiddle

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#187886 6-Jan-2009 21:35

Samn0001: I did see a couple of deals of Trademe, cost approx about $400 and I beleive they charge about $75 for installation.

I highly doubt you'll get anybody doing a decent alarm install for $75. To instrall a decent cabled alarm in an average house is ~4 hours minimum and easy to get a couple of people take all day in a bigger house.

Dafecat

12 posts

Geek

#187891 6-Jan-2009 21:57

Hi there, I'm a Security Technician of 9 years and well versed with numerous alarm brands. Yes, you will save some money by purchasing off trademe but you must buy a quality alarm brand.

You have mentioned wireless, you should definately be considering a good brand if you are going wireless, because wireless can potentially give you alot more grief and annoying false alarms than the wired panels. However, If setup correctly - they are fine.

DSC - An excellent choice, Canadian and a world leading panel. I noted this auction on trademe: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Security-locks-alarms/Alarms/Home-alarm-systems/auction-195757310.htm

DSC wireless have a fantastic wireless developed solution. The above panel utilises the 433MHz freq and these detectors offer excellent false alarm immunity from RF Interference and also have excellent temperature compensation circuitry. The detectors are also very intelligent in conserving battery life, they send an RF signal to the receiver upon detection but then shut down for approx 2 minutes to conserve battery life, in the meantime the alarm has been raised so they've done their job.
The 433MHZ offers excellent range and through wall signal tranmission. Be wary not to have metal objects (Incl mirrors/water cylinders) installed directly between the detectors and the receiver though, or you will have problems.

This panel is reasonably simple to setup, quality panels usually are. The cheap brands are normally the hardest to get working and the hardest to make sense of.
I would happily recommend this auction, I believe the keypad would also be the Wireless receiver in this setup.
You can also seperately purchase extra wireless alarm zone devices (Wireless PIR's, Wireless Reedswitches, Wireless Smoke Detectors) if you require, just contact your nearest Intek security supplier. This panel supports 32 Wireless zones and also comes with 6 on board hardwired zones, expandable to 16. 48 User codes available.

The panel alone retails in NZ at $414. http://www.intek.co.nz/product4.aspx?ProductID=3828

The PIR's are approx &80 each. and the wireless fobs are at least $60 each.
All in all, I estimate this setup to cost retail $800.

Wholesale this would be $650-$700 to an install company.
How this guy is selling this at $400 buy now/brand new is beyond me.

An excellent buy - Go for it if you think you can cope with installing a relatively simple alarm panel.

If you need help, just ask. I can assist. The only difficult part is setting up the wireless device RF zone registration. The Manual does explain it pretty clearly though.

Be sure that the seller provides you with BOTH the User & Installer Manuals!
BTW, What region are you in?

Paradox is also a very good option but nothing is easier to program than a DSC. (Although Micron is close but don't offer the Wireless technology that DSC or Paradox offer) Bosch is good too.

tr2e

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#188100 7-Jan-2009 21:09

Dafecat:
Hi there, I'm a Security Technician of 9 years and well versed with numerous alarm brands. Yes, you will save some money by purchasing off trademe but you must buy a quality alarm brand.

You have mentioned wireless, you should definately be considering a good brand if you are going wireless, because wireless can potentially give you alot more grief and annoying false alarms than the wired panels. However, If setup correctly - they are fine.

DSC - An excellent choice, Canadian and a world leading panel. I noted this auction on trademe: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Security-locks-alarms/Alarms/Home-alarm-systems/auction-195757310.htm

DSC wireless have a fantastic wireless developed solution. The above panel utilises the 433MHz freq and these detectors offer excellent false alarm immunity from RF Interference and also have excellent temperature compensation circuitry. The detectors are also very intelligent in conserving battery life, they send an RF signal to the receiver upon detection but then shut down for approx 2 minutes to conserve battery life, in the meantime the alarm has been raised so they've done their job.
The 433MHZ offers excellent range and through wall signal tranmission. Be wary not to have metal objects (Incl mirrors/water cylinders) installed directly between the detectors and the receiver though, or you will have problems.

This panel is reasonably simple to setup, quality panels usually are. The cheap brands are normally the hardest to get working and the hardest to make sense of.
I would happily recommend this auction, I believe the keypad would also be the Wireless receiver in this setup.
You can also seperately purchase extra wireless alarm zone devices (Wireless PIR's, Wireless Reedswitches, Wireless Smoke Detectors) if you require, just contact your nearest Intek security supplier. This panel supports 32 Wireless zones and also comes with 6 on board hardwired zones, expandable to 16. 48 User codes available.

The panel alone retails in NZ at $414. http://www.intek.co.nz/product4.aspx?ProductID=3828

The PIR's are approx &80 each. and the wireless fobs are at least $60 each.
All in all, I estimate this setup to cost retail $800.

Wholesale this would be $650-$700 to an install company.
How this guy is selling this at $400 buy now/brand new is beyond me.

An excellent buy - Go for it if you think you can cope with installing a relatively simple alarm panel.

If you need help, just ask. I can assist. The only difficult part is setting up the wireless device RF zone registration. The Manual does explain it pretty clearly though.

Be sure that the seller provides you with BOTH the User & Installer Manuals!
BTW, What region are you in?

Paradox is also a very good option but nothing is easier to program than a DSC. (Although Micron is close but don't offer the Wireless technology that DSC or Paradox offer) Bosch is good too.

hi dear, thank you very much for your reply, its so helpful.
this is the one we interested in of trademe, can you have a look http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=195462498, it costs 459 includes installation and 2yr wty. do you think is this good choice or not.we have looked DSC you recommend as well, they are cool, just wonderring is that one easy to install or not, bcos my husband is def not a "set up" guy, so just a bit worried.
cheers.

alexx

867 posts

Ultimate Geek

#188117 7-Jan-2009 22:18

Dafecat:
The above panel utilises the 433MHz freq and these detectors offer excellent false alarm immunity from RF Interference and also have excellent temperature compensation circuitry. The detectors are also very intelligent in conserving battery life, they send an RF signal to the receiver upon detection but then shut down for approx 2 minutes to conserve battery life, in the meantime the alarm has been raised so they've done their job.
The 433MHZ offers excellent range and through wall signal tranmission.

Doesn't 433MHz fall in the middle of an amature radio band?
Is interference between these systems and amature radio ever a problem?

Dafecat

12 posts

Geek

#188263 8-Jan-2009 18:12

alexx:

Doesn't 433MHz fall in the middle of an amature radio band?
Is interference between these systems and amature radio ever a problem?

No problem at all. The DSC communication is digital and will be unaffected by UHF analogue transmissions.

Dafecat

12 posts

Geek

#188266 8-Jan-2009 18:34

tr2e:
hi dear, thank you very much for your reply, its so helpful.
this is the one we interested in of trademe, can you have a look http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=195462498, it costs 459 includes installation and 2yr wty. do you think is this good choice or not.we have looked DSC you recommend as well, they are cool, just wonderring is that one easy to install or not, bcos my husband is def not a "set up" guy, so just a bit worried.
cheers.

Hi again,

Sure seems to be alot of devices for your money. With that, comes alot of possibilities for things to go wrong.
As this is not a well known panel and doesn't have detailed information on the technical specifications, It's really anybodies guess as to how reliable and user friendly this will be.

Again, Dealing with wireless devices, you really do need to get something that is truely well designed and proven, not that simply claims to be. Going wireless can introduce a phenomenal amount of problems. It could be as simple as you finding out that there is no battery life saving feature that will result in battery changes every 3-4 weeks, I've seen that before.
If this product is made in China, what frequency does it transmit on? Is your neighbours wireless handset on the same freq? Will your keypad beep with a trouble condition everytime your neighbour uses the phone?
If this panel has not had it's telephone communicator telecom approved, you could find line voltage troubles there too.
How user friendly might it be? Is the user manual in Chinglish?
Sure it may say NZ company, but at that sale price, I very highly doubt it is NZ manufactured. More like imported and rebranded.

I would not recommend this purchase to anybody I know. I would recommend only proven quality products.

If you were buying a car, I would say to buy the Toyota rather than the brand new manufacturers car. The Toyota has millions in money into R&D refinement, customer satisfaction and has spent the last 25 years improving their product from every aspect, including reliability.

You really should be considering this auction: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Security-locks-alarms/Alarms/Home-alarm-systems/auction-195757310.htm
Let your husband have a go at installing, the manuals are very good for explaining how to do it. You can go by the pictures/diagrams alone. You will then at least have what I regard to be the world's most reliable/dependable domestic panel sitting in your home.

Dafecat

12 posts

Geek

#188275 8-Jan-2009 19:00

tr2e:
hi dear, thank you very much for your reply, its so helpful.
this is the one we interested in of trademe, can you have a look http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=195462498, it costs 459 includes installation and 2yr wty. do you think is this good choice or not.we have looked DSC you recommend as well, they are cool, just wonderring is that one easy to install or not, bcos my husband is def not a "set up" guy, so just a bit worried.
cheers.

Just a word of warning with this auction.

In the guys comments he states that his PIR's will transmit upto 1000m.
Well let me inform you that if this is not a typo, It's a blatent lie.
The worlds best PIR's - Optex, will only give you around 80m in an unobstructed line of sight (Open environment) situation. (For a similar sized, similar current drawing PIR).
I've setup wireless PIR's that lose all signal strength at 20 metres when passing through one external wall. (Wall even being Non metal constructed or studded)
The only way 1000m would be remotely possible would be if this was an analogue VHF device, which I'm sure it is not.
I've setup dedicated microwave transmitter devices which are highly directlional and drawing approx 2 amps from 12VDC and the maximum range across water (1500m). These were also analogue transmission. This guys AA batteries won't be putting out the power required for a 1000m transmission.

This guy selling the gear above is taking something.

gomez

84 posts

Master Geek

#189122 13-Jan-2009 07:02

I can happily say, listen to Dafecat. The brands he speaks of, DSC and Paradox are the better brands anyone can get. I primarily deal with Paradox gear, but have also done work on Bosch, DSC, and IR Concept. And very much like the Paradox gear.
Also, there is one thing that was missed. If a price for a security system seems so ridiculously low and unbelievable, there is bound to be a monitoring contract behind it. Usually 3 years minimum, for about $1+GST per day.

Also, make sure whoever is going to install it has current credentials. Check their reputation, and ask for ID before letting them in the house.

kiwitrc

4123 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#189146 13-Jan-2009 09:53

Agree with Dafecat and Gomez, I have Paradox at home which I installed myself 15 or so years ago, and have never had a problem, and DSC at work for less time but still without a single problem.