Hi,

Im moving into my first Australian home very soon and want to install an alarm. The house is already built and is approx 5 years old.

I really dont know where to start!

Im in Perth, can anyone recommend a company? Do you recommend monitoring? Can you have an SMS sent via a landline if the alarm goes off rather then paying for monitoring?

Any general hints and tips would be much appreicated.

Thanks

Jenk

I also don't know how.

bump

Firstly, Not really sure of companies in Perth, so sorry can't really help you there. The best advice I can give you is to stay away from cheap alarm systems eg. the ds DIY variety.

As for alarm monitoring it is really up to you, obviously there is an ongoing cost but it is also a higher and more reliable form of security.

Each alarm panel has different options and extra's available, for example the DAS reliance has an addon called comnav, where you can monitor your alarm system from your smart phone. You can turn it on and off via the phone, it can send you an sms when you alarm goes off.

Most panels have the option where the alarm panel can ring you when your alarm goes off. It puts through a siren tone over the phone which you then *kiss off* the only down side to this is you dont know whether only one detector has been triggered or whether a bunch of them have. Also if you dont have phone reception you wont get the message straight away.

As for alarm monitoring the downside is the on going cost, budget for about $1.00 a day that is the standard price. The company I work for has certain deals where you can get your monitoring for as low as $4.00 a week. So definitely shop around if you are after monitoring.
The upside to monitoring is the control room can tell you what zones have been triggered, so you have more of a chance of knowing whether you have been broken into or not. The control room also has a list of recalls who they can call if the alarm goes off. So for example if you are away working and dont have mobile reception they can call someone else off the recall list, so there will always be someone available.

They are also able to send patrols to check out your premises.

Now for alarm panels there are hundreds of alarm systems out there, and it can be very confusing.

What ever you do dont sign any contracts, and beware of *free* alarm systems, as they are never free. What they do is sign you up on a contract where you pay a higher price for the monitoring so say monitoring is usually $7.00 per week you are paying $15.00 per week on a 2 year contract so after that 2 years is up you have paid off your *free* alarm system. But the company doesn't tell you this so you keep paying the higher price.

Hopefully this makes some sense, if you have any questions or arent sure of something feel free to PM me.

Jarryd

I suggest a "local" system that also has the ability to be self monitored (Ness), movement sensors to main area's, should be able to have one installed for around $1200 also plus 1 to what Tubby said