House Alarm systems

[cokecan]

What did you use to connect it to Home stuff out of interest?

I've got an issue with mine currently, RICS fault or something. Have to get the man out.

I'm using the Texecom2MQTT add-on in HA. That connects to the Texecom SmartCom module over the network and allows me to use the Alarm Control Panel entity. It's got all the useful stuff such arm, disarm, part-arm etc that can be manually triggered or triggered based on automations etc

 

[DRZ]

I have an Ajax alarm system. It does exactly what you would expect a system like this to do, which is to say it has performed absolutely flawlessly. Installation is so trivial you'll probably end up wondering what on earth alarm companies are doing to justify their completely insane installation quotes.

I wouldn't entertain a system from the likes of Ring or Eufy.

 

[UberTiger]

To be fair, some legacy wired systems can get quite complex when you have all the wires going to a central control box, then all the bells need to be wired too. It doesn't help that historically all the keypads have had shockingly bad UIs and everything locked behind engineering codes (some of which you can just google now)

I'm not a professional installer, but I've installed full wireless AJAX systems and I've upgraded the wired bell box on my landlords very old wired system and it's easy to see how complex they can get. Especially when trying trying to mix old and new tech.

The new modern wireless ones like AJAX's entry level consumer ones really do make it a million times easier to install and configure if starting from scratch and you're happy to go completely wireless. They still have their wired Fibra line though for retrofitting older wired systems, or even new systems that are wired that can't rely on wireless, you want more reliable wired, or have commercial wired requirements.

Like yourself though, I would personally probably avoid Ring and Eufy etc. I'm sure Ring is fine, but I don't like the Amazon association and I detest the bright blue bell boxes. Plus after using all their cameras and realising how poor the quality is really compared to proper CCTV systems it makes me question their alarm (even though I realise it's a totally different and new product from the camera company, which they aquired).

My first choice would absolutely be a AJAX, and they now have their own NVRS and proper IP cameras which I haven't had a chance to try yet, but look good. I'm sure eventually Uniif will come out with their own gear, but they're quite far behind at this point and I dread to see the cost, knowing how expensive their cameras are.

 

[UberTiger]

My main gripe with the AJAX is the crappy icons they use for arm, disarm and night mode on their keypads without any text. I'm sure they did it to stay language agnosting, but it's pretty bad, but easy enough to get over given how good the rest of the system is.

 

[Deep]

Also been using a Texecom alarm for close to 10 years now. Self installed and configured. Not had an issues with it at all in that time, just does what it needs to reliably. I opted for the wireless PIR's and door sensors which have been great (they seem to get 2-3 years of battery life depending on how they are used, e.g. entry/exit that never sleeps vs general room PIR's that sleep for short period of time unless the system is armed to preserve battery life). I have used both the ComIP and SmartCom modules to assist in setup/config using WinTex on PC, and also to use their phone app. Currently have it connected to Home Assistant to use it through that too now. I know this isn't Texecom specific, but being able to use keyfobs to arm/disarm is such a game changer lol

I'm sure there are more user friendly systems out there that work as well as the Texecom stuff but I'd certainly consider buying another if I ever found myself in the position to need a new alarm system.

Texecom will always be the first brand I go for.
I've got it in my house and previously we had it in our shop for well over 15 years and it never caused an issue. We then had another in the house they moved into after they sold the shop.

Then when they moved again my dad cheaped out and got some other brand and he's had a few problems in the 3-4 years he's had it installed. He says he should have gotten another Texecom like we had in the shop.

In my house the only thing I made a mistake on is that I should have got those PIRs that allow for pets (or robot vacuums)

 

[secureiam]

There are quirks with every alarm system out there.

Texecom battery life depends on activity and the mode the device is set to, the default values is what is recommended.

So PIRS go to sleep after activation (armed or not) to save battery life, contacts and shocks are always on. Dual Techs wake up the microwave component when the alarm is being set to save on battery life.

Some systems allow all the devices to wake up on set.