Question:
I have read with great interest the posting on this website about this subject. Whilst I don't profess to be an expert on Wireless Systems, over the years I have had some experience of them. Know one can doubt that over the years the reliability of wireless equipment has improved immeasurable. My personal view is, is that a security system is a security system and the same level of protection should equally apply to a bank or private house. Furthermore, I feel it is technically unethical to 'sell' a system that can not grow with the needs of the client over many years. It is for this reason that we would only ever specify Class 6. Whilst the small domestic house may want a 'bells only' system now, in the future, they may want to be monitored by an ARC. Strictly speaking, the current NACPs preclude the connection of a Wirefree system to an ARC, even if it is for keyholder only response. I accept that all ARC's do accept wireless systems, but this is a commercial issue and one, which regulatory wise is overlooked. After all, why should a wireless system on keyholder response not be connected to an ARC? Regardless of whether the Police attend or do not attend an alarm activation, for this exercise is immaterial. The benefit of an ARC linked system is that the ARC will continue to attempt to reach keyholders, whereas a speech dialler or the like will not. Remembering that I am the MD of a alarm company, I am fortunate in that I have RedCare. In all honesty I couldn't give two hoops if the Police attended my house upon being passed either an unconfirmed or a confirmed alarm, BUT, if I am out late one night, I want my wife to know that she can push a PA and the Police will arrive - which they will!, or if god forbid I have a Fire, that the ARC will call the brigade. The Tetra radio signals are a huge problem, which will get bigger as Tetra increase the power output of their transmitters. Most, if not all Radio equipment manufacturers have changed over to the new frequency to combat this. Bearing in mind that most commercial alarm co make a hefty mark up on both materials and labour one must not forget that Radio equipment currently costs considerably more that the hard wired equivalent. In a competitive market we could not apply the same margin on radio equipment as we can on hard wired systems. The argument says that, 'Ok, the equipment is more expensive and your margins are tighter but the installation time is less' - I agree, but that only applies if you have an order book of 500 systems awaiting installation. For a normal house, consisting of a TS700, Keypad, SAB, Decoy, 2 x PA, internal Sounder, Battery, Spur, 100m 8 core cable,and 5 PIRs & NACOSS Cert we would allow 12 hours. In twelve house I could probably fit two radio systems, but make more profit on the one hard wired system even though the hard wired system was cheaper. Wire free systems have their place, as do ID Systems with Biscuits etc, but I do not believe that they are suitable for every application.

Answer: These scenarios are very valid but it still comes down to cost. Wireless systems are now so easy to set-up and install that Mr Public can install them himself and save money. It is a fact that labour costs are rising especially when it comes down to employing good engineers (you have to find them first) and the cost of electronics is falling. Of course there will always be those who want someone else to do it for them if they are prepared to pay. Believe it or not it was the internet that drove us into the domestic market shortly after our website went "on air" back in '97 as up until then we specialised 100% on large wireless fire alarm systems and still do. Commercial security projects have crept in over recent years and are handled on the basis that we supply the equipment and commission it (because its hi-tech class 6 radio) and a NACOSS approved company pops down to "give it a blessing" in return we let that company take care of the monitoring and service requirements. We make enough money on the bespoke project and I am not particularly interested in residual income as we don't have the shear numbers to make it worthwhile. Likewise, we are still not NACOSS approved and I am in no rush to do so unless market forces leave us no choice. I do not want the hassle of providing a 24 - 7 service on security because in essence we are a wireless fire alarm company not a traditional security company. As ADT now owns half the planet it is more of a reason not to get too involved. However, getting back to the internet a substantial amount of enquiries came from the domestic market and for a long time we declined to enter in to this market believing that competition is fierce with little money to be made. It seems that this is a "shear numbers game" in monitored systems that are needed to earn a significant residual income to make it worthwhile. To test the water we looked closely at wireless systems (of course!) and until recently class 6 was expensive. However, we did not want to compromise on quality at all but nor did we want to divert our limited resources into wired systems which naturally requires an engineer to install them so quality wireless was and still is the answer. It maybe true that the margins are high on wired installations but that must be superficial. You have to provide the cost of engineers, vans, cars salaries etc and decided whether or not you will remain local or national. With the internet, enquiries are international - you do not have a choice! With domestic wireless systems our overheads are virtually zero. Mr Public installs the system himself or uses the services of a local electrician to help with the mains and bell box, the system is installed easily in an afternoon with virtually no mess, no disruption and no visible wires. This appeals to a lot of people. What makes us different is that we supply systems normally reserved for trade use only and sell them direct to the public but we give them all the support they need. They are happy because I know for a fact that many people do their homework and get quotes for wired systems installed from local companies and then they look at wireless systems and they save quite a bit of cash. We are happy because its income for a relatively small outlay. Because we specialise in radio our trade discounts are good compared to a mainly wired security company only buying a wireless system once in a blue moon. For 2 years now we have accepted credit card payments online and although this is not really the place to comment on our business strategies but the facts are this: Not one system has been returned on a 30 day trial! No chargebacks have ever been made against us, referral rate is very high, we have supplied systems now to over 28 countries worldwide including the Caribbean, Japan and China. Credit card sales are now a significant proportion of our turnover. Just because we have NACOSS regime here the rest of the globe just want quality systems. Apart from the USA that require FCC and UL approvals a lot of countries just require a transformer change to 110v. Your point on TETRA yes we are aware of this and have quite a few Scantronic 500r systems out there but none have been effected yet. A lot of new systems are on 433 Mhz as you say. PS Just in case you want to find us. http://www.smoke-alarms-uk.com http://www.intruder-alarms-uk.com http://www.wirefree-alarms.com http://www.wireless-system.co.uk http://www.commercial-alarms.com http://www.wireless-alarms.com http://www.wireless-fire.com http://www.diy-alarms.com http://www.diy-home-security.com http://www.wireless-alarms.co.uk http://www.ttsfire.co.uk