Wireless burglar alarm - how easy to use?

Panda78

Hi all,

I'm having a wireless alarm fitted (probably Visonic), but i'm wondering how easy it is to use the key fob? Do you simply press the unlock button before putting your key in the door and then set your control pad to 'home' once you are inside?

How does it work when you just want to open the front door for a few mins, to put rubbish out etc, do you need to change the setting again?

I know this will be explained on installation, but just trying to get my head around it all, as i will need to inform family members too.

Thanks for any advice.

societys_child

It's all dependent on the make and model.

Would think that pressing the button disarms the system and you can enter at your leisure, pressing the button again (or a separate button) will re-arm the system.

They're normally supplied with a very comprehensive instruction booklet

You wouldn't normally have the alarm fully set if you were "at home" as you'd set it off every time you moved?

On mine I can set the alarm to "bing-bong" if an outer door is opened, but don't normally bother as it gets annoying . . .

Johnandabby

I have Visonic - press unlock button before opening front door or just afterwards, as it beeps a few times before going off. We only use the 'home' mode at night time, which for our system only sets the ground floor live and keeps the first floor deactivated - spares the blushes if you have to pop to the loo in the night!

We don't have the alarm set during the day when we're at home. It does have the ability to beep when an external door is opened - we had this initially set for the garage door, but soon turned this off as it got really annoying! Just locked the door instead, and it's alarmed at night time and when we're out.

My wife's nan has the same system, and it tells her when the front and rear doors are opened - drives me crazy, but she feels safe with it on.

Panda78

Great, thank you both, feel more comfortable having the Visonic installed now.

moneysaver129

An alternative - cheaper but just as good. This is how I did it. May 2014 - Installed the Response SL1 (SL2 has keypad and I did not want fussy keypad) SL1 has a fob controller with just 4 buttons so no messing with remembering numbers. Do not believe all the doom and gloom from companies selling mains powered fitted and monitored alarms saying wireless are not reliable or hard to fit. This one is easy and reliable. After looking at the guide and dvd - takes about a half day to fit - but easy. Comes with siren, key fob, one room PIR sensor and 2 door sensors so suitable for a small/med sized home. All batteries included. Works off solar but is robust. Rechargeable Battery (for siren) last 5 years for (solar panel on siren recharges it). Smaller ord. batteries for the sensors min 1 year. Additional PIR or door sensors are available and cheap. Easy set up. Just put battery in siren whilst off the wall, link sensors by pressing key fob once, and the button in each sensor three times and it is all done. Put siren on wall - which is easy - good instructions on DVD. Cost £79 and with 1 extra key fob (controller), 1 extra PIR room sensor and 1 extra door sensor - a very reasonable total of £150 including VAT and del. It's nearest decent rival - Powermax cost circa £300 or £500 fitted - so the response SL1 is a bargain but still good. I was told by the supplier that Age UK have fitted many of these units - so looks like they are tried and tested. The SL2 and 3 have extras like keypads but obviously you will need a mains source to power that. You do not need to be a DIY genius or super technical to fit. Great for first timer. Recommended.