Wired vs Wireless Alarm Systems - Which Is Your Best Bet?
Protecting your home or business is one of the most important things that you can do. Making sure your property is safe and secure both during the day and at night means that you can rest assured that you’re doing as much as you can to stay protected.
There are a number of security systems out there to choose from but one of the main questions that we get most often is whether or not you should choose a wireless alarm system or a wired alarm system to protect your home or business.
The simple answer is, it depends on what you’re willing to do to install the burglar alarm system and how permanent do you want it to be. However, there are a number of different things to consider, especially with the variety of options you have to choose from.
How do wireless alarm systems work?
Wireless burglar alarm systems ‘do what they say on the tin’. They use wireless networks like your WiFi and radio frequencies to transmit data and protect your home. This means that you don’t need to worry about pulling cable through your walls or making structural changes to your property.
Wireless alarm systems are able to do everything a wired alarm system can do and require less effort and mess to install and set up.
The devices within your alarm system will be connected via WiFi which means window sensors, PIRs, door sensors and anything else that you’ve set up will stay connected to your system and work in the event of an emergency.
Some wireless alarm systems, depending on the brand and model you purchase, can also utilise mobile networks which means that in the event of WiFi failure, your alarm system is still operational.
How do wired alarm systems work?
Wired burglar alarm systems are a more analogue way of protecting your home. Wired alarm systems are hardwired into your building and transmit data using those wires. This means that you’ll need to plan out where the cables should go and how best to install the devices to fit within the cable lengths.
Most people choose a wired alarm system if they’re renovating their home or office but in most warehouses and factories, there are dedicated cable trays running around the building that the installing electrician can use.
For the most part, the devices used within your wired alarm system are also hardwired. This means that window and door sensors, PIRs and other devices are usually connected via a wire.
What to consider when choosing
Initial cost
The cost of your alarm system is often a big part of the decision-making process. Protecting your home or commercial property is an important part of not only keeping everyone safe but also securing your belongings.
While it’s understandable to not want to break the bank and spend extortionate amounts of money on burglar and intruder alarm systems, you also don’t want to get the cheapest possible option.
If you go too cheap you run the risk of a poor quality system that might not work as well as you’d like it to.
Wireless alarm kits and a variety of devices (motion sensors, PIRs, door contacts etc) tend to be more expensive than wired alarm systems. Purchase cost is a big part of knowing which type of system to go for. However, you should also consider installation costs.
Running costs
Running costs of alarm systems tend to be rather low, especially if you’ve opted for a wired system. Wired systems run on your mains power and don’t draw a lot from it to operate which is ideal. However, you will need to replace the backup battering in your control panel and external siren.
Wireless alarms tend to require a little more maintenance. You‘ll need to replace the batteries in your devices regularly and the intervals will depend on the system and what the manufacturer suggests.
Install
Installation of your alarm system will also be a big factor in your decision. The installation of a wireless alarm system is much easier and won’t cost as much as a wired alarm system if you’re hiring an electrician.
Because you don’t need to chase out walls for your wires with a wireless system you tend to have these installed a lot faster than your wired systems. However, if you want to use a wired system but don’t want to deal with the mess of a concealed installation, you can always opt for trunking. This is a container for your alarm cables that will run on the wall rather than inside it.
Aesthetics
Most of the time people are trying to make their homes and offices look nice, clean and stylish. Sometimes an alarm system can counteract that but there are a number of low-impact, stylish models out there that often feel in keeping with the sleek finish.
Wireless systems tend to look a little nicer than wired ones. This is because there aren’t any cables trailing around the space or being clipped and pined around door frames or skirting boards. Similarly, trunking can be a bit of an eye soar, especially in a home.
Reliability
Above all else reliability is probably the biggest factor and most important part of choosing the type of burglar and intruder alarm system for your home or business.
Most people are happy to spend a little more when it means that they get the peace of mind that their alarm system has been reviewed well and doesn’t have any issues.
False alarms
False alarms can create panic or confusion for no reason. While they’re annoying, they do happen occasionally.
Many years ago wireless alarm systems were known for false alarms. With technology moving on wireless systems have become much more reliable and have much fewer false alarms than they used to.
Wired systems usually have fewer false alarms because a wired connection tends to be more reliable.
System security
There used to be an argument that wireless alarm systems aren’t as secure as wired ones. It makes sense as years ago people were so concerned about hackers and didn’t really understand what it all meant. Some were also concerned about RF jammers that would stop signals from getting out however wireless alarm systems are now built to BS EN 50131 specifications which means that they have anit-jamming capabilities as well as anti-masking tech that can detect when a sensor has been intentionally blocked.
On the other hand wired alarm systems also have minor vulnerabilities. If the cables are accidentally snipped or cut your system won’t work as intended. Similarly, if a pet managed to chew through the cable, or a pest like a mouse in the loft bites through it that could be problematic. The good thing is that more often than not, wired alarms will notify and alert you to this problem via a tamper circuit.
Both wireless and wired alarm systems have their pros and cons when it comes to system security but both offer a great level of protection and it’s better to have one and not need it than need one and not have it!
Adaptability
Adaptability refers to how easy it is to add or remove devices within your system. For example, if you’d like to add more door contacts to your alarm system, or a few more motion sensors. You may even want to move the devices to a new location or remove them temporarily for decorating. Depending on the type of system you have will determine how easy it is.
Adding devices
Let's say that you’ve built an extension, added a conservatory, or you just want to add another contact to the back door. In that scenario, it’s going to be much easier to do with a wireless system. As long as you manage to sync the device to the system all you’ll need to do is mount the device wherever it needs to go.
If you’d like to add devices to a wired alarm system you’ll find it a bit harder to do. If you don’t have the necessary wiring available to add another device it could mean whole new runs of cable to get this device added. What‘s more, if you’d like to add a device in a faraway location for example the end of the garden or in a courtyard, you’ll need to dig a channel for armoured cable or conduit.
Removing devices
If you’d like to remove devices from your wired alarm system, you might be okay but there is a big risk of it going wrong. Removing hard-wired devices like sensors or door contacts means that you need to rewire them which creates the chance of reconnecting them incorrectly, disabling zones in your system or, in the very worst case, blowing a fuse in the control panel.
Portability
When investing in an alarm system you don’t tend to think about whether or not you’ll be able to take it with you when you move. Whether you’re choosing a burglar alarm for your home or business, it’s something that you might want to think about.
Wireless alarm systems are a lot easier to take with you. You’re able to remove the alarm panel, bell box and all of the associated devices quite easily, box them up and take them with you.
Wired systems are going to be harder. While you can disconnect all of your devices and control panel to take with you, you’d have to rewire the system into the new property. There are not that many companies out there that would be willing to do just that.
So should you buy a wireless or wired burglar alarm system?
Well, if you have a commercial unit, warehouse, office or building that you’d like to protect with an industrial purpose, you’re probably better off investing in a hardwired/hybrid option. Some alarm systems allow you to have both hardwired and wireless devices connected to them. They’re becoming quite popular because they offer adaptability and reliability which is the best of both worlds.
However, if you’re investing in an alarm system for your house, a wireless option is more likely to suit you better. Unless you’re buying a new build house that is yet to be finished and you’re able to stipulate your request for a complete burglar alarm kit that’s wired, a wireless system might be best. With an easier, cheaper installation and the ability to take it with you when you move house, you’re likely to get more out of it.
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