New Alarm System Help Required

[Majere]

Hi,

I am currently researching putting a new alarm system in my apartment. It is pre-wired (since about 2004 when it was built) but has had no alarm system installed since. After talking to some people with alarms, it appears a good few have the Astecs, and after searching the internet I found this site, so figured it was as good as any to ask a question or two!

The specs of my apartment would include one front door and two patio doors. Also, there are approx 11 windows that can open. As I'm a ground floor apartment, I would obviously need to get everything covered.

1) Are Astec the best type of alarm to get?
2) From a home insurance point of view, the alarm needs to have a certain certification to allow a further discount, will all alarms have this?
3) How reliable is the "monitored" alarm (e.g eircom) versus the direct call from the alarm system itself?

I'm sure I have a few more questions, but if anyone can help on the above it would be a great start.

Many thanks

[Admin]

Astec are a good system, It would be very hard to say any system is the best. Some are better suited to different applications. Astec are a very good system for apartments
Astec systems do conform to EN 50131 for insurance. Your insurance company may also require a certificate stating this. This cert can be supplied by any licenced installation company.
Monitored alarms are very reliable now as all monitoring stations now use alarm verification technology. With regard to a direct call from an alarm (better known as Voice/Text diallers) , ask your self this, what good is this kind of notification if there is actually a break in in progress or if you need to press a panic button?

Hope this helps
Any further questions, post away

[Majere]

Colm,

Many thanks for the swift reply.

Just to follow up on the Monitored v VD option. Cost wouldn't be a majot factor in my decision, however, as far as I can tell, I would pay a company roughly €25 pm to call the gards if the alarm goes off? As far as I can tell, with teh VD, I get notified about the activation and can call teh gards myself? correct me if I'm wrong, but that would be my basic understanding of it.

On a side note, I contacted eircom for a rough quote, tehy pretty much were the guts of €1000 for installation and the monthly monitoring fee. Is this the kind of price I'm looking at for them all?

Also, when I do decide to get one installed, is it as simple as calling up the company involved (eircom, astec etc) and getting them to send out an engineer?

Thanks again for your time,

M

[Admin]

Monitoring wise the Guards will only respond to verified alarm calls from a certified monitoring station.
€25 PM would also cover a maintenance contract.
€1000 is a bit steep for a wired apartment. €600- €700 should do it.
Most company's can price a kob like this over the phone & arrange installation.
Astec are a brand of alarm, they are not installers.
Hope this helps.

[Majere]

Colm,

Again thanks for the input, you have restored my faith in the internet being useful!

Yeah, €600-€700 was the price range I was hoping to pay for the installation, I'm going to call a few more companies to get some more quotes.

Just to follow up on your comments about the Guards: With VD, I get a call saying alarm is gone off, I call the Guards, but they'll only go out to my property if there's a call from a certified monitoring station?

[Admin]

Colm,
Just to follow up on your comments about the Guards: With VD, I get a call saying alarm is gone off, I call the Guards, but they'll only go out to my property if there's a call from a certified monitoring station?

Or if there is a keyholder present

[Majere]

Ahhh, so if I have VD and call the Guards to come out, I need a keyholder present (as of course they're not kicking in the door) for them to come out and look around.

[Admin]

Thats it more or less. Also be aware you can not set your dialler to ring the local Police station. (Some have tried :))

[Majere]

Colm,

Again, many thanks for the replies. I have one last question: Can you recommend some people/companies for the installation?

Thanks,

M

[Admin]

Ofcourse. What is your location?

[Majere]

Sandyford (Dublin 18 ), close to the new Dundrum Town Centre

[Admin]

I sent you a message with a couple of names & numbers