Alarm System Advice for Newbie

[bob2611]

I was hoping for some help with choosing an alarm system and CCTV system. I am quite good at DIY so I am trying to fit myself as I have just moved in to my first house and all the costs that go with that. We had an attempted break in a few days ago and we are now worried about security.I am looking at wireless for the alarm system, but will consider wired as any POE camera I install will need cabling anyway. So I kinda feel I will have to run wires anyway. It's a standard semi detached house with a garden and alleyway. 

 

What are we looking for from an alarm system ?

PIR and door contacts
Zoning for areas
A key fob option
Something easy to use. Most of these systems use codes and weird programme sequences.
An mobile app where we can program it, set it on\off and see which PIR\contact went off and it's not cryptic\hard to use
Ideally connected to Google home. Our Nest thermostat knows when we are not in the house due to the location on our phones and works accordingly. I was hoping for something similar. i.e. something that some intelligence and can turn on when we are not there in case we forget. 

 

CCTV: Ideally going for dahua or hikvision IP cams and would like it to integrate in to the alarm so we can everything from the same app (not important though).

 

I would appreciate it if anyone can let me know if I have missed any feature or can recommend a system. I am grateful for any help anyone can offer in this minefield.

[sixwheeledbeast]

Forget all that keyfob and Google Home rubbish, have yourself some quotes for a decent wired alarm fitted properly.

You could potentially wire it yourself to keep cost down if you approve this with the installer first.

Consider the deterrent factor of a external sounder with an approved company on.

As for CCTV I personally avoid both Dahua and Hik, very often CCTV is not fit for purpose on many domestics, better to spend more on the intruder and physical security first IMO.

 

[al-yeti]

1 hour ago, bob2611 said:

I was hoping for some help with choosing an alarm system and CCTV system. I am quite good at DIY so I am trying to fit myself as I have just moved in to my first house and all the costs that go with that. We had an attempted break in a few days ago and we are now worried about security.I am looking at wireless for the alarm system, but will consider wired as any POE camera I install will need cabling anyway. So I kinda feel I will have to run wires anyway. It's a standard semi detached house with a garden and alleyway. 

 

What are we looking for from an alarm system ?

PIR and door contacts
Zoning for areas
A key fob option
Something easy to use. Most of these systems use codes and weird programme sequences.
An mobile app where we can program it, set it on\off and see which PIR\contact went off and it's not cryptic\hard to use
Ideally connected to Google home. Our Nest thermostat knows when we are not in the house due to the location on our phones and works accordingly. I was hoping for something similar. i.e. something that some intelligence and can turn on when we are not there in case we forget. 

 

CCTV: Ideally going for dahua or hikvision IP cams and would like it to integrate in to the alarm so we can everything from the same app (not important though).

 

I would appreciate it if anyone can let me know if I have missed any feature or can recommend a system. I am grateful for any help anyone can offer in this minefield.

DIY go for 

 

Hikvision hiwatch 

Hikvision pyronix enforcer 

 

Its decent  DIY gear being installed by proffesionals

[PeterJames]

4 minutes ago, al-yeti said:

 

 

Its decent  DIY gear being installed by proffesionals

1

It depends who you ask. My oppinion would be that most people install it because its easy and cheap in comparison to pro stuff

[al-yeti]

1 minute ago, PeterJames said:

It depends who you ask. My oppinion would be that most people install it because its easy and cheap in comparison to pro stuff

Yeah but I talking about traders lol

 

By the way do you use the hkc GSM/WiFi dual card , is the WiFi part any better than original single WiFi card , as that one drop out a fair bit due to routers

[PeterJames]

Yeah been using it a while now, it drops out still but you can adjust the timer so it reports less dropouts 

[al-yeti]

14 hours ago, PeterJames said:

Yeah been using it a while now, it drops out still but you can adjust the timer so it reports less dropouts 

But I assume the GSM switch over is the advantage yes?

[PeterJames]

of course, but it costs twice as much as Wifi alone or GSM alone and so if you dont need dual path, and the Wifi drops out alot, and you cant be assed to fit a lan card and run a network, just fit GSM on it own 

[james.wilson]

I think the gsm only card has been replaced by the dual path one

[PeterJames]

3 minutes ago, james.wilson said:

I think the gsm only card has been replaced by the dual path one

But you can use it as GSM only though and only pay for gsm