Thread: The DSC PC1565 alarm system. Good or Bad??

Pretty standard system. You can always add an RF reciever for wireless door/window reeds and keyfobs.

You can get pet immune detectors for any system, you should be able to ask the builder to get the system requoted with them.

There are many GSM modules on the market that will convert CID to TXT. But the question you need to ask yourself would be, "is SMS self monitoring sufficient for the largest ASSET in my life?".

Monitored alarm systems can save you up to 10-20% off your home insurance, nothing really when the most you will fork out for monitoring is $300 per annum.

Everyone will have their own views on alarm panels, much as they do cars or computers.

However it's difficult to answer your question based on gear alone.

The best equipment badly designed and installed, is not as good as crappy equipment well configured and implemented. I hope that makes sense. It's also confusing because big panel manufacturers often make a variety of systems, some great, some awful, in order to compete with products being sold to consumers who do not recognise the difference between a $200 alarm and a $2000 one.

In general though, I'd be more concerned with sensor positioning, system design etc. than merely the gear they put in. Especially if you are only going to use it for arming when you are away. Depends on your lifestyle and risk assessment.

In my experience though, home builders are often not especially cluey about security and tend to put in a system simply so they can say they did it. In many cases they also miss a one-off opportunity to integrate systems, e.g. alarm, air conditioning, lighting etc. which is cheap early, expensive late.

For example, a few months ago, we pulled a $300 alarm system out of a $5 Million dollar Eastern Suburbs apartment. By coincidence, it was a DSC...

Apropos dialling your mobile, it's a really really bad idea if you actually care about what's in your home (including loved ones).

Alarm goes off. You're in the cinema. Then what?

Meanwhile, everyone who received an SMS at 4am the other day saying "Happy New Year" via a congested network, will hopefully appreciate that SMS isn't a good strategy either.

Its a bit like asking what car is the best. Depends who you talk to & what you are expecting. My preferred panel are-

1st - Bosch
2nd - NX
3rd - DSC , MCM , Ademco , Ness
4th - The rest which I try my hardest to stay away from

While they all do the job expected of them , from a technical point of view , some do it better than others. You can stick a GSM unit on any of them but you are probably looking at another $800 - $1000 + access & call costs. PET sensors can be retrofitted to any system & they don't have to be the same brand (unless they are w/less). They wont put window/door reeds on because it may involve someone actually doing some hard work.
**** Make sure you get the programming code****
If you don't you can expect the system to be defaulted & reprogrammed from scratch on the first maintenance call & guess who'll be paying.

Originally Posted by intelliGEORGE

Pretty standard system. You can always add an RF reciever for wireless door/window reeds and keyfobs.

.

Keeping in mind that it is only a seven zone panel (8 with a second codepad) if reeds are required I'd be opting for a bigger panel

@ Watchdog, you're right, for some reason I had PC1864 in my head. Maybe because I install about 4 a day.

Thanks Guys,

There certainly lots more to think about than I expected! I'm looking forward to spending more money on the budget!

I like the idea of the integrated system although again, it might be out of budget.

I'm glad its not a crappy system though. I expected worse from the builder. I will have to work out with them about the sensor placement down the track and maybe post the proposed layout for comment by the experts on this forum.

Cheers, Adrian

Do yourself a favour Adrian, get structured cabling in the home during the build. This should be the technology foundation of any new build. You may not want TV, DATA or Audio distribution at the moment, however when the time comes, it will be 1/10th the price of retrofitting (but make sure it's CAT6). 2010 will showcase a world of new products built on the IP platform such as HD 1080p multi zone A/V distribution, same with sound and CCTV.

There are even coffee machines that are networkable nowdays, nothing like having your home automatically brewing you a coffee every morning.

Originally Posted by intelliGEORGE

There are even coffee machines that are networkable nowdays, nothing like having your home automatically brewing you a coffee every morning.

I love when home appliances and whitegoods are networked. For example, the Internet Fridge.

Now, instead of replacing your fridge every 15 years, you can replace it every 12 months.

Progress!

If it were me, building a new house.
I would have every window and door wired with reed switches, we call this a full perimeter system, and is suited to owners with animals, the perimeter system can be used in conjunction with pet friendly detectors.

Ensure the builders cable each window or room separately as this can save on service in the future.

Recently a friend built a house, they have 2 labradors. We wired all the windows and doors, and set the system for a "partial" mode at night. The dogs can roam freely, with all the windows and doors armed securely, any windows in bedrooms have 2 magnets so there is an "open" alarmed position.

The DSC panel and Encore detectors are a typical builder system.

Remember, the house is a frame, you can cable REALLY easily.
Also, have the damn thing monitored professionally mobiles are a joke, if you dont have a PSTN home line, a GSM can be installed for alarm traffic



.

Originally Posted by keef82

If it were me, building a new house.
I would have every window and door wired with reed switches, we call this a full perimeter system, and is suited to owners with animals, the perimeter system can be used in conjunction with pet friendly detectors.

Ensure the builders cable each window or room separately as this can save on service in the future.
.

I must agree keef82 a lot of burglary are done of a night time there was a quite a run in one of our cities awhile ago crimms worked people didnt arm house at night while they were sleeping so crims had a field day

Reed seem to be left out of quotes when I first started a reed was installed on the front and back door at least but now with some installers just quoting PIRs adding reeds adds cost to the quote so you miss out even though you explain to the owner the better protection they still look at the bottom line

even getting customers interested in Partial arm or using it seems to be a problem

! would wire every door windows as keef82 suggested or instal in every room my three in one yet to be developed and sold 360degree ceiling PIR , with inbuilt glass break & smoke detectors reporting on individual zones

Originally Posted by Tastech

my three in one yet to be developed and sold 360degree ceiling PIR , with inbuilt glass break & smoke detectors reporting on individual zones

I thought we designed one already Tas ...

Yes George but with the Mr Aisa crisis , the American Bank Crisis , The vote for world peace

cant get an dame money from investors to got to manufacture

and the Global Warming stuck its ugly head up SSSSSHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

China needs something to do with it's money , they're too scared to give it to the Americans any more. Do a GWD (Global warming detector) financed with Chinese money. A sure winner. Rudd will probably buy them all & give one to every house.

[I was watching a doco the other night apparently in washington there is a building to do with treasury and every morning or few days the americans let the chinese know how many billon they need to keep the US of A goig then theses chinese finance corporations bid to supply the money and the yanks get some more dollars, We cant feed the tousands dying every day , we cant supply medical needs even to our own aussies and the biggest nation meant to be in the world has to borrow play money from the chinese why worry about global warming i think we are f****** already

are you sure its a PC1565 alarm system with PC5508Z led keypad ?

that alarm/keypad models have been obsolete for years now, and have been replaced with the pc1616 with lcd keypad,....

Zademan, whilst I have no idea about the installer in question, there's a locksmith around my area, who must have a secret underground warehouse somewhere, loaded with Honeywell and C&K panels which haven't been sold for years. The funny thing is, he's unscrupulous and extremely precious about his installer codes, yet most techs simply smile and pull his crap off the wall rather than try to reprogram it. Brrr....

So nothing would surprise me...