If you intend to add a dialler then forget wireless altogether - it will cost you a fortune if false call out charges, they may even cut your head off. What's wrong with a good old length of MT?

Thanks guys, that looks to be about what I want. Cheers.........

Yes still happy. Still not had a false alarm. My only comment is that it's a pretty complex system and it takes awhile to find your way around the installation manual. I reckon I don't use 99% of the settings/features.

The bit I found most hard to follow was to do with configuring sensors to allow an access corridor during the entry/exit delay. If I remember correctly I just ignored it and it wasn't a problem. If I arm my system while in the house I have 30 seconds to leave. I think the system allows you to limit where you can go during the exit delay but the explanation in the manual was poor.

We're still on the first set of batteries in the PIR sensors so no worries about those needing frequent replacement. So far only had to replace one battery in a key fob.

The radio range of the keyfob is "sufficient" rather than great but I think that's mostly because I have foil covered insulation in the cavity walls.

I currently have our system set up to call me when there is any change in status including arming and disarming but will soon be reducing that to Alarm calls only. The notification calls only last a few seconds but BT round them up to the nearest min so it soon adds up on the bill if you come and go all day.

I believe the system is the same as the one BT sell but I don't think you can get BT to monitor it if you install it yourself.

Visonic have an add on availavble in the USA that allows you to see the inside of your house on a web enabled phone (I think). Last I heard that wasn't yet available in the UK but that may have changed.

It may help to know there is a programable output pin on the back of the control box. This can be configured to be active under your choice of events. With the right driver relay it could be used for all sorts of things such as controlling an electronic goor lock. I thought it would be neat to connect it to an LED somewhere that flashes once when the alarm status changes. That way I can tell the control box has recieved the signal from the key fob - a bit like the LED on the front of a TV that lights up when you press the TV remote.  That would allow you to arm the system from somewhere where you can't hear the control panel exit pips.

I recently discovered they make flood sensors so might get one or two to put under the dishwasher/washing machine.

I've not tried x10 with the Visonic but just on it's own. I found x10 pretty unreliable.

They are too clever!
Mine phones me when me the alarm goes off (normally when I walk back into the house without disarming the alarm  ).
Which button do you press to acknowledge the alarm when it phones you?

Thanks for that, I think it is just the one call on ours. Hopefully next year I will be able to go through the settings again and fine tune it, it was installed in a hurry when were doing up the house.

I have installed over 200 Yale telecommunicating alarms and problems are non existent. Battery life is panning out at around 18 months for PIR sensors. They do use standard AAA batteries rather than duracell or other high power cells. The manual suggests not to use Duracells etc. I don't know why allthough people who have tried to have informed me that they don't work. i suspect its just down to the electrode shape.
You can get Lithium AAA now so getting 5yrs out of a pir should be easily possible. I might trial some.

Its probably the other way around. The Visonic will have the 866Mhz system which is a frequency set aside for alarms whereas the Yale works at 433Mhz and competes for airspace with car fobs , door chimes and others.

The Visonic will probably have a greater than 30m range allthough I have tested the Yale to 125m in open field tests.

However its frequency has yet to have created a problem in any installs I have done and Guarantee.
The Yale in my opinion (Having had both) does have better finished plastics and controls.