Right mix of hardwire vs wireless
#1
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Right mix of hardwire vs wireless
Looking at a new system. Currently there is no existing wiring. I may have it the alarm professionally installed, but I like to know what I am talking about. This is my first post. I did read this forum's FAQ, so I hope to use the correct terms, but .... :-)
The dealer I was talking to started out with a Lynx system. I do have some area that makes sense to be hardwire. So then we started talking about Vista 20p and wireless adapter. Googling this morning, I saw something like 6160RF.
Now that I have a little context, here is the details as I understand it.
SHOP
The shop is detached, so I would like it to be its own partition. So I will need two partitions, one for shop the other for the house.
It is metal so all wire will be exposed, but easy to pull. I have pulled 6 cat6 wires from it to the computer closet. Two of them are for the alarm. That gives me 8 pair for sensors and keypad.
There are two single overhead garage doors and one walk-in entry.
There are 4 open/closeable windows.
House
I may have to post a drawing of rooms, windows, and door if we get into more detail, maybe I can ask my questions with this given information.
There are two doors. Front and one from garage. The garage is one we use most, but the kids have keys and they have to use the front door. My wife and I use it if we are not in our cars that have the garage door remote. So that mean I need two key pad for the house. The front door entryway is pretty complicated. I could see wireless keypad there. The garage door entry is an inside wall, with easy access to the top plate. That would make sense for the wired/wireless keypad. Again if I understand what the 6160RF capabilities are.
Then rest of sensors will either be wireless or wire depending on access to pull wire.
Home Automation
I am using HomeAssistant. I was looking at using AlarmDecoder for the bridge. This means the panel will need to support 4 keypads?
Question:
1. Will the Vista 20p do two partitions?
2. Does the 6160RF act as a bridge for wireless sensors?
3. Any better thoughts?
The dealer I was talking to started out with a Lynx system. I do have some area that makes sense to be hardwire. So then we started talking about Vista 20p and wireless adapter. Googling this morning, I saw something like 6160RF.
Now that I have a little context, here is the details as I understand it.
SHOP
The shop is detached, so I would like it to be its own partition. So I will need two partitions, one for shop the other for the house.
It is metal so all wire will be exposed, but easy to pull. I have pulled 6 cat6 wires from it to the computer closet. Two of them are for the alarm. That gives me 8 pair for sensors and keypad.
There are two single overhead garage doors and one walk-in entry.
There are 4 open/closeable windows.
House
I may have to post a drawing of rooms, windows, and door if we get into more detail, maybe I can ask my questions with this given information.
There are two doors. Front and one from garage. The garage is one we use most, but the kids have keys and they have to use the front door. My wife and I use it if we are not in our cars that have the garage door remote. So that mean I need two key pad for the house. The front door entryway is pretty complicated. I could see wireless keypad there. The garage door entry is an inside wall, with easy access to the top plate. That would make sense for the wired/wireless keypad. Again if I understand what the 6160RF capabilities are.
Then rest of sensors will either be wireless or wire depending on access to pull wire.
Home Automation
I am using HomeAssistant. I was looking at using AlarmDecoder for the bridge. This means the panel will need to support 4 keypads?
Question:
1. Will the Vista 20p do two partitions?
2. Does the 6160RF act as a bridge for wireless sensors?
3. Any better thoughts?
#2
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Using the CAT data wire for security is not recommended (it's a little light gauge) but it will work. The way I would handle the shed is to put a keypad and a hardwire zone expander out there (only needs 4 active conductors) to handle your openings in that area.
The front door keypad doesn't need to be directly in that area if it will make placement easier. Even a 30 second delay on the entry, one can cover a fair travel distance without needing to rush.
The 6160 RF has a pretty good receiver in it. Unless the house is unusually large, or has a lot of metal in it, any transmitters will be in range.
The V20p will do two partitions.
The front door keypad doesn't need to be directly in that area if it will make placement easier. Even a 30 second delay on the entry, one can cover a fair travel distance without needing to rush.
The 6160 RF has a pretty good receiver in it. Unless the house is unusually large, or has a lot of metal in it, any transmitters will be in range.
The V20p will do two partitions.
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Does it take up a keypad address?
But ....
You know it would not be too bad and the front door would not be used most of the time. That would save a few bucks.
Any thoughts on protecting the windows in the shop? Glass break?
#4
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A common practice with using CAT cable for this is to just double up the conductors, that will solve the voltage drop issue.
Hardwire zone expanders do not use a keypad address. They have their own addressing register.
Damaging the keypad while the system is armed, will, by default, trigger the alarm.
Aside from contacts, a glassbreak is a nice "belt and suspenders" solution.
Hardwire zone expanders do not use a keypad address. They have their own addressing register.
Damaging the keypad while the system is armed, will, by default, trigger the alarm.
Aside from contacts, a glassbreak is a nice "belt and suspenders" solution.
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I doubt that anyone would crawl in a window. They are shoulder high. I think they would be more likely to take a sledgehammer to the door knob. That is my way in and out, so I can't put a bar behind it. Except for the height the back window would make the most concealed access, just not real convient.
The old joke, I don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than you. I guess security is the same, I can't keep you out, I just need to make it harder than the next guy.
Any good options/suggestions on purchasing the panel, keypads, sensors, CORRECT wire :-), and etc... ?