Still think hardwired is better than wireless for most residential jobs

I know everyone in this group loves going wireless now but I'm still doing hardwired on probably 70% of my installs. Changed my mind a bit after a job in Naperville last March where the customer's wifi kept dropping the alarm panel. Maybe it's just me but I'd rather run a few extra wires through the attic than deal with a false alarm call at 2am. Anyone else sticking with old school wiring for certain customers?

2 comments

2 Comments

emery3561mo ago

Gotta say, I'm not totally sold on how big of a deal a 2am false alarm really is compared to the work of running all that extra wire. Most people are gonna sleep through it or just silence the panel and go back to bed. If the wireless is solid and the panel's in a good spot, seems like overkill to bust out the attic gear.

simon_sanchez581mo ago

You mentioned "most people are gonna sleep through it," but that's not really how it plays out in practice. I've seen plenty of folks wake up in a panic, calling 911 or fumbling with the keypad at 2am, especially if the alarm is loud enough to rattle the walls. And silencing it isn't always quick if the panel's in a basement or hallway they have to stumble through half asleep. A hardwired setup avoids that headache because it's more stable and less prone to the interference that causes false alarms in the first place, @emery356. So yeah, running the wire is a pain, but it's one less thing to deal with at 2am.