FireNet Community
FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Technical Advice => Topic started by: BHCC on March 27, 2008, 12:42:01 PM
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In your opinions, what are the better makes of wireless fire alarm systems?
The site I am loomking at is a large depot with lots of out buildings
Thanks for your help
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Slightly biased but i would advocate EMS as we do a lot of it.
The range is generally better than EDA, therefore less transmission equipment and its more flexible.
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Although limited experience on radio kit outside our own I'd have to say that I find EMS easy enough to set up and configure.
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I recommend EMS kit as i have found it very good on install/commision and the tech support very good.
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given the choice i would hard wire where ever possible.
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given the choice i would hard wire where ever possible.
To be totally honest i would agree....
Radio can get you out of trouble and has its advantages, but its not the first choice.....!
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Would it be possible to give us a few bullet point advantages and disadvantages of radio versus wired systems, based on the current state of technology please?
I am often asked this question and usually my advice is to always go for a wired system unless theres a really good reason not to- for example heritage buildings. But as radio systems become more advanced and lithium battery technology is now up to the job I may be out of date?
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Would it be possible to give us a few bullet point advantages and disadvantages of radio versus wired systems, based on the current state of technology please?
I am often asked this question and usually my advice is to always go for a wired system unless theres a really good reason not to- for example heritage buildings. But as radio systems become more advanced and lithium battery technology is now up to the job I may be out of date?
The obvious advantages are that it is essentially wire free. A six month hardwired install can be carried out in a couple of weeks.
Hotels and similar places... there is no loss of revenue from having to lose rooms while wiring progresses. No redecoration costs etc.
Theatres and such... installs can be easily carried out around matinees and rehearsals etc.
EMS have moved away from Lithium cells to alkaline. The Lithiums went through a real bad period a few years ago when the supplier changed. I think EDA still suffer due to the quality of the batteries.
EMS still say there is a five year battery life, (except combined voice sounders which are 2.5 years) however we have systems that just about last four years.
Cause and effects on EMS is actually quite good but the panels are certainly not user friendly.
On the whole, the radio technology works very well, but it's let down essentially by the inconsistency in the quality of the batteries.
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What about Ziton system ZP3 it is a combined hard wired and wireless system ?
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What about Ziton system ZP3 it is a combined hard wired and wireless system ?
No more than the Apollo wireless interface.
EMS have developed an interface to sit on a Ziton loop, same as the one they developed for Apollo (although I understand the Apollo version works better) therefore you can pick up "X" number of radio devices....
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What about Ziton system ZP3 it is a combined hard wired and wireless system ?
No more than the Apollo wireless interface.
EMS have developed an interface to sit on a Ziton loop, same as the one they developed for Apollo (although I understand the Apollo version works better) therefore you can pick up "X" number of radio devices....
That's new to me if you can get me any doc. sheet for the interface developed by EMS to sit in apollo protocol loop that would be grate, Ihave had a quick look in both EMS and Apollo web sites but I did not find any...
Thank you
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The Apollo is called XPander
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What about Ziton system ZP3 it is a combined hard wired and wireless system ?
No more than the Apollo wireless interface.
EMS have developed an interface to sit on a Ziton loop, same as the one they developed for Apollo (although I understand the Apollo version works better) therefore you can pick up "X" number of radio devices....
...or the Siemens one (seeing as we're name dropping!!).
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What about Ziton system ZP3 it is a combined hard wired and wireless system ?
No more than the Apollo wireless interface.
EMS have developed an interface to sit on a Ziton loop, same as the one they developed for Apollo (although I understand the Apollo version works better) therefore you can pick up "X" number of radio devices....
...or the Siemens one (seeing as we're name dropping!!).
They made one for Siemens too ???!!
See... they'll let anybody in the club these days.....!!!
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Would it be possible to give us a few bullet point advantages and disadvantages of radio versus wired systems, based on the current state of technology please?
I am often asked this question and usually my advice is to always go for a wired system unless theres a really good reason not to- for example heritage buildings. But as radio systems become more advanced and lithium battery technology is now up to the job I may be out of date?
The pro's of wire free have been well put by Dave.
The pro's imo of hard wired.
smaller and nicer looking devices.
cheaper to replace a faulty device.
same technology in devices but wider range. i.e EMS don't make a multisensor anymore.
Don't have to worry about batteries and there could be alot to change every 4-5 years.
Unless the site has a huge amount of labour time invloved then cheaper to install.
The control panels have a wider range of zone sizes.
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another advantage with radio that a few consultants have liked is that when we install in an essentially open plan, new "spec" building, essentially half dozen call points/ sounders and smokes, then the client moves in and put up loads of partitioning and suddenly wants an L1 system... instead of having to rip out the "cheap 2 zone conventional" and replace with an addressable jobby taking 3 or four weeks, we can just walk in with a box of stuff and re do the system in a day!!
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No more than the Apollo wireless interface.
EMS have developed an interface to sit on a Ziton loop, same as the one they developed for Apollo (although I understand the Apollo version works better) therefore you can pick up "X" number of radio devices....
...or the Siemens one (seeing as we're name dropping!!).
They made one for Siemens too ???!!
See... they'll let anybody in the club these days.....!!!
Nope,we have our own which interfaces with our loop.
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I would also go with EMS
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Richard,
I've edited the above post, I see no need for the links you had inserted advertising your products. Please refrain from this.
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...or the Siemens one (seeing as we're name dropping!!).
They made one for Siemens too ???!!
See... they'll let anybody in the club these days.....!!!
Nope,we have our own which interfaces with our loop.
Allen....
So whos radio detectors do you use ??
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The Apollo is called XPander
Thanks for that I found the link of this stuff
http://www.apollo-fire.co.uk/PDFs/PP2320%20XPander%20Sales%20Leaflet.pdf
Xpander interface accepts max of 15 Xpander wireless devices but are they addressable wirless devices, if one of them triggers or goes faulty would that be noticed by the main panel or the same Xpander address will come up? and in that case Xpander would be considered as a 'wireless zone monitor' then?
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Was talking to notifier about their radio "add ons".... sounds bloody good.... anyone used it ??
Apparently it also works on Vega protocol... so you could use a kentec panel and not have to be a distributor.