Thread: need alarm system advice

Mick,
I've solved a similar problem with a farm machinery outshed by using a dual tech security kit (infrared and movement sensors) hooked up to the GSM kit. This is simple if you have GSM mobile coverage as I don't think the kit will work on CDMA. Essentially the dual tech kit is set to only go into alarm if heat and movement are both detected - calibration can be set so birds, rats etc don't affect them.
On the GSM side a pre-paid SIM card will get you by - it can be setup to call a pre-set number, text a group of mobiles or you can even set them up to call pagers upon activation. They can also be set to call a standard home phone. Test it once a month to see that it still works and ensure you keep enough on the pre-paid cards. You should easily get away with this set up for under $1k - cheap insurance when you consider what the truck is there to protect. Throw in a 119dB local alarm and it makes their thievery a little painful.

From what I've heard technology for these systems is now at the point where they are installed on the equipment, not the shed. You can fit them to boats, trucks or machinery and they can be set to monitor fuel cap tampering, fuel and fluid levels, battery charge and illegal entry - once the systems goes off it calls in the same manner as above and lets you know which sensor has activated.

When you are talking about protecting a couple of thousand dollars of diesel on heavy machinery (let alone a fire truck full of fuel and gear) the system pays for itself.

If you're considering sensor lights the infrascan (by clipsal from memory) has good adjustment to prevent wildlife setting it off.