Stuck with wired sensors over wireless for a 30-unit complex

Everyone told me to go wireless for that apartment job near Austin, but I ran all hardwired zones instead. Three years in and I've only had to replace one bad wire, while the other guys are swapping batteries every 6 months. Has anyone else found wired more reliable in multi-unit buildings?

2 comments

2 Comments

patriciareed1mo ago

replacing batteries every 6 months" - yeah that's the thing nobody tells you about wireless. I did a 20 unit building near Houston and went wired after seeing the wireless stuff fail in the hallway between apartments. The concrete and metal framing just kills the signal. Plus with 30 units you've got people moving in and out, messing with the wireless panels. Only real headache with wired is fishing through the attic in a building that big, but I found running the wires during drywall phase saves so much grief later.

lauras831mo ago

Patriciareed, I actually think the wireless panels thing is a bit different than what you said. Most of the newer wireless panels have tamper protection that can alert you if someone messes with them, so that's less of a headache than it used to be. But you're totally right about the concrete and metal in those buildings killing the signal, that's the real killer. Fishing wires during drywall is the smart move though, I did that on a 40 unit place near Dallas and it saved me a full week of work.

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