Skylink SC-1000 Complete Wireless Alarm System
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Skylink SC-1000 Complete Wireless Alarm System
Customer Review: Good Budget Friendly Peace of Mind
Summary: 4 Stars
I've had it for about a year now and so far so good. Had 2 "false alarms" but I have pets so I expected that to happen more often, to be honest. Easy to install and directions were fairly straight forward. I would reccommend this for the money.Customer Review: Good intruder protection
Summary: 3 Stars
This security system consists of two separate devices with two different setup manuals. There is an alarm control panel with sensors and a manual. The other device is an emergency dialer with its manual. When selling the systems as a package, it would make so much sense to put the instructions in a single manual. Between the two, there are instructions that are just wrong. Installation would have been a hassle if I hadn't first read the Amazon reviews.
The dialer manual tells you to program the individual sensors to the dialer. The only makes sense if you bought the sensors without an alarm control panel. But I would have tried to program the individual sensors had not other reviewers pointed out the error.
I finished the setup of the alarm control panel and then set it aside for wall mounting the next day. But before I mounted it on the wall, it began beeping and flashing the low battery light. Sure enough the 9 volt battery was down to 8 volts after 24 hours. I should have left the device plugged in, but now I know how long it operates on a the backup battery.
There are instructions on how to replace the PIN which has the default of 000. It makes no sense to leave a default PIN which an intruder could use to turn off the alarm. After you set the new pin, the dialer instructions tells you to program the new PIN to the dialer with a sequence that includes inserting the PIN in the alarm control panel and pressing B twice. What it neglects to mention is that the sequence is the same as the emergency silent alarm procedure. I learned that when the dialer promptly called my cell phone.
My package included an instruction addendum that said I should make the telephone line connection at a point in the telephone line route before any other line connections. That was not realistically feasible for my setup, but I don't know how important that is.
I bought the package for security at my vacation residence. At my principal residence, I have the ADT service. I have paid $300 in false alarm charges because PIN entry problems by workers, cat sitters and friends. The one time there was a real intruder, the deafening internal alarm quickly scared him off. That deafening internal alarm may be all that is needed with the Skylink system. (My ears rang for an hour after I accidentally activated the alarm.)
The "complete wireless system" is only designed for intruder protection. I thought it might also send me a message if the power was turned off or the backup battery became low. Not so. There are additional components that can be purchased for alerting you to temperature problems, smoke, flooding, noise and vibration. None for a power outage. But I have a separate Ace Hardware device that will call me if there are temperature, power or battery backup problems. I can also call the device to check temperature and power. There doesn't seem to be any way to contact the Skylink devices by telephone. Apparently that deafening alarm will keep blasting until someone can get to the control panel.
The package does what it is advertised to do and fits my needs when combined with my other monitor and my Panasonic network camera. I would give it a four star rating if the documentation were better.
Customer Review: Good price but one major flaw
Summary: 3 Stars
We bought this system to monitor our travel trailer while parked outside of our house during a remodel. We have 110v to the trailor so the system doesn't have to run from it's own batteries all of the time. The door sensors and motion detector are easy to mount, even in a trailer. Programming the base key pad is a snap and the remote control is great. With the remote, I don't really ever use the key pad. The alarm is painfully (literally) loud when it goes off. The system even has entry delays and one can program all of the input devices to a selected zone - delayed or instant.
My one complaint - the dialer functionality. The concept of the dialer is great. It will call your phone when the alarm goes off. The draw back is you have to turn it off and on seperately from the rest of the system. It does not "talk" with the remote or the keypad. Also, It will dial when anything is tripped, even when the system is not armed. It will dial if the system is set to monitor only the doors but the motion detector is activated (the "at home" setting). The only solution is to keep the dialer off when anything could be tripped and only turn it on when you leave. Also, if we arm the system for the doors only and one of the dogs activates the motion detector while we are gone...guess what. We get dialed. That is so annoying. The only work around is to hide the motion detector when we are gone.
UPDATE: After reading some truely helpful comments to the above review, I have reprogrammed the system and deleted all of the sensors except the main control panel from the dialer and that has solved the excessive calls. Now, my suggestion would be to clarify the instructions - which provide directions for registering the sensors before registering the panel. I am a very step by step person and I just followed the directions not realizing registering a device was optional and what impact that would have on the system as a whole.
Customer Review: Good value
Summary: 4 Stars
After a series of recent break-ins in our neighborhood association, I decided we needed to add some home security. After considerable research I did the following: Converted all our outdoor lights to motion-sensor activated. Added a Security Strike Plate to a door that needed beefing up, a security chain to another and a "Charlie bar" to replace the stick we were using at the bottom of our sliding glass door. I also added glass-breakage alarms to the sliding glass door and to the entrance window beside our front door.
Regarding this review, last but not least, I purchased the Skylink SC-1000 Complete Wireless Alarm System. Subsequently, I purchased three additional door sensors (all five external doors now have one) and an extra keychain transmitter. This was after reading the many reviews, mostly positive, about this system.
I am in agreement with the majority of the reviewers that this system is a good value for the money. While it is cheaply built it appears capable of performing its intended function quite well. I had very few problems installing it.
My only negative comments are as follows: The audio quality of the message you record on the dialer is poor in the extreme. It would be worth charging a few extra dollars to improve this. Or, have the customer buy the needed 9-volt batteries and apply this cost-reduction to improved audio components. Two of the three 9-volt batteries that came with the system were very low on charge and I had to replace them anyway at a cost of $5. The motion sensor that came with my system was defective. I had to send it to Skylink in California. It took a month for me to receive a replacement.
Some reviewers mention the vulnerability of the alarm and dialer control panels. If an intruder quickly gains access to the alarm and dialer he can trash/disable them. My solution to this was to place them in our laundry room. This location makes them readily accessible while leaving and entering the house. Our normal entrance to the house is from the attached garage through a deadbolt-locked door into the laundry room. I added a phone jack to the laundry room for the dialer and a lock to the door between the laundry room and the rest of the house. So, the laundry room now doubles as a security room with locks on both its doors.
I am debating whether to add an additional Skylink Audio Alarm unit outside. Other than that, I am done. I didn't spend a lot of money and have no monthly third-party fees associated with the dialer. Assuming components don't start failing in the short-term, I am a happy camper. I am not claiming our house is now burglar-proof. None are. But, if we are home we will definitely know if someone is trying to break in. And if we are not home, I feel it is secure enough that potential intruders would probably move onto easier pickings.
Customer Review: Good value for the money
Summary: 4 Stars
I read the customer reviews carefully and thoroughly - advisedly purchased the necessary extra components. I advise more caution about how you package the added parts and pieces. All in all it installed pretty easily and does what we wanted it to do. A quibble, they do not send enough hardware! Come on, folks. What can it cost you to send a few more plastic anchors and screws? Even the extra sensors that I ordered and the external alarm had no installation hardware with it. Too cheesy! But for under $300 I have a complete working system that will deter the bad guys or at worst let me know they have arrived. As others noted, read the manual very carefully and follow all directions scrupulously.