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Rant: A new homeowner asked me why I didn't just use wireless sensors and I almost lost my cool
Had a quick chat with a guy I installed a panel for last week. He saw me running wire and asked why I don't just use those all-in-one wireless systems from the big box stores. I started explaining about signal interference and battery life but he cut me off and said 'but my buddy's system works fine.' I had to take a breath and remember he's not in the trade. It hit me different because I realized most people have no clue how much better hardwired zones are for reliability especially in older houses with thick walls. Have you guys had to defend your setup choices to customers who think tech just works no matter what?
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jakejones1mo ago
You ever try explaining to a guy that his buddy's wireless system works fine until the neighbor starts a microwave and the signal drops? I keep a few old Z-Wave modules in my van just to show people what happens after a year of battery swaps and random dropouts. My go to is to say hardwired is like a landline phone - boring but always works when you need it. Wireless has its place but not for the main panel in a 1920s brick house with plaster and lathe. Do you ever bring a spare wired sensor to demos to let them see the difference firsthand?
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vera_lewis21mo ago
1920s plaster walls eat wireless signals for breakfast, neighbor's microwave is just the cherry on top.
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sandra_bennett591mo ago
Old plaster and lathe can definitely mess with wireless, no argument there. But I've been running Z-Wave in a brick house from 1928 for six years now and it's been rock solid after I put a few smart switches in rooms where the signal was weak. Those act like repeaters and solved most of the dead spots. The microwave issue is real but usually it's just a few seconds while the timer is running. Hardwired is bulletproof but wireless has gotten way better if you plan the mesh right.
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