In short
A wireless alarm system is made up of a hub (plugged in, with a backup battery and SIM card inside) and battery-powered sensors that talk to the hub by radio. When an alarm goes off, the hub sounds the siren and sends a notification to the app on your phone and your family’s phones. You don’t need a contract with a security company, but you can add a patrol through a partner if you want. Installation is one visit, with no cables.
What is a wireless alarm system?
An alarm system whose sensors are not connected to the hub by cable. The hub GSMvalve installs handles up to 96 devices. The sensors run on batteries for years and are fixed to the wall with small screws. There is no renovation work and no cable trunking, so it also suits a rented flat.
How does it work?
- A sensor reacts. The door sensor detects the door opening, the motion sensor detects moving heat and the smoke detector detects smoke. The sensor sends a signal to the hub by radio (868 MHz, range of up to a couple of hundred metres in a home).
- The hub raises the alarm. If the system is armed, the hub sounds the siren and sends out the alarm. In night mode the indoor sensors are disarmed, while doors and windows stay armed.
- The notification reaches your phone. The app shows which sensor went off and when. A motion sensor with camera adds a series of photos. The notification goes to all users at once: you, your family, your neighbour.
- You decide. You cancel a false alarm, call your neighbour or 112, or have a patrol drive over if you have arranged this with the partner.
What happens if the power or internet goes down?
The hub has a battery that keeps the system running for hours without power, and a SIM card that sends notifications even when your home Wi-Fi is down. The mobile connection is included in the monthly fee. If someone pulls the hub’s plug out, you get a notification just like an alarm.
Where does a wireless system fit?
- Flat or rented flat: installation only leaves small screw holes, and when you move you take the system with you
- House: outdoor sensors and the outdoor siren run from the same hub
- Summer cottage: the mobile connection works even where there is no internet, with water leak and temperature sensors for the winter
- Office and shop: each employee has their own code, and a panic button goes under the counter
Technical details
| Hub | up to 96 devices |
| Connection | Mobile connection (SIM included) + Wi-Fi/LAN, battery for running without power |
| Sensors | Wireless, battery-powered, 868 MHz |
| App | GSMvalve app, iOS and Android, unlimited users |
| Installation | One visit, 150 € (200 € for 18 devices or more) |
| Price | Start 385 € to buy · 17.36 €/month to rent, incl. VAT |
Which package? The same hub comes in every package: Start for a flat, Plus for a house, Premium for a large house, the Panic Button package for older people and the Smoke Alarm package to install yourself. Individual devices: devices page.
Frequently asked questions
Does a wireless alarm system work without a security company?
Yes. The alarm reaches your phone and the phones of the users you have added, and you decide what to do. If you want, you can add a patrol service through a partner with a separate contract.
How long do the sensor batteries last?
Years. The exact time depends on the sensor and how often it is triggered. The app warns you weeks in advance which sensor needs a new battery. The batteries are standard ones and you can change them yourself.
How are the sensors fixed?
Sensors, the outdoor siren and outdoor sensors are fixed with small screws. The hub goes into a power socket.
Is the system suitable for a rented flat?
Yes, because no cables are run and the screw holes are small. When you move, the technician takes the devices down and installs them in your new home.
Read also: from enquiry to first alarm · all devices · the app
Written by the GSMvalve team
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