Went from 3 callbacks a week to zero after swapping panel locations

I do alarm installs for homes in the suburbs around Chicago. For two years I kept putting the main panel in the basement utility room because that's how I learned it. Every week I'd get at least 3 callbacks about false alarms or the system not arming right. Finally a client's husband who works in IT asked why I didn't put it near the front door where the keypad goes. I tried it on the next job and suddenly the signal strength to the door and window sensors was way better. The difference in just a 4 foot move up from the basement to the main floor was night and day. Now I plan every panel spot based on where the signal has to travel and my callback rate dropped to maybe one every two months. Has anyone else seen big changes just from moving where you mount the panel?

2 comments

2 Comments

river18215d ago

Man the part about the IT husband pointing it out really hit home. My dad taught me to always put panels in the basement too because "that's where the wires come in." But after a year of nonstop nuisance alarms I finally tried mounting one in a hallway closet on the main floor and it was like night and day. The difference in signal strength between a basement and a main floor spot is crazy. I had one house where the panel was in the basement next to the furnace and the back door sensor would drop out every time the heat kicked on. Moved it to the living room wall and zero problems since. Makes you wonder how many callbacks are just people putting hardware in bad spots out of habit.

mason36114d ago

Oh man @river182 you're so right about the furnace thing! I had the exact same issue with a panel in the basement near the water heater - my garage sensor would randomly go offline every morning. Moved it to the laundry room on the main floor and it works flawless now. It's wild how much a few feet of elevation change matters for wireless stuff.