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Fortress Security Store (TM) S02-B Wireless Home Security Alarm System Kit with Auto Dial + Outdoor Siren - Fortress Security Store
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Fortress Security Store (TM) Window & Door Contact Sensor for S02 or GSM DIY Home Alarm Systems - Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store (TM) Motion Detector Sensor for S02/GSM DIY Home and Business Security Systems - Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store (TM) Remote Key Fob for S02 Alarm Home Security Systems - Fortress Security Store

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Fortress Security Store http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41uEzL-AuaL._SL160_.jpg
Fortress Security Store (TM) S02-B Wireless Home Security Alarm System Kit with Auto Dial + Outdoor Siren - Fortress Security Store
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Fortress Security Store https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/4100M-BT8aL._SL160_.jpg
Fortress Security Store (TM) Window & Door Contact Sensor for S02 or GSM DIY Home Alarm Systems - Fortress Security Store
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Fortress Security Store https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31zNfkSStAL._SL160_.jpg
Fortress Security Store (TM) Motion Detector Sensor for S02/GSM DIY Home and Business Security Systems - Fortress Security Store
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Fortress Security Store https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41lYHVKYB0L._SL160_.jpg
Fortress Security Store (TM) Remote Key Fob for S02 Alarm Home Security Systems - Fortress Security Store
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eComparisons ScoreThe "Comparison Score" Is calculated based on the average number of times this item was compared with other items in this category by our users
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Five Star Reviews:

64%
Peace of Mind away from home or at home
August 19, 2017
We used this product before going out of town. We opened the packaging and all items were neatly boxed and marked. We opened the instruction booklet, reviewed it and the products together to verify the contents. We reviewed the products as we opened the boxes they came in and continued to read the instructions on how to set up each piece. Some people will have trouble with the install as each person interprets instructions differently and some just want to do it their way and not read the instructions. we set up the sensors at the doors and windows, you will need to purchase other items to fully protect your home such as cameras, Large animals, guards, and glass window sensors. This product does what most families are looking for something to let them know that there home has been infiltrated. For the money and ease of use this product works well, we attempted to sneak into the home and the sensors caught us, we have attempted to open doors and windows and the sensors caught us. We use more than one system to hopefully protect our home and I think this is the first step for your peace of mind.
The product has been excellent. No issues and no false alarms
January 2, 2017
Update: It has been a few weeks since I installed it. At first I had an issue with a motion detector (noticed it when I armed it when away), I contacted Fortress Security Store and they quickly agreed to replace it. I was impressed with the promptness and with the quality of service. The product has been excellent. No issues and no false alarms, love it.
REALLY LOUD
December 9, 2016
I love this alarm!!! It's REALLY, REALLY LOUD!!! I arm it for home while my wife is home during the day and I left one of the basement windows unlocked after installing the window sensor. The top part of the window slid down a little which activated the alarm. My wife almost jumped out of her skin because the alarm starting screaming SO LOUD! She ran down to the basement with a baseball bat to "catch the thief" was the way she put it. But there was no thief; it was just my mistake leaving the window unlocked. I highly recommend this system for anyone that wants an alarm system that would scare aware anyone that tries to break into your home.
Amazingly easy to set up and reliable! Read if you dont have Home Phone!
August 9, 2013
EDIT 1/31/2014 - As user RP has commented below, the OBi will no longer support Google Voice after May of this year. I still love the OBi device and will look into changing to another service (they say these will only cost a couple of dollars per month with one-time fees available) when the time comes and will update this post with the best solution. For more information, look here: [...]------ORIGINAL REVIEW------Let me preface this by saying that I was suspicious of the 30+ solid 5 star reviews. Surely SOMEONE found something to nitpick, right? Anyway, I originally thought I was going to be the one to reduce the average but I'm pleased to say that, for the price, this is easily a 5 star product.In general, there is one major downside to installing your own security system: if someone breaks in, chances are that you are only going to know when you return home. The most competitive feature of these Fortress systems is the ability to call preprogrammed numbers when an alarm is triggered at home. In fact, for this reason, we did not even plug in the siren - when we are on campus, we could easily be home in minutes if there was an alarm.The whole system took about 45 minutes to set up, including the amount of time I spent developing a plan for where to put the various sensors. It's a good idea to put the motion sensors in areas of your home where an intruder is unlikely to avoid. That said, the sensors are already programmed to the base station, so it's really a turn-on-and-go type of deal.Originally I was upset that the auto-dialer would require a home phone line to operate, but I've found a no-monthly-fee solution. This OBi100 VoIP Telephone Adapter and Voice Service Bridge will let you use Google Voice (a free service) to route your alarm system over the internet. We don't even use the OBi to call out or anything - this forty dollar adapter is just for the alarm system. And with no monthly fee, I can be assured that even when we aren't home we always know the house is secure.Lastly, the key fobs are nice because training my roommate to arm and disarm the alarm from the keypad every time would probably not work. The alarm is "tested" every once in a while because we will forget to disarm it and within seconds of opening the door our cell phones will start ringing.I'm looking at upgrading the system at a later date for a couple more motion sensors, but all is well so far!UPDATE 12/5/2013 - I have recently completed the security system install for the house, and I still love this product. If you need more motion sensors or door alarms, I recommend checking out e bay, as you can buy inexpensive (like ten dollar) motion sensors that will easily pair with this system. The only downside is that they are shipped from overseas, so it might take a few weeks to get them. Pretty much any 433mhz security products will work with the FORTRESS system, so simply run a search for "433mhz [window sensor OR motion detector]" and various local or overseas sellers will appear.
Amazing Alarm at an Amazing price with Amazing Customer Service!
March 20, 2013
I've been looking into self monitored alarm systems for some time know. I can say without a doubt this is the best deal around. The system works great and is very easy to install. I won't go into detail because several other reviewers have covered the operation of the system and how easy it is to install. The system does have its limitations, you can't set the arm or alarm delay lower than 1 minute. I would have liked to set it at 30 seconds or below. You can see from the build quality that this is a mass produced product from China however you can't expect ADT quality components for $180 or less. I've been following the reviews from others for several months and no one has yet to complain that the system falls apart after 6 months. I've had it installed for two weeks and it is working perfectly.

I've only had two issues, I ordered 5 additional window/door sensors from Fortress Security and one of the sensors was bad. Mike from Fortress sent me two replacements right way. The external siren had a short which blew out the power supply so Mike sent out a new Siren and power supply. The system comes with a 3 year warranty, I have to believe that the components are above average for the seller to warranty the system for that long.

I know this is a product review but I have to give Mike from Fortress some props. I have called him several times over the course of the installation and with the two hardware problems. He was always very courteous and helpful and responded quickly to all of my requests. His customer services skills are well worth the price of the system. Great job Mike!
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Four Star Reviews:

19%
A decent DIY option
March 1, 2017
We had a break-in 2 weeks ago. The intruders triggered the motion detector, the siren sounded, and the intruders ran out pushing each other on the way. Thank you, Fortress Security.
Luckily for us, we had video surveillance which recorded the intruders from the moment they came to the house and until the moment they ran away. Now I know exactly what I need for this security system to be complete and to protect my house.
I am writing this review to share with you our experience and the use of the Fortress Security before and after the break-in - the lessons learned.
1. WHY IT IS PRUDENT TO BUY YOUR OWN SECURITY SYSTEM.
There are two considerations to that. First is the cost. If you choose ADT, for example, you will be paying monthly fees which are at least $25. Second consideration is the response. Your own security system calls you and notifies you, while, for example, ADT system, which we also considered, notifies an operator who in turn call the local emergency line. In an area with high crime the response of the police to the calls that come to the emergency line about burglary are at a very low priority. The police may show up in one hour or even more. They go to attend violent crimes first and if everything else is done then they will respond to the break-in reported by ADT. I am speaking from experience.
You must have a “break-in routine” in place. If you are in the area, you can call 911 and notify them about the break-in. If you are not in the area, you must have a police emergency number for the area where your house is. Keep their emergency number on speed dial. From there on you control your destiny. With your own security system you can alert anyone about the break-in – a neighbor with a shotgun, for example. Or you can run a loud siren mounted on the roof of your house to alert the neighborhood.
2. MY CHOICE OF FORTRESS SECURITY
It was affordable and a number of different sensors was available. We selected the Fortress Security system S02 since we know it is easy to disrupt an internet connection but the land line isn’t easy to find these days. We were disappointed to see that this system is easily disarmed by just unplugging it. Basically, anyone can swiftly “turn it off” if they know what you have in your house. This why I knocked off one star.
3. INVASION
The burglars do not appear out of thin air. Imagine you have an invisible line 1 ft away from the outside walls of your house. The burglars WILL cross that line (POINT OF DEFENSE 1). They will look for the entrance. If your doors are protected and the burglars are not trained to pick locks, they will look for the windows that are low, close to the ground. If the doors are not protected and/or the burglars are trained to pick locks, they will go through the door (POINT OF DEFENSE 2). The windows, however, are the easiest (POINT OF DEFENSE 3).
Do not think that Home Depot window bars will protect your windows. My bars were destroyed within 2 minutes just by pulling them forcefully. A complete waste of money and effort from my part.
The burglars with try to open your window from the outside. If this doesn’t pan out, they will break the glass and attempt to unlock the window and open it. They will try to open it because they do not want to climb through a broken glass.
When they are inside, they will walk around to explore the area (POINT OF DEFENSE 4).

4. SENSORS
If you want to trigger the alarm at the POINT OF DEFENSE 1, Fortress Security doesn’t have anything that will help you do that. We found some great sensors from another company and adopted them to work with the Fortress Security. After the break-in we installed one outdoor sensor per wall which triggers the Fortress Security alarm when anyone over 3 ft tall approaches the house doors or windows crossing the 1 ft perimeter.
For the POINT OF DEFENSE 2 you need to get a door open sensor. They come with the basic package for the Fortress Security or you can choose them as add-ons. For the POINT OF DEFENSE 3 you need a window open sensor unless you have a very large glass window that shatters and through which a person can walk in unharmed. Then you need a glass break sensor. All are available from Fortress Security.
For the POINT OF DEFENSE 4 you need motion detectors for every major crossing in the house. Say, someone broke-in through the bathroom or a bedroom window and your “open window” sensor there was out of battery and so it didn’t work. The burglar will not stay just in the room he entered. The burglar will go further. So you may have a walkway leading to the bedroom doors. Put one there. If you have a living room in the center, then put one there. You get the drift.
Do yourself a favor – get a siren. No burglar wants to attract attention. If your house is surrounded by other houses, if you are not in a secluded location, a siren will help you. Fortress security has a basic, very loud indoor siren.
5. POST-INVATION
After the break-in we understood that we only can rely on ourselves, since the police takes forever to arrive. We wanted to know if and when strangers trespass our territory. We learned how to mod outdoor sensors and to have them work/communicate with the Fortress Security. We have a sensor that intelligently scans our backyard. We have 4 house perimeter sensors. Luckily there are 32 zones for the Fortress Security S02 where each allows up to 20 accessories. The only downside is that with the S02 we receive a pre-recorded message which doesn’t specify which sensor is triggered. As I mentioned, we have a video surveillance of the outside of the house and we now installed one camera on the inside which is focused on the Fortress Security display window which, when triggered, will show the number of the sensor that did that. Upon a phone call from the system, we go to the surveillance feed and check what’s going on there. Combined with the sirens, a loud speaker that allows to communicate with the burglars though my phone, and a very loud outdoor siren that I can turn on or off from my phone and alert the neighbors, I think we are pretty much set.
I would say, the Fortress Security is a pretty decent and affordable option if you want to build your own custom security and take control of your security in to your own hands.
Not good for calling less than 10digit phone
February 27, 2017
Great system, easy setup, only con which is why a gave it 4 stars, was that it is serup to call a 10digit telephone,if you set it up in another country, i.e. mexico, then it will not work, as all local numbers are called though a direct 7digit number.
But everything else is a top 5 star!!!!
Not perfect, nothing is
February 2, 2017
Not perfect, nothing is.. but the setup was pretty straight forward, and only took about 20min to install all the pieces. The siren is plenty loud and it's nice to have a system that will notify you via phone call, and best of all NO SERVICE FEES..

BEWARE, by default, when you arm or disarm the unit, the siren will make a loud wail.. this is extremely annoying, especially since it's not adequately explained in the instructions (I did the quick install method). After posting a question here though, the company CEO replied within a short time and explained how to disable that loud, abrupt "chirp"..

I suggest you do this before arming the first time with the siren plugged in.. The process is password # 8 * return
Works good for my RV
January 22, 2017
Works good for my RV. I use Magic Jack for my phone line. Don't listen to customer service, they told me that the main unit requires 9 volt so i bought a 12 volt to 9 volt converter for use in my RV as per the information I got from customer service. It is not 9 volt it is 12 volt so no need for the converter, hooks straight to my RV batteries. Used 4 of the door sensors on my outside cargo doors and 1 on the main RV door. I use the wired contacts to protect my motorcycle (that i leave under the side awning) and weave a cable through the wheel. I also mounted the unit on the wall and installed a trim so the siren and the phone lines cant be disconnected. I have been using it for over a month with no issues. I would give it 5 stars if customer service would have given me the the correct information. ( the manual also states 9 volt, wrong information)
Great System for a Great Price!
November 29, 2016
I am very happy with this system. I am not much of a handy guy and was looking for a security system that I could easily install myself and after reading some of the reviews I went ahead and bought this unit. I have amazon prime so the system arrived pretty quick.

After opening the box and inspecting everything and reading the handbook and went right ahead and tested the unit, however it seemed that the internal siren that is wired to the panel itself did not seem to work. First off I thought I must have done something wrong since though all the sensors are pre-programmed you still need to do a little bit of programming yourself (optional). I got in contact with customer service and they went right ahead and mailed me a new upgraded replacement right away.

The only downside I have experience so far is that there doesnt seem to be a low battery indicator. In addition one of the controls battery has already died after just a few days, but after all this is a great product and very easy to install and very cheap!
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Three Star Reviews:

5%
Although a few extra wired zones would have been nice, the 6 zones provided are enough to meet ...
September 11, 2017
I purchased this system, along with an RFID keypad and external wireless siren, to replace my existing wired security system. The 6 zone wired connections were a must for me and I also wanted to install two remote keypads to replace the wired keypads on my existing system. I want to install the main controller inside a locked metal enclosure, where my current wired control system resides. I also plan to supplement my wired sensors with a few wireless sensors (especially in the basement where adding wired sensors is a huge problem).
The system has a few fatal flaws that I really don't know if I can live with. It is really unfortunate as a small amount of cost and effort would fix them.
First, and foremost, the wireless (RFID) keypad is only a transmitter. This is a secondary keypad (not the main control unit). It shows the alarm status (arm, disarm) but if the alarm is set (or disabled) via the main panel (or a keyfob) then the wireless keypad shows the WRONG alarm status. The indicated status is only accurate if the alarm is always (and only) set / disabled via the RFID keypad.
The second issue is external siren isn't really that loud, not as loud as the one on my existing alarm system. The power supply operating the Fortress external siren is rated at 4.5 Watts where most wired home security systems use either a 15 Watt or 30 Watt external siren. I found, and purchased, a small amplifier on Amazon to drive my old (wired) outside siren from the siren jack on the S02 controller (normally used to drive an internal siren, but with the amp I plan to feed the S02 output into each channel of the amp and use one output to drive an internal siren and one to drive the outside siren). The amp can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MDQ3OJF/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Since my wired alarm panel is supplied with 24 Volts AC, it is not to difficult to get the 12 Volts DC that the S02 controller needs as a power source. Rather than installing a new AC receptacle in my alarm box, I found a small (and inexpensive) AC to DC converter that will both power my S02 alarm control box and all of my wired sensors (motion, glass break, smoke alarm) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A6HABYM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This same supply will be used to power my amplifier to drive the larger outside siren. Powering the S02 box does require the power cord to be cut and wired into the local 12V supply I'm installing.

On a positive note, I was surprised (and pleased) that the metal box didn't interfere with the alarm control box. It receives signals from the wireless sensors and RFID keypad even with the box closed tight. My furthermost sensor is probably 30 feet from the control box. The wired zones also appear to be configurable for delay (i.e. door entry delay) and home disable (motion sensors). Although a few extra wired zones would have been nice, the 6 zones provided are enough to meet most needs if you are willing to run multiple sensors from a single zone. For me, I tied all instant triggered doors on one zone, motion sensors on another zone, glass break on a zone, smoke alarms on a zone, and delay door on a fifth zone.

The RFID keypads have a power cord for external power but also have a terminal on the back that appears to accept power as well. Since I'm replacing a keypad on a wired system, my plan is to use the existing wiring to send 12VDC directly to the RFID keypad from my alarm panel. Oddly, there is also a relay contact on the back of the RFID keypad (but no explanation on what it is for or how to use it). Fortress indicated it is for connecting a wired sensor, but I don't think this is entirely accurate.

In short, if I could find an alternate product that offered the features of the Fortress system, but had accurate status indicators on the remote keypads, I would send this one back and purchase something else. Unfortunately, a day's worth of internet searches has come up empty. The very few systems out there that do exactly what I need are professional grade and extremely pricey ($1000 range for a full system). So, I will probably have to live with the short comings of this system for a few years and then replace it with something better.
Good and bad about Fortress Security Alarm System S02-A
September 2, 2017
Well good thing is it's better than nothing. Apparently it will make noise and notify you if someone triggers the alarm in your home. The bad thing was thief could simply turn off the thing by using on/off switch on side of unit. But the people at Fortress listened to customer feedback and moved that switch to back on newer units. I'd say cover if you have older or used one cover that switch with a piece of black tape or something. A big bad thing that hasn't been resolved is the phone line feature. Thief can cut your home phone line. Also many people don't have land line and just use there cell phone. I recommend getting the version with sim card which will call you via cellular. But that version is much more expensive. They can easily find out everything about this unit and how to defeat it. I wouldn't bother putting sticker outside your house saying you have it because that will give thief heads up. I think this unit is okay for budget starter system. I use magic jack with it because I don't have landline.

A better alarm option would be one with sim card that calls you wireless via cellular. I will upgrade to one with sim card and app once I can afford it. I know there are cheaper ones with that on amazon. I do like fortress customer service. They seem to answer your questions fast via chat or phone. I think this unit will give you atleast some advance alert if someone breaks in your house. How much time I dont know. So if goes off act fast and have your cell phone and peace maker nearbye. Police on speed dial. Have a rapid plan in place for you and your family if the unexpected happens. I pray there is never a need for it in your home or mine.
DIY? hmm?
December 15, 2016
This may be a one of those weird things that happen. Purchased this over 1 week ago. The package was not inside of a cardboard box package like all of my Amazon orders. It came to the door in its original package and was only help closed by a magnetic flap that apparently keeps the box secure. It did not contain any instructions so I decided to hunt them down on YouTube and sure enough found what I needed. I have not yet installed as I have tons of questions for the manufacture. This review may change if my needs are met but so far its not as DIY as I was anticipating. More to come I guess, but I wish I would have saved myself the headache and simply paid someone to take care of it for me.
We have had trouble with the remote key fobs not working properly.
September 21, 2016
It does the job. However, we have had trouble with the remote key fobs. Sometimes the buttons stick or do not work at all. My key fob will disarm but not arm while my daughter's key fob buttons work sometimes. It's not a distance problem. We've tried them within a foot of the panel as well as from the front door. They worked great for about 2 weeks.
What the instruction book doesn't tell you...
November 7, 2013
Most of what I've written here isn't going to make any sense to you unless you have already read the manual or are already familiar with how alarm systems work. This is more of an installation guide supplement to the supplied instruction sheet.

The instruction booklet that comes with the system has been rewritten by the supplier, it's okay, but doesn't go into a lot of technical detail. I found a copy of the original "32 zones wireless alarm system" manual online, and you can tell it comes from the same people that gave us "All your base are belong to us!" The rewritten guide is a good start, but I'll try to fill in what it leaves out.

When you open the box you see there are two power adapters supplied with this system, one for the control panel and one for the exterior siren... the power adapters aren't clearly labeled and look identical, but they are different... one is 9VDC the other 12VDC. The 9V goes to the control panel, the 12V is for the exterior alarm.

Here's what the instruction book doesn't tell you...
You can program more than one sensor to a zone, ie. you can have a motion and 2 magnetic sensors all in zone 3 or all smoke alarms in one zone. At first I thought the 'magic-8' first zones, where you can specify delay, chime, home, etc. were going to be a big limitation, but after I figured out you can have as many sensors per zone as you need it's not that much of a limitation after all... as long as you plan ahead.

The zone type 'home' doesn't have a delay - I thought it should/would, but it acts as 'instant' unless the system is in home armed mode. Keep this in mind when you pick a location for the control panel... again, planning the layout of the system and what sensors are home/delay can save you a lot of trouble later.

The system comes pre-programmed, but you might find resetting the control panel and starting from scratch better suits you needs. A good example is when setting up the sensors to use the zone numbers to identify areas... for example 01-09 can be the main floor, 10-19 the garage, 20-29 basement, 30-32 shed... etc. you get the idea, that way when a sensor trips with a quick look at the control panel you'll know if it's a 2X number sounding it's coming from a sensor in the basement. I think you'll find this a very handy feature and worth the time it takes to reprogram the control panel and that leads us to the next tip...

Once you enter sensor program mode you can program everything by just entering the next zone number and activating the sensor. After you hear the 2-beeps, enter the next zone number, etc. until all the sensors are programmed. This is a big time saver and everything can be programed in under 10-minutes (don't ask me how I know this :)) Just keep in mind the program command 7# (enter sensor program mode) is very similar to the 7* (clear all sensors) command!

The panic button can be programmed in any zone (09-32) and works regardless of armed/disarmed system status, as long as the control panel is on. It doesn't needs to be programmed in the 01-07 zones for it to work as intended.

Motion sensors, have a usable range of about 28-feet, in the literature it states up to 15-meters (45+ feet) and a 110-degree spread - I don't know how they arrived at those figures. I tested 2 of the motion sensors in a big open garage with nothing but air between me and the sensor and never got any where near those kinds of results. Maybe they're using them in a vacuum to get 45 feet?

Inside the motion sensor are jumpers on the PC board to set sleep time and and IR Sensor range. The sleep time is the amount of time the sensor waits after it detects movement to sense movement again, it can be set to 5-seconds (default), 45-seconds or 3-minutes. I see no reason why this needs to be less than 3-minutes in habitable (home zone) areas (kitchen, living room, etc.) and it probably also greatly increases battery life. The IR range can be used to shorten the distance it 'sees' should you need it.

I purchased a few extra motion sensors and when I opened the box noticed that 2 of them were already turned 'on' - how long these have been sitting on a shelf in the on state wearing down the battery needlessly I don't know, but I expect to see a yellow light (low battery) any day now on those.

All the wireless remote controls can be programmed into any one zone (09-32), and/or with other sensors.

A full system reset (0000#) doesn't reset the exterior siren.

Installation notes...
I skipped the double-sided tape and screw attached everything - it only takes a few minutes to drill a hole and put a screw in it. This way I don't have to worry about a sensor setting off a false alarm if it becomes unstuck and falls off.

The magnetic door/window sensors will likely need shims on either the door casing or the door itself. I used a variety of things; 1/16" plastic laminate, 1/8" and 1/4" MDF to keep everything in the same plane - I wouldn't bother using these magnetic sensors on windows, burglars aren't going to open the window, they're going to break the glass! Use glass breakage or motion sensors to cover windowed areas.

The motion sensor comes with a swivel base for mounting, using this base the sensor stands a good 1-1/2" away from the wall... in testing I was able to approach the sensor by sliding along the wall without setting it off. I took the sensor off the swivel and mounted the base ("back") of the senor directly to the wall, you need to drill a hole through the plastic, but the entire sensor can be completely dismantled and the PC board removed with just one screw. A 1/4 shim at the top (use some silicon adhesive to keep it in place) will give you the recommended 6-degree down angle. Mounting the bottom of the motion sensor about 7-feet above the floor, there's a screw in the top you need to be able to remove to change batteries so this will give you enough room to get stubby screwdriver in there and by putting it in a corner at 45-degrees seems to give the best coverage.

On the control panel the power switch, telephone jacks and siren connectors are on the side (who designed this thing!), besides why does an alarm need an on/off switch? These should have been on the rear with screw terminals, instead of the push plugs they used. And the control panel should have a much more secure way of mounting it to the wall than a couple of hooks. First thing I did was to open the control panel (screws are under rubber feet) and solder a short across the power switch - there's no reason to ever turn it off that I can think of. I was able to made a recess in the wall and to fish the wires behind the wall to the panel then mounted 1" angle around all four sides it to keep the panel from being removed from the wall and the plugs pulled out, but with the panel hatch closed the panel isn't even visible. Aside from mounting it out of the way in a closet, this is probably the best option to keep it near an exit door.

The inside alarm siren is listed as 140db, I measured ~95db at 5-feet with a sound level meter... it's still loud, but it's not 140db loud.

Now, antenna up or down is the question - or I guess I should say antenna extended, because with the magnetic door sensors they're some instances where the antenna will be pointed down - I'm an antenna up kind of guy, on all sensors no matter how close they are to the control panel and here's why... the control panel only has one chance to receive the signal from the sensor and if there's something else transmitting on a nearby frequency it has a better chance of getting through if the antenna is up. In a well designed alarm system you have motion sensors to backup the magnetic door sensors, so in reality you should have at a minimum two chances to trip the alarm, but still, antenna up is the way to go.

Now for the biggest limitation in this system... the Entry/Exit delay can only be set to 1-90 seconds, yes that's seconds! The default is 30-seconds, now anyone that requires a 30-second exit delay my advice is move! :) Because this really a case of you locking the front door and a burglar breaking in the back door at the same time! 90-second is very short, in my tests this should be a setting that gives you minutes. Let's see why (assuming you're using the control panel for arm/disarm)... arm system, close exit door, wait for the garage door to open, back car out, close garage door... you can't do that in less then a minute. Now try it in reverse, your countdown timer begins as soon as the garage door starts to open, now and try to enter the house and disarm the system in less than 90-seconds... you can't. Very poor design decision to have this important setting in seconds and not minutes. In an otherwise pretty good system this is a big flaw. Okay, I know what you're saying; "why not use the remote control" well, a couple of reasons, but mainly because you can't hear the arm/disarm chirp outside the house, and the exterior siren doesn't sound the chips only the interior siren does and you can't hear that outside the house... in this situation you'll never really know if the system is armed. or disarmed and that's not acceptable. And a remote keypad won't help the situation either, because you're in the car coming in/out of the garage, either the designers don't keep their cars in the garage, or don't have garage door openers, or they're not putting sensors in the garage. I don't know, I don't think they thought this one though all the possible situations where 90-seconds just isn't enough.

Bottom line is would I recommend this to someone? Well, for just a few hundred bucks and a couple of hours of your time you can have a fully functioning home alarm system. It does have its limitations, some more severe than others (entry/exit delay is a BIG thumbs down, as is the location of the siren and power jacks), but careful planning can minimize most of them. Buy an alarm system before you need it - it's well worth the effort - but, maybe find a different brand that allows more choice in entry/exit delays.
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Two Star Reviews:

4%
Very cheaply made. It's loud so we kept it ...
June 15, 2017
Very cheaply made. It's loud so we kept it once it was installed. Installation was simple. I'm not sure how long this will last.
Not reliable.
June 13, 2017
It failed in a year and a half. First, the siren stopped working. Then, the keypad became unresponsive. Very disappointed. Install was easy though.
Bad system,problems not listed on web page,support is aware of issues
June 10, 2016
Great help support,system was easy to set up.It has many good options ,But there is one major problem with the security system,doors or Windows can be left open and the alarm system can be activated,if battery's are dead in the sensors the system still can be activated causing a non secure building or home.The total system corrects problem,but uses a sims card to call out and not a landline.I am waiting for a new system to correct all issues .I will purchase the system as soon as it is available.I would recommend this company after they correct this.
Would not recommend
May 12, 2016
Two of the five door/window sensors received were inoperative. One had a loose battery and the other was not programmed into the system. The telephone connection to VOIP is inoperative. Glad I didn't invest a lot into this system. Using temporarily now as a basic security system without telephone connection. If you have a large house you may encounter range problems. Wish they had left the external antenna in the control unit. Will change to a different and probably more expensive system. This replaced a failed skylink AAA system which worked very well with the VOIP line.
Wish it had fit my needs better
June 17, 2015
Looks interesting and likely works for some people (and it was originally my first choice in an alarm), but I decided to go with a modern, internet-capable system instead, one that can provide control and status information at a distance (i.e. when I am at work). Sure, this one costs less, but I didn't want to need ongoing maintenance issues with battery life, some complexity to program and add additional sensors, etc. It's the kind of DIY system I would have purchased in the past, but it does not meet my needs at this time. Read the reviews to decide what you need. [After I purchased it, I did not end up installing and using it, after examining what was really involved to set it up and keep it going.] If you are not a good DIY person, you probably need to be a slave to an alarm company that will do it all for you anyway (with an ongoing fee structure that I did not want). Note that I am very technical. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate products that are simple to use. Unfortunately, this one, while basic, is not quite as simple as it seems.
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One Star Reviews:

8%
DEFECTIVE!!!
September 13, 2017
First day the system locked up... sensors wouldn't work, neither would remote control... disconnected power and turned panel off then back on and all seemed ok... the next day the same thing. Keypad would react and allow me to set alarm, but once again none of the sensors communicated with it and neither did the remote. Reset again and seems to be working.

Now an hour later the sensors not functioning again. Relearned them to panel. Worked for another hour and then lost the sensors.

Called customer service number and after 15 minutes decided to leave a voice mail. Will post with their response. No call back, being returned.

I received an email today about my review, asking me if customer service was able to help me... customer service still hasn't called me despite 2 messages left... so they are good and quick at reading the reviews, but not so much having tech support call back...
Finding all kinds of fun I have struggled with this device installation procedure for ...
July 19, 2017
Finding all kinds of fun I have struggled with this device installation procedure for several days now with no results I'm totally confused there is a problem with compatibility of my existing home telephone system wiring and I am really frustrated so I am in consideration of returning this device for refund it was packaged very well but it's just too complicated to for me to install please advise thank you
This system is complete and total crap so if you want to feel totally ripped off ...
January 19, 2017
This system is complete and total crap so if you want to feel totally ripped off and purchase complete crap-have at it. Installed this system 4 months ago and in that time, 7 entrance sensors have gone bad ( red light stays on and won't shut off until battery dies) and 2 motion sensors have gone bad leaving most of my home unprotected. The 1st sensor went bad w/ in 30 days. Manufacturer could care less and won't respond to warranty requests. Feel very ripped off for something that was suppose to protect me and my home. Absolute waste of money. I have enclosed a image of some of the faulty sensors.
This system is absolute joke. The keypad has an ...
June 11, 2016
This system is absolute joke. The keypad has an on/off switch. So all intruder needs to do it to turn it off - no code needed. You of course can choose to hide the system... but in this case intruder will only need to follow the hard-wired siren to find the keypad and turn it OFF. Done.
One Star
September 29, 2015
Sensor stopped working after only 2 months of use, of course warranty is only 30 days.
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Pricing info
Old Price
Old Price
$14.99
Price
Price
$229.99updated: Mar 18, 2020
$16.99updated: Mar 13, 2020
$26.99updated: Mar 13, 2020
$14.99updated: Mar 13, 2020
Features
Article Number
Article Number
0661791009636
0615020132770
0615020134033
0615020139250
Brand
Brand
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Currency
Currency
USD
USD
USD
USD
Height
Height
185.0 in
31.5 in
70.9 in
19.7 in
Length
Length
547.2 in
118.1 in
204.7 in
106.3 in
Manufacturer
Manufacturer
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
MPN
MPN
ALMS02-MX15
S02Contact
S02Motion
S02Remote
Number of Parts
Number of Parts
ALMS02-MX15
S02Contact
S02Motion
S02Remote
Product Group
Product Group
Photography
CE
CE
CE
Product Type
Product Type
NETWORKING_DEVICE
HOME_LIGHTING_ACCESSORY
HOME_LIGHTING_ACCESSORY
HOME_LIGHTING_ACCESSORY
Publisher
Publisher
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Quantity
Quantity
1
1
1
1
Reviews
Reviews
-
-
Studio
Studio
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Fortress Security Store
Weight
Weight
18.3 oz
0.2 oz
1.2 oz
0.2 oz
Width
Width
484.3 in
78.7 in
122.0 in
63.0 in
Feature
Feature

Home security system complete with fully programmable main unit and sensors

Auto-dialer function will call up to 6 designated phone numbers in case of a security breach

Door/Window contacts detect any forceful break-in

Passive motion sensors detect any suspicious movement or activity

Loud, outdoor 140dB alarm alerts neighbors and deters potential intruders

Designed to detect a window or door being opened.

Totally wireless : communicates remotely with the S02 / GSM central system

Attaches to any door or window

Requires one 23A battery

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