Calling for help
a guide to community alarms, 2003
(go to list of report contents)
Basic choices
There are various things to decide when choosing what alarm unit to go for. Here is a run down of some of the basic things to consider. Click on the names of individual models at the end of this page for full details of what it offers. If you're looking at an alarm we have not covered, see checklists for information on what to look out for
Control centre or not?
Do you want your calls to go to a control centre (where there will be staff to answer it round the clock on every day of the year) or to friends and relatives directly? For more about this see Who will answer your calls?
A built-in phone or not?
An alarm with a built-in telephone can replace your existing phone. Of the models tested, only the BT alarm units had built-in handsets (see In Touch 1000, In Touch 2000 and the In Touch package). They also had a range of push button features - some people might find all the buttons a bit daunting.
The In Touch 1000 has a built-in phone
If your current telephone has features that you need, such as good volume controls or large numbers, and you find it easy to use, go for an alarm-only unit, and plug your phone into it.
Type of speech system
With all the units tested you could speak with the person answering your alarm call without picking up a phone. If your hearing is good, you don't have to be very close to the unit to do this.
If you are hard of hearing, you are likely to need a unit with alarm
speech volume rated at 
or .
See the test results for any model you are interested in. As well as a
volume control on the alarm unit, the centre will be able to adjust the
loudness of their speech for you. Those that did well for loudness in
our tests were:
Antenna Princess AP1000
Antenna AP2000
CareSec
Homelink Extra II
Horizon II
IntelliLink
Sayphone
In Touch 1000
In Touch 2000
Depending on the centre that you use, most alarm units can provide full two-way speech, like speaking on an ordinary telephone. With some alarms the centre has to switch between speaking and listening, which means you have to wait before you can speak. The test results tell you which speech system each alarm had. Most alarms offered two-way speech and switchable speech. With these alarms what you get depends on the alarm centre.
Answering ordinary calls with the trigger
The alarm-only units had a socket to plug in an ordinary telephone. With almost all of these you can answer an ordinary phone call by pressing on the portable trigger - without having to go to the phone and pick up the receiver. This means that if you are near the alarm unit, you can talk to the caller through the speech link - you do not have to pick up the handset. All the units tested did this except the Homelink Extra II.
Making an alarm call
All the alarms tested had an alarm button on the unit - useful if you are not wearing your portable trigger. Make sure you can see and press it easily. If you are fairly able, the test results give a general ease of use rating for this button. They also give separate ratings for people who have a weak or painful grip, a visual impairment or a severe or profound hearing loss. The test results for each alarm give full details, but those which did best for this were the CareSec, IntelliLink, In Touch 1000 and In Touch 2000.
All units reassure you that the call is going through with small lights, beeps, recorded speech or a text message.
Power cuts and other faults
All the alarm units need to be plugged into the mains and a telephone socket, and all had back-up batteries in case the mains failed, though some lasted much longer than others. Visual or audio warnings were given if the power or phone lines failed. These were in the form of lights, beeps, recorded speech or text messages. Built-in handsets, or a phone plugged into the unit, will continue to work without mains or battery power. The units automatically dialled out to tell the centre of a power failure.
All the units could still make an alarm call if the plugged-in or built-in phone was off the hook, but most could not call if a different extension phone was off the hook. Some units alerted the telephone user by sending tones down the line.
Some manufacturers told us their units have not been tested to work with the services now offered by telecom complanies, such as voicemail, call diversion or call barring. If you or your helpers subscribe to these, check with the alarm centre that the system will work.
Triggers
Portable triggers
This is probably the most important part of the system. Always try out a portable trigger before you accept it. Make sure it is comfortable to wear and move about with, and that you can set it off with a light touch.
Choose a portable trigger
that you find
comfortable to wear
The test results for individual models tell you how easy each trigger was to use. Triggers which did best were those supplied with the following units:
Homelink Extra II (using trigger
2)
Lifeline 400
LIfeline 4000+
In Touch 1000
In Touch 2000
When you have a system installed, try setting off the alarm with the portable trigger from around your house and from the bottom of your garden. The operating ranges we have given have been supplied by manufacturers and are outdoor distances - indoor ranges are shorter.
Check that the portable trigger will work from your garden
Extra triggers
You can have extra triggers fitted around the home to alert your helpers or a call centre without you pressing your portable trigger or the unit button. You may have to pay more for these. They can be connected by wire to the unit or some work by radio, with no wires. They include wall buttons and pull cords, and also sensors that set off the alarm if, for example, there is a fire or gas leak. A few units can be used to control systems in your home, such as opening a door by pressing the button. A list of those available with each model is given with the test results.
Most of the units also had a built-in habit cycle alarm, so an alarm call is sent if you are not up and around. The unit dials out if you don't press one of the buttons or lift the phone handset within a programmed time.
Report Contents
About alarms
What
is a community alarm?
How
does an alarm work?
Basic
choices
Who
will receive your calls?
Where can you get an alarm?
Alarms on test
Models tested
Antenna
Princess AP1000
Antenna
AP2000
CareSec
Homelink
Extra II
Horizon
II
IntelliLink
Lifeline
400
Lifeline
4000
LIfeline
4000+D
Lifeline
TalkBack trigger
S11
Carephone
Sayphone
In
Touch 1000
In
Touch 2000
In
Touch 2000 Package
Other information
Using
an alarm
Checklists
of things to look for
Alarms
in the future
Acknowledgements
Contact
details
