This article was machine-translated from French and is being reviewed. Prices are in Algerian dinars excl. VAT.
Wired or wireless alarm: for a shop, villa or office already built, wireless is usually the simplest to install and upgrade. Wired is the natural choice for a building under construction or a large site, avoiding batteries and radio. Neither is perfect. Wireless depends on batteries and radio range. Wired relies on tidy cabling and heavier installation.
In short
- New building or large project: wired is more natural, as cables are laid before finishes.
- Existing space, rental, short deadline: wireless avoids drilling and pulling cables.
- Both require maintenance: batteries and radio signal on one side, cables and connections on the other.
Wired or wireless alarm: the comparison
| Criterion | Wired | Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | No radio. The risk comes from cables: cut, poor contact | Depends on the radio link and batteries |
| Installation | Long: conduits, cables, drilling | Quick: mounting and pairing of detectors |
| New building | Very suitable | Possible when avoiding wiring is desired |
| Renovation, rental | Heavy, sometimes impossible | Suitable |
| Power supply | Detectors receive power via cable | One battery in each detector |
| Interference | Not affected, but a cable may be cut | Radio interference possible |
| Evolution | Each addition requires a cable | Adding a detector without cable |
| Maintenance | Checking connections and the central battery | Battery replacement, signal check |
Installation: new and renovation
In a building under construction, wiring is prepared with conduits before finished walls. Each detector is wired to the control panel by cable. In an already finished room, pulling cables requires cuts, false ceilings or visible channels, and more time on site. In a rented room, it is often impossible. Wireless requires little work. For wired, the store lists a 3‑pair alarm cable.
Power supply, batteries and power cuts
In both cases the control panel is plugged into mains and usually has a backup battery. With wired systems, detectors receive power through cable: no batteries to replace.
In wireless, each detector has its own battery; its autonomy depends on the model and is listed in the manufacturer’s datasheet. Summer heat and an unair‑conditioned room wear it out faster. A weak battery first triggers a fault message, then link loss: see how to avoid false alarms. During a power outage, wireless detectors keep monitoring as long as the backup battery of the control panel lasts. Phone notifications require a powered control panel and an internet link: the router, or mobile network if the panel has a SIM card, depending on the model.
Interference, range and limits of each solution
Wireless: frequency and jamming. Wireless alarms use a dedicated frequency, 433 MHz or 868 MHz depending on the brand and reference (see Ajax or Dahua). A radio link can be deliberately disrupted or accidentally. Some control panels report a loss of link or jamming: ask about the chosen range.
Wireless: range. The range advertised by the manufacturer is measured in open space. Reinforced concrete, thick walls, metal shutters and cold rooms reduce it. A repeater extends the range. The Dahua ARA43‑W2 repeater costs 29,000 DA HT (price on asloitech.com 06/11/2026, subject to availability). The Ajax REX repeater, at 21,500 DA HT, was out of stock. For a warehouse, test the range on site before any commitment.
Wired: cables. A cable can be cut, gnawed or pulled out during work. It can also oxidise. On an already wired site, finding a fault takes time. In most wired control panels, a line break triggers an auto‑protection alarm or fault, limiting the risk.
In both cases, the alarm signals an intrusion. It does not prevent it.
Evolution, maintenance and cost
Adding a wireless detector does not require cable, within the number of devices allowed by the panel. In wired systems, the number of zones is limited, and each addition costs wiring. Nothing forbids combining both: wired detectors on main doors, wireless in hard‑to‑reach places, if the panel accepts both.
A wired contact generally costs less than a wireless detector, but wiring and labor reduce the gap. The magnetic contact ECM, a metal shoe type, costs 2,200 DA HT. The Dahua wireless opening detector ARD323‑W2 costs 8,000 DA HT. The difference is 8,000 − 2,200 = 5,800 DA HT per door. This calculation compares the price of two devices, excluding cable or contact installation, and assumes the contact suits the door and chosen central. The 06/11/2026 survey does not reference a wired central: its price is on quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is wireless less secure than wired?
Not necessarily. It has other weaknesses: radio and batteries. It also has strengths: no cable to cut, easy addition. A well-installed system with monitored batteries and tested range suits most businesses. For a sensitive or very large site, discuss it during the visit.
Can you switch from wired to wireless later?
It depends on the control panel. Some accept both types of detectors, others do not. Ask before buying.
Do batteries require a lot of maintenance?
No, but they must exist. Check battery level at each service visit and after hot months.
AsloTech holds type I approval No. 207 dated March 17, 2025 from the Ministry of Interior (extent of approval). To find which solution fits your premises, request a visit: discover our intrusion and fire alarm solution, compare Ajax and Dahua or consult the alarm and fire category in the shop.