Tried running a new 4-conductor wire for a keypad versus using the existing 2-conductor and a wireless translator module on a job in Tempe last month.

The wired run took an extra 90 minutes to fish through a finished ceiling, but the zero-latency response and no future battery changes made it the clear winner for that client who wanted absolute reliability, so when do you guys decide to go the extra mile for a hardwired install versus taking the wireless shortcut?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_abby27d ago

Honestly that wireless translator is a game changer. Ninety extra minutes is a huge cost hit for basically no real world difference the client will ever notice. Batteries last years now.

paige_ellis5927d ago

We switched to a wireless model last year and saved almost two hundred bucks per unit. You're right, @the_abby, clients never ask about battery life, they just want it to work out of the box. The old wired ones caused so much hassle during setup that it wasn't worth the minor spec difference. What brand did you end up going with?

kevinc8421d ago

My last attempt at fishing wire through a finished ceiling looked like a one man show at the circus. I spent more time untangling myself from the insulation than actually pulling cable. Sometimes you just have to eat the time for that solid connection, even if the client never knows the difference.