Alright, let me clear up a few things.
Stay away from the cheap trash that Security Wireless sells, that is money wasted and will leave you without decent security.
Most home owners (and those renting), most of the time only need a basic 8 to 12 zone system. There are kits available to installers from distributors which can include and 8 zone panel, keypad, 2 infrared passives, 2 magnetic contact sets and static panic switch. Ask if you can have a 12A battery instead of 7/8A, the minor change in price is well worth it.
We have found alot of installers dont tell you is that zones can be doubled, e.g 2 passives on a single zone. Talk to the installer about your concerns, make sure he knows your habbits and normal movement within the building at night. You should cover entrances and access to rooms before looking at external beams and passives.
Dodgy installers will tell you that you need a new system to subscribe to their alarm monitoring service (Chubb and ADT techs are sneaky bastards who work on commission, they will take your arm off if you give them a finger) which is very rarely true. What is more important is what reporting language is available on your alarm system. 3 reporting languages are common in SA, being SIA, 4+2 and ContactID. ContactID is the most commonly used and supported (for insurance purposes please make use of it).
As for your alarm systems communications, you have 2 real options. Luckily for you, insurance is usually OK with one or the other but sometimes both are required. These are communication over Telkom landlines and wireless transmitters. Wireless does tend to be more expensive, but functions very well as a backup to landline. If your wireless transmitter does not support ContactID, your reporting codes are severely limited e.g no distinction between activated zones and number of times each zone has been triggered.
If you have chosen communication via landline, please make sure your installer connects the sytem to the landline in an area least likely to be disturbed or unplugged. If you have ADSL, inform the installer of this before you are quoted. This will save you and him/her alot of time and patience.
Always insist that the installer makes provision for enabling and wiring in anti-tamper features your system and its components have available. Stay away from GSM communication, it is OK for making phone calls and sending SMS's, but not realiable enough for security applications. GSM features should only be used to inform you if the system has been triggered while you are away, but please do fight the urge to nag the controllers if they haven't called you yet... they have other signals and clients to attend to.
As far as brands and manufacturers go, Caddx, Paradox and DSC make excellent systems. If you want wireless systems and have the cash to spare... go with the Paradox Magellan systems, otherwise use code hopping transmitters and recievers. You dont want your neighbours remote disarming you alarm system and vice versa
EDIT: Please pay extra attention to your account if you have a prepaid account with Telkom. The last thing you need is to be caught with your pants down because the account has no credit for the system to report signals.
