Ajax Wireless vs Wired Alarm Systems: An Engineer's Comparison
Jeweller wireless, Fibra wired, or a classic hardwired panel — the right choice depends on the building, not the brand. Here's how to weigh installation effort, RF range, and maintenance before you specify.
How to decide
Assess the building type
Renovation and retrofit projects favour wireless Jeweller devices — no chasing walls, no cable runs through finished surfaces.
Map RF conditions on site
Do a signal-strength survey before finalising sensor placement. The ~2 km Jeweller range is an open-field, line-of-sight figure — indoors it drops with every wall, floor slab and metal cabinet in the path.
Weigh installation vs maintenance load
Wired systems and Fibra need no battery checks but cost more in cable-pulling labour; battery-powered Jeweller devices install fast but need periodic battery checks.
Match the hub to the mix
If the site needs both wired and wireless devices — say, hardwired detectors in a server room plus wireless sensors elsewhere — Hub Hybrid supports Jeweller and Fibra on one system.
Wireless, wired, or both
Jeweller open-field range
The line-of-sight figure Ajax states for its wireless protocol — real indoor range is always lower and depends on walls and materials, so plan around a site survey, not the spec sheet.
Installation speed
Jeweller wireless sensors mount without cable runs, which speeds up installation and retrofit work; wired systems and Fibra require planned cable routes.
RF interference immunity
Wired systems and Fibra are immune to radio interference by design; wireless Jeweller devices depend on a clean RF environment and careful site placement.
Maintenance profile
Battery-powered Jeweller devices need periodic battery checks; wired detectors and Fibra devices draw power from the bus and have no battery schedule to manage.
Relocating sensors later
Wireless sensors can be moved to a new position in minutes; relocating a wired or Fibra detector means re-running cable.
Alarm verification
MotionCam detectors capture a photo on an alarm event, using Wings to transmit it quickly — useful for confirming whether an alarm is real before dispatch, on either wireless or Fibra-equipped hubs.
What we assess on site
Before recommending wireless, wired, or a hybrid setup, our engineers look at the whole picture.
- Building type and retrofit constraints
- RF site survey and wall/material attenuation
- Cable route availability for wired or Fibra runs
- Maintenance capacity for battery-powered devices
- Hub selection: Hub 2, Hub 2 Plus, or Hub Hybrid for mixed installations
Frequently asked questions
Is Ajax wireless as reliable as a wired alarm system?
Reliability depends on design, not just protocol. Jeweller is engineered for professional use, but any wireless system depends on RF conditions on site; a wired system or Fibra removes that variable at the cost of more disruptive installation.
Does the 2 km Jeweller range apply inside a building?
No. That figure is open-field, line-of-sight. Indoors, walls, floor slabs and metal enclosures reduce range, so placement should always be confirmed with a signal-strength check on site, not assumed from the spec sheet.
What is Fibra, and when should I use it?
Fibra is Ajax's own wired protocol for detectors and modules. It suits sites where cabling already exists, where wireless isn't appropriate, or where you want wired reliability within the Ajax ecosystem.
Can wireless and wired devices work on the same system?
Yes — Hub Hybrid supports both Jeweller wireless devices and Fibra wired devices on one hub, which is useful for mixed sites such as a hardwired server room alongside wireless coverage elsewhere.
Do battery-powered sensors need much maintenance?
They need periodic battery checks, which is a real ongoing task compared with a wired system's zero-battery-maintenance profile — but it's traded off against far faster, less disruptive installation.
Planning a security system upgrade?
Our engineers can assess your site and specify the right mix of wireless, wired, and Fibra devices — talk to us before you commit to a protocol.