Walk into any Perth hardware store and you will find Wi-Fi alarm systems for $200-$400. They look professional, they connect to your phone, and they are easy to install yourself. So why would anyone spend more on an Ajax system?

The answer is not marketing. It is radio frequency, backup communication, and what happens when an intruder knows what they are doing.

The Problem With Wi-Fi Alarms

Wi-Fi alarms use your home 2.4GHz network, the same frequency as your microwave, your neighbour's router, and dozens of other household devices. This creates two real problems.

First, reliability. Busy RF environments cause false alarms and missed alerts. Anyone who has had a motion sensor trigger at 2am because the neighbour got a new router understands this frustration.

Second, and more serious: Wi-Fi alarms can be jammed. A $30 device from the internet can flood the 2.4GHz band and render most consumer Wi-Fi alarms completely silent. There are entire forums dedicated to this. Professional burglars know it.

How Ajax is Different

Ajax operates on 868MHz, a band set aside for security systems, not shared with household Wi-Fi. The Jeweller radio protocol that Ajax developed is encrypted and independently tested. More importantly, Ajax actively detects jamming attempts and alerts you immediately if someone tries to block the signal.

The hub also has two paths out: Ethernet, plus a slot for a mobile SIM card as backup. If your internet goes down, or an intruder cuts your router power, the system automatically switches to cellular. The alarm keeps working and keeps talking to your phone. Full detail on how the Ajax ecosystem fits together (hub, sensors and app) is covered on our main Ajax alarm systems page, along with our installed Ajax package prices.

Is Ajax Worth the Extra Cost in Perth?

For most Perth homes, the honest answer is: it depends on what you are protecting and what you are worried about.

If you are in a low-crime suburb and mainly want reassurance while you are on holiday, a quality Wi-Fi system does the job. If you are in a higher-risk area, have valuables worth protecting, or own a business, the Ajax reliability advantage really counts.

The cost difference is real: a professionally installed Ajax Baseline system costs several times what an off-the-shelf Wi-Fi kit does. But the Ajax system will still be working reliably in ten years. Many clients also choose to pair their alarm with CCTV cameras for visual verification alongside detection.

What We Recommend

We install both, and we will tell you straight which one suits your situation. We are not going to oversell an Ajax system to someone who does not need it. If a quality Wi-Fi system covers your needs, we will say so.

For the questions people ask before choosing Ajax, such as open windows, pets, night use and hacking, see is Ajax a good alarm system. What any alarm does when the internet drops is covered in what happens when the power or internet goes out.

What we do recommend for everyone is professional installation over DIY, regardless of brand. Sensor positioning, hub placement, and proper zone configuration make a bigger difference to system effectiveness than most people realise. See our full range of electrical services and security systems for everything else we cover beyond alarms. Which Ajax line suits which property is covered in Ajax Superior or Baseline.

Still deciding whether you need an alarm at all? The WA burglary figures and what deters burglars are worth a look first.