Question 1

Can I install this myself?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every Guardfather system is designed for simple DIY install, with minimal drilling needed for sensor mounting (we provide all screws and wall plugs). Each device in your bundle has its own step-by-step install video, personally walked through by Simon. Most customers have their system fully installed in under an hour.

Question 2

How long does installation take?

Accepted Answer

Most customers have their system fully installed in under an hour. You'll need a drill and a screwdriver. We provide the screws and wall plugs. Each device has its own step-by-step install video to walk you through every step.

Question 3

Is a DIY security system as effective as a professionally installed one?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Guardfather uses the same 868MHz wireless technology and professional-grade components found in installed alarm systems. With our step-by-step guidance on sensor placement, you get reliable, expandable home security at a fraction of the cost, without paying for installation.

Question 4

Is the Guardfather system certified and safe to use in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every Guardfather device carries the CE mark and holds a certificate of conformity under the Radio Equipment Directive, issued after testing by an independent, accredited laboratory. That testing covers radio performance, electromagnetic compatibility and safe radio exposure for every device, including the 868MHz radio your sensors use to talk to the control panel. The control panel has also passed full electrical safety testing to EN IEC 62368-1, including its built-in backup battery. CE marked wireless products are fully recognised for sale in Great Britain, and we hold the certificates of conformity and test reports for all our devices.

It's worth knowing that CE marking is different from the EN 50131 grading used for professionally monitored, police response alarms, which are fitted by NSI or SSAIB approved companies and usually come with a monitoring contract. The Guardfather is a self monitored system: when it's triggered, it sounds the siren built into the control panel and any outdoor sirens, and sends an instant alert straight to your phone through the Guardfather app, all with no monthly fees. If your home insurer asks for a graded or police response alarm, please check with them before you buy.

Question 5

Do I need the control panel for every sensor to work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The control panel is the brain of your Guardfather system. Every sensor, keypad, and siren communicates with it wirelessly over a secure 868MHz radio frequency. Without a control panel, individual components cannot function. Every bundle includes a control panel.

Question 6

Does the alarm rely on internet or Wi-Fi to work?

Accepted Answer

Not once it's set up. You will need a home internet connection to set the system up, because everything is programmed through the free Guardfather app. After that, the alarm itself works independently of the internet. Sensors communicate with the control panel via secure 868MHz radio frequency, the same technology used by professional alarm systems. The internet (by ethernet, Wi-Fi, or both, plus the optional 4G SIM) is then used for sending alerts to your phone and controlling your system from the app. Even if your internet went down, or someone tried to cut your line, the alarm would still detect intrusions, sound the siren, and protect your home.

Question 7

Does the control panel have to sit next to my router?

Accepted Answer

Not any more. The control panel connects to the internet by ethernet cable, Wi-Fi, or both at once. All built in, nothing extra to buy. Use Wi-Fi and you can put the panel wherever suits your home. Prefer a wired connection? Plug it straight into your router. Connect both and you get belt and braces: if your ethernet ever drops, the panel switches to Wi-Fi automatically. Whichever you choose, your sensors, keypad, fobs and siren talk to the panel on their own secure 868MHz radio, so they never depend on your Wi-Fi.

Question 8

Is this a Wi-Fi alarm?

Accepted Answer

No, and the difference matters. In a Wi-Fi alarm, the sensors themselves talk over your home Wi-Fi, so when the Wi-Fi drops, the sensors drop with it. In a Guardfather system, every sensor, the keypad, the fobs and the siren talk to the control panel on their own dedicated 868MHz radio. Wi-Fi is simply one of the ways the panel itself reaches the internet to send alerts to your phone, alongside ethernet and the optional 4G SIM. If your Wi-Fi drops, the alarm still detects, still sounds, and still protects your home.

Question 9

What happens during a power cut?

Accepted Answer

The control panel has a built-in backup battery that keeps your system fully active for at least 12 hours during a power cut. The alarm itself continues to detect intrusions and sound the siren regardless of internet status. If your home internet goes down, the optional 4G SIM module keeps your phone alerts flowing too.

Question 10

I have pets. Will they set off the alarm?

Accepted Answer

Our motion sensors are pet-friendly and designed to ignore animals up to 35kg. We can also advise on sensor placement to ensure your pets don't trigger false alarms.

Question 11

Are there any monthly fees or subscriptions?

Accepted Answer

No. No monthly fees, no subscriptions. You pay once and own your system outright. The app, alerts, and remote control are all free, and even our optional 4G SIM module is a one-time payment.

Question 12

Is there an app?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The free Guardfather app is available on the App Store for iPhone and on Google Play for Android. Use it to set your system up, arm and disarm it, and get instant alerts on your phone, wherever you are.

Question 13

Will I hear an alert if my phone is on silent?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as your phone supports critical alerts, which most modern smartphones do. Critical alerts break through silent mode, so when your alarm is triggered, the Guardfather app alert sounds even if your phone is on silent. Just make sure critical alerts are switched on for the Guardfather app in your phone's notification settings. And whatever your phone is doing, the siren built into the control panel and any outdoor sirens will still sound.

Question 14

Can I expand my system later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The system is fully modular. You can add door/window contacts, motion sensors, smoke sensors, outdoor sirens, key fobs, and more at any time. Visit the Add-Ons section of our site, choose what you need, and the new devices pair with your existing control panel in seconds. No re-setup, no hassle. Your system grows with your home.

Question 15

Where do you deliver to?

Accepted Answer

We currently deliver within the United Kingdom only. Delivery is free on orders of £150 or more, which includes every bundle.

Question 16

How is my order delivered, and how quickly will it arrive?

Accepted Answer

Every order goes by Royal Mail Tracked 24. We post it by the next working day after you order, and Royal Mail aims to deliver the next working day after that, including Saturdays. So if you order on a Monday, you can usually expect it by the Wednesday.

This is Royal Mail's delivery aim rather than a guarantee, and busy periods such as Christmas can add a little time.

Question 17

What if I'm not happy with the system?

Accepted Answer

Every purchase is backed by our 60-day money-back guarantee. If you're not completely satisfied, return it for a full refund, no questions asked.

Question 18

What warranty do I get?

Accepted Answer

Every Guardfather device comes with a 2-year warranty, starting from the day your order is delivered. If a device develops a fault through normal use, just get in touch with your order number and we'll replace it free of charge, postage included. The warranty covers faults with the device itself. It doesn't cover accidental damage (a knock from a hammer during building work, for example), misuse, or batteries that have simply run down over time. On top of the warranty you have our 60-day money-back guarantee, and none of this affects your statutory rights under UK consumer law.

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