How to fit a wireless alarm yourself

Before you start

• Your home internet. Everything is set up through the free Guardfather app, so you need a home internet connection to set the system up.
• The Guardfather app. Scan the barcode on the paperwork in any of the boxes and it takes you straight to the App Store or Google Play. Download the app and create your account.
• A drill and a screwdriver. Screws and wall plugs come in the box. The control panel, keypad and door contacts can go up with the sticky pads provided instead, if you'd rather not drill.
• A plan. Put each device in the room it's going in before you start. If you haven't planned it yet, my guide on how to choose a home alarm shows what goes where in a typical house.

The order that works best: add each device in the app first, then fit it to the wall. It only takes a few seconds per device, and it's easier with the device in your hand.

Step 1: The control panel

1. 1.Slide the cover off the back of the control panel.
2. 2.Plug in the power adapter, then plug the ethernet cable from your router into the panel. It clicks in.
3. 3.If you've ordered our 4G SIM, it slots into the back of the panel too. Check it's the right way round before you push it in.
4. 4.Hold the power button on the back for a couple of seconds, then give the panel a minute to get online.
5. 5.Open the app and tap Add panel. Give it a name, like Home, tap the barcode scanner, scan the barcode on the back of the panel and tap Confirm.

The panel can sit on a surface near your router, be screwed to the wall, or go up with the sticky pads. Whichever you choose, the front clicks onto the back plate.

Before you add anything else, check the panel is up to date: open the Device tab, tap your control panel, tap the settings cog in the top right, then tap Firmware upgrade. If it says it's the latest version, you're all up to date. If not, tap upgrade and leave automatic upgrade switched on.

Watch: how to fit the control panel

Step 2: Add each device in the app

It's the same few taps for every device:

1. 1.Power the device up. Most have a plastic slip in the battery compartment to pull out. The outdoor siren has a red power button instead.
2. 2.In the app, open the Device tab, then tap Add device and Add sub device.
3. 3.Give it a name you'll recognise, like Front door or Kitchen motion.
4. 4.Tap the barcode scanner and scan the barcode on the device.
5. 5.Choose the room, and the group. The first time, create a room (Home is fine) and a group called Alarm devices.
6. 6.Tap Confirm, then hold the device's learn button (below) until the app says Success.

Where the learn button is:

• Touchscreen keypad: hold the star and back buttons together (bottom left and bottom right)
• Door/window contact: hold the LED button
• Pet-friendly motion sensor: hold the LED button at the top
• Outdoor motion sensor: hold the button on the back, next to the batteries
• Smoke Sensor: hold the middle button
• Outdoor siren: hold the button on the back
• Key fob: hold the set and unset buttons together until it flashes

Step 3: Fit each device

Every device has its own short video, so you can watch just the one you're fitting. They're all together in my install videos playlist.

Touchscreen keypad. In the hallway, by the door you use most. Screw it to the wall, or put the sticky pads into the squares on the back plate, wipe the wall clean, and press it on for a few seconds. Peel off the protective film and you're done. Watch: how to fit the keypad

Door and window contacts. The small magnet goes on the door and the contact goes on the frame. If your door won't allow that, swap them round; either way works. The sticky pads are made to size, or you can screw them on. They don't need to touch, so a small gap is fine. Then check in the app: tap the device in your device list and it should say the detector is closed and the tamper is closed. Open the door and it should change to opened. Watch: how to fit door and window contacts

Pet-friendly motion sensors. Screw the back plate to the wall, then push the sensor in with the Guardfather logo at the bottom and the light at the top. You'll hear it click. Keep it level. It looks down by itself, so don't tilt it down; just turn it left or right to face the room. Watch: how to fit a pet-friendly motion sensor

Outdoor motion sensor. Screw the back plate to the wall at about head height and slide the sensor down onto it. Point it at open space, like a back garden or a side path, with nothing big in the way, such as a tree. Never point it at a drive, or it'll pick up the postman and every delivery. Watch: how to fit an outdoor motion sensor

Smoke Sensor. Twist it off its back plate, screw the plate to the ceiling, then put the sensor back on and twist it to the right until it clicks. It has a test button too. Watch: how to fit a Smoke Sensor

Outdoor siren. On the front of the house, where it can be seen. Screw the back plate to the wall so it's secure and flat, but don't overtighten it. Slot the siren onto the plate and push it down. The lights blink to tell you it's fitted properly, and they keep blinking every few seconds afterwards so anyone looking knows the house is protected. Watch: how to fit the outdoor siren

Key fob. Nothing to fit. Pop it on your keys. It has full set, stay set (for nights), unset and an SOS button. Watch: how to set up the key fob

Step 4: Check everything works

• Check every device. In your device list, every door contact should say closed, and nothing should say tamper open.
• Walk round the house. Open each door and walk past each motion sensor, and watch the app pick it up.
• Set it and unset it. Try a full set, a stay set and unset, from the app, the keypad and the key fob, so everyone in the house knows how.
• Get everyone the alerts. Everyone in your household can have their own account on the app, so everyone gets the alerts. Make sure notifications are on for the Guardfather app, and critical alerts too if your phone supports them, so an alarm alert sounds even with your phone on silent.

Optional: Wi-Fi and the 4G SIM

Wi-Fi. You can keep the panel plugged into your router, or connect it to Wi-Fi so you can move it somewhere more convenient. You can use both, so it switches to Wi-Fi by itself if the cable ever drops. Select your control panel, open the Device tab, tap your control panel, tap the settings cog in the top right, tap WiFi, then enter your Wi-Fi network name and password and tap Save.

Our 4G SIM. Once it's in the back of the panel, open the Device tab, tap your control panel, tap the settings cog in the top right and tap Cellular network. Check the APN reads it.1nce.net, leave everything else as it is, and tap Save.

Your own voice SIM. If you'd like the panel to ring and text you when the alarm goes off, you can fit your own voice SIM instead. Any cost for that is between you and your network.

If something isn't right

• A motion sensor or the siren says "tamper open". It's almost always the bracket or the cover. Make sure the motion sensor has clicked fully into its back plate, or the siren is pushed all the way down onto its plate.
• A door contact says open when the door's shut. The magnet is too far from the contact, or not lined up with it. Move it closer and check the app again.
• The siren shows an "AC" warning. Check the panel is up to date (Firmware upgrade, in Step 1).
• The 4G SIM isn't connecting. Check the SIM is the right way round, then check the APN reads it.1nce.net (above).
• A motion sensor goes off with your pets about. Keep the sensor level and don't tilt it down. Don't point it at stairs or furniture your pet climbs on: a pet up high looks bigger to the sensor.
• Alerts aren't coming through. Check notifications are switched on for the Guardfather app in your phone's settings.
• Still stuck? Message me on WhatsApp or email. I'll talk you through it, or log in and set it up for you.

Going further: group sets

Want the garage, shed or garden protected while you're at home? Group sets let you put the outside sensors in their own group and set just that group, so you can potter round the house while the outside is protected. Watch: how to use group sets

Watch: the full install, start to finish

Watch on YouTube

Every device added in the app first, then fitted, just like this guide. It's a long one, so use the chapters to jump to the device you're on.