Ajax MotionProtect vs Pyronix KX: Which Wireless PIR for UK Intruder Installs
Wireless intruder kit gets specified twice in every quote we see: once by the panel vendor and once by the customer who has already heard of one of the brands. In the UK Ajax and Pyronix dominate that decision. Both are excellent platforms, both are PD 6662:2017 compliant when designed to grade, and both can be ordered from Netview the same day. The interesting question is not which is "better" - it is which PIR sits behind which panel for which site.
At a glance
- Panels: Pyronix Enforcer V11 (ENF32UK-WE) supports 32 wireless zones + 2 wired, expandable to 66; Ajax Hub 2 Plus supports up to 200 Ajax devices.
- Basic PIR: Ajax MotionProtect U Jeweller covers up to 12 m indoor; Pyronix KX10DP-WE covers up to 10 m pet-tolerant; KX12DT-WE pushes to 12 m dual-tech.
- Dual-tech PIR+MW: Ajax MotionProtect Plus U Jeweller (K-band MW) up to 12 m; Pyronix KX10DTP3-WE (X-band MW) up to 10 m.
- Where they diverge: Ajax MotionCam adds photo verification on alarm - Pyronix has no two-way wireless equivalent. Pyronix KX25LR-WE pushes a single PIR curtain to 25 m for long corridors.
- Outdoor: Ajax MotionProtect Outdoor (15 m, dual PIR + LISA + anti-masking); Pyronix XDL12TT3-WE (12 m external dual-tech).
- UK trade buying: Both ranges held in stock at Netview Leicester - 01163 800 838 for trade pricing.
Why this decision sits with the installer, not the customer
The PIR is the workhorse of every intruder install. It triggers more alarms than every other detector type combined, so its sensitivity, false-alarm behaviour and battery life set the long-tail support cost of the whole system. Customers almost never spec a particular PIR by name - they ask for an alarm "like the one their neighbour has" and the installer chooses the platform. That puts the decision squarely on the trade side, which is why Netview holds both ranges deep enough for same-day dispatch from Leicester.
Both ranges are mature. Pyronix has been refining the KX line for over a decade and the current two-way wireless variants drop straight into the Pyronix Enforcer V11 ENF32UK-WE panel. Ajax has rebuilt the wireless intruder category around the Jeweller protocol and the Hub 2 Plus Jeweller panel, with MotionProtect Plus U and MotionCam adding dual-technology and photo verification respectively. The choice is about platform fit, not detector quality.
The headline differences in 30 seconds
Ajax wins on app polish, photo verification on alarm, and the breadth of the device catalogue - 200+ devices on a single Hub 2 Plus, scenarios, and the cleanest customer-facing app on the market. Pyronix wins on built-in keypad + prox reader on the panel itself (no separate arming station needed for many small jobs), familiar Enforcer programming for engineers who have run Pyronix for years, and the long-range KX25LR-WE PIR curtain which has no Ajax equivalent. Hardware-wise both detectors are excellent - the choice comes down to which ecosystem you want to support across the install base.
The control panel decides everything else
You cannot mix Ajax detectors with a Pyronix panel or vice versa - the Jeweller and the Pyronix two-way wireless protocols are proprietary. So the panel decision locks in the detector range.
Pyronix Enforcer V11 (ENF32UK-WE)
The ENF32UK-WE is an all-in-one control panel with built-in keypad, prox reader and onboard Wi-Fi for connection to the Pyronix HomeControl+ cloud app. Per the Pyronix Enforcer V11 datasheet, the panel supports 32 wireless zones plus 2 wired onboard, expandable to 66 zones (32+34) via wired expanders; 4 areas; up to 80 user codes; 4 arming stations; 2 bells; 4 wireless speakers; 32 wireless keyfobs. Communication is two-way 868 MHz narrow band with signal-strength and jamming detection. Plug-and-play kits include ENF/KIT1-UK (smaller installs), ENF/KIT3-UK (mid-density), and ENF/KIT5-UK (larger jobs).
Ajax Hub 2 family
Three indoor Hub 2 variants are stocked at Netview: Hub 2 (2G) Jeweller (Ethernet + 2G), Hub 2 (4G) Jeweller (Ethernet + 2G/3G/LTE), and the flagship Hub 2 Plus Jeweller (Ethernet + Wi-Fi + LTE). Per the Ajax Hub 2 Plus product page, Hub 2 Plus supports up to 200 Ajax devices and 25 security groups. Communication is the Ajax Jeweller proprietary protocol with up to 2,000 m line-of-sight between the hub and a detector. Pre-built kits include Hub 2 Kit 1 (Hub2 + 2 PIRs + contact + 2 keyfobs + sirens), Hub 2 Kit 3 (with keypad), Hub 2 DD Kit 1 (dual-deck DD variant), and Hub 2 DD Kit 4 (PIR + door + keypad + horn + dual deck).
Indoor PIR detector comparison
Both ranges offer single-technology PIRs and dual-technology PIR+MW detectors. The single-tech detectors are cheaper and lighter on battery; the dual-tech detectors fire only when both the pyroelectric sensor and the microwave sensor agree, which is the right call for spaces with thermal turbulence (radiators, air conditioning, fireplaces, large south-facing windows).
| Detector | Range | Tech | Pet immunity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajax MotionProtect U (White) | 12 m | PIR | Up to 20 kg | Standard indoor rooms on Hub 2 |
| Ajax MotionProtect Plus U (White) | 12 m | PIR + K-band MW | Up to 20 kg | Air-con rooms, plant rooms, sun-flooded glass |
| Ajax MotionCam U PhOD (White) | 12 m | PIR + photo verification | Up to 20 kg | Sites where the customer wants visual confirmation per alarm |
| Pyronix KX10DP-WE | 10 m | PIR | Pet tolerant | Domestic rooms on Enforcer V11 |
| Pyronix KX10DTP3-WE | 10 m | PIR + X-band MW | Pet tolerant | Difficult rooms - boiler rooms, glazed lobbies, light industrial |
| Pyronix KX12DT-WE | 12 m | PIR + X-band MW | Not pet rated | Commercial rooms without animals - offices, warehouses |
| Pyronix KX15DC-WE | 15 m curtain | PIR curtain | N/A | Narrow approach lines: corridors, hallways |
| Pyronix KX25LR-WE | 25 m long curtain | PIR long-range curtain | N/A | Long corridors, perimeter walls, warehouse aisles - no Ajax equivalent |
Dual-technology when you actually need it
The dual-tech detectors get specified where a single PIR will false-trigger. Ajax MotionProtect Plus U pairs the pyroelectric sensor with a K-band microwave; per the Ajax MotionProtect Plus product page, the microwave is activated solely to confirm a PIR alarm. Pyronix KX series datasheets describe the X-band DRO microwave used in their dual-tech KX detectors and an AND/OR mode that lets the installer choose whether both technologies must trip or either is enough.
The practical guidance is the same on both platforms: spec dual-tech only where you have repeated false-alarm sources you cannot otherwise mitigate. In a normal domestic lounge a single-tech PIR like the Ajax MotionProtect U or Pyronix KX10DP-WE is the right call - cheaper, longer battery life, and fewer mounting constraints because microwaves are sensitive to large metal objects in the field of view.
Pet immunity - apples to apples
Both ranges support pets up to 20 kg if you spec the right detector. On the Ajax side, MotionProtect U and MotionProtect Plus U both have configurable pet immunity in the app - the curtain detectors (DualCurtain Outdoor, MotionProtect Curtain) do not. On the Pyronix side, the KX10DP-WE and KX10DTP3-WE are the pet-tolerant pair; KX12DT-WE is not pet rated. The Pyronix selection is more about picking the SKU that matches the pet requirement up front; the Ajax flow is to spec the regular MotionProtect and enable pet immunity in the Ajax PRO app per detector.
Outdoor PIR options
This is where the platforms diverge most clearly. Ajax leads on the outdoor catalogue:
- Ajax MotionProtect Outdoor (White) - 15 m adjustable range, dual independent PIR sensors with the LISA processing algorithm, anti-masking, -25 °C to +60 °C operating range, five-year battery, anti-painting and anti-blocking, per the Ajax MotionProtect Outdoor product page.
- Ajax DualCurtain Outdoor - two opposing curtain lenses for perimeter walls and fence lines (no Pyronix wireless equivalent).
- Ajax MotionCam Outdoor - outdoor photo-by-alarm, plus PhOD variants MotionCam Outdoor PhOD and HighMount PhOD.
On the Pyronix side, the outdoor wireless option is the XDL12TT3-WE - a 12 m external dual-tech detector. For perimeter coverage beyond that the Pyronix story shifts to wired external detectors hung off Enforcer V11's 2 onboard wired zones (or a wired expander). If the brief is "an outdoor garden detector that talks to the panel over the air", Ajax simply has more options.
Visual verification - the Ajax wedge
The Ajax MotionCam family is where Ajax pulls clearest air over Pyronix. The MotionCam U Jeweller and MotionCam U PhOD detectors take a short photo burst on alarm and send it to the Ajax app and the monitoring station, so the customer (and the ARC operator) can confirm a real event before sending a key-holder. Per the Ajax Hub 2 product page, "the system supports photo confirmation of the MotionCam motion sensor alarms." Variants in stock:
- MotionCam U Jeweller - photo on alarm, white.
- MotionCam U PhOD Jeweller - photo on demand, white.
- MotionCam Jeweller - the original (pre-U) variant with visual verification.
Pyronix has no two-way wireless equivalent in the Enforcer V11 ecosystem. If the customer wants visual verification on a Pyronix install, the standard pattern is to pair the alarm with a separate Hikvision IP camera system (Pyronix is a Hikvision-owned brand) and use Hik-Connect on the side. That works, but it is two apps and two platforms for the end user.
Wireless protocol and signal range
Both protocols are two-way (the panel acknowledges every device transmission and the device confirms commands). Both run in the 868 MHz band, both include jamming detection and signal strength reporting, and both support frequency-hopping to dodge interference. The differences are at the edges:
- Range: Ajax Jeweller advertises up to 2,000 m line-of-sight hub-to-detector per the Hub 2 Plus product page. Pyronix Enforcer V11 specifies a 200 m wireless range per device per the Enforcer V11 datasheet. In real masonry buildings both will comfortably cover any single-property install; for multi-building sites Ajax has range-extender (ReX) options that lift coverage further.
- Capacity: Hub 2 Plus supports up to 200 Ajax devices; Enforcer V11 caps at 32 wireless zones natively, 64 with expanders.
- App polish: Ajax wins comfortably on app UI and engineer tooling. The Pyronix HomeControl+ app is functional but the Ajax PRO app is the better day-to-day tool for managing a fleet of customers.
Site-selection rules of thumb
These apply to both platforms - a wireless PIR is a wireless PIR.
- Mounting height 2.0 - 2.4 m. Above 2.4 m the lower edge of the PIR's vertical fan can clear a crouched intruder.
- Avoid mounting opposite radiators, AC vents, fan heaters and sun-flooded windows. If you cannot avoid it, spec the dual-tech variant (MotionProtect Plus U or KX10DTP3-WE).
- Pet-immunity is not magic. Cats jumping onto sofa backs, large dogs on stairs, and small dogs on raised platforms all break the height assumption the pet algorithm relies on. Brief the customer about the failure modes.
- Walk-test every detector before sign-off. Both panels expose a walk-test mode; do it in the same lighting and HVAC state the system will actually live in.
- For curtain detectors, mount on the door frame side, not opposite the door. A curtain detector pointing across a doorway sees a person passing through; one looking at the door itself only fires when the door swings.
PD 6662:2017 grade compliance
Both Ajax and Pyronix wireless ranges are PD 6662:2017 / BS EN 50131 graded - Grade 2 is the most common on UK domestic and small commercial installs, and the bulk of the Enforcer V11 and Hub 2 catalogues sit at Grade 2. Per the NSI Technical Bulletin on PD 6662:2017, dual technology and PIR detectors are both acceptable inputs to a Grade 2 confirmed-alarm signalling chain so long as the rest of the system - panel, signalling, power supply - is rated to the same grade. For higher-risk sites at Grade 3 you need to spec specific Grade 3 SKUs from either range and validate the full signalling path; Ajax has the wider Grade 3 catalogue.
Three reference site BoMs
Worked examples for the three most common UK install profiles we ship into.
| Profile | Ajax BoM | Pyronix BoM |
|---|---|---|
| 3-bed domestic 4 PIRs, 1 door contact, app + keyfob | Hub 2 Kit 1 (2 PIR + contact + 2 keyfobs) + 2 × MotionProtect U | ENF/KIT1-UK + 2 × KX10DP-WE + KEYFOB-WE |
| Small retail unit 6 PIRs (1 dual-tech for storeroom), keypad, photo verification | Hub 2 Kit 3 (with keypad) + 2 × MotionCam U PhOD + MotionProtect Plus U for storeroom | ENF/KIT3-UK + 2 × KX12DT-WE + KX10DTP3-WE for storeroom (visual verification via separate Hikvision IP system) |
| Commercial unit with yard 8 indoor PIRs, 2 outdoor PIRs, anti-masking, keypad arming | Hub 2 Plus + 6 × MotionProtect Plus U + 2 × MotionProtect Outdoor + DualCurtain Outdoor | ENF/KIT5-UK + 4 × KX12DT-WE + 2 × KX10DTP3-WE + 2 × XDL12TT3-WE + KX25LR-WE for long approach |
Integrating legacy wired sensors
Both platforms can absorb existing wired sensors during a panel swap, which matters on refurb jobs.
- Ajax: the MultiTransmitter Jeweller bridges up to 18 third-party wired detectors onto the Jeweller bus. Useful when you are taking over a building with serviceable wired PIRs you do not want to replace today.
- Pyronix: Enforcer V11 has 2 wired zones onboard plus expander options to reach the 66-zone hybrid maximum. Wiring continuity and end-of-line resistors stay the same as on the EURO panel range.
Decision shortcut
If the customer wants visual verification on alarm, the cleanest app experience, and the option to scale to dozens of devices on a single panel - go Ajax. If the customer wants a familiar two-way Pyronix system with a long-range curtain option and the panel itself acts as the keypad and prox reader for a small install - go Pyronix Enforcer V11. Hardware quality and PD 6662 compliance are not the deciding factors; both are excellent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix Ajax and Pyronix detectors on the same panel?
No. The Jeweller (Ajax) and Pyronix two-way wireless protocols are proprietary and not cross-compatible. You can run both systems in the same building but they will be two independent alarm systems with two separate panels and two separate apps. For a one-app experience you have to commit to one platform.
Which is cheaper to buy as a trade installer?
Per-detector Pyronix KX wireless is typically slightly cheaper than the equivalent Ajax MotionProtect. The total system cost depends on how many devices you need, whether the customer wants visual verification (which is Ajax-only on the wireless side), and whether you can ship a Pyronix kit (ENF/KIT1, KIT3 or KIT5) as the basis of the install. Trade pricing for both ranges is available from Netview - call 01163 800 838 for an account.
Do I need dual-tech detectors for PD 6662 Grade 2?
No. Both single-PIR and PIR+MW dual-tech detectors are acceptable Grade 2 inputs per PD 6662:2017. Single PIR is the default; spec dual-tech only where the room geometry, HVAC or solar gain creates repeated false alarms with single-PIR.
What battery life should I quote the customer?
Ajax MotionProtect Jeweller specifies up to 7 years of battery life on pre-installed batteries per the Ajax product page; MotionCam shorter (around 4 years) because of the photo burst. Pyronix KX wireless detectors run 2-3 years on the standard CR123A. The two-way wireless protocols both use ITDC-style instant wake-up to preserve battery between events. Tell the customer "years, not months" - and run a battery health check at every annual service.
Is there an Ajax equivalent of the Pyronix KX25LR-WE long-range curtain?
Not as a single wireless detector. The closest Ajax options for long approach lines are the MotionProtect Outdoor (15 m) and DualCurtain Outdoor (two opposing 15 m curtains, mostly for fence lines). If the site truly needs a single 25 m wireless curtain - long warehouse aisle, perimeter wall - Pyronix KX25LR-WE has no direct match in the Ajax catalogue.
Can I monitor either platform through an ARC?
Yes. Both panels support standard alarm receiving centre (ARC) signalling - Ajax via the Ajax Translator / Sur-Gard interface, Pyronix Enforcer V11 via the onboard signalling options. Your ARC will tell you which formats they accept; both vendors are well supported across UK monitoring centres.
Need help choosing?
Trade pricing on both ranges - same-day dispatch from Leicester
Netview holds the full Ajax and Pyronix wireless ranges deep enough for same-day dispatch on most lines. Call us on 01163 800 838 for a trade account, or our team will walk a BoM with you for a specific site. We also publish related installer guides on Ajax StarterKit, Ajax fire + intruder compliance, and Ajax HazeFlow 2 fire detection.
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