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Delkim Txi-D v2 Presentation Set
Delkim's flagship piezo vibration alarm with 32 tones, six LED colours and the Rx-D v2 receiver.
View full specs (Delkim Txi-D v2 Presentation Set)Independent UK bite alarm guides
Bite alarms, compared spec by spec
How modern alarms sense a take, what every number on the spec sheet means, and side-by-side specifications for Delkim, Fox, Nash, Wolf, Steve Neville and the rest of the UK market.
- 16 alarms, 12 brands
- Specs from makers and UK stockists
- No paid rankings
- Affiliate links always disclosed
What is a bite alarm?
A bite alarm is an electronic device that sits under a fishing rod and sounds when the line moves. It lets carp, tench, barbel and other specimen anglers fish static baits for hours, often overnight, without watching the rod tip.
The rod rests in a V-shaped cradle on top of the alarm, and the line runs across a sensor: usually a magnetic roller wheel, or a piezo vibration sensor on Delkim alarms. Movement becomes a bleep and an LED, with a different tone when a fish swims towards you.
Most modern alarms also transmit by radio to a receiver in the bivvy, and the newest add rechargeable power, smarter sensing and anti-theft alerts.
Bite alarm guides
From how an alarm senses a take to setting it up, choosing one and reading the spec sheet.
01
How bite alarms work
A bite alarm turns movement of your line into sound and light. Here is what happens…
02
Comparison table
Sixteen alarms from twelve brands in one table: sensing method, power, receiver and…
03
Specs explained
Sensitivity settings, magnets, latching times, range claims and battery types: a…
04
Roller wheel vs vibration
Roller wheel, vibration, dual sensing and speed sensing all work, but they behave…
05
How to choose
Five questions narrow the choice fast. Then we suggest alarms at four budgets, from…
06
Receivers and range
A receiver lets you hear a take from your bivvy. Here is how they work, why quoted range…
07
Brands
Twelve brands make most of the bite alarms sold in the UK. Here is what each is known for…
08
Setting up alarms
Step by step: position the alarms, set the line, choose the right indicator weight and…
The technology
How an alarm knows it is a take
Every alarm turns line movement into a signal. How it senses that movement decides how it copes with drop-backs, liners, wind, rain and frost.
Most alarms use a roller wheel. Delkim pioneered vibration sensing, Wolf combines the two, and Nash and Trakker now add processing designed to ignore waves.
Type 1
Roller wheel
Magnets in a wheel pass a sensor as the line turns it. Simple and predictable.
Type 2
Vibration (piezo)
A piezo sensor feels vibration in the line, with no moving parts in the sensing path.
Type 3
Dual and wave sensing
Vibration plus a wheel, or speed and wave processing to filter rough water.
Plus
Wireless receivers
Hear every take in the bivvy, with tone and LED colour copied from each alarm.
Featured alarms
Three flagship approaches: Delkim vibration sensing, Nash speed and wave sensing, and Wolf rechargeable power. Every alarm page has a full spec sheet.
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Nash Siren R4 Bite Alarm
Nash's flagship alarm, built around speed-responsive sensing, with a USB-C rechargeable receiver rated beyond…
View full specs (Nash Siren R4 Bite Alarm)
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Wolf Icon X1 Bite Alarm
A compact UK-made alarm with a 1000 mAh rechargeable battery, USB-C charging and HUBB receiver link.
View full specs (Wolf Icon X1 Bite Alarm)As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some other links on this site are affiliate links too; it never changes the price you pay.
Choosing a bite alarm in four steps
Answer these in order and the shortlist writes itself. Our buying guide covers each step in depth, with suggestions at four budgets.
- 1
Receiver or not?
Overnight or away from the rods? You need transmitting alarms.
- 2
Pick a sensing type
Roller wheel for most; vibration, dual or wave sensing for tough conditions.
- 3
Check the power
PP3, AAA, CR2 or USB-C: match what you already carry.
- 4
Compare the specs
Use our table to compare range, pairing, LEDs and build.
Sixteen alarms, one table
Sensing, power, receiver, range and stand-out features for every alarm we cover, from Delkim and Wolf to Korum and JRC, with a link to each full spec sheet.
Tech news: what's driving the new alarms
All articlesSensing ·
Speed and Wave Sensing: How New Alarms Ignore the Weather
Alarms used to react to any movement. The newest ones look at how the line moves, so wind, swell and undertow stop waking you at 3am.
Power ·
Rechargeable Bite Alarms: Is the Disposable Battery on Its Way Out?
Wolf's Icon X1 charges by USB-C and Nash's R4 receiver does too. We look at what rechargeable power changes on the bank.
Receivers ·
Smarter Receivers: Anti-Theft, Homecoming Mode and More
Receivers have quietly become the cleverest part of the system. Here are the new features, which brands have them and which are worth paying for.
Bite alarm questions, answered
How does a bite alarm work?
A bite alarm sits under the rod with the line running across a sensor. When a fish moves the line, the sensor (usually a magnetic roller wheel, or a vibration sensor on Delkim alarms) sends pulses to the electronics, which sound a bleep and light an LED. Read how bite alarms work.
Do I need a receiver for my bite alarms?
Only if you fish away from your rods or overnight. A receiver plays your alarms' bleeps in the bivvy so you can turn the heads down. For day sessions beside the rods, standalone alarms are enough. Receivers explained.
Are vibration bite alarms better than roller wheel alarms?
Neither is simply better. Vibration alarms such as Delkims register very small movements and have no wheel to freeze; roller wheel alarms give a predictable reading that is less affected by wind and rain. Compare them.
How far do bite alarm receivers work?
Makers quote from about 100 m (Prologic BAT+, Korum KRI) to over 750 m (Nash R4), but these are open-ground figures. Trees, banks and your bivvy reduce real range, so test the receiver from where you'll sit. What affects range.
How do I stop my bite alarm bleeping in the wind?
Lower the sensitivity one step at a time, add weight to your indicator, keep the rod tip low, and make sure the line isn't rubbing on the alarm. Alarms with wave or Intelli-Sense modes can filter wave action. Set-up guide.
What is a drop-back on a bite alarm?
A drop-back happens when a fish swims towards you, the line goes slack and the indicator falls. Most alarms signal it with a falling or different tone, and some flash the LED instead of holding it solid.