Hi Carphunter420,
most bite alarms screw into a bank stick or rod pod though a very few attach to the rod. I prefer the ones that attach to the pod. For carp they are used with either the reel in freespool or the baitruner engaged as when carp hit they usually hit hard and could quite easily take a rod and reel in the water on a first run. Most bite alrams will register a tap,tap kind of bite. I have the fox microns though I have had delkims in the past and they are good also.