Re: ADT Safewatch 3000 pro RF versus GE Simon 3 with Nextalarm

["Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I keep getting stuck where you say you are gonna be in Asia and you will
self-monitor - don't be silly.

Given the two choices you have given...go with ADT.

Nextalarm...sheesh.



G" <newsgroup@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:439447b0$0$21277$8fcfb975@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| Hi,
|
| I am debating beetween getting a GE Simon 3 system or an ADT Safewatch
3000
| pro RF. I tried to weight the pro and cons of each system (see below) and
it
| looks like the Simon 3 is a winner.
| Am I right?
| Thanks in advance for any advice/comment you could give me regarding that
| matter.
|
| FG
|
|
| ANALYSIS of the sistuation:
|
|
|
| While they send me in Asia for 12 months, my company is going to pay for
the
| installation of an alarm and the monitoring of my condo .When I come back,
I
| do not plan to keep the proffessionnal monitoring. So I am looking to have
| them install a system that will allow me to monitor by myself my condo
(it's
| 1300 sq ft condo, max distance between sensor and alarm panel = 25ft).
Once
| it has been installed, I want to easily be able to :
|
| - maintain it,
|
| - program it to call me in case of an intrusion and be able able to reset
it
| with a touch phone,
|
| - schedule X10 events (switching on lights...) .
|
|
|
| So far, we are considering 2 possibilities for our basic setup (wireless
| system, 1 keypad, 2motions, 2 remote, 1 smoke, 2 door contacts):
|
| -         Go with an independent installer who will install a Simon 3
system
| for around $1200 and we will then subscribe to a monitoring company like
| nextalarm.com
|
| OR
|
| -         go with an ADT dealer and a Safewatch pro 3000 RF system $759
| ($499 for the basic system + $95  for the extra keychain + $165 for the
| extra motion sensor). The girl from ADT was OK to offer a one year
contract
| with ownership of the sytem instead of the usual 3 year
|
|
|
| From my "limited" point of view, it seems that the Simon 3 panel fits my
| picture better since. It looks like it  will be easier for me to :
|
| -         maintain the system
|
| -         control it over the phone and program it to call me in case of
an
| intrusion without the need of a monitoring service,
|
| -         subscribe to a different monitoring company (not necessary ADT)
|
|
|
| The ADT safe watch system (ADT customized vista 20P??) seems more
| professional and offer hardwired sensors but it also looks like :
|
| -         it will be a pain for me to mainatin or add new components (X10
| switches) or choose to subscribe to another monitoring company because ADT
| has kind of "locked the system"
|
| -         less user friendly and more expensive to control it over the
phone
| (I believe you also have to pay ADT an extra $180 to get the remote phone
| control) and configure it to call you in case of an intrusion
|
|
|
| So, it seems to me that getting the Safewatch system would be overkill and
| that the Simon 3 would be a better solution, especially if I want ot have
| the possibility to NOT need to use a professional monitoring service but
| just want the system to call me or other numbers in case of an intrusion.
|
|
|
| Am I right to choose the Simon 3 or am I missing something? : )
|
|
|
| Thanks in advance for any piece of advice you may give me,
|
|
|
| Best Regards,,
|
| FG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bonus questions :  ; )
|
|
|
| Q2:  Can the ADT dealer actually offer a 12 month monitoring service and
| guarantee that we will own the system after those 12 months?? I thought
ADT
| dealer were only allowed to offer 3 year contracts.
|
|
|
| Q3: The dealer/installer told us that they could not install any new
wiring
| because the place we own is a condo and therefore they can only offer
| wireless systems. Is this correct??
|
|
|
| Q4:The independent installer told us that they are not allowed (in
| Clearwater Florida) to install smoke detector in condo (but they can in
town
| homes). The ADT dealer didn't mention any restriction regarding the
| installation of a smoke detector. Who is right??
|
|
|
| Q5: The installer told me that wireless recessed door sensors are no
working
| well with the Simon 3 system and that I should go with the regular
wireless
| door sensor. Is this correct?
|
| Is there also a  big difference in quality between the various sensors?
Any
| brand/model, you would recommend  for motion detector or door sensors?
|
|
|
| Q6:Any opinion about  www.nextalarm.com
|
|
|