Re: Opinions on alarms systems configured/monitored over IP network

["Aegis" <lordaegis@xxxxxxxxx>]

"J. Sloud" <jsloud2001@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8pd541h0hmtvnh4hbg79md482qub2s58sb@xxxxxxxxxx
> On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 22:48:29 GMT, "Aegis" <lordaegis@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>Very close to 100% of those companies would disagree with you.
>>
>>Just about every access system provides what you have decribed earlier:
>>- receive active alarms
>>- configure alarm inputs/relays/zones
>>- administer cardholders
>>
>>AMAG, Hirsch, Casi-Rusco, Kantech, and even Northern have all of these
>>abilities.
>
>
> Agreed. Every access control system I've ever seen has an event
> monitor that is designed to be used as a real time security monitoring
> application.  Not a Northen fan are you?  Is it the 10+ year old panel
> architecture, the lack of support since the Honeywell acquisition,
> reliability issues, or something else?  For some reason many within my

It's the 10+ year old panel architecture. I can't stand waiting for 64
timezones (mostly zero's) to be sent to the panels when I only have 2 or 3
defined. I don't have any major problems with Winpak Rel 2.

> company has insisted on using Winpak for years, even though Casi and
> others have always been available for the same cost.  Now Kantech and

I'm wondering if we work for the same company. Big national co? Like the
biggest in the US? We've recently brought Kantech and DMP on board.

> SH are on board with better pricing and a better product.  I hope this
> changes things.  What's your opinion of the NexWatch/ Winpak Pro
> systems?  They seem to be based on a better platform.
>

IMO, Winpak Pro is basically the same as Winpak, except for the panel
definitions. Like Winpak, I don't have any major problems with it. NexWatch
is a bit tougher to configure since nothing comes predefined (door inputs
and outputs automatically mapped to readers by default; change them if you
want to) like with other systems. I like defaults since I usually will use
them. Then again, I haven't configured a ProWatch system in the last 3 or 4
years, so... Hopefully they have changed a few things. Based on my past
experiences with it, it's an OK Enterprise class solution, but not the best.