Re: Greater Toronto Area Recomendations?

["R.H.Campbell" <rh.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sir, I hate to burst your bubble, but this concept is just another
martketing version on the old "low down, megabucks a month" concept. The
only difference is their promotion of the two way voice business, which
sounds better than it is. They use wireless components strictly because it's
easy and cheap to install, NOT because it is better. Coverage is absolutely
minimal, and they make a big issue of this two way voice business, which is
pure marketing hype. DSC sells the same ability with their PC 5904 two way
listen in add on module, but you don't see most alarmcos rushing out to use
it. Perhaps the reason is because it's simply no better than a conventional
phone call. I agree that it  sounds good though...it's called selling the
sizzle not the steak ! The idea is not to catch the guy in the process; this
rarely happens. It's to ensure that the home is secured properly after a
real break in. Alarm Farce's promotion of this confrontational "listen in"
ability is simply playing on consumers misunderstanding of the application
of an alarm for their own marketing purposes!

It would also pay to remember this is the same company that made a big
public radio campaign in Toronto telling the thieves in the process one way
to compromise an alarm system. It's just my opinion of course, but knowing
what I know of their installations, I wouldn't touch this company with a ten
foot pole ! I've replaced dozens of their mickey mouse systems over the last
few years. What kind of system, with training, can anyone legitimately
install in an hour. To do everything properly, plus train properly, takes at
least a full day, sometimes two !

Again, just my biased opinion, but they are as close to a scam as any
company can get without actually crossing the line. Sad that a cop actually
buys into that crap about fewer false alarms ! And even sadder still, is
that a lot of consumers buy it as well......

RHC

"Matt Ion" <soundy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ewSef.522921$tl2.158852@xxxxxxxxxxx
> R.H.Campbell wrote:
>> Gawd ! I don't disbelieve what you say, but what a sad reflection on the
>> legitimate security industry....(choke gasp !! )
>>
>> RHC
>>
>> "Alan Whitehouse" <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:e4Ref.2965$w84.523759@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>>>The only reason I am using them is that after we got broken into a couple
>>>weeks ago (yea what timing) the officer who responded said they give
>>>higher priority to Alarm Force (he didn't mention names) since the chance
>>>of a false alarm is perceived as being far less.
>
> We had an AlarmForce setup in our rented townhouse a few years ago - after
> a couple break-ins, we needed something but didn't have the budget to have
> an installation done, so their "free installation" offer was very
> appealing (this was some time before I got into security systems
> professionally).
>
> A few thoughts:
>
> The wireless idea is great - sensors are stuck to door or window frames
> with a Velcro pad (the installer who came out used a dab of silicone for
> good measure).  The "brain" is a little box with speaker that plugs into a
> phone line and power outlet and can be placed anywhere inconspicuous.
>
> I, personally, like the idea of using the phone for a keypad: you can
> potentially put a keypad wherever you can plug in a phone, or anywhere
> within the range of a cordless phone.  It's not something I'd recommend
> for a standard alarm install, but there's nothing inherantly wrong with
> the idea.
>
> I can also see the cop's point of view: with a standard monitored system,
> the alarm signals the monitoring center, who then calls back to verify the
> problem.  If someone answers, great... but if not, how do you determine if
> it's a real alarm and the perp is just not answering the phone (although
> some, I'm sure, would be stupid enough to do so), or just another false?
> What if the perp has knocked a phone off the hook, and all the monitor
> gets is a busy signal?  They have to dispatch the cops without knowing
> whether it's a false.
>
> With the AlarmForce setup, the alarm immediately dials the monitoring
> center when it's triggered, and someone there can listen in, in real time.
> The perp can hear the voice demanding a response and threatening to call
> the cops - unless he's REALLY quiet, the monitor will hear him moving
> around and know there's something up.  If the perp DOES respond, he has to
> provide a name (the customer provides a list of who's authorized to be in
> the place) and a password, or the cops are called. If all the monitor
> hears is the clock ticking in the background, he still has a better idea
> of whether or not to dispatch the police, than if all he had to go on was
> the phone ringing through.
>
> Their basic "free" setup doesn't really require a survey of the location
> first: all it includes is the "brain" box, one door sensor, and one motion
> sensor.  Additional sensors cost extra.  No wiring needs to be run, and
> there's no keypad or separate siren to be mounted.  It's a pretty simple
> install - our installer was there for all of an hour, including the
> paperwork.
>
>
>
>
> ---
> avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
> Virus Database (VPS): 0546-3, 11/16/2005
> Tested on: 11/16/2005 7:09:45 PM
> avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2005 ALWIL Software.
> http://www.avast.com
>
>
>