Re: Greater Toronto Area Recomendations?

["Jim" <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

Matt Ion wrote:
> 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.
>
>
>
>
> ---
Uhhhhh, what exactly do you mean by " (this was some time before I got
into security systems  professionally)."  ?

Do you install alarm systems now?
For a living?
For how long? ......and do you mind my asking what kind of systems you
install?
Did you apprentice with anyone?
Do you know what line seizure is?
Do you know what an RJ31X jack is?

If the perp was going to knock the phone off the hook, how would a
system that " plugs into a phone line and power outlet" get to call out
in the first place?
If the operator heard nothing, while listening in ...... then no
dispatch would be made?   But .... If they still would dispatch .....
wouldn't that be a false alarm too? So how is this different than an
alarm that goes through a central station without .... listening in?

Suppose there was an intruder there but he was upstairs ransacking the
bedroom but the operator didn't hear him and the operator doesn't call
PD because they didn't hear anything?

Exactly how long do you think an operator will sit and listen since the
central station line that they are listening on is a line that cannot
be used for other incomming alarm call all the while they are
listening? And that operator can't be handling other alarm signals
while listening in. How many operators do you think will be listening
in on false alarm calls, while blocking other incoming alarm calls that
may be legitimate?  How efficient and / or accurate or more reliable,
than standard central station monitoring could this be?

Actually this may clear up something else though. If the policeman DID
say that they believe this kind of system is more reliable than other
sytems, it makes it more understandable why they also aren't smart
enought to realize that there really isn't a 99% false alarm rate.