Re: Greater Toronto Area Recomendations?

["Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Velco!
sheesh.



"R.H.Campbell" <rh.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OtudnUdJWKBlZ-benZ2dnUVZ_t-dnZ2d@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.
| >
| >
| >
| >
| > ---
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