Re: Compass Software

["Mark Leuck" <m..leuck@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Joe Lucia" <joe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1129752326.749110.206210@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> I doubt Honeywell cares who has the software since the CSID secures the
> hardware (if used properly).

Sure they do, they have explicit statements that the software is intended
for professional dealers

> If I own my alarm system, I expect to be able to Program my alarm
> sytem.  If software is Required to program it, then the software should
> be readily available.

No it should not, GM/Ford/Toyota programs the computer chip for your car but
they are not under any obligation to provide you with the ability to
reprogram it, the method to do so does exist however they do not approve of
doing it yourself. They cannot control the outcome of your downloading a
panel nor can they control you downloading someone elses panel therefore it
is not for you.

They don't make Compass available for end users although they now have a
package for end users that will allow changing codes etc but not panel
programming, it doesn't yet support the 20P

> I put a Vista 20P in with wireless sensors with a non-alpha keypad
> (keypad is also the wireless receiver).  What I didn't realize until
> after it was all installed was that  I could not configure the wireless
> zones without an alphanumeric keypad because of it's Menu-Mode
> programming.  I HAD to use the software to program my wireless zones

No you didn't, the installation manual clearly states an alpha keypad is
required which btw will also program the sensors.

> (maybe someone else knows how to do it without the software, but I
> couldn't find it in the manual).

Let me ask you this, if you cannot find out what is required to program or
how to program zones in a Honeywell panel after reading the manual why would
Honeywell or ANYONE trust you with software?

> For this reason, the software should
> be available to the user/owner/whoever is programming the panel,
> regardless of their profession or skill level (if it's your panel, you
> should be allowed to screw it up, and pay for a service-call afterwards
> to have a professional fix it).

Again it's clearly noted in the installation manual that an alpha keypad IS
required and it goes into great detail how to program sensors and you
couldn't figure it out therefore its up to Honeywell to make software
available????


> You just don't sell hardware to
> someone and then tell them they can't have the software to program it

Again not my GM/Ford/Toyota statement.

> or you are going to charge them extra to make-it-work (unless it was
> known up-front before purchasing the hardware).  Just because you are
> not an Alarm Professional doesn't mean you can't do it as-good if not
> better then an Alarm Professional.  I don't have a Computer Sciences or
> Electronics Degree but know a lot more about computers and electronics
> then any fresh graduate from DeVry does (which maybe isn't saying much
> about myself).

Thats okay, DeVry is about 3 miles away from me and I'll bet many of them
won't know jack about how to work Compass

>
> Of course, if the software was NOT required to program the panel, then
> it should be Sold/Given to professionals without necessarily being
> available to the general public.

It already is, it appears you do not know how to properly keypad program the
panel