Re: avoiding being "locked out"

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

Point of clarification ! There are two different issues that I have found
can sometimes get confused as one and the same. We have to be careful which
one we are taling about.

Changing the installer code is one issue, and is something every installing
company can and should do. This is totally sufficient to protect all the
proprietary information in the alarm panel. Once the panel is defaulted to
factory by the next company, any and all proprietary information is lost. In
these threads, this seems to be incorrectly taken as "locking out a panel"
which is a totally different thing.

"Locking out " a panel really means utilizing the true hardware lockout
feature which in turn means that NO ONE else can EVER get in to the panel
and it won't default to factory (and in so doing destroys all that
information that everyone seems so intent on keeping secret). It's only
purposes that I can see are to 1- legitimately protect a leased or not yet
paid for system from outright theft in one form or another...and 2- to
maintain control of "who comes next" in regards to resetting the panel to be
monitored elsewhere by some other company.

Number 2 is where the abuse can happen, NOT the first situation

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com


"Stanley Barthfarkle" <sbarth@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:MBMRe.2733$la.939@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> There are several reasons why it's in a monitoring company's best interest
> to "lock out" a panel- mostly having to do with keeping installer codes
> secret, (which might be used in more than one customer's panel) and
> keeping
> account numbers and central station phone line numbers private. With this
> info, someone could disrupt monitoring for one or even many accounts, or
> create a "runaway" phantom alarm panel to keep the police from responding
> after several false alarms.
>
>
> <thesatguy1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:p9LQe.1026$oJ2.392@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> At several points I have contacted all the buyers of alarm system
>> contracts and they all want to lockout the panels of the accounts they
>> buy mainly because they think you won't change companies at some point if
>> you're panel has to be replaced.
>>
>> Clearly if the customer owns their panel (any many do not ever own their
>> panel) they should be able to do whatever they darn well please with it.
>> However, a lot of companies simply go along with the programs they have
>> hooked themselves up with and violate the law.  I remember Counterforce
>> in Houston telling me I would have to replace every panel that they could
>> not download and lockout or they wouldn't buy the contracts.  It boggles
>> the mind.
>>
>> All you can do is ask.  You should also verify they didn't lie to you.
>>
>> <powercat@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:1124629286.071477.270930@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Greetings I know a commercial alarm system installer who moonlights on
>>> residential set-ups.  Basically I do the unpleasant part (running the
>>> wiring) and he does the programming and is paid appropriately for that
>>> task.  What he does not do is sell alarm monitoring to avoid a conflict
>>> with his "real" employer.
>>>
>>> This all sounds very fair to me.  He does say "pick an alarm monitoring
>>> company that won't "lock out" your panel and prevent you from switching
>>> later".
>>>
>>> In short how do you know if a company is engaged in that practice
>>> (obviously I can ask).  This sounds very shady to me especially if I
>>> own the equipment.
>>>
>>> Thanks for any comments.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>