Re: CP-01

["Robert L Bass" <robertbass1@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>> Ok, so with that being said, a burglar enters an unfamiliar house or
>>business, possibly dark, has a siren blairing and needs to find the alarm
>>panel. Which way does he go first? According to RLB's reasoning, the panels
>>are installed in easily accessable and obvious locations, hence the dialer
>>delay is a dangerous option. Does the perp go upstairs, to the basement, to
>>the garage, laundryroom, master bedroom closet, pantry?

As usual, this idiot has deliberately misconstrued what I said.  I don't like dialer delays because they give the thief more time to
possibly attack the system.  I believe that a well-planned, well-executed alarm installation operated by a well-trained end user
should never cause false alarms.  Unfortunately, with idiots like Worthy pushing "security" systems on unsuspecting customers, there
will always be a false alarm problem.

> I think dialer delays are a really stupid idea.

Amen.

> The only reason CP-01 requires them is that
> some companies are still not using cancel
> signals...

True.  However, since neither the cancel signal nor the dialer delay are required to be operative, the problem remains unsolved.
CP-01 includes some very good ideas to reduce false alarms.  IMO dialer delays are not one of them.

> Playing "find the control panel" in a strange
> 10,000 square foot house can be time-
> consuming for a service tech, and obviously
> isn't feasible for a burglar...

Sadly, many of the "professionally" installed systems we took over have the keypoad on a wall next to the primary entry door
(usually near the driveway) and the control panel on the other side of the same wall inside a closet.  I've relocated dozens of
panels that were stupidly installed like that.

The absolute worst was installed by ABC (their reall name) Security of CT.  It was in a hardware store in Kensington, CT.  The
control panel was attached to the back of a pegboard inside the front display window where anyone passing by on the outside could
see it and the big, ugly ABC sticker on the panel door.

We found most of the zone wiring on that installation had been shunted out by ABC's service "technicians" (I use that word very
liberally here) when they were unable to find swingers in their poorly installed foil and other sensors.

After having the client sign a written description of the problems, I pulled the panel, keypads and the ridiculously inadequate
siren (about as loud as an alarm clock) and put them in a box for ABC.  The customer said that he had been unable to arm the system
for weeks and ABC had not sent out a technician so he was cancelling with them.

We installed a complete new system.  None of the "professional" system ABC had installed was salvagable.  Shortly after we finished
the job I got a call from the owner of ABC.  He was livid, threatening a tortious interference suit, etc.  I told him I had taken
photos and documented how the system wasn't working and that I had a signed letter from the customer detailing all of the problems
he'd had with ABC.

That was the last we heard of ABC until the next time I took over one of the abominations these people called a "professional
security system."

> But consider a smaller home, especially
> one with a self-contained control panel/
> keypad/sounder:  the noise leads the
> burglar right to the panel.

Unfortunately, there are way too many alarm comnpanies pushing these "all-in-one" systems.  A fair number of these so-called
"authorized dealers" use them as stock in trade.  I believe in offering a comprehensive plan of protection that protects all movable
or breakable perimeter openings, backed up with glass breakage sensors and motion detectors.  With a little patience and a modicum
of tool skills a DIYer can learn to install such a system himself, saving from 1/2 to 3/4 of the cost and avoiding multi-year
monitoring contracts at inflated prices.

Speaking of monitoring service, most consumers don't even realize how inexpensive it is.  The vast majority of independent alarm
dealers farm out their monitoring to 3rd party vendors.  The cost to the alarm company varies between $2 and ~$7 a month per
contract.  They then resell the service for anywhere from $20 to upwards of $40 a month.  Nice markup.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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