Re: Thanks for all the replies folks, a few more questions...

["Jim" <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

The comments in the below post regarding the various brands and their
quality, usefulness, and position in ranking, is at the least,
speculative, subjective and ultimately, simply only the opinion of one
person.


Roland Moore wrote:
> You wrote "and I don't want to micromanage the alarm company and every
> component they pick and how they install it, but if
> there is anything anyone could share that could help me to differentiate a
> "good equipment" proposal from a "poor equipment" proposal I'd
> welcome it."
> There is good equipment that is put in a bad application and vice versa.
> Even within a fairly good brand name there are some turkeys.
> If a manufacturer has a large presence in the low end high volume like DSC,
> sometimes their reach into the high end can be less than spectacular and
> vice versa.
> Examples of that might include DSC 1832 versus DSC 4020 and the bottom end
> and Bosch G Series versus Bosch 4412 at the top end.
> In my experience the best wireless has been from Inovonics.
> http://www.inovonics.com/ It can work directly with many high end panels
> like Bosch or DMP.
> Despite some recent issues that have been resolved for the most part the G
> series panel form Bosch http://www.boschsecurity.us/index.aspx?prdctid=3316
> is a good high end panel. Some folks here might not like them because they
> are not available through normal alarm distribution channels. There is both
> good and bad to that.
> My opinion of the price/quality spectrum of common brand alarm panels your
> are likely to receive proposals on:
> DSC, mostly low end (The new 433 wireless not built by DSC is much better
> than the old 900 which was pure land fill.) [A distribution product]
> Honeywell (Ademco), Mostly Low to Some Medium (Wireless is okay, not great -
> not terrible) [A distribution product]
> Napco, Some Low to Mostly Medium (but the worst wireless after DSC 900) [A
> distribution product & Direct to Dealer]
> Bosch, Mostly High End (G Series) - but stay far away from their low end
> (6412-4412-2212 & Easy Series) (Their Inovonics Wireless is great. Their ITI
> Wireless is okay) [Direct to Dealer only]
> DMP, Mostly High End - but off in a world of its own. (Supports Inovonics
> Wireless). Not many dealers know or support it (including me). I usually
> pull it out when I find it. It has some really unique features if you're
> into high tech gadgetry. [Direct to Dealer only]
> Hope this helps.