Re: Is low-priced Internet monitoring reliable?

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

"blueman" <NOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:m2lkoy2c6i.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> We had a pretty high-end DMP XR200 alarm system installed about 18
> months ago, including Internet monitoring via the Icom module.
>
> Until now, we have been paying the local company that installed the
> system about $26/month for monitoring of burgulary sensors and
> smokes. That charge does not include any equipment/service warrantees
> or maintenance/inspection agreements. Recently, they raised our price
> to nearly $30/month.
>
> By comparison, I see companies on the web advertising Internet-based
> monitoring for $9-10/month or about 1/3 price. They presumably use a
> national call center to monitor alarms across the country using the
> power of the Internet to connect it all together, often with redundant
> networks and call centers.

It is likely they are not monitoring DMP Internet modules, if they don't you
will be out of luck

> - Is there any good reason not to go with the cheaper Internet providers?
>   My current provider talks about how they have faster response times
>   (17sec average) and are local but is that really true or important
>   and even if it is does that really justify 3X the price?

Its not a simple task to reprogram the DMP module for another central
station

>   (note, I no longer have any contractual obligation to continue with
>   the original provider)
>
> - Is it important to have a local monitoring company or is it
>   irrelevant in the Internet age?

It doesn't matter