Re: Is low-priced Internet monitoring reliable?

["Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The gotcha would be if you need service, a company you don't know on the
internet will not be able to perform an on-site service call. If you're
unhappy with your current company you should look for an authorized DMP
dealer in your area, not every alarm co. can service every system out there.
And remember, regardless of brand, the company that installed it will know
the most about how they installed it...bottom line your service calls will
be shorter in the long haul.

$4.00 jump in price is unusual...I'd call them and see how interested they
are in keeping your business.



"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.
|
| - 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?
|
|  (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?
|
| - Any suggestions about whom to recommend and whom to avoid in this
|  space? (either nationally or locally in the Boston area)
|
| - Any hidden catches or gotchas that I should be worried about?
|  (note, I am pretty experienced electrically and do not need someone
|  local for service)
|
| Thanks!