Re: Is low-priced Internet monitoring reliable?

["Dan" <dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You should also consider your technical capabilities. I use an internet
service, and all three of my false alarms (Teenagers) were handled swiftly
as per the contract. I have no complaints, but I have to maintain  my own
system. All they provided was the basic account and calling parameters and
how to program them in, I had to supply them all the Zone info and how they
were configured to respond to an alarm, IE silent, delay, etc.

Dan

"Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:44fe19dd$0$494$815e3792@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 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!
>
>