Re: Church told to hang own fire panel

["Just Looking" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Well speaking of yesterday it was trying to replace a keypad on a Vista 50
panel. It has 6 partitions. The "1" digit was sticking so in true DIY
tradition the END USER took it on himself to swap keypads from one area to
the other. Of course he didn't re-address the keypads and nothing worked. We
assumed that he needed new keypads when he lied about the symptoms on the
first call for service and since the older 6139 aren't available at ADI we
used the factory recommended replacement of a 6160. Well the 6160 doesn't
actually work with that older Vista 50 panel without a (otherwise free)
upgrade chip (that turns it into a 50P) and must be re-downloaded etc, etc.
It is nothing to get too upset about, it is typical Ademco junk with typical
Ademco junk problems.
Right after that there was a different problem on a new installation using a
Secure Wireless FOB kit with a PC1832. Following the instructions got no
results. A call to the factory revealed that the toll free number on the
literature was incorrect and the instructions were "out of date". It omitted
several critical steps necessary to getting the receiver to function. There
was no web link or simple remedy. If factory tech support wasn't available
then there would be no remedy. That is just one typical day in the business.
That what I mean by a "mature enough industry". Many manufacturers don't
spend the time necessary to refine the product installation instructions and
change and revise product versions at the drop of a hat. If you're not
familiar with the product and don't have factory tech support then trying it
on your own can cause plenty of frustration.


"Robert L Bass" <no-sales-spam@bassburglaralarms> wrote in message
news:wKadnZOJifwmWc7bnZ2dnUVZ_hynnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > In many cases it takes experience to know
> > what you are fighting. I can't tell you how
> > many times I have found faulty instructions,
> > parts etc that frustrate the simplest alarm
> > installations and repairs...
>
> Yep.  That is true.  I gwt calls about defective
> products as often as paid installers do.  Every
> so often something is bad out of the box.
> That's what warranty service (typically, an
> advance replacement from the distributor) is
> for.
>
> > Just today I was told that a certain keypad
> > won't work with a certain panel, although the
> > instructions clearly say it will. The factory is
> > sending a new chip...
>
> Huh?  Are you saying the keypad won't work
> with the panel until you upgrade the panel
> firmware?  If so, that brings up a neat
> coincidence.  Tonight I walked a client through
> upgrading the firmware on his Napco Gemini
> system.  He's non-technical so it took some
> coaching over the phone but he got it done ok.
> This was aboout the 30th DIYer in the last
> couple of months to upgrade Gemini firmware.
>
> > They would not send one to a DIY or probably
> > even speak to one...
>
> The DIYer doesn't need to speak to the
> manufacturer.  That's my job.  Napco doesn't
> have the manpower to coach hundreds of DIY
> customers.  Instead, they explain to us in the
> trade and we teach our customers.  I've been
> a Napco dealer for more than 25 years and
> have never had trouble getting tech support.
>
> > The alarm industry in too many cases is not
> > a mature enough industry for the DIY, even
> > the most erudite (church goers or not)...
>
> I'm not sure to what immaturity your referring
> but the fire alarm industry has been around
> since 1852.  That was 155 years ago last
> month.  Is that "mature" enough for you?  :^)
>
> --
>
> Regards,
> Robert L Bass
>
> =============================>
> Bass Home Electronics
> 941-925-8650
> 4883 Fallcrest Circle
> Sarasota · Florida · 34233
> http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
> =============================>
>
>