Re: Instant unlocker...

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Nov 20, 9:43 am, Frank Olson
<use_the_email_li...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> tourman wrote:
> > On Nov 20, 6:03 am, "Nick Markowitz Jr." <nick-markow...@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > wrote:
> >> I have sevral ademco high end panels I wish could be unlocked jim is having problems so far getting them to do so
> >>   "Items for Sale" <g_ib6ub92...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in messagenews:b8j0j.7833$Ji6.4170@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >>   Has anyone tried this?
>
> >>   Looking at buying one.
>
> >>  http://www.instantunlocker.com
>
> >>   Thanks for any feedback.
>
> > RHC: I would be cautious about buying this unit simply to unlock
> > certain boards that Jim Rojas is having trouble with. I have to be
> > careful here about what I say, because it may well be interpreted as
> > "sour grapes" since this unit competes in a limited way with my
> > unlocking activities. If Jim cannot unlock certain of your boards,
> > there is something else going on, and it is possible that the boards
> > have been damaged. I often get boards within a shipment that will not
> > respond to the methodologies that are common to both Jim and I, and
> > which we use to unlock the boards. I can tell you with 100% certainty
> > that it has nothing to do with our not being able to gain access to
> > the panel. It's far more likely they have been damaged in some
> > fashion, perhaps through lightning strike or something of that nature.
>
> > If you buy the Unlocker, and use it, and it doesn't work because the
> > panel has been damaged, you will spend $29.95 each time you try, since
> > the unit will count down with each use. I strongly suggest you allow
> > Jim to continue to do what he does unless you have other uses for this
> > product.
>
> Personally, the whole issue of "unlocking boards" is a bit dicey.  I've
> not had a single customer complain on a takeover when they've had to
> absorb the cost of a new board (usually under $50.00).  In the rare
> instance where I could employ an unlocking service, why would I want to?
>   I'd rather replace the board with a new one anyway.  One property
> manager we deal with can't stand ADT.  Take-overs of those systems are
> pretty easy because they want everything badged with ADT removed anyway.
>   On some of the more sophisticated Ademco boards (where access control
> might factor in), it's usually pretty simple to get into programming.
> I've never found one of these actually locked out.

RHC: Well, with ADT, they use Ademco products pretty well standard
here in Canada other than when they used DSC products for a period of
time (I don't believe they still do). I've never come across an ADT
panel of any make that was locked and I takeover a lot of them from
unhappy clients. Locking boards seems to be the domain of the small
companies as well as those in the "free system" market (a quite
legitimate use for this feature IMO since the client doesn't own the
board)

The vast majority of boards I get to unlock are from small and medium
companies who save them up and send them to me in bulk for the
discounted price. They in turn are taking over systems usually
installed by some "little guy" who in most cases either doesn't give a
damn about who owns the board or simply does it because he perceives
it as giving him some protection from other companies. Others are from
homeowners who move into a new home and find themselves with a useless
panel (either the installing company is no longer in existence, or
only offers service at an excessive price). Other big companies don't
seem to do this either, since their contracts pretty well protect them
against hostile moves from other companies (in the rare cases where
this actually happens). The vast majority of boards that I get are DSC
and Paradox panels, which still are a decent deal for $15 to unlock a
board which costs $60. The other instances where it is worth doing are
when doing takeovers of locked and no longer available DSC 1550's,
2550's and 3000's.  Often the company coming in cannot find these
older boards anymore, and would lose the takeover if they had to
replace the board and the older keypads even at their cost. I often
get calls from companies asking me if I have any of these older boards
for sale. I suspect that is also where the Unlocker is finding it's
market !

Now that most of the actual business activities have been transferred
to my son, I have loads of time on my hands. I have been thinking of
emailing the list of 2500 alarm companies here in Canada, but so far
haven't done so , since this could easily be misinterpreted as spam.
Also, I really don't know what sort of flood of business this might
release.There is a market for this service here in Canada, but it is
not large, and is quite "selective" in nature. Jim on the other hand,
with a market of 300 million people to cater too, and since he
services all makes of panels, could actually make a fair buck at
it.....