Re: another APX oops moment

["Bob La Londe" <onebikenut@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Jim" <alarminex@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2678a662-4bb1-4ab6-818f-4eabe364c32c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> On Sep 8, 2:42 pm, mleuck <m.le...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>
>> I could respond by saying the panels are more difficult than necessary
>> to program, when the package comes with a programming manual for an
>> alpha keypad and another for a fixed-English or LED keypad that's
>> beyond silly.
>
> I think so too re. manuals). But in defense, I think that the manuals
> are in response to all the ...ummm programing challenged installers
> that can't fathom the intricacies of all the options. I think that
> where all of this controversy lies is in the fact that the Napco
> panels DO offer a myriad of programing options as compared to most
> other panels ..... and most installers aren't looking for that. For
> the most part I think that most installers would be happy with all the
> features of an Ademco 1000 panel but with 32 zones. They're looking to
> give the customers the least for the most. Or, saying it another way,
> They don't think that putting the extra effort into expalining all the
> additonal options to the customer is worth it, since the customer
> doesn't know enough about what the panels can do ... to expect any
> more than what the installer tells them it can do. I see that in some
> of the installers that I speak to here and I also see it in the
> programing of some of the panels that I take over.  Me? I take the
> time to explain and give them choices and even then, I don't tell them
> everything that might be available to them for fear of confusing them.
> Obviously there I things that I program that I never tell them about,
> simply because they don't have to know. But being able to do some of
> the things that the Napco panels allow me to do is a great option to
> have in my back pocket. But, again, I can appreciate that there are
> fewer innovative installers out there then non-innovative, which, I
> would guess is also probably proportional to the length of time each
> of those two categories stays in business. If you're not just selling
> a commodity, making a system jump through hoops and making the client
> happy is prerequisite to being successful, at least to my way of
> thinking.
>>
>> I can program a GE Advent from the keypad without the installer
>> manual, almost all locations menu-driven, same with Honeywell, you can
>> have a flexible panel without requiring a tech to spend an hour
>> programming the thing. If Napco could do that I'd be happy
>
> I don't know what the "Advent" compares to in the Napco line and I'd
> guess that on any panel you'd compare, my list of options provided to
> the client would be longer than yours. I could, if necessary, program
> everything up to and including a 1632 by hand for a basic no frills
> install and occasioally make changes via kepad when required. But
> you're right, there are so many options on the Napco panels that I
> can't remember them all, so for lots of  changes the manuals are
> necessary. Any panel over the 1632 would be for a higher-end
> installation anyway, that I'd be offering some kind of special
> features/options to the client. But even then it only takes me, at the
> most, about 15/20 minutes to do those panels after setting up the
> laptop. Anyone who takes an hour or even a half hour on an average
> panel is either a novice or incompetent. Obviously, the panel you use
> most is the one that's the easiest to do .... by hand or laptop.
>
> And ..... the other thing is ........... they're built like a rock
> with "bad out of the box" almost non existant over decades.

Except for that bad memory problem they had at one time in the P1632.
Actually that wasn't out of the box.  They took 1-2 years to manifest in
most cases.  If Napco hadn't handled it proactively with advance
replacements I might have considered another brand, but they were awesome
for me.