Re: DSC Neo

[Jim Davis <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On Friday, February 22, 2019 at 6:11:43 PM UTC-5, mleuck wrote:
> > > 1. It may have an Alarm.com communicator but it isn't programmed for =
Alarm.com, that's handled by the communicator itself, reprogramming the Neo=
 communicator can send it anywhere else allowing Telguard, Uplink or whatev=
er
> >=20
> > To make the Napco control panel compatable with the IBridge it requires=
 that a number of items be programed to obtain full usage of the capabiliti=
es of each device. Such as opening and closing signals, user information, t=
he communicator ID number, and so on. I'm sure there must be some items in =
the DSC panel that need to be programmed to make the most of the features o=
f the panel with Alarm dot com. Those would have to be de-programmed. And I=
'd have to discover what they all were, de-program them, and then find what=
 programmable items were required and if they were available to make the pa=
nel compatible with the IBridge.=20
>=20
> While I am not familiar with Starlink I've gone over the documentation an=
d it appears it's not much more than a dialer capture cell unit on some Nap=
co panels and DSC which is why you have to program those fields
>=20
> You only have to make minor changes with DSC like the phone number and I =
think one section section concerning call directions, the communicator does=
 that for you since it is a true bus device
>=20
>=20
> > > 2. Unless you told IpDatatel you were dealing with a Neo panel I doub=
t the communicator would be compatible unless it's dialer capture. Usually =
when companies specify DSC compatibility they mean older panels like the PC=
1555, 5010, 1632 etc not the Neo
> >=20
> > I don't use IPDatatel
>=20
> Sorry wrong guy
>=20
> > >=20
> > > 3. Had you tackled the Neo you open yourself up to being able to prog=
ram ANY other DSC panel which might be beneficial in the future but it's yo=
ur call
> >=20
> > That's an important point as I would NEVER actually install a product I=
 consider as being no better than a piece of compressed mud housed in a tin=
 can such as DSC. Cheaply designed and depends highly on end user purchases=
 to remain profitable. Napco has been my choice of equipment for decades. I=
t has been a reliable and long lasting product. And if it has never (in you=
r opinion) done anything right in it's long history, the advent and huge su=
ccess of the Starlink radio Burg and Fire and IBridge Connect has overshado=
wed most of their competition as of late.
>=20
> I would love to see what the installed base of Starlink is, I doubt it co=
mpares to Alarm.com and AlarmNet or for that matter Telguard although I cou=
ld be wrong
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=3D=3D

What is it that you need to see? Buy one and try it out.

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>=20
> As far as circuit boards it doesn't have to be stout
>=20
> Give you an example, you of course know what a GEM-P9600 board looks like=
, it's laden with dozens of resistors, capacitors, diodes, and 3 voltage re=
gulators connected to a large thick heat sink 2/3rd the width of the circui=
t board. It needs that heat sink for all the heat given off those voltage r=
egulators, and it has 4 OLD STYLE FUSES, all GEM boards are like that, many=
 of those components have to be hand soldered, can't do it with a machine. =
Having thick circuit boards with lots of components doesn't mean it's bad j=
ust old outdated tech
>=20
> DSC integrated most of that 25 years ago when they came out with the PC50=
10, the Neo can do everything a GEM-P9600 or X255 can do with half the boar=
d, a fraction of components and far less power requirements, Interlogix Net=
worX NX and Concord panels are the same
>=20
> I don't dislike Napco, I do find their panels more difficult to program t=
han they need to be and the download software is garbage, they aren't bad p=
anels but I can find others that do the same thing cheaper and far easier t=
o program
>=20

> As far as reliability you've got Napco panels out in the field for decade=
s I've got DSC panels out in the field for decades, "flimsy" boards don't m=
atter if they work

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Well, then, I guess it just matters to me.

Stdrong like bull =E2=80=A6. is goout! Yah!

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>=20
> BTW I hope those aren't electrolytic capacitors or your older boards may =
not be as reliable as you think in the next 5 to 10 years, if you are into =
80's and 90's home stereos you will know what I'm talking about

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Yeah, I know what you mean about the electrolytics yet I've got 800 panels,=
 850's 854's 1016's some close to (if not over) 30 years. I've even got one=
 CCI5 panel still working with an Ademco 693 communicator and an outdoor on=
/off keyswitch. Had to change the key switch a few years ago and had to rea=
lly search to find a spring loaded Ace key switch. Customer says as long as=
 it's still working he'll continue using it.=20
I think that one's over 40 years old. 4/2 format and all.=20

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> =20
> > Also, what the hell is going on with Monotronics? Has it lost it's way =
or what? What's with the Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra (It's and Irish lullaby) name=
 change then a buy-out =E2=80=A6 and now what? another name change? Looks l=
ike it's trying to hide it's identity or something the way Apex/Vivint did =
to hide it's past indiscretions.  (???)
>=20
> buy-out? Um nope and not hiding anything we've got well over a million ac=
counts
>=20
> Btw most of them with Alarm.com, I don't say good things about Alarm.com =
because we use them I say it because in my opinion they have the best commu=
nicators out there

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=3D=3D

Yet you say you haven't tried the Starlink devices. You'd probably want to =
take a look at the Starlink Connect with Zwave. As with most Napco items th=
e programming takes some getting used to but it's for those with a little m=
ore grey matter. I think the capability is pretty far reaching. For my use,=
 anyway.

Re Buyout: Didn't someone buy out someone? Brinks or something? I know the =
stock dropped over 90% in 2018. I just thought there might be a problem. Wh=
ile Napco was one of the few stocks that rose (82%).=20

As I said, the Starlink has really given Napco a great boost.

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