Re: Blank PROM's for old Napco Magnum panels

[Jim Davis <Madno@xxxxxxx>]

On Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 9:51:03=E2=80=AFPM UTC-4, mleuck wrote:
> On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 5:06:24=E2=80=AFPM UTC-5, Jim Davis wrote:=
=20
> > On Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10:00:11=E2=80=AFAM UTC-4, Bob La Londe w=
rote:=20
> > > On 5/16/2023 8:12 PM, Jim Davis wrote:=20
> > > > Yep, I still have a few of those old Napco Magnum panels out there.=
=20
> > > > Old customer moved out, New business moved in. The Napco 850 is sti=
ll working. Installed it in 1988. It's a new start up woman owned company a=
nd doesn't want spend to upgrade the panel if it's still working. I want to=
 update communication path to cellular but I need to program a new account =
number in the PROM.=20
> > > > I've got the 410 programmer that still works but shy on PROM's.=20
> > > > I had one Blank chip which I programmed but I'm not sure I did it r=
ight and I won't know till I plug it in tomorrow or next day.=20
> > > > Just in case, I started looking for some chips and they price range=
 on line anywhere from ( Get this now) $58.00 each down to $3.00. And some =
say they'll send you a few free samples. But I figure I'd probably have to =
make them believe that I'm going to use thousands of them in my newly devel=
oped product, etc, etc. But, I don't want to go down that rabbit hole unles=
s I have to.=20
> > > >=20
> > > > SOOOOOoooo Does anyone out there have a few of these blank PROM's s=
tashed someplace they'd be willing to part with?=20
> > > If its a hard wired panel the upgrade shouldn't be all that expensive=
.=20
> > > If you can't program it then the upgrade is justified.=20
> > >=20
> > > The Napco Starlink communicators used to be able to be used in "takeo=
ver=20
> > > mode" if the format is compatible. I never did it so I can't give=20
> > > personalized help, but it was somebody at Napco who pointed it out to=
=20
> > > me. Might have been Dave before he got booted upstairs.=20
> > >=20
> > > Is the Magnum the same as Magnum Alert? I had a couple small Magnum=
=20
> > > Alert panels installed before I switched to Gemini, and while they=20
> > > almost made me choose not use Napco, they were keypad programmable.=
=20
> > >=20
> > > --=20
> > > Bob La Londe=20
> > Kinda all moot now. I was able to program my last PROM chip with the ne=
w cellular account number. So panel is setup and (STILL ! ) working at this=
 point. Gave her the obvious warning that there was no guarantee how long i=
t would last. But I'd like to have a few chips just in case I run into anot=
her problem with these old panels.=20
> > .=20
> > I didn't use the Starlink although I could have as you suggested.=20
> > Don't know if you are interested or not but anyway - - - - the reason I=
 didn't is, that when I'm upgrading to cellular communicators I try to only=
 install the Starlink "Connect" which allows for remote use with cell phone=
 and text alerts of all events ... but that requires a Gemini series panel.=
 The combination of central station and Napco server charge brings my cost =
up.=20
> > .=20
> > There is a less expensive "M2" radio with only just straight communicat=
ion capabilities to central with half the monitoring cost of the Starlink. =
it's just a simple cellular radio with no frills. And they work fantastical=
ly well. From what I understand, unlike the Starlink they have the capabili=
ty of searching for and connecting to either Verison, ATT or T-Mobile all i=
n one unit. Where with the Starlink you only have two choices and they are =
different radios that you have to try if one doesn't work on an install. I'=
ve never had an M2 NOT connect to a service provider unlike the Starlink. O=
ne install had to install a $150.00 remote antenna just to get one tower. A=
nd on one install I couldn't get any Starlink to connect to anything even w=
ith a remote directional antenna but the M2 got right through with a high s=
ignal strength reading. Go Figure.=20
> > .=20
> > For your interest > https://m2mservices.com/#product-carousel
> I'm amazed the keypads still work on those relics

If I remember right, I think we're on the last four buttons that still work=
.=20
.
Next we'll have to resort to a 3 button code, two button code, one button c=
ode. Or I can use the ol eraser on the copper pads on the Mylar inside the =
keypad trick . . . . as long as the Mylar isn't to warped out of shape.
.
So it's still got a few more decades to go as long as the capacitors on the=
 main board hold out    :->>
.
But anyway, I've got a few old keypads down in the parts dungeon I can use =
if needed..