February 3, 2012
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Comments
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Ken
I feel the need to remind everyone that when we use products from
Tyco companies we are financing their efforts to compete with us with their ADT division. Every dollar of product we purchase from them is another dollar for them to spend marketing ADT to our potential customers.
Rich from Central New York
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Ken
I could not disagree more with Mark Ingram's statement, "the "Sonitrol" system is an excellent technology".
The key to the "Sonitrol" system for many many years and still in some cases today is audio detection. This has lead to countless number of law suits due to losses by subscribers when used as a stand alone detection method. To call this a "technology" is giving way to much credit, because it relies on human intervention to hear someone in the protected preemies. Over the years central station operators have not correctly calibrated the systems and huge losses when undetected.
On the flip side, this "Sonitrol" approach has a lot of sizzle with Law Enforcement because WHEN it works as designed it apprehends people about to be convicted of a crime. Its just not reliable as a dedicated (or stand alone) detection method.
Now when "audio" is employed as a verification tool, behind a well designed detection system that does not rely on human intervention to initiate an alarm, that is a win win for everyone. However, keep in mind that it does not have to be "audio" to verify that an alarm is valid. RSI is another manufacturer who uses "video" for verification. Additionally, this should not out rule a system designed with separate layers of standardized detection methods and multiple zones are required before a Request for Dispatch occurs from the central station.
The industry needs so show some restraint when it comes to these miracle quick fixes as advertised by manufacturers with something to gain.
Installers need to defend the 80+% of systems installed in the marketplace that work just fine as installed, even as recently as yesterday. As for the 20% give or take of installed systems? They need to be fixed, redesigned, maintained or coupled with a separate verification technology, perhaps audio or video.
Is there a place for verification technology on systems, yes, especially in environments that are beyond design spec's for standardized detection methods. But until that point don't discount perfectly fine systems that work as designed without a verification technology.
Bart A. Didden, President
USA Central Station Alarm Corp
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Response
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I hesitate to take issue with Bart's comments [he is a good head taller than me] but this time I think he's missed the big picture. First, I doubt that Visonic's president's comments were intended to tout the virtues of Sonitrol or any other audio system, since Visonic's latest technology is video monitoring and verification.
Where I think Bart missed the mark is that we have to remember that all alarm technology has its limitations, both in human intervention and technological engineering, though I suspect that the technology is more advanced than the average budget for alarm services. And, that's the real problem. The alarm industry does have more and better technology to combat crime, fire and false alarms, but subscribers don't really want to pay for it. Would be nice to be able to have verification before alarm signals are dispatched. It would also be nice to have almost immediate confirmation of an emergency situation by either or both audio and video feed. Zapping a cop to my house in an emergency would also be great but no one offered to sell me a transporter.
Every alarm serves some purpose, even the early stand alone outside bell or the single battery operated smoke detector. But alarm companies are in the business of offering and providing security, and manufacturer's are coming out with new products almost daily arming the alarm industry with more ways to increase business. Don't blame the manufacturer's for coming up with more equipment, and I suppose it may be disingenuous to complain about all those politicians who think its a great idea to impose more equipment and more services on the public and the alarm industry. it's simple, learn the new technology, how to sell it, install it, monitor it and charge for it. And make sure you have the right contract to provide those new services !!!!
So Bart, stop complaining and start monitoring those new systems, which I am sure you already do, because no grass is growing under your feet. Bart, thanks for participating in this forum.