Brinks, Slomins Shield, or ADT?

[aryder]

I want to go with one of these systems. I'm not happy that they make
you sign up for 3 years without a trial period. I freely admit I know
nothing about these. Can someone with no affiliation to any of these
please give me some advice as to which is the best option? Would I
still need window bars with these? I was just told that a first floor
tenant had someone try and break into his apt. the last few nights,
and I want to protect my home, and make him feel secure.

Any help would be much appreciated. Please, no sales pitches!

 

[Crash Gordon]

Definitely not Brinks, unless you want to buy a whole new system if you're
not happy with them later. Their equipment is proprietary - cannot be
taken-over.

Dunno much about Slomin.

ADT at least their equipment can be taken over if your not happy..but only
after your initial term expires because the DO excute their contracts to the
letter. No outs there.

Personally... find a good local small company that's been around a while and
get a couple of bids. With the big boys you're just a number and RMR to
their bean-counters. You'll never see the same tech twice and you'll be
explaining your problem (if you have one) to 20 people before any action is
taken.

R.


|I want to go with one of these systems. I'm not happy that they make
| you sign up for 3 years without a trial period. I freely admit I know
| nothing about these. Can someone with no affiliation to any of these
| please give me some advice as to which is the best option? Would I
| still need window bars with these? I was just told that a first floor
| tenant had someone try and break into his apt. the last few nights,
| and I want to protect my home, and make him feel secure.
|
| Any help would be much appreciated. Please, no sales pitches!
|

 

[Crash Gordon]

then i'd agree as well.



| ADT would be the best choice of all three. Slomins uses off the shelf
| Napco P800, P816, P1632 panels.
|
| Jim Rojas
|
|
|
| Crash Gordon wrote:
| > Definitely not Brinks, unless you want to buy a whole new system if
you're
| > not happy with them later. Their equipment is proprietary - cannot be
| > taken-over.
| >
| > Dunno much about Slomin.
| >
| > ADT at least their equipment can be taken over if your not happy..but
only
| > after your initial term expires because the DO excute their contracts to
the
| > letter. No outs there.
| >
| > Personally... find a good local small company that's been around a while
and
| > get a couple of bids. With the big boys you're just a number and RMR to
| > their bean-counters. You'll never see the same tech twice and you'll be
| > explaining your problem (if you have one) to 20 people before any
action is
| > taken.
| >
| > R.
| >
| >
| > | > |I want to go with one of these systems. I'm not happy that they make
| > | you sign up for 3 years without a trial period. I freely admit I know
| > | nothing about these. Can someone with no affiliation to any of these
| > | please give me some advice as to which is the best option? Would I
| > | still need window bars with these? I was just told that a first floor
| > | tenant had someone try and break into his apt. the last few nights,
| > | and I want to protect my home, and make him feel secure.
| > |
| > | Any help would be much appreciated. Please, no sales pitches!
| > |
| >
| >

 

[Bob La Londe]

You guys don't like Napco?

then i'd agree as well.



| ADT would be the best choice of all three. Slomins uses off the shelf
| Napco P800, P816, P1632 panels.
|
| Jim Rojas
|
|
|
| Crash Gordon wrote:
| > Definitely not Brinks, unless you want to buy a whole new system if
you're
| > not happy with them later. Their equipment is proprietary - cannot be
| > taken-over.
| >
| > Dunno much about Slomin.
| >
| > ADT at least their equipment can be taken over if your not happy..but
only
| > after your initial term expires because the DO excute their contracts
to
the
| > letter. No outs there.
| >
| > Personally... find a good local small company that's been around a
while
and
| > get a couple of bids. With the big boys you're just a number and RMR
to
| > their bean-counters. You'll never see the same tech twice and you'll
be
| > explaining your problem (if you have one) to 20 people before any
action is
| > taken.
| >
| > R.
| >
| >
| > | > |I want to go with one of these systems. I'm not happy that they make
| > | you sign up for 3 years without a trial period. I freely admit I
know
| > | nothing about these. Can someone with no affiliation to any of these
| > | please give me some advice as to which is the best option? Would I
| > | still need window bars with these? I was just told that a first
floor
| > | tenant had someone try and break into his apt. the last few nights,
| > | and I want to protect my home, and make him feel secure.
| > |
| > | Any help would be much appreciated. Please, no sales pitches!
| > |
| >
| >

 

[Jim]

ADT would be the best choice of all three. Slomins uses off the shelf
Napco P800, P816, P1632 panels.

Jim Rojas

What's wrong with off the shelf products?

Better than proprietary ...... wouldn't you say?

Also, if Slomins is being considered, that means the OP is in
the NY tristate area in which Napco is very popular. It would seem
that a popular panel would be one more likely to be able to be
taken over, rather than changed, should the OP decide to change
alarm companys.

 

[Jim]

You guys don't like Napco?

It's just one of those things, Bob.

For some reason, people have a problem programing them,
so they think no one can.

Even though both Napco and Ademco, were based in the NY metro
area, Napco was the most popular panel by far, for many, many years.
It may still be, but I don't know.

In other areas of the country, some people have never even heard of
Napco. I'd guess thats attributable to the fact the ADI has more area
covereage
than the Napco factory reps have.

 

[Bob La Londe]

Thats not the case


Maybe in your area, Ademco is by far the most popular and has been for
decades overall


Napco was carried by ADI so they had the coverage, I wonder if it could be
umm.....HARD TO PROGRAM?

Naa

The P1632 and bigger are kind of a pain to program fromt he keypad, but P800
and P801 are the easiext panels to program of any I have done. On the flip
side I hated the Magnum Alert panels.
--
Sincerly,
The guy who makes the final decision on who we buy from.
Bob La Londe

The Security Consultant
Bob La Londe - Owner
P.O. Box 5720
Yuma, Az 85366

(928) 782-9765 ofc
(928) 782-7873 fax

Licensed Contractor
ROC103044 & ROC103047

 

[secure15]

Thats not the case


Maybe in your area, Ademco is by far the most popular and has been for
decades overall


Napco was carried by ADI so they had the coverage, I wonder if it could be
umm.....HARD TO PROGRAM?

Naa

Naa - Only hard to program by someone with LESS than average abilities!
EVEN RLB can do it!

 

[Crash Gordon]

Going back to pre 800 days...no never liked Napco.


| You guys don't like Napco?
|
|
| | > then i'd agree as well.
| >
| >
| >
| > | > | ADT would be the best choice of all three. Slomins uses off the shelf
| > | Napco P800, P816, P1632 panels.
| > |
| > | Jim Rojas
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > | Crash Gordon wrote:
| > | > Definitely not Brinks, unless you want to buy a whole new system if
| > you're
| > | > not happy with them later. Their equipment is proprietary - cannot
be
| > | > taken-over.
| > | >
| > | > Dunno much about Slomin.
| > | >
| > | > ADT at least their equipment can be taken over if your not
happy..but
| > only
| > | > after your initial term expires because the DO excute their
contracts
| > to
| > the
| > | > letter. No outs there.
| > | >
| > | > Personally... find a good local small company that's been around a
| > while
| > and
| > | > get a couple of bids. With the big boys you're just a number and RMR
| > to
| > | > their bean-counters. You'll never see the same tech twice and you'll
| > be
| > | > explaining your problem (if you have one) to 20 people before any
| > action is
| > | > taken.
| > | >
| > | > R.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > | > | > |I want to go with one of these systems. I'm not happy that they
make
| > | > | you sign up for 3 years without a trial period. I freely admit I
| > know
| > | > | nothing about these. Can someone with no affiliation to any of
these
| > | > | please give me some advice as to which is the best option? Would I
| > | > | still need window bars with these? I was just told that a first
| > floor
| > | > | tenant had someone try and break into his apt. the last few
nights,
| > | > | and I want to protect my home, and make him feel secure.
| > | > |
| > | > | Any help would be much appreciated. Please, no sales pitches!
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
|
|
|
| --
|
|

 

[Crash Gordon]

OH...it's THAT Slomins...I thought the name sounded familiar...oil
trucks!...been a long time since I lived back east.

Wayne was he the Blockbuster guy?


| ADT has the best overall customer service, and doesn't mind if you
| decide to use your system as a non monitored system only after your
| commitment with them is satisfied. Their Safewatch Pro 3000EN is an
| Ademco Vista20Pv2 that cannot be downloaded via standard compass. You
| can however hand program it, or swap the board, and all wireless devices
| if any, are fully compatible.
|
| Brinks is the complete opposite of ADT. They have a real borg mentality,
| and will shutdown your system in a heartbeat, and refuse to service your
| system unless you sign up for another long term contract. To use your
| system as a local, you have to pay them $500 more, and thats if you
| catch them on a good day. Nevermind that you have had your service with
| them for several years. Nevermind that the installing dealer already
| paid them for that equipment. It's all a numbers game to them.
|
| Slomins is a company that offers home security as a sideline...do you
| really want to use a company that primarily sells home heating oil to
| install a security system in your home? Most of their installations are
| the basic 3 door, 1 motion, lick it and stick systems. That is not
| security or peace of mind. I have seen companies like Slomins sell off
| alarm divisions once they find a sucker (ADT for the most part), or
| decide that their attrition rate is getting out of control, and try to
| pawn it off to Wayne Hizinga...yeah Wayne, I still remember you!
|
| Jim Rojas
|
|
|
|
| Jim wrote:
| >> ADT would be the best choice of all three. Slomins uses off the shelf
| >> Napco P800, P816, P1632 panels.
| >>
| >> Jim Rojas
| >>
| >>
| > What's wrong with off the shelf products?
| >
| > Better than proprietary ...... wouldn't you say?
| >
| > Also, if Slomins is being considered, that means the OP is in
| > the NY tristate area in which Napco is very popular. It would seem
| > that a popular panel would be one more likely to be able to be
| > taken over, rather than changed, should the OP decide to change
| > alarm companys.
| >

 

[Bob La Londe]

Naa - Only hard to program by someone with LESS than average abilities!
EVEN RLB can do it!

Ouch! That's gonna leave a "Mark."



--
Sincerly,
The guy who makes the final decision on who we buy from.
Bob La Londe

The Security Consultant
Bob La Londe - Owner
P.O. Box 5720
Yuma, Az 85366

(928) 782-9765 ofc
(928) 782-7873 fax

Licensed Contractor
ROC103044 & ROC103047

 

[Robert L Bass]

Naa - Only hard to program by someone

with LESS than average abilities!
EVEN RLB can do it!

I teach DIYers how to program Napco panels
all the time. This stuff is much simpler than
some folks might like you to believe. Any
primate can learn how to install an alarm
system. The wiring is simple, mostly 2- and
4-wire. The sensors screw to the wall or get
inserted in a hole drilled in a door casing.
Most don't require any adjustments at all.
The panel hook-up is simple stuff, too. Anyone
with a modicum of tool skills and a bit of patience
can do it. There's a schematic drawing showing
which wires go where (many panels even say
which colors to use).

Programming Napco's larger panels is best
done using their software. You can download
it for free. I usually need 20 minutes or so to
walk a new user through programming a P3200
or P9600 panel. Once you've done a few of them
it's like riding a bicycle. Even Mark Leuck can
do that. :^)

This week I showed a first time DIYer how to
install and configure an ELK-M1G home
automation system. These are far more advanced
than anything most alarm installers do. The wiring
and installation is largely the same as alarms.
The programming and the number of options are
more complex though. It took me just over an hour
to walk him through programming the panel.

I must agree with the above poster. Even I can do
it. I can't say for sure whether he can though. :^)

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Robert L Bass]

Ouch! That's gonna leave a "Mark."

Not hardly.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[I brive a dus]

I want to go with one of these systems. I'm not happy that they make
you sign up for 3 years without a trial period. I freely admit I know
nothing about these. Can someone with no affiliation to any of these
please give me some advice as to which is the best option? Would I
still need window bars with these? I was just told that a first floor
tenant had someone try and break into his apt. the last few nights,
and I want to protect my home, and make him feel secure.

Any help would be much appreciated. Please, no sales pitches! <

Try www.buyerzone.com
Submit a request to receive bids from competing alarm companies.
Find a company offering panels that DO NOT have dialer delays.
This enhanced call verification crap is dangerous.
And since you don't want a sales pitch I won't mention that many
participants here do business in the NY Tristate area and offer better
service than any of the 3 you mentioned.

As a former dealer for Brinks I can tell you they are not who you want
protecting your house.
Slomins is an oil company using cheap equipment, 5 year contracts, and
they place a lien on your home.
ADT is great on the sales pitch but lousy on the service end.
I know for FACT they have some ex cons installing systems for them in
NY. In CT they sub the work out.
Their police background checks are a joke. Hell they have an
authorized dealer in Florida, Kendall Windham, who spent time in jail
for counterfeiting, who was (strangely enough) a professional
wrestler.

It's great that you want to protect your home but spend a little more
time doing the research.

 

[Frank Olson]

I teach DIYers how to program Napco panels
all the time.

And some of the DIYer's you teach "all the time" are also the same ones
that complain to the BBB!

 

[tourman]

Sir, as one of the other posters suggested, you might want to call in
a small, local dealer. At the very least, he can give you a more
customized solution to securing your residence. It may also be
possible to find one who will not lock you into a long term contract,
but if so, expect to pay full market price for the system up front.
But contract or not, go with the dealer who gives you the best feeling/
solution/ professional approach, and not necessarily the lowest price.

You should also pay close attention to the physical aspects of
securing your home to help to keep them out to start with. It doesn't
make much sense to spend major dollars on an electronic solution to
warn if they are already in the home unless you have taken the
necessary simple precautions to keep them out to start with. Alarms
are an important part of your home defence system but definately not
the first thing nor the only thing you need to do.

Doors should be solid, locks of good quality, and most important, the
strikes should be strong and well anchored into the frame of the
building. Window bars work well, but make sure they do not present a
safety hazard (they should be of the kind that are easily removeable
from the inside). Walk around your home and try to spot the easy
points of entry; then do something about them. Patio doors must also
be secured properly.

My website has information on it about most aspects of securing your
home properly if you care to spend a little time researching the
subject

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com

 

[aryder]

I want to go with one of these systems. I'm not happy that they make
you sign up for 3 years without a trial period. I freely admit I know
nothing about these. Can someone with no affiliation to any of these
please give me some advice as to which is the best option? Would I
still need window bars with these? I was just told that a first floor
tenant had someone try and break into his apt. the last few nights,
and I want to protect my home, and make him feel secure.

Any help would be much appreciated. Please, no sales pitches!

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I will call a few local
companies. It seems the man trying to get in used a chair to try and
get into a first floor backyard window. My tenant saw his face at the
window.

We are in the second floor apt. I assume that if the perimeter of the
house is protected someone can't get up to the second floor either. Do
you think a motion sensing alarm that lights the backyard would also
help. There are many stray cats though that might be back there.
Anyway, we have been there for 45+ years without incident. I guess
it's a whole new world now. A police officer is coming to visit soon
to access the situation.

 

[Crash Gordon]

Cats will trip the motion lights...but so what?





| > I want to go with one of these systems. I'm not happy that they make
| > you sign up for 3 years without a trial period. I freely admit I know
| > nothing about these. Can someone with no affiliation to any of these
| > please give me some advice as to which is the best option? Would I
| > still need window bars with these? I was just told that a first floor
| > tenant had someone try and break into his apt. the last few nights,
| > and I want to protect my home, and make him feel secure.
| >
| > Any help would be much appreciated. Please, no sales pitches!
|
| Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I will call a few local
| companies. It seems the man trying to get in used a chair to try and
| get into a first floor backyard window. My tenant saw his face at the
| window.
|
| We are in the second floor apt. I assume that if the perimeter of the
| house is protected someone can't get up to the second floor either. Do
| you think a motion sensing alarm that lights the backyard would also
| help. There are many stray cats though that might be back there.
| Anyway, we have been there for 45+ years without incident. I guess
| it's a whole new world now. A police officer is coming to visit soon
| to access the situation.
|

 

[Jim]

Thats not the case.

That's not the case????
You only deal with the people who can't program them so you think that
nobody can or that everybody doesn't use them. The people who can
program them have no use for you. And anyone stupid enough to use a
National central station can't be that bright to begin with.

Maybe in your area, Ademco is by far the most popular and has been for
decades overall

Duhhhhh!

I said:

" Even though both Napco and Ademco, were based in the NY metro
area, Napco was the most popular panel by far, for many, many years.
It may still be, but I don't know."

Yes ..... in my area Napco is the predominant panel. I'm sure there
are other areas where other equipment is more popular than Ademco too.
I seem to remember that in some of the nothern mid west states, there
were a number of fairly large alarm companys that were exclusive FBI
for decades.

As far behind in technology as Ademco has been for decades, it can
only be due to their multiple points of distribution and their deep
pockets that keeps them a major supplier.

Napco was carried by ADI so they had the coverage, I wonder if it could be
umm.....HARD TO PROGRAM?

Naa-

And Napco stopped selling to ADI. I wonder if it could be

Ummm
they pushed Ademco ABOVE EVERY OTHER PANEL?

Naa-.

 

[Crash Gordon]

I'd like to know how...but doubt that I'd ever go through the trouble of
trying to crack a Brinks panel rather than replace a board and keypad.


| Brinks systems are proprietary, but with the right knowledge you can
| take them over.
|
| Jim Rojas
|
|
|
| Crash Gordon wrote:
| > Definitely not Brinks, unless you want to buy a whole new system if
you're
| > not happy with them later. Their equipment is proprietary - cannot be
| > taken-over.
| >
| > Dunno much about Slomin.
| >
| > ADT at least their equipment can be taken over if your not happy..but
only
| > after your initial term expires because the DO excute their contracts to
the
| > letter. No outs there.
| >
| > Personally... find a good local small company that's been around a while
and
| > get a couple of bids. With the big boys you're just a number and RMR to
| > their bean-counters. You'll never see the same tech twice and you'll be
| > explaining your problem (if you have one) to 20 people before any
action is
| > taken.
| >
| > R.
| >
| >
| > | > |I want to go with one of these systems. I'm not happy that they make
| > | you sign up for 3 years without a trial period. I freely admit I know
| > | nothing about these. Can someone with no affiliation to any of these
| > | please give me some advice as to which is the best option? Would I
| > | still need window bars with these? I was just told that a first floor
| > | tenant had someone try and break into his apt. the last few nights,
| > | and I want to protect my home, and make him feel secure.
| > |
| > | Any help would be much appreciated. Please, no sales pitches!
| > |
| >
| >