5010 Communication Problems

I'd try defaulting the programming and reprogramming too if pw dn pw up didnt reset it before replacing the board.

Replacing the board in any event shouldnt take too long either.

| > The monitoring station called and asked the customer to try to send | > signals... didn't work. So they gave us a call, I went down and sent | > signals... again... no luck. Tried again, listening in on it this time, | and | > it sounded like it was a one way conversation... a few beeps here and | there, | > but not quite the usual sounds you'd here from it. Only trouble is FTC. | >

| > Called the monitoring station back and apparently they're getting signals, | > but the signals aren't going to the account properly, aren't being defined | > and are only tracked down by the phone number they were sent from. | >

| > The only suggestion they had was to remove the receiver number and account | > number and reprogram that. Did that and, of course, no luck. | >

| > So now it looks like I'll be there on Saturday changing the panel, | hopefully | > not messing up my long weekend too much. It's not a big deal to change, | not | > many zones, re-programming takes 2 or 3 minutes, testing will be quick, | but | > still. | >

| > So in the meantime, I thought I'd post this and see if anyone has any | other | > suggestions before I replace the board. | >

| >

| | |

Try powering down the system (including disconnect of the battery). That may correct your problem.

Norm

Just a suggestion ! You might default the panel, reprogram and try again to see it it reacts differently before you go to the trouble of physically changing the board (but I also assume you've thought of this). I've had a lot of DSC boards go "flaky" in one way or another, and sometimes (but not always), doing the above solves the problem.

But I've changed as many boards out as well because a lot of these kinds of problems will re-occur in spite of your best efforts. Why should we waste our time because of dubious electronics from the manufacturer....

(damn, I'm in a snotty mood this morning.....)

RHC

Is there _one_ manufacturer who seems better (or worse) in this respect (DSC, Ademco, etc.). Also, do manufacturers actually _make_ their own boards, or (like laptops) in there some clandestine factory somewhere in China putting boards together and applying various labels?

I can't speak about Ademco, because I know nothing about them. Both DSC and Paradox are actually produced in factories in Mississauga and Montreal respectively (I've been through both factories).

I've had far better luck with Paradox panels, but that's just me; others might tell you the opposite. I do feel Paradox wireless is far better than DSC wireless though, and I also feel personally their panels are more solid over the longer term. They did have a bad run of early model panels that prejudiced a lot of dealers against them from the get go, and we ARE an unforgiving lot. ADT don't handle Paradox because they are reputed to have tried to buy the company, and they wouldn't sell, so their opinion could be as much politics than anything else. But in fairness, for a large company to take on another line of panels represents a major cost in stocking, training, parts etc, so their decision to not use Paradox could also just be a simple business decision.

Unfortunately, one person's opinion on a line of panels doesn't mean much; there will be a thousand others that will tell you the opposite.

RHC

I understand that it is simply a business decision Robert. I had the same question about why Voxcom does not use Paradox. Basically, they use three manufacturers now, Paradox would be a fourth. They have full time 24 tech support that have all be trained on the three, adding another one is a big deal for training purposes. Not to mention the support they already recieve from those three, free training, materials etc.

When I was with ADT I asked a senior service tech about Paradox and was told, why use a rip off when we already use the original. Some bias there for sure.

Yes, for the same reason I don't use any other makes than Paradox and DSC. Ademco takeovers I either change out or more often refer them to some other dealer that handles that product. As for ADT, that would certainly seem to indicate at least some sort of bias for sure. A "ripoff" Paradox is not by any stretch of the imagination.

BTW, I had a Voxcom dealer bring me a couple of boards for unlocking. He was driving down from Sudbury to a Voxcom convention here in town, and delivered them to me in person. I asked him if he knew you, but he didn't....Badge Security, a gentleman by the name of Mike Badger, in Hanmer, Ontario. I thought he might because all you guys seem to know each other like a family......

RHC

Ouch, I do know him, we met at last years conference.

Most North American manufacturers stand behind the stuff they sell. And most of the product they sell is "assembled" in either Mexico, the US, or Canada. DSC used to be made entirely *in Canada* (except the chips of course). I took a tour of their factory a few years ago (before Tyco bought 'em)... Really impressive.

Why do you say "ouch"...

RHC

:-) js

the manufacturers do make their own boards....usually in Mexico

Ademco moved production to Mexico a few years ago

GE also produces in Mexico although they still have some production in Oregon, Minnesota and Gladewater TX

Napco is Dominican Republic

Moose is Atlantis

(Jack Stevens might get that last one)

Agreed, I can't tell you what a pain it is to do tech support on dozens of individual panels from 10 to 12 manufacturers. To me Paradox is okay but I'd rather not use them only because we already do Ademco and ITI

BTW nice to see you back Robert

Yeah, ditto... As you can see, nuthin' much has changed. Watch the dust bunnies in the corners though... I think a couple of them may have teeth.

Power down/up didn't help. I haven't tried defaulting yet as I want to try logging in and getting the codes before I either default or replace the board.

It would be nice to be able to get the codes in binary right off the keypad, just like the master code is already done. (any lurkers from DSC paying attention?)

Thanks for the advice guys.

Wouldn't be too secure if you could do that