Alarm company recommendation in Central Florida

[Vic]

Hello group.
I have a ten year old Ademco system installed in my home. It has been
working fine for most of that time, just change the battery every
couple of years. Lately I've been having one zone beeping/chiming, as
if the door/window were opened. I've checked and cleaned the suspect
contacts and the phone box outside the house. But, it still beeps at
the wrong time, with a message that zone 4 was opened.
Anyway, rather than repair this old system, I thought I might just as
well upgrade. I wonder if anyone can recommend a good, not too
expensive, company to do an install for me in the Orlando area? The
company who installed this system (Scott Alarm) has long ago gone out
of business. Thanks for your time.
Vic

 

[Jakes452]

My God! If you deal with someone from this newsgroup you better keep one eye
open while your sleep at night! this is the worse place to look for info
for your home security.
Be very very careful using this group.
Be sure to closely investigate (primarily if you
buy online) any of the online alarm seller, especially if they claim a ASA
certification, a totally false and misleading certification (see that
later). You wouldn't want to buy from someone whose sideline is
understanding your alarm system for the purpose of exploiting it later
byknowing your codes or maintenance access numbers. Be wary of those who do
not have a brick and mortar store.

When I was shopping and using this newsgroup some online dealers advertised
a ASA certification with a picture of a ASA emblem shown on their website.
It gives a good first impression but when you look into it you find out that
it was nothing more then some....guy.... creating a website to supposedly
post complaints, with no entries of complaints or follow-through. It was
analogous to someone flashing a police badge that turns out to be fake. The
ASA moniker is a badge without any accreditation and surely this is
misleading and a scam.

Some of the free advice you get is not because of someone's unselfish need
to make the world a better place to live. Most are giving you advice on the
hope of getting a sale or...."other" information. Listen but don't act on
the advice until you can confirm or gain some trust in the source by
researching them.

Sometimes you can learn a lot about sellers by plugging in email address or
screenname into a Google search of past news postings. You will be
surprised, .....no..MAKE THAT SHOCKED....AND I MEAN SHOCKED!!!!..... at what
you find out about those offering to outfit your alarm. How can our legal
system let these type of people sell home security!!!!!

This is a very unregulated online business, and especially risky for
something as important as YOUR HOME security.

good luck....and go talk to someone reputible.

 

[Allan Waghalter]

Vic,
Upgrading or changing your panel is not going to fix your problem. You have
a swinger on zone 4 and it will still be there with a new system. You may
be ready for an upgrade, but your primary problem is service. If you can't
find it, call a company who owns a "Loop Stick" from Labor Savings Device.
They will find the problem.

I just did a takeover that had been lost by ADT and then lost by a very good
Houston based company because neither one knew how to properly diagnose a
swinger on the screen circuit. Using the loop stick, we found 4 out of 10
screens with minor problems in either the hidden wiring between two adjacent
windows or the plug in connectors. The installing company had twisted wires
together without soldering them. They didn't have room for a butt connector
between the windows. Slight movement in a horizontal position (me laying
down) created a direct open.

Regards,
Allan