[Robert L Bass]

Your not being picky. My intent was to say that if you

could program an MA3000 via the keypad you were
pretty good!..

Agreed, though I'm not sure whether that ability qualified me as
good or just patient. :^)

I've programmed tons of Napco systems and, like most who've
worked with the brand over the years, I'd rather not have to do
another by keypad. There are so many options with Napco that the
very flexibility that makes them great probably scares off a lot
of potential customers.

I too programmed a lot via keypad but Napco HAS had a
software program for quite some time since the 1008 (LKDL)
(DL=DownLoadable)

Yep. Remember using the clunky PCI-2000 interface? That thing
would have made Rube Goldberg proud. I used one at my desktop PC
for quite a while until someone suggested I just plug a telephone
into the modem and leave it off the hook after dialing.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com

 

[Frank Olson]

Agreed, though I'm not sure whether that ability qualified me as
good or just patient. :^)

Probably just "good". I'd say "genius" if you'd answer one question.
How do you get a 32 character keypad LCD display on a Napco system to
read: "Attention Burglar" on the first line, and "Go ahead. Make my
day." on the second? Inquiring minds want to know (not to mention a lot
of the DIY "lurkers").

I've programmed tons of Napco systems and, like most who've
worked with the brand over the years, I'd rather not have to do
another by keypad. There are so many options with Napco that the
very flexibility that makes them great probably scares off a lot
of potential customers.

Yep. Remember using the clunky PCI-2000 interface?

"Clunky", eh. Not hardly. Mine's about the size of my Hayes
"Smartmodem" and still goin' strong.

 

[Robert Campbell]

You could be right about a different "culture". In fact, you must be right;
how else can one account for the difference....

RHC

 

[Crash Gordon]

A lot of my clients give me keys to their homes, I just have to call and
make sure it's ok to go in...also, they're mostly high end clients who love
to pay on time (yah it's dream aint it). Seriously, I have one doctor who
put us on auto pay, but instead of quarterly pays he set us up as
monthly...but at the quarterly amount...so instead of 75 bucks a quarter
he's paying 75 bucks a month. So I call him and say...yo!...doc...stop
paying me already! He says okie dokie and I continute to get 75 bucks a
month. yo! doc...quit it already! you've already prepaid a year and a half!


Another client, I had forgotten to bill for almost 1k for add-ons...I just
plain forgot...after a few weeks I get an annoyed message from her; WHY
haven't you billed me already!!??

Old client called me thursday night...are you ready to rough my new house?
Huh? Dood, you never sent me plans! We talked about it months ago, but you
never called or sent me anything! Oh yeah I guess I forgot...well sparky is
done so you can get in there anytime (which will be this monday). Yah, I can
do it but to be honest I really don't have time to even give you a proposal.
That's ok he says just keep it under 15K, I trust you. Okie dokie! Shit I'll
give him a 500 buck credit for not having to write up a freekin' proposal!

In 2005 I only had 4 deadbeats I had to turn off.


| My commercail customers who are my residential customers are great I have
| the Bob Vella problem up here with residential every one can do it them
| selves and the residential dont want to pay there bills up here either.
| high end homes forget them they start building the home start ading too
many
| extras dont do good budgeting and that fancy system you are wirng gets
down
| sized who needs the headaches.
|
| Ill take the fork lift operator at 6:00 am who hits a smoke
| I have mostly small to mid size family owned commercail and industrial
who
| like the personel service and like intergration to save money and
headaches.
| plus they like all the cool toys i rig up in there plants.
| no scheduling headaches either i just show up and work.
| not rescheduled unless another contractor is screwing up.
| residential does not want you in there homes from nov to feb and then they
| dont have money to pay there bills etc etc.
| Up here many service providers have split there companys and formed a
| seprate residential entity to deal with the lawsuit headaches and
everything
| els residential cause up here. must be a different culture were you guys
| are.
|
|

 

[Mike Sokoly]

yeah Robert,
I still have the stupid thing!

Agreed, though I'm not sure whether that ability qualified me as
good or just patient. :^)

I've programmed tons of Napco systems and, like most who've
worked with the brand over the years, I'd rather not have to do
another by keypad. There are so many options with Napco that the
very flexibility that makes them great probably scares off a lot
of potential customers.




Yep. Remember using the clunky PCI-2000 interface? That thing
would have made Rube Goldberg proud. I used one at my desktop PC
for quite a while until someone suggested I just plug a telephone
into the modem and leave it off the hook after dialing.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com

 

[Jim]

Really. I'm just the opposite!...I'd much rather deal with loyal friendly
(and pay on time) homeowners...one on one...mostly custom homes. Dumped most
of my big commercial stuff, kept only the ones that are also homeowners of
mine.

Same thing I did a number of years ago. After years of commercial work
that was laborious drudgery, without even a thank you, the residential
market has more of a challange as far as installation skills and
techniques. I enjoy the level of homes that I do now. Presently doing a
$3.5 million 7500 sqft home, on seven acre wooded property with lakes
and Grecian gardens that one of my existing clients just bought. Was a
spec house, so it's all closed up already and they want a full system.
Great! What a challange to have jobs like that.

Don't understand a builder who'd build a house of that caliber with
only doors and two motion detectors ..... both placed in the wrong
spot. Keypad wire, poking out through the wainscoat panel in a 4 inch
space beteen a light switch and the end of the wall. Contact wire for
garage entry door is sticking out of the wall 2 feet away from the
door. Bedroom key pad wire was brought to the attic but wasn't stapled
there, so it was hanging out of neat little hole in the ceiling the
drywallers had made for it in the closet. The builder had paid $1200.00
to prewire 6 doors, two keypads, two motion detectors, one inside
speaker. No fire. One 12 conductor between attic and basement. And all
just short drops that have to be spliced to be wired back to the panel.
No home runs to a designated main panel area. Told him I would do the
same thing for $900.00 with home runs. And I thought that was high. No
Cat5. Five TV jacks. Five telephone jacks. Duhhhhh! Unbelieveable!

But that's the challange, to take a bad job and make a diamond out of
it.

 

[Mark Leuck]

Probably just "good". I'd say "genius" if you'd answer one question.
How do you get a 32 character keypad LCD display on a Napco system to
read: "Attention Burglar" on the first line, and "Go ahead. Make my
day." on the second? Inquiring minds want to know (not to mention a lot
of the DIY "lurkers").

He'll tell you how to do it by downloading, thats about all he knows

 

[Robert L Bass]

yeah Robert,

I still have the stupid thing!

I think mine is in a land fill in Connecticut. The funny thing
is, cleaning out the garage before moving last year I came across
my old Napco 410 programmer and a much more ancient Acron
programmer. In the (original) box with the Acron were several
unused chips.

During the move I tossed both of them... probably should have
sent them up to Jim Rojas' gara... er, I mean "Museum of Ancient
Alarmistry". :^)

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com

 

[Mr.Double-sided tape]

Stop trying to kiss up to Rojas. Rojas would break a foot off in your
worthless ass if he didn't think the shoe police would arrest him for
cruelty to loafers.

 

[Jim Rojas]

That's ok Robert. I now have 37 410's, 6 P4000's, and 3 DD1PC's, in my
collection.

Jim Rojas

 

[Crash Gordon]

Why? Because most of them don't care, they just want to sell the
house...it's the buyer's problem later. Some builders are of the mindset;
oh, you can just add a wireless system later...or that a few doors and a
motion detector are enough - gee where did that come from? From years of the
biggies creating that illusion by advertising and give-away systems - that's
how. Our industry fucking our own industry.



|
| Crash Gordon wrote:
| > Really. I'm just the opposite!...I'd much rather deal with loyal
friendly
| > (and pay on time) homeowners...one on one...mostly custom homes. Dumped
most
| > of my big commercial stuff, kept only the ones that are also homeowners
of
| > mine.
| >
| >
| Same thing I did a number of years ago. After years of commercial work
| that was laborious drudgery, without even a thank you, the residential
| market has more of a challange as far as installation skills and
| techniques. I enjoy the level of homes that I do now. Presently doing a
| $3.5 million 7500 sqft home, on seven acre wooded property with lakes
| and Grecian gardens that one of my existing clients just bought. Was a
| spec house, so it's all closed up already and they want a full system.
| Great! What a challange to have jobs like that.
|
| Don't understand a builder who'd build a house of that caliber with
| only doors and two motion detectors ..... both placed in the wrong
| spot. Keypad wire, poking out through the wainscoat panel in a 4 inch
| space beteen a light switch and the end of the wall. Contact wire for
| garage entry door is sticking out of the wall 2 feet away from the
| door. Bedroom key pad wire was brought to the attic but wasn't stapled
| there, so it was hanging out of neat little hole in the ceiling the
| drywallers had made for it in the closet. The builder had paid $1200.00
| to prewire 6 doors, two keypads, two motion detectors, one inside
| speaker. No fire. One 12 conductor between attic and basement. And all
| just short drops that have to be spliced to be wired back to the panel.
| No home runs to a designated main panel area. Told him I would do the
| same thing for $900.00 with home runs. And I thought that was high. No
| Cat5. Five TV jacks. Five telephone jacks. Duhhhhh! Unbelieveable!
|
| But that's the challange, to take a bad job and make a diamond out of
| it.
|
|

 

[Robert Campbell]

I took it one step further, although my solution likely wouldn't work for a
lot of people or companies. Automatic billing (Pre Authorized Payment Plan)
or they go elsewhere ! Sure solves a lot of problems, with none of the major
expenses for billing. Additional work or add ons that are billable are paid
for usually with a customers personal cheque, so little extra works for me.

Being over my forecast, and with ADT takeovers coming in like a house on
fire, I can well afford to be that "picky". Works for me....

RHC

 

[alarman]

I'll give him a 500 buck credit for not having to write up a freekin'

proposal!

WOW! You must write SOME proposal.
js

 

[Crash Gordon]

You saw the one for Ernie.
My proposals are a werk of d'arte..




| | >I'll give him a 500 buck credit for not having to write up a freekin'
| proposal!
|
| WOW! You must write SOME proposal.
| js
|
|
|

 

[Crash Gordon]

I sold one the other day for 1600 bucks. The guy wanted to call ADT, so I
told him don't bother I also worked up a proposal using ADT's pricing, it
was 1900 +/- and 35-45 bucks a month. It was pretty funny...I kinda knew it
was coming the way he was talking on the phone so I was prepared. My buddy
couldn't stop laughing.

Did you know they charge 175 bucks to show up for service if you don't buy
the service plan? Holy Comolly Batman!


|
| | > Why? Because most of them don't care, they just want to sell the
| > house...it's the buyer's problem later. Some builders are of the
mindset;
| > oh, you can just add a wireless system later...or that a few doors and a
| > motion detector are enough - gee where did that come from? From years of
| > the
| > biggies creating that illusion by advertising and give-away systems -
| > that's
| > how. Our industry fucking our own industry.
|
| It's the Bankers and CEO's, not the independents & regional companies...
| Lots of people live check-to-check, so financing looks good to them. I
take
| the time to explain to potential customers the pit falls of the "Low Down"
| systems, $99 Down + $32.99 X 36 = $1286.64... What do they get for $1200,
| two or three doors and a motion with a control made by Mattel...
| >
| >
| >
| > | > |
| > | Crash Gordon wrote:
| > | > Really. I'm just the opposite!...I'd much rather deal with loyal
| > friendly
| > | > (and pay on time) homeowners...one on one...mostly custom homes.
| > Dumped
| > most
| > | > of my big commercial stuff, kept only the ones that are also
| > homeowners
| > of
| > | > mine.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | Same thing I did a number of years ago. After years of commercial work
| > | that was laborious drudgery, without even a thank you, the residential
| > | market has more of a challange as far as installation skills and
| > | techniques. I enjoy the level of homes that I do now. Presently doing
a
| > | $3.5 million 7500 sqft home, on seven acre wooded property with lakes
| > | and Grecian gardens that one of my existing clients just bought. Was
a
| > | spec house, so it's all closed up already and they want a full system.
| > | Great! What a challange to have jobs like that.
| > |
| > | Don't understand a builder who'd build a house of that caliber with
| > | only doors and two motion detectors ..... both placed in the wrong
| > | spot. Keypad wire, poking out through the wainscoat panel in a 4 inch
| > | space beteen a light switch and the end of the wall. Contact wire for
| > | garage entry door is sticking out of the wall 2 feet away from the
| > | door. Bedroom key pad wire was brought to the attic but wasn't stapled
| > | there, so it was hanging out of neat little hole in the ceiling the
| > | drywallers had made for it in the closet. The builder had paid
$1200.00
| > | to prewire 6 doors, two keypads, two motion detectors, one inside
| > | speaker. No fire. One 12 conductor between attic and basement. And all
| > | just short drops that have to be spliced to be wired back to the
panel.
| > | No home runs to a designated main panel area. Told him I would do the
| > | same thing for $900.00 with home runs. And I thought that was high. No
| > | Cat5. Five TV jacks. Five telephone jacks. Duhhhhh! Unbelieveable!
| > |
| > | But that's the challange, to take a bad job and make a diamond out of
| > | it.
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
|

 

[Robert L Bass]

Only? You must have been slacking off, Jim. :^)

That's ok Robert. I now have 37 410's, 6 P4000's, and 3 DD1PC's, in my
collection.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com

 

[Robert L Bass]

Our industry ###ing our own industry.

That's for sure. Between companies selling so-called "free"
systems that are worth just that, fast-buck artists like Fowler
bilking customers left and right and morons behaving like
schoolyard bullies in USENET, the public is being told over and
over that the industry is nothing more than a carnival (not the
same as "Carnaval"")) midway.

That is truly unfortunate because there are many qualified,
caring professionals in the industry (only a very of them few
here) whose trade is tarnished by the behavior of a few
low-lifes. Sad.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com

 

[Frank Olson]

That's for sure. Between companies selling so-called "free"
systems that are worth just that, fast-buck artists like Fowler
bilking customers left and right and morons behaving like
schoolyard bullies in USENET, the public is being told over and
over that the industry is nothing more than a carnival (not the
same as "Carnaval"")) midway.

Interesting. This coming from the "premier" fast-buck artist in Usenet.
What is it now? *Four* websites all selling the same product?
Fifteen (and rising) complaints at the Better Business Bureau in the
last three years? I don't think Tom (or anyone else from the group you
frequently denigrate) sells product he neither endorses, recommends, or
supports, yet here you are telling us that "DSC is crap" while at the
same time extolling it's virtues on the home page of
home-automation.us.com.

You are right on one count though. You do make this a "carnival midway"
full of "kicks and giggles". I particularly like the link to your
"home-automation" guest book. Reading that is definitely worth the
"price of admission".

Before you "start" slinging mud around the group again, how about
explaining how you "worked in the trade" for three years without an L-6,
and a further six years without an L-5 (in CT)? How many systems did
you actually install *without* a permit? As to your equally ludicrous
claim to having opened a "modestly successful central station alarm
company" in 1979 with no experience and no customer base, well...
enough said! "29 years in the industry"... Right!

That is truly unfortunate because there are many qualified,
caring professionals in the industry (only a very of them few
here) whose trade is tarnished by the behavior of a few
low-lifes. Sad.

Actually I'm pretty darn happy that you're no longer in the trade. You
must feel pretty "safe" posting this kinda crap all the way from Brazil
though, eh?

Frank Olson
http://www.yoursecuritysource.com

 

[Jim Rojas]

ADT bought 15 410's off me a couple years ago.

Jim Rojas

 

[Mike Sokoly]

15 Years ago I had the chance to clean my ex-partners garage out and
forgot the 410! One of my electrician buddy's did give me an Acron sans
chips though! Still have it if anyone, Jim or otherwise wants it!