As I have stated in previous articles I have Customers who can not afford to upgrade to Total Connect 2 Now known as Smart Security Package.
Which Resideo has been encouraging dealers to upgrade accounts to.
Of course they did not have a rebate or sale on the Big Vista Turbo panels to help people out who can not afford them in the $800.00 range and up.
So now they have shut off TC1 service which was not suppose to be shut off till January 2020 according to their newsletters they sent out and gone to New Service Packages which are
1#- Security - which provides up/download and just signals transported to central
2# -Smart Security - Which gives you the Total Connect Package TC2
3#- Smart Home - Which gives you Total Connect plus Automation Package
4#- Video Only
So when TC 1 service was shut down and new service packages went into effect this week I started getting failure of test signals on my TC 1 accounts which should have defaulted to the lowest Security Service package
But NO Some Genius at Resideo made all the TC1 accounts Smart Security which means no signals where being sent from panels and meant I had a dozen plus accounts I had to hurriedly switch to Security Package so Fire and Burglar signals would still be sent and now have to check each and every account set Security only .
Resideo in all there news letters they sent out never said what they where doing with accounts which did not upgrade so there are now thousands of panels not transmitting because dealers like myself thought service would be downgraded to the Security Package .
Makes sense this is what would have been done Honeywell/ Resideo was made very aware of fact there are customers who would either not spend the money or could not afford to upgrade like some of the churches and Veterans Posts I take care of.
So now Honeywell/ Resideo since you have decided to screw my customers and make me look like an Ass again all those accounts will be switched to Napco Communicators which will still allow the open and close and basic smart phone commands
This is the last straw with Honeywell/ Resideo this is last time you make me look like an ass to my customers . I will be actively looking at switching all my accounts to a different manufacturers panels in future . I have already installed non Honeywell products to see whats viable.
I will no longer recommend Honeywell/ Resideo Products . I have been a dealer for over 35 years but no more.
You just don't get it.
Play Stupid Games Win Stupid Prizes
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Alarm System Loop Isolators Use them on your wiring or loose your Burglar or Fire Alarm Panel in my customers case it saved his multi building Burglar alarm setup
Yes I hear it all the time from alarm dealers .Do really need those Isolators when running wire between buildings ?
Yes absolutely you need them or risk buying new panel and keypads. even if wiring is run totally with in a building like industrial sites and warehouses they are a good idea.
Sadly I am one of handful of dealers who uses them I know this because when I order them at the Local ADI supply house
they never have them in stock and have to order them and more than once the salesman has remarked that I am among handful of Honeywell Dealers who uses them.
and if you are doing commercial fire they are legally required for fire systems and how many times never see one on entire system.
So what do these Isolators do ?
They prevent a short circuit on a wiring loop from several things
1- if there is a short on a 2 wire V- Plex or Multiplex wiring loop it prevent all the devices from being not able to function.
and just devices beyond the isolator are effected.
specifically important when you have sprinkler systems involved '
if a wire gets hit out in warehouse and shorts the isolator protected wiring going to sprinkler system switches will still operate.
2- It protects against over voltage in my customers case a large multi building motorcycle business the isolator took the hit when a surge induced by lightning came down line . only the items in one building got damaged and everything else was saved.
Its a case of use it or loose it and isolators have save myself and my customers plenty of grief over the years.But dealers always trying to get most profit out of a job they can never use them
and the end result is damaged equipment during storms which is preventable.
Yes absolutely you need them or risk buying new panel and keypads. even if wiring is run totally with in a building like industrial sites and warehouses they are a good idea.
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| Isolator for 4 wire Keypad Buss Protection |
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| Isolator for 2 wire V-plex signal line |
Sadly I am one of handful of dealers who uses them I know this because when I order them at the Local ADI supply house
they never have them in stock and have to order them and more than once the salesman has remarked that I am among handful of Honeywell Dealers who uses them.
and if you are doing commercial fire they are legally required for fire systems and how many times never see one on entire system.
So what do these Isolators do ?
They prevent a short circuit on a wiring loop from several things
1- if there is a short on a 2 wire V- Plex or Multiplex wiring loop it prevent all the devices from being not able to function.
and just devices beyond the isolator are effected.
specifically important when you have sprinkler systems involved '
if a wire gets hit out in warehouse and shorts the isolator protected wiring going to sprinkler system switches will still operate.
2- It protects against over voltage in my customers case a large multi building motorcycle business the isolator took the hit when a surge induced by lightning came down line . only the items in one building got damaged and everything else was saved.
Its a case of use it or loose it and isolators have save myself and my customers plenty of grief over the years.But dealers always trying to get most profit out of a job they can never use them
and the end result is damaged equipment during storms which is preventable.
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
License Plate Recognition Cameras Should they be in Civilian Use? Even Police use ? Due they pose a Privacy Issue?
License plate Recognition systems are a very powerful tool for Law Enforcement 2 black box cameras are mounted on a police vehicle usually on the rear one on each side , and as the officer goes about his patrol it automatically reads car license plates and alerts him to stolen vehicles or vehicle suspected to have been used in a crime as he passes them .
It has helped recover stolen vehicles and caught criminals in the act of committing crimes
Saves hours of looking up and calling in suspected plates thru 9-11 Dispatch Center
The Mt Lebanon Pa Police have one car outfitted and is using it. and The Pittsburgh Parking Authority has one it uses as its van rides around and spots cars which have high amounts of tickets due and lets them know its eligible to get "The Boot" which immobilizes car till tickets are paid.
The system is expensive so many depts can not afford it.
Yet other day I see a civilian owned car with a young guy behind he wheel at a local Speedway Gas Plaza in Oakmont which has one..
Sowhat are they doing with it?
So out of curiosity I walk up and ask the young man about what the cameras where mounted on his car for
Well its owned by a company which is looking for car's that are to be repossessed.
Same idea as parking authority lets them know when they come across a plate on repossession list.
Already there are company's offering this data to anyone who has cash to pay for it
So you say no big deal I have no tickets or expired plate nor am I being prepossessed whats the big deal?
The big deal is the data base and just what are these cameras recording on these vehicles.
where is it being stored and who is in charge of it ?
Are they recording where your vehicle was parked ? Thats yours and only your's business no one elses.
Already the ACLU -The American Civil Liberty's Union has taken a hard look at these cameras and Facial recognition Cameras for same reason where is this information being stored ?and who is controlling it ?
When I use my EZ Pass on Pa. Turnpike I know it records my vehicle its great for Tax records
for my business but what about my private vehicle? same thing Too much info being taken and stored .
While High Tech is great it is getting all too powerful and too far ahead of rules and laws
to keep up with it.
This data can help or Hurt you and yes you should be concerned about it.
Because in the wrong hands it can be extremely dangerous and put us into a 1984 situation.
Just look at China with its societal Rating and how they are using cameras to control lives and suppress freedom of expression and thought.
There needs to be a serious look at all this data being collected and how it is being used and when it should be permanently deleted the USA does not need to become China but we allow data to be collected on us daily by just about any one with out our knowledge which is being used now to determine if you get a job ,a loan ,a medical treatment.
Because thats what Big Data allows.
It has helped recover stolen vehicles and caught criminals in the act of committing crimes
Saves hours of looking up and calling in suspected plates thru 9-11 Dispatch Center
The Mt Lebanon Pa Police have one car outfitted and is using it. and The Pittsburgh Parking Authority has one it uses as its van rides around and spots cars which have high amounts of tickets due and lets them know its eligible to get "The Boot" which immobilizes car till tickets are paid.
The system is expensive so many depts can not afford it.
Yet other day I see a civilian owned car with a young guy behind he wheel at a local Speedway Gas Plaza in Oakmont which has one..
Sowhat are they doing with it?
So out of curiosity I walk up and ask the young man about what the cameras where mounted on his car for
Well its owned by a company which is looking for car's that are to be repossessed.
Same idea as parking authority lets them know when they come across a plate on repossession list.
Already there are company's offering this data to anyone who has cash to pay for it
So you say no big deal I have no tickets or expired plate nor am I being prepossessed whats the big deal?
The big deal is the data base and just what are these cameras recording on these vehicles.
where is it being stored and who is in charge of it ?
Are they recording where your vehicle was parked ? Thats yours and only your's business no one elses.
Already the ACLU -The American Civil Liberty's Union has taken a hard look at these cameras and Facial recognition Cameras for same reason where is this information being stored ?and who is controlling it ?
When I use my EZ Pass on Pa. Turnpike I know it records my vehicle its great for Tax records
for my business but what about my private vehicle? same thing Too much info being taken and stored .
While High Tech is great it is getting all too powerful and too far ahead of rules and laws
to keep up with it.
This data can help or Hurt you and yes you should be concerned about it.
Because in the wrong hands it can be extremely dangerous and put us into a 1984 situation.
Just look at China with its societal Rating and how they are using cameras to control lives and suppress freedom of expression and thought.
There needs to be a serious look at all this data being collected and how it is being used and when it should be permanently deleted the USA does not need to become China but we allow data to be collected on us daily by just about any one with out our knowledge which is being used now to determine if you get a job ,a loan ,a medical treatment.
Because thats what Big Data allows.
Saturday, June 8, 2019
(3) Three Live Alligators found in southern section of City Of Pittsburgh in past few weeks what is going on?
At first 9-11 operators thought some one was fooling with them when they revived a call on a sunny afternoon from the south side that a live 3 foot alligator was sunning itself on the river bank.
But it was no joke it was a live alligator which are nt found naturally in Pa. the climate is too cold for them.
More than likely it was a pet that got too big and was let loose instead of being turned into humane society. Probably because it was obtained illegally with out a exotic pet permit from state game commission.
I remember in the 90's giving a Pet Shop owner on Butler Street in Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh an estimate for an alarm system and he had alligators in store you could legally buy
I asked him how do you keep them from getting so big and he said you limit feeding them . He had one almost 4 ft long which was very mean he said he was shipping back to a game reserve in Florida to be released .
Which is how you are suppose to properly dispose of them but if you bought it illegal in first place disposing of them is exactly what some people do they just let them go and figure it will die come winter.
Few years back they claimed there was an alligator in the Beaver Run Dam system in Westmoreland County which I wrote about and was never seen again.
So everyone laughed it off OK one gator found no big deal but then a 2nd one was found in city's Brookline neighborhood
and now a 3rd in Carrick found this evening
But it was no joke it was a live alligator which are nt found naturally in Pa. the climate is too cold for them.
More than likely it was a pet that got too big and was let loose instead of being turned into humane society. Probably because it was obtained illegally with out a exotic pet permit from state game commission.
 | |||
| Alligator found in Carrick |
I asked him how do you keep them from getting so big and he said you limit feeding them . He had one almost 4 ft long which was very mean he said he was shipping back to a game reserve in Florida to be released .
Which is how you are suppose to properly dispose of them but if you bought it illegal in first place disposing of them is exactly what some people do they just let them go and figure it will die come winter.
Few years back they claimed there was an alligator in the Beaver Run Dam system in Westmoreland County which I wrote about and was never seen again.
So everyone laughed it off OK one gator found no big deal but then a 2nd one was found in city's Brookline neighborhood
https://patch.com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/pittsburgh-police-apprehend-alligator-roaming-city-streets
and now a 3rd in Carrick found this evening
So what the hell is going on ? Police say the 3 cases are not related but 3 in same geological area makes you wonder if some one did not dispose of their collection and more than likely they belonged to a drug dealer now in jail and people did not want to deal with them and dumped them. If this is the case how many more are roaming around putting the public and especially small children at risk.
Luckily no one has been hurt but its just a matter of time till some one is
Just like in the mountain lion and black panther cases it appears an irresponsible individual has released the alligators but in this case we have proof positive.
Exotic animals being owned in Pa is big business and First responders need to be on guard when responding to calls at private homes and abandonedbuildings you nevr know what you may find.
A woman was keeping Pitt Bulls in a home across from my mom and only coming to feed them every couple days till humane agents responded and this goes on everywhere.
Be careful out there.