On Mar 27, 9:16*pm, mm wrote:
On Sun, 27 Mar 2011 17:41:41 -0700 (PDT), "





wrote:
On Mar 27, 6:42 pm, mm wrote:
On Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:21:14 -0700 (PDT), "

wrote:
Anyone have experience using one of the lower cost security monitoring
services that charge $10 to $15 a month for alarm monitoring, versus
$35 from ADT? There are a bunch of them available that either can
step you through how to'
change the dial # on the existing system or else give you a small
adapter that sits between the existing alarm panel and the phone
line. It intercepts the alarm call to the old monitoring company and
in turn dials the new one.

I don't know about that. Unless you cancel ADT, they're going to keep
charging you, whether your alarm calls them or not. Don't they also
remove their equipment, which they install free?

Well of course you'd cancel ADT. *

Then why do you need an addtional adapter between the panel and the
phone line? *Oh, is it because the original panel, if it was provided
by ADT, will call only ADT?

The panel will call the number that is programmed into it. To change
any
of the system parameters, ie add zones, change delays, etc, you need
the installer code. Typically any alarm company that installs the
panel
does not and usually will not give that to the consumer. It's kind of
like
Honeywell with their VisionPro thermostats. You can't even find the
installation manual on their website and they expect you to call a guy
with his butt crack showing for $100 if you want to change one
parameter.

That's why the lower cost monitoring companies all offer an adapter
that goes between the phone line coming out of the panel and either
the phone line, or internet, or cellular. It's just easier and it
works.


Actually, I was using ADT as an
example
of the higher price monitoring companies. * ADT and the other
companies
do not necessarily install eqpt for free.

Well, the non-ADT panels will definitely call any phone number you
want, so why the addtional adapater?



For the reason cited above. Regardless of who installs it, they
almost
never give you the installer code. That keeps you coming back to them
for service on the hardware, ie if you want to add a zone you can't
DIY
and for monitoring service. If you get them to give you the code,
they
most likely aren't going to just give you the code. At best, they
will
probably charge for a service call to change the code before giving
it to you, if they will even do that. The low cost alarm companies
generally give you the little adapter widget for free.