DMP XR500 vs. DMP XR200

[blueman]

We have been talking with our alarm company about the XR500 vs XR200
panel for use in our home.

I prefer the XR500 since it has built-in Ethernet (vs a module
add-in), flash upgradeability, and generally upgraded electronics
relative to the XR200 which by now seems to be getting a bit long in
the tooth (for example the XR200 runs on a Z80 micropocessor which I
believe powered the original TRS-80 PC back in the late 70's). In
general, the XR500 seems to offer better future-proofing.

On the other hand, the installer is pushing the XR200, saying that the
XR500 is really only for commercial installations. Specifically, he
says that it doesn't even support "home" and "night" modes and that it
is much more complicated to use.

Any first hand knowledge and recommendations out there?

 

[Crash Gordon®]

I still install xr-200's, I think the 500 is a bit of an overkill for a residence.
In fact I have a 200 in my home. I don't use IP, rather digital & Uplink backup.



| We have been talking with our alarm company about the XR500 vs XR200
| panel for use in our home.
|
| I prefer the XR500 since it has built-in Ethernet (vs a module
| add-in), flash upgradeability, and generally upgraded electronics
| relative to the XR200 which by now seems to be getting a bit long in
| the tooth (for example the XR200 runs on a Z80 micropocessor which I
| believe powered the original TRS-80 PC back in the late 70's). In
| general, the XR500 seems to offer better future-proofing.
|
| On the other hand, the installer is pushing the XR200, saying that the
| XR500 is really only for commercial installations. Specifically, he
| says that it doesn't even support "home" and "night" modes and that it
| is much more complicated to use.
|
| Any first hand knowledge and recommendations out there?

 

[Crash Gordon®]

btw, the 200 is a very cool panel and easy to use. I even have it controlling a few zones of my landscaping sprinklers.


I still install xr-200's, I think the 500 is a bit of an overkill for a residence.
In fact I have a 200 in my home. I don't use IP, rather digital & Uplink backup.



| We have been talking with our alarm company about the XR500 vs XR200
| panel for use in our home.
|
| I prefer the XR500 since it has built-in Ethernet (vs a module
| add-in), flash upgradeability, and generally upgraded electronics
| relative to the XR200 which by now seems to be getting a bit long in
| the tooth (for example the XR200 runs on a Z80 micropocessor which I
| believe powered the original TRS-80 PC back in the late 70's). In
| general, the XR500 seems to offer better future-proofing.
|
| On the other hand, the installer is pushing the XR200, saying that the
| XR500 is really only for commercial installations. Specifically, he
| says that it doesn't even support "home" and "night" modes and that it
| is much more complicated to use.
|
| Any first hand knowledge and recommendations out there?

 

[Jackcsg]

Not sure why he wouldn't want to sell you an XR500. It costs less for a
dealer than the 200 with an iCOM router. It just has area arming (32 to be
exact) Rather than the home/away mode or the perimeter/interior modes of the
200.
As far as the Processor goes, both communicate via SDLC Protocol, which is
practically 40 years old, and still the fastest in the Industry today, I
wouldn't let that be a decision.
The "Flash" on the 500 is nice for updates though, which there has been 12
so far.
Both come with 10 zones on board, so size really isn't the issue, just the
expansion.
All DMP panels and devices are "future proof", as they are all
backward/forward compatible, and have been for over 25 years.
The 500 is better priced on the Internet Monitoring side of things, if
that's also what you're looking at.

Jack

 

[Crash Gordon]

I guess I'll buy to play with. Only 32 areas? ... and what 900 users ?

Have you tried one of the new glass keypads yet? Just wondering

Rob

 

[blueman]

Not sure why he wouldn't want to sell you an XR500. It costs less for a
dealer than the 200 with an iCOM router. It just has area arming (32 to be
exact) Rather than the home/away mode or the perimeter/interior modes of the
200.
As far as the Processor goes, both communicate via SDLC Protocol, which is
practically 40 years old, and still the fastest in the Industry today, I
wouldn't let that be a decision.
The "Flash" on the 500 is nice for updates though, which there has been 12
so far.
Both come with 10 zones on board, so size really isn't the issue, just the
expansion.
All DMP panels and devices are "future proof", as they are all
backward/forward compatible, and have been for over 25 years.
The 500 is better priced on the Internet Monitoring side of things, if
that's also what you're looking at.

Jack

- What if anything would be the disadvantage of going with the 500?

- Does the "areas" paradigm get me everything that home/away/stay has
and more?
e.g., could I have the equivalent of the "cleaning person mode"
where everything is armed except for the one door that I give
them the key to.

- Also, I understand the backward/forward compatibility, but when I
think of "future proof" I think of the ability to take advantage of
new technologies that might be hard to add-on to a slower/less
advanced processor in the 200-series.

So I guess I am really asking whether the XR500 is really inherently
more powerful (not just in number of zones) that it will allow me to
do more home automation and monitoring stuff in the future that
would be difficult with 200-series?

 

[Jackcsg]

- What if anything would be the disadvantage of going with the 500?

The advantages of the XR500 would be pruely in a commercial environment.
Larger zones, sure, but it plays out more in a commercial installation. I
doubt seriously you would ever have 242 zones in your house. Wired or not.
Which is what the 200 can do.

- Does the "areas" paradigm get me everything that home/away/stay has
and more?

Gives you the ability to arm "ALL" or each and every area, up to 32 of them.

e.g., could I have the equivalent of the "cleaning person mode"
where everything is armed except for the one door that I give
them the key to.

Sure. You could even incorporate "Easy Entry" to allow them to only disarm
the areas you assign them, with a simple swipe of a credential.

- Also, I understand the backward/forward compatibility, but when I
think of "future proof" I think of the ability to take advantage of
new technologies that might be hard to add-on to a slower/less
advanced processor in the 200-series.

Such as....what? Alarm panels are pretty simple. It's not a processor being
used to make complex mathmatical decisions, just simple TTL decyphering. The
200 performs very well, and very fast, for the given tasks. Both platforms
offer great stability, the 500 more expandable.

So I guess I am really asking whether the XR500 is really inherently
more powerful (not just in number of zones) that it will allow me to
do more home automation and monitoring stuff in the future that
would be difficult with 200-series?

From the 500 standpoint, future changes to the platform are "flash"
upgradeable. I like that, as a dealer, because things do change, and the
panel is really still in it's growth period. I lived through much of these
same changes with the 200 platform, and am confident that the 200 platform
will meet even 99% of my installs as it sits today. But, it took about 6
years to get it there. DMP has a long track record of Industry firsts, which
typically go up and down the product line, so basically future technologies
are incorporated across the board, not just one platform.
I'd try the 200 for your application, chances are it will more than meet
your expectations. Plus, you can always upgrade the panel down the road.

Jack