New DSC panels 1832 / 1864

[R.H.Campbell]

DSC is about to introduce a couple of lines of new panels...the 1832 and
1864. These are basically modified 832 and 864 panels, along with at least
one brand new keypad. One of my prospective customers has seen this line and
wants it for the new house he is building and moving into May 1st.

I am a little cautious about version 1 of any new line of panels, and with
DSC's track record, I'm more than a bit leery of these new lines. I don't
want my clients to end up being their guinea pigs while they work out the
version 1 bugs....

Any thoughts / comments ?

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com

 

[Frank Olson]

DSC is about to introduce a couple of lines of new panels...the 1832 and
1864. These are basically modified 832 and 864 panels, along with at least
one brand new keypad. One of my prospective customers has seen this line and
wants it for the new house he is building and moving into May 1st.

I am a little cautious about version 1 of any new line of panels, and with
DSC's track record, I'm more than a bit leery of these new lines. I don't
want my clients to end up being their guinea pigs while they work out the
version 1 bugs....

Any thoughts / comments ?

I agree with you Bob. I'm going to hang back and see. I figure it'll
take about two months before they'll release an upgraded chip to take
care of the "bigger bugs". Their track record on releasing new version
panels hasn't been the best. I certainly wouldn't install any in a
customer's premise. I'd rather test one in my own house first but my
wife would find it rather strange to have two keypads sitting side by
side.

 

[alarman]

DSC is about to introduce a couple of lines of new panels...the 1832 and
1864. These are basically modified 832 and 864 panels, along with at least
one brand new keypad. One of my prospective customers has seen this line and
wants it for the new house he is building and moving into May 1st.

I am a little cautious about version 1 of any new line of panels, and with
DSC's track record, I'm more than a bit leery of these new lines. I don't
want my clients to end up being their guinea pigs while they work out the
version 1 bugs....

I saw those panels in Vegas last week. They are completely redesigned and
there are eleven new keypads including wireless models and a touch screen.
All hardware is backward compatible except the touch screen, and they have a
new wafer-thin wireless transmitter that looks real nice. You're right about
v 1.0 though, I'm a little skeptical myself.
js

 

[Mark Leuck]

Aw come on RH, someone has to beta test this stuff for us and it might as
well be you

 

[R.H.Campbell]

Ain't me Mark, it's my customers ! I just have to clean up the shit when the
version 1's act up or crap out......(no pun intended....)

RHC

 

[Mark Leuck]

Ain't me Mark, it's my customers ! I just have to clean up the shit when the
version 1's act up or crap out......(no pun intended....)

RHC

It will give me a rest from previously testing the 5010 v1, 900mhz v1
sensors and receivers, v1 Envoy, on and on and on...

 

[Robert L Bass]

Why not just tell your client exactly what you just said here, Bob? If he's
reasonable and if he trusts your judgment, he'll probably accept your advice and
go with something more reliable. If not, you really don't need to build a
headache for yourself or your customer. Better to lose the client than to end
up trying to service junk.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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

 

[R.H.Campbell]

Yes, you're right on the money !! After hearing some of the other's gut
concerns about version 1 panels, I intend to put up a mention on my website
that I don't plan to install the new panels just yet. If potential clients
don't like that, they can go elsewhere for service. We are so busy right
now, that we have to be very careful what we take on, and with more accounts
coming in the door than we can handle right, I sure as hell am not going to
go out of my way to buy potential trouble....

Last time I put up what I thought was a helpful caution on my site, DSC
asked me (nicely) to take it down, which I did. I'll just have to be sure I
word this one carefully, so it doesn't appear to reflect on the company.

Guess I should be surprised that DSC even read my site.....

RHC

 

[Robert L Bass]

Guess I should be surprised that DSC even read my site.....

Or proud?

You can simply state that, due to the all-too-common problems experienced in the
past with version 1.0 releases, until *any* new hardware has had [??] more
months of "in-service testing" you do not intend to offer it. Don't be too
specific about makes and models and DSC won't pester you.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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

 

[Mark Leuck]

You will have no problems with those panels RH, they start at v4.1

I have parts of a program sheet, it's not much different than the old panels

 

[Doug L]

The DLS software for the new panels is available also

Doug L

--

 

[R.H.Campbell]

Thanks guys....good to know those things. However, once bitten, twice shy !!
I'll wait and see.....

RHC

 

[Mark Leuck]

The DLS software for the new panels is available also

Doug L

I don't see it anywhere on the site.

 

[Frank Olson]

I don't see it anywhere on the site.

Sheesh Mark. You have to click "refresh" on your *new* personal Blog first.

 

[R.H.Campbell]

I'm guessing a bit here, but there is a CD available for dealers from DSC
which has drivers for the 1616, 1832 and 1834 panels. Its in the section
with the software updates for the existing DLS 2002 software. By "updating"
DLS 2002 with the drivers for these new panels, the question is, will the
updated DLS 2002 now serve to communicate with these new panels (once they
are available) ?

And for some reason, updating the 2002 software with the major "service
pack", only serves to totally "hang" the computer (to the point where you
can't even shut it down normally...)

Since this happens on more than one of my computers, I sense it's a crappy
update. However, you can still load the individual driver updates without
this "service pack".

RHC

 

[Doug L]

You need the web auto update installed, then you will be able to select the
software for the new panels

Doug L

--

 

[Mark Leuck]

It's in the auto update stuff, I wish they'd just list the drivers so I
don't have to scab them during the update

 

[Mark Leuck]

You need the web auto update installed, then you will be able to select the
software for the new panels

Doug L

I end up having to do that at home since it doesn't function properly at
work. Got the individual files scabbed tho

 

[thesatguy]

DSC will be here training us the new panels Thursday and maybe I can give
you an answer later that evening.
If they don't actually have the panels yet that will be a good clue.

They also are making the claim that the new stuff is backwards compatable
and I am not sure exactly what they think that means.
I think it means the new panels will work with the OLD keypads however the
new keypads look pretty good so who would want to replace the panel and keep
the old keypads.

 

[thesatguy]

Who pays the insurance and costs of litigation to do these so-clalled bug
tests?