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Paradox Spectra

B

Bob Worthy

Jan 1, 1970
0
Any feed back on the Paradox Sprectra panel. I don't know anything about
this product. All I remember is that Paradox went away down here for a while
and then resurfaced. I am going to be monitoring and servicing 210 of these
and unforturately was not part of the installation decision. Any feed back
will be greatly appreciated, especially anything to do with how they hold up
during lightning, as I am in Florida. Are they an approved panel, UL or
otherwise?

Thanks in advance
Bob4Secur
 
N

Norm Mugford

Jan 1, 1970
0
First of all Bob, you need to learn french. It's a french
canadian alarm system.....

Norm
 
B

Bob Worthy

Jan 1, 1970
0
Norm Mugford said:
First of all Bob, you need to learn french. It's a french
canadian alarm system.....

Norm

That doesn't bother me as much as the cost of a trip to Montreal to get
parts. I can not find a distributor that carries the product. Its not a
dealship program is it?

Bob4Secur
 
R

R.H.Campbell

Jan 1, 1970
0
Well now, you've come to the right place ! I tend to lean towards Paradox
as a matter of course anyway, but I do try to give an honest assessment of
products when asked. I have almost six hundred of the Paradox panels in
service of which about 100 are the Paradox Spectra. I can honestly say, it
is the best panel I have ever had anything to do with, and they beat DSC
products by a country mile in every way. And their latest wireless products
seem to work very well as well (don't tell Paul....:)))

Your concern about lightning protection is warranted in Florida. Paradox is
the best selling panel I am told in Brazil, where lightning strikes are very
common. Some years ago, Paradox took special steps to build more lightning
protection in to their panels, upon promise of a 250,000 panel sale, if they
could meet those kind of requirements. They did, and that increased
lightning resistance is part of all their products now.

The Paradox Spectra is now the ONLY panel I install, including the high end
LCD keypad. I need no other to serve any but the largest of residential
clients. On the down side, they are considerably more difficult to program
than the DSC products, but once you have set up your memory key with all
your constant settings, it is a simple job to download most of the settings
you will need. The rest you can add at the keypad in less than a couple of
minutes. Frankly, I don't like their low end keypad, nor their fixed icon
keypads, so I use ONLY the LCD keypad. Clients love them since they can see
everything that is going on in plain English. And since clients are paying
me top dollar for a system, they get only the high end keypads as well. Plus
unlike most other products, the client can access the event log at the
keypad using the FN2 button....something some clients like to be able to
see.

They have all the approval ratings needed I am told. They are also as quick
to communicate using Contact ID as any other panel. And unlike the DSC
panels, they are not full of quirky problems such as random error messages
and unknown problems solved only by cycling power. Once set up, they are
bulletproof !

In short, I don't think you have anything to fear by taking on the Paradox
Spectra panel. And if you do need help, their tech support is excellent as
well (I assume you also call in to Montreal for that)

And...yes, I really would say something bad if I had anything bad to
say....but I don't

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

Norm Mugford

Jan 1, 1970
0
try Systems Depot

Norm



Bob Worthy said:
That doesn't bother me as much as the cost of a trip to Montreal to get
parts. I can not find a distributor that carries the product. Its not a
dealship program is it?

Bob4Secur
 
R

R.H.Campbell

Jan 1, 1970
0
Bob, go up to their website and send them an e mail asking about parts and
distrubutors in your area. I have sent them e mails on a Sunday and believe
it or not, got a reply that same day.....seems some people just don't have a
life outside work...:))

RHC
 
M

mikey

Jan 1, 1970
0
ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah,
not bad, Norm.
 
M

mikey

Jan 1, 1970
0
R.H.Campbell said:
Well now, you've come to the right place ! I tend to lean towards Paradox
as a matter of course anyway, but I do try to give an honest assessment of
products when asked. I have almost six hundred of the Paradox panels in
service of which about 100 are the Paradox Spectra. I can honestly say, it
is the best panel I have ever had anything to do with, and they beat DSC
products by a country mile in every way. And their latest wireless products
seem to work very well as well (don't tell Paul....:)))

Your concern about lightning protection is warranted in Florida. Paradox is
the best selling panel I am told in Brazil, where lightning strikes are very
common. Some years ago, Paradox took special steps to build more lightning
protection in to their panels, upon promise of a 250,000 panel sale, if they
could meet those kind of requirements. They did, and that increased
lightning resistance is part of all their products now.

The Paradox Spectra is now the ONLY panel I install, including the high end
LCD keypad. I need no other to serve any but the largest of residential
clients. On the down side, they are considerably more difficult to program
than the DSC products, but once you have set up your memory key with all
your constant settings, it is a simple job to download most of the settings
you will need. The rest you can add at the keypad in less than a couple of
minutes. Frankly, I don't like their low end keypad, nor their fixed icon
keypads, so I use ONLY the LCD keypad. Clients love them since they can see
everything that is going on in plain English. And since clients are paying
me top dollar for a system,

Bob, Bob, Bob,
Top dollar? 15 bux a month with free service, parts and labour...
and I also plucked this phrase from your page:
"If a larger panel is required (15 zone Spectra, or 16 zone DSC Power 832,
we only charge the wholesale price difference between the two sizes of
panel."
You even replace gell cells for free. I'd hardly call this top dollar.
ADT get top dollar :)

they get only the high end keypads as well. Plus
 
B

Bob Worthy

Jan 1, 1970
0
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, the installing company used an LED
keypad that looks like a small flip phone. Sort of cheezy looking. The first
building was powered up to program and none of the keypads worked. No
lights, no key annunciation, zip! I wasn't real comfortable out of the gate
with this product or the install company, but then again, it was the
installation company's problem to work out. I am glad to hear that the
product is stable. Now I will need to work on a supplier for the future. The
good thing about this account is the installation company has to warrant the
product, including labor, for a year on all of the units. However, I won't
bet to much on their response time after they are gone off the job.

Thanks again
Bob4Secur
 
R

R.H.Campbell

Jan 1, 1970
0
So what you're really saying is you too (just like ADT) charge far too much
for what you supply....:))) (just kidding....)

What I meant was I don't discount the price of the alarm system itself.
However, if they decide to buy this way, they get to save big dollars on the
monthly...

Such is as it is; and that is the way it will stay....

RHC
 
R

R.H.Campbell

Jan 1, 1970
0
No sweat ! The keypad you are referring to is the standard led keypad. I
don't like those myself or use them at all. These things are built like any
other alarm panel, so the kind of problems you see can be diagnosed just as
if they were any other panel....nothing particularly unique...

Also, don't hesitate to contact the company in Montreal if you run into
problems. From my experience, they are pretty responsive and probably more
so to someone like yourself in a country that they are admittedly having
troubles breaking into (no pun intended....) I believe their US branch
office is in California or someplace out West.

If I can help, give me a shout....

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

Mark Leuck

Jan 1, 1970
0
Bob Worthy said:
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, the installing company used an LED
keypad that looks like a small flip phone. Sort of cheezy looking. The first
building was powered up to program and none of the keypads worked. No
lights, no key annunciation, zip! I wasn't real comfortable out of the gate
with this product or the install company, but then again, it was the
installation company's problem to work out. I am glad to hear that the
product is stable. Now I will need to work on a supplier for the future. The
good thing about this account is the installation company has to warrant the
product, including labor, for a year on all of the units. However, I won't
bet to much on their response time after they are gone off the job.

Thanks again
Bob4Secur

Thats the base keypad that comes with the kit, it is a little cheesy but
works well
 
R

R.H.Campbell

Jan 1, 1970
0
You know Mikey, you're a friend, so please don't take this personally, but
I'm a little tired of local companies giving me hazing because they say I am
selling things too cheaply and making them look bad. In all seriousness,
what I would tell them is "if you can't stand the heat, get the hell out of
the kitchen"....

I know my costs, and my pricing margins probably better than most of the
smaller companies in town. That's what I did for a living during my 27 years
at Bell; it was a science we needed in running a complicated, and large
business, and I learned it well. The profit margins I am making at my prices
are excellent, and far exceed what I used to make in a couple of other
businesses I had over the years. So if I choose to forgo excess profit, and
instead return it to my customers via lower rates, rather than simply give
it to the government in higher taxes, then that's my business, and that is
EXACTLY what I will do.

I believe in making a fair profit margin for work done, but NOT in "market
pricing" (a translation for "screw 'em for all you can get away with"....).
I saw too much of that in big business previously, and see it here in our
industry with the money hungry bottom feeders like ADT. If you truly know
your costs, there is less temptation to "run with the pack" in setting your
rates.

And I don't give a damn who agrees or disagrees with me on this point !!

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

Robert Bass

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Bob,

I've been selling Paradox for over a year and so far their hardware has not
caused any problems. I don't know about Florida distributors. I use a
supplier in New England. Most of my Paradox orders have been motion
detectors. Only a few have been full-blown systems. If you need a supplier
give me a call at home and I'll give you my contact. They treat me well and
their prices are pretty competitive.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
2291 Pine View Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34231
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>
 
G

G. Morgan

Jan 1, 1970
0
alt.security.alarms
If you need a supplier
give me a call at home and I'll give you my contact.


Don't hold your breath. On second thought.....
 
R

Robert Bass

Jan 1, 1970
0
You know Mikey, you're a friend, so please
don't take this personally, but I'm a little tired
of local companies giving me hazing because
they say I am selling things too cheaply and
making them look bad. In all seriousness, what
I would tell them is "if you can't stand the
heat, get the hell out of the kitchen"....

I get the same sort of nonsense all the time. Just ignore it.
And I don't give a damn who agrees or disagrees
with me on this point !!

Sic 'em, Bob.
 
R

R.H.Campbell

Jan 1, 1970
0
Welcome back ! The newsgroup was actually getting rather insipid without all
the jabs and barbs surrounding your every post !.....:)))

RHC
 
G

G. Morgan

Jan 1, 1970
0
alt.security.alarms
I get the same sort of nonsense all the time. Just ignore it.


When is the last time someone accused you of selling something too
cheaply!?
 
J

Jim Rojas

Jan 1, 1970
0
Excellent product line. Their download software is very nice as well. Allows
partial up/downloads...motion detector sensitivity can also be change via
download...sweet!

Jim Rojas
 
R

Robert Bass

Jan 1, 1970
0
Welcome back ! The newsgroup was actually
getting rather insipid without all the jabs and
barbs surrounding your every post !.....:)))

Thanks, Bob, but I just checked and I see a few folks attacking each other,
one saying he's "outta here," etc. It seems like business as usual in ASA.
Anyway, I'm not really "back" nor was I actually "gone" -- just too busy
lately to devote much time to the newsgroup. I try to find a few spare
minutes now and then to post.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
2291 Pine View Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34231
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>
 
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