I'd like to think i have a pretty broad knowledge of panels. Our company started off with Bentley and ADE. Then moved on to Scantronic, plenty of 9600 and 9800(shudder) out there.

I started from school in 96, and at the time we were installing ADE and Scanny. When I was out of my time we then moved onto Menvier TS gear and stayed with them right up until the M series. We are now on Galaxy as our main panel and tbh cant ever see us leaving, they do everything and more. We dabble with Texe and with them being pretty similar to the TS menvier panels i'm happy with them.

We wont take a Gardtec under maint if on comms, same as any Aritech panel. Too much heartache imo, you have to draw the line somewhere.

Edited July 20, 201213 yr by 9651

I have been involved in a number of take overs recently and the policy has been to remove panel/expanders/keypads/signalling devices and install new. But I know not many companys do this.I have come across some shocking installs badged up by national companies where they have just took the system over.

In an ideal world I would fit new but in the current climate people want to save money not spend it

People always want to save money. Dont think that has changed. But if someone is going to take it on as is thats the issue. You cant blame the client if you accept the dross.

Most of the time you can see what the system is like just by the items fitted. However, sometimes its not apparent until its taken apart, which is sometimes too late lol.

we need to accept we have as an industry destroyed the 'skilled' aspect and either move on, look at different sectors within, ignore the trend and carry on being specialists or get out.

All imho of course

Adapt and move on. We are partly to blame but it's just the way of technology. You're PC 20 years ago was a specialist tool, as it becomes cheaper and more mainstream the skills get diluted. There is nothing 'Specialist' about alarms these days IMHO. The newer systems tell you what's wrong, they are so simple to install and service. There is no hocus pocus involved anymore.

Still money to be made and careers to enjoy but the market dictates the price and unfortunately our customer base are stubborn and don't wish to pay the money.

Adapt and move on. We are partly to blame but it's just the way of technology. You're PC 20 years ago was a specialist tool, as it becomes cheaper and more mainstream the skills get diluted. There is nothing 'Specialist' about alarms these days IMHO. The newer systems tell you what's wrong, they are so simple to install and service. There is no hocus pocus involved anymore.

Still money to be made and careers to enjoy but the market dictates the price and unfortunately our customer base are stubborn and don't wish to pay the money.

Well said.

Adapt and move on. We are partly to blame but it's just the way of technology. You're PC 20 years ago was a specialist tool, as it becomes cheaper and more mainstream the skills get diluted. There is nothing 'Specialist' about alarms these days IMHO. The newer systems tell you what's wrong, they are so simple to install and service. There is no hocus pocus involved anymore.

Still money to be made and careers to enjoy but the market dictates the price and unfortunately our customer base are stubborn and don't wish to pay the money.

i dont agree mate. I accept that to make something work needs less skill, but to make it work well and be designed right then it does take a skill. Plus installation is a skill etc.

i dont agree mate. I accept that to make something work needs less skill, but to make it work well and be designed right then it does take a skill. Plus installation is a skill etc.

QFA its only easy to the likes of us because we know what we are doing, we do it everyday. For others it seems easy, but its so easy to make a mistake that you or I would consider "a school boy error"

Any fool can screw stuff to walls and put wires in holes, but knowing wher to screw stuff is the stuff people pay us for

i dont agree mate. I accept that to make something work needs less skill, but to make it work well and be designed right then it does take a skill. Plus installation is a skill etc.

QFA its only easy to the likes of us because we know what we are doing, we do it everyday. For others it seems easy, but its so easy to make a mistake that you or I would consider "a school boy error"

Any fool can screw stuff to walls and put wires in holes, but knowing wher to screw stuff is the stuff people pay us for

The design element is the only specialist part of our trade anymore, but for domestics this isn't the case. any fool that reads the instructions can design a system for his home. I do agree that for large, multi system sites then yes that's where we earn our coin. I do it everyday with the architects and our lovely tenderers. But in terms of sticking it on the wall, making sure it works and fixing it when it doesn't, as you've said. Any fool can do it. Because of this the industry pays a fools ransom and our skill base gets diluted.

Most people have a general concept of alarms either from previous houses or friends, most always say they never used it and it always false alarmed. That image will stick with us for years to come.

As I said to a cleint's employee when he enquired on the skill level required to be an alarm engineer,

In theory its just switches & button pressing to skill level of getting you nan's vcr to record east enders when she's down the bingo, if you where to shave a monkey & kick him though a branch of arco, as long as he's got pair of work trousers & set of screwdrivers you've got yourself an alarm eng.... however in pratice it don't quite work that why