Is Risco Agility 3 rubbish ? - Fix or throw away ?

[kraftphone]

Hello,  We have an Agility 3 system,  installer got taken over and new company are a car crash.

 

Have a paid subscription to Risco cloud, but it stopped connecting, with LAN module error.  Got new IP module from eBay , its exact same part number as original RW132IP, just a later revision.

 

Found all the manuals on the net, and used a DIP switch to reset the installer code to access the Programming menus etc.

 

But IP module won't work when set to DHCP, so manually set IP and can see the Agility registered on the router.  But still can't connect either to the cloud, or by using the Risco Config Software, v.4 which found on the net.  Cannot even ping the IP module, not sure it it supports ping.

 

Read all manuals and fairly sure have everything configured correctly.

 

It has been out of action for a good while, and have a feeling it might have happend when we got a new router.  This post linkled below seesm to have almost the exact same problem.  Maybe the router needs some setting for this syste, to work ?

 

Or is it a case of just bin this Risco kit and get a new system ?   There seems no official support for an end user

 

Would really appreciate any ideas , thanks and sorry if this is now right place to ask.

 

 

[sixwheeledbeast]

I don't like throwing away serviceable kit but I rarely want to take on Risco kit; from experience it's flaky at best.

No decent system is officially end user supported, they are pretty much all trade only products. If you want cloud accounts this usually has to be via registered installers.

You'd be better to find a new installer than shopping for another panel, installers are trained on their manufacturer of choice.

 

You may find one happy to work with what you have.

[PeterJames]

There are people out there that swear by Risco, but I cant help feeling thats because its cheap, and many installers wont touch it.

 

Its not the easiest to work on and its not got the best reliability reputation. We would not take one over either, but there are people that will just make sure that they install them rather than just want to take it over for the sake of it.  

[MrHappy]

New alarm in, old alarm on eBay...

[kraftphone]

Thanks for the answers above, highly appreciated.

 

Have discovered the issue with the IP card.

Connected a stand alone 5 port network switch to he router, then connected the Agility 3 to the stand alone switch, instead of directly to the router switch ports.

The Agility is now pingable, and it is connecting fine to the Risco Cloud and can be seen online via the Risco App.

The router is a bog standard Fritzbox, quite a new model with up to date firmware.

This suggests that the Risco IP card is probably not compliant with TCP/IP standards.

 

The configuration software ( version 4.1 ) still does not connect, although looking at it, everything the CS software does, can also be done at the panel anyway.  The software just makes config backups etc possible.

 

Tried to update the firmware , but it asks for "special password" and accepts only numerical input.  The installer pass and Grand Master pass not accepted.

 

Reading around, it seems if we email Risco for the firmware password, they are unlikely to supply it  ???

 

Indeed Trustpilot rate Risco as POOR, with a staggering 83 percent of reviewers giving them ONE STAR  ( it is not possible to give zero stars ). 

 

 

 

 

15 hours ago, sixwheeledbeast said:

I don't like throwing away serviceable kit

Yes, thanks, that is what we are trying to avoid.

We all work hard for our money, it's not great to throw away working kit that cost four figures

[kraftphone]

15 hours ago, sixwheeledbeast said:

No decent system is officially end user supported

Completely understand what you're saying, but to be honest see no reason at all what someone with competent skills can't maintain a Risco system , at least the type we have.  There is nothing complex whatsoever about it

[kraftphone]

16 hours ago, sixwheeledbeast said:

You'd be better to find a new installer

Probably eventually end up doing that, as the one thing that is not on the cards is going up ladders, find that fairly terrifying....  and the bell box batteries need done

[sixwheeledbeast]

Installers are usually only trained on the kit they install, yes they are all similar to a degree but you pick up the little quirks each system has when you fit the same kit regularly.

I would usually say if your not happy with your service tell them your not happy and why, if they can't resolve it find someone else.

As you have started poking in the panel already your unlikely to get much help from them without it being considered a takeover so you maybe best to move on.

[kraftphone]

25 minutes ago, sixwheeledbeast said:

if your not happy with your service

Thanks for the kind advice.

 

As explained in the original post, the company who installed it were fine, never had any problems.  Unfortunately they got taken over by an outfit we found terrible, rude, and completely uninterested in looking after us.  There is zero chance we will deal with them.

 

We don't want to maintain this alarm system but in the absence of an installer , have no choice.

 

Thanks again.

[MrHappy]

4 hours ago, kraftphone said:

Indeed Trustpilot rate Risco as POOR, with a staggering 83 percent of reviewers giving them ONE STAR  ( it is not possible to give zero stars ). 

 

Trust Pilot ? the internet was designed for angry rants & calling people a cnut...

 

3 hours ago, kraftphone said:

Unfortunately they got taken over by an outfit we found terrible, rude, and completely uninterested in looking after us.

 

You probably don't have a maintenance contract,

You don't have proper signalling,

Your a domestic property

 

Plucking £100+ out of the air for an annual charge, there not much profit in it to send a man in van & run office to book the job & get paid...

 

The product is quirky, I've little interest in supporting the one we have & won't take any new ones on...