I got the email today about the sidekick and I instantly purchased it because its exactly what I have been looking for... a cellular backup incase my internet goes out.
I am a little disapointed it cant be used for self monitoring and requires buying EnvisAlarm but I cant hate the decision as its having its desired effect, making me sign up for EnvisAlarm......
While signing up there is the "Procedures" tab but I cant find any explanation of how these settings work and there doesnt appear to be many options. What does the BMS 1 Hit Premise / 2 Hit Premise mean?
I was hoping for a way to set it so they call me if the alarm goes off and only if they cant get me or the other key holder on the phone they call the police. I am a little concerned about the police getting the call, it's why I self monitor to begin with. I dont want the police inside my house, period. I have no idea what hte procedures are but I would imagine if they are called out for an alarm they have the ability to enter your home without a warrant since you called them? Or are they only allowed to check from outside? (USA btw).
Can I put in the special procedures "Always call key holders first" ?
Is there any details on when the sidekick will be able to be used without evisaalarm or how that will work?
Thank you.
EnvisAlarm Questions
Moderators: EyezOnRich, GrandWizard
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GrandWizard
- Posts: 2354
- Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:08 pm
Re: EnvisAlarm Questions
Hi, before I answer your Envisalarms questions you might be interested in knowing that Envisalerts+ customers will soon be able to use the Sidekick as well. This is all pending a new firmware revision that we are currently testing but should be released shortly.
This means that self-montitored customers with E+ can get LTE backup of alerts for alarms and certain other priority events (e.g. openings and closings) for the same $4/month as Envisalarms customers enjoy.
Ok, on to the somewhat cryptic industry monitoring procedures. A "hit" is the industry term for an alarm on a single zone. So one "hit" would be the station receiving an alarm signal on one zone and nothing else. Two hits would be two different zones reporting to the station within a short window of time. The difference is that a single hit is most likely a false alarm on a properly installed system. A burglar is unlikely to break into your back door and not go inside. Two hits almost certainly means someone has entered the premise.
The Procedures: There are 2 options for Intrusion (Burglary, Panic)
The first option is on a single zone the station will call the Premise numbers and then key holders, if no answer, then the police. If two or more zones are activated the station will call the Premises numbers, police (dispatch), and then key holders.
The second option is for single or multiple zones the station will call the Premises numbers, police, and then key holders.
Fire: The Station will always call the premises numbers, then the fire department, then the key holders.
If you have any special dispatch instruction they can be entered under Special Procedures.
The police will never break into your house. The only time they would enter your house is if they had probable cause that a crime was in progress.
If you really don't want the police to come to your house you can always put in your procedures "Do not dispatch for intrusion".
This means that self-montitored customers with E+ can get LTE backup of alerts for alarms and certain other priority events (e.g. openings and closings) for the same $4/month as Envisalarms customers enjoy.
Ok, on to the somewhat cryptic industry monitoring procedures. A "hit" is the industry term for an alarm on a single zone. So one "hit" would be the station receiving an alarm signal on one zone and nothing else. Two hits would be two different zones reporting to the station within a short window of time. The difference is that a single hit is most likely a false alarm on a properly installed system. A burglar is unlikely to break into your back door and not go inside. Two hits almost certainly means someone has entered the premise.
The Procedures: There are 2 options for Intrusion (Burglary, Panic)
The first option is on a single zone the station will call the Premise numbers and then key holders, if no answer, then the police. If two or more zones are activated the station will call the Premises numbers, police (dispatch), and then key holders.
The second option is for single or multiple zones the station will call the Premises numbers, police, and then key holders.
Fire: The Station will always call the premises numbers, then the fire department, then the key holders.
If you have any special dispatch instruction they can be entered under Special Procedures.
The police will never break into your house. The only time they would enter your house is if they had probable cause that a crime was in progress.
If you really don't want the police to come to your house you can always put in your procedures "Do not dispatch for intrusion".
Re: EnvisAlarm Questions
Awesome response, thanks so much GrandWizard.....
Regarding Evisaalerts+ that is AWESOME, I might hold off and sign up for Evisaalerts+ instead then, at least at first. can you give any kind of hint what "soon" means? Are we talking, days/weeks/months?
That being said, your excellent explanation has me a little more likely to sign up for Evisaalarm. The fact someone set off a perimeter and now is moving throughout my house means time is of the essence and since i live 500ft from the police station, might actually be useful as they can likely get here really quick.
TBH, I am kind of on the fence.... On one hand I like the idea of self monitoring, I can check my cameras if an alarm goes off and confirm its something I want the police to come deal with and then call 911. On the other hand, if I am on my motorcycle or something and dont see the alert, not a lot of good that is going to do me. My main concern which you addressed is the cops using the alarm to come inside my house, knowing they wont do that unless there is a clear sign of a crime in progress makes me feel a bit better. Plus, when I think about it, I would rather have the police rummaging through my house rather t han a criminal
I am guessing this is something a lot of owners are split on, between using evisaalerts vs envisaalarm. If anyone wants to weigh in either way, especially if there are angles I am not thinking of, I would appreciate it. Thanks!
Regarding Evisaalerts+ that is AWESOME, I might hold off and sign up for Evisaalerts+ instead then, at least at first. can you give any kind of hint what "soon" means? Are we talking, days/weeks/months?
That being said, your excellent explanation has me a little more likely to sign up for Evisaalarm. The fact someone set off a perimeter and now is moving throughout my house means time is of the essence and since i live 500ft from the police station, might actually be useful as they can likely get here really quick.
TBH, I am kind of on the fence.... On one hand I like the idea of self monitoring, I can check my cameras if an alarm goes off and confirm its something I want the police to come deal with and then call 911. On the other hand, if I am on my motorcycle or something and dont see the alert, not a lot of good that is going to do me. My main concern which you addressed is the cops using the alarm to come inside my house, knowing they wont do that unless there is a clear sign of a crime in progress makes me feel a bit better. Plus, when I think about it, I would rather have the police rummaging through my house rather t han a criminal
I am guessing this is something a lot of owners are split on, between using evisaalerts vs envisaalarm. If anyone wants to weigh in either way, especially if there are angles I am not thinking of, I would appreciate it. Thanks!
DSC programming for EnvisAlarm
I have a DSC system that has the EVL-4 installed. Everything works perfectly. I get messages via eyezon on my iPhone. My current old-school monitoring service is via virtual land-line (VOIP). Works just fine. The problem is the monitoring service doesn't like me using VOIP. The VOIP works fine but they just don't like it for liability reasons. So I want to drop them, change to use EnvisAlarm with the EVL-4. Do I need to do any programming on the DSC? I hope I can just unplug the VOIP phone cable and enable EnvisAlarm.
Thank you!
Thank you!
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GrandWizard
- Posts: 2354
- Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:08 pm
Re: EnvisAlarm Questions
If your panel is currently programmed to use the dialer, even over VoIP, you would probably want to turn the dialer off and also turn off Telephone Line Monitoring. One of the technicians with our support group can walk you through it. You will need your installer code.
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GrandWizard
- Posts: 2354
- Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:08 pm
Re: EnvisAlarm Questions
I am not sure if a lot of self-monitoring customers think about this, but in most cases using the Envisalarms service actually makes you money. My insurance company gives me 4% off my house insurance for each of fire, burglary, and water flow. I have all three on my DSC system at home so I get a 12% discount. I roughly pay $100 per month for my house insurance so I get 12 bucks off for having a fully monitored system. Envisalarms is only $8.50 per month so I'm actually up $3.50 per month!mike240se wrote:Awesome response, thanks so much GrandWizard.....
I am guessing this is something a lot of owners are split on, between using evisaalerts vs envisaalarm. If anyone wants to weigh in either way, especially if there are angles I am not thinking of, I would appreciate it. Thanks!