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lchiu7

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  #3400301 6-Aug-2025 11:53
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bfginger:

 

That Arrowhead phone-to-IP module is only $55 less than what Garrisonalarms is charging for a phone-to-4G module, new battery, and the installation of both if you sign up to their monitoring.

 

 

 

Been through this with family - phone calls and emails about how your 3G device needs to be replaced with a whole new unit. Except it doesn't use 3G. So I wonder how many just agreed to upgrades of fixtured devices for the 3G shutdown without understanding their true situation. 

 

 

I had an offer from another company to install their 4G module which would work with the DSC and switch to their monitoring services. That would cost me $170+G in total and $36/month. But the system has no remote activation and monitoring for me and would only call the alarm company.

 

The 3G module is not only used to call the alarm company but also provides internet access to ADT's alarm.com SAS service which you can use to remotely tunrn/off your alarm.  Like this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





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bfginger
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  #3410630 3-Sep-2025 07:34
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If shifting from a 3G/4G subscription to a TCP/IP subscription with the same provider, check on how much you're paying because 3G/4G may be inclusive of around $4/month going to One NZ for the cell connection.


Linux
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  #3410631 3-Sep-2025 07:43
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bfginger:

 

If shifting from a 3G/4G subscription to a TCP/IP subscription with the same provider, check on how much you're paying because 3G/4G may be inclusive of around $4/month going to VodaOne for the cell connection.

 

 

@bfginger Who / what is VodaOne?




lchiu7

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  #3410714 3-Sep-2025 13:09
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Linux:

 

bfginger:

 

If shifting from a 3G/4G subscription to a TCP/IP subscription with the same provider, check on how much you're paying because 3G/4G may be inclusive of around $4/month going to VodaOne for the cell connection.

 

 

@bfginger Who / what is VodaOne?

 

 

That is a good question.  I hadn't thought about that since on reflection, somebody has to pay for the 3G connection.





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johno1234
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  #3410719 3-Sep-2025 13:16
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Why pay someone to ignore your alarm when the neighbours will do it for free? 


kiwifidget
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  #3410724 3-Sep-2025 13:31
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My alarm monitoring guy wants to charge $300-500 to upgrade the 3G module in our security system, plus increase the monthly monitoring fee even though I pay the sim card account.

 

He really is a rogue.

 

But in a small town, I'm not sure there is anyone else.





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lchiu7

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  #3410728 3-Sep-2025 14:20
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johno1234:

 

Why pay someone to ignore your alarm when the neighbours will do it for free? 

 

 

the 3G module in my system provides an Internet connection so I can view/set the alarm from alarm.com

 

If my alarm goes off, the alarm company does call me and send people around.

 

 





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Stu

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  #3410888 3-Sep-2025 19:05
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kiwifidget:

 

My alarm monitoring guy wants to charge $300-500 to upgrade the 3G module in our security system, plus increase the monthly monitoring fee even though I pay the sim card account.

 

He really is a rogue.

 

But in a small town, I'm not sure there is anyone else.

 

 

Just paid $355+GST for our 3G module to be swapped out for a 4G unit. Included travel, labour and a replacement backup battery. They should cover your area as well. 





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jlittle
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  #3410889 3-Sep-2025 19:07
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ADT keep chasing me about the 3G shutdown. But my alarm system is ancient, and, perhaps irrelevantly, cost far less than their proposed upgrades.

Would anyone recommend starting from scratch, perhaps with cameras? (This is my vague intuition.)

Do I stay with ADT?

Do I stay with alarm.com? They seem expensive.

I'm in Auckland.




Regards, John Little


kiwifidget
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  #3410899 3-Sep-2025 19:38
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Stu:

 

kiwifidget:

 

My alarm monitoring guy wants to charge $300-500 to upgrade the 3G module in our security system, plus increase the monthly monitoring fee even though I pay the sim card account.

 

He really is a rogue.

 

But in a small town, I'm not sure there is anyone else.

 

 

Just paid $355+GST for our 3G module to be swapped out for a 4G unit. Included travel, labour and a replacement backup battery. They should cover your area as well. 

 

 

Would you mind PMing me the details of who did your upgrade please?

 

Thanks.





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lchiu7

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  #3410901 3-Sep-2025 19:42
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jlittle: ADT keep chasing me about the 3G shutdown. But my alarm system is ancient, and, perhaps irrelevantly, cost far less than their proposed upgrades.

Would anyone recommend starting from scratch, perhaps with cameras? (This is my vague intuition.)

Do I stay with ADT?

Do I stay with alarm.com? They seem expensive.

I'm in Auckland.

 

I got a quote of $400+G to replace the 3G module in my DSC Impassa with a IP module like this

 

https://www.alarmwarehouse.co.nz/products/apps-cellular-and-ip-modules/arrowhead/arrowhead-stand-alone-elite-cloud-iot-app-module-app-ready/

 

Based on some email exchanges with a person on GZ, I think I can probably do the replacement myself. ADT gave me all the programming information. I need 12V DC which I have near the alarm from a previous alarm that I didn't have disconnected, and an Internet connection (wired) and I can do that with a Powerline module I installed in my garage near the alarm panel.

 

 

 

The question now, do I want to try to save $200 labour and do it myself or just pay the installer and have them do it.  Also, since I will be going IP, I should be able to ask ADT to reduce my monthly charges since now they are not paying for the 3G SIM.





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MichaelNZ
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  #3410924 3-Sep-2025 21:41
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lchiu7:

 

My monitored alarm from ADT which is a DSC Impassa device. ADT has told me that due to the 3G shutdown the unit has to be replaced. Earlier they offered an upgrade to 4G but that is no longer being sold and they are recommending one of these units.

 

 

Yeah, they all say that.

 

We had a Permacon 4G monitoring unit added to the alarm installed at our office and this was about $150 with 6 months monitoring contract.

 

Its one of those deals where they will charge whatever they think they can get.

 

I have it on good grounds the installers get the device for free so you are only paying for installation.

 

Your leverage here is the monitoring. Everyone wants monitoring because its passive recurring income and monitoring client bases are saleable.

 

lchiu7:

 

Based on some email exchanges with a person on GZ, I think I can probably do the replacement myself. ADT gave me all the programming information. I need 12V DC which I have near the alarm from a previous alarm that I didn't have disconnected, and an Internet connection (wired) and I can do that with a Powerline module I installed in my garage near the alarm panel.

 

The question now, do I want to try to save $200 labour and do it myself or just pay the installer and have them do it.  Also, since I will be going IP, I should be able to ask ADT to reduce my monthly charges since now they are not paying for the 3G SIM.

 

 

No, don't do this. Just pay the installer.

 

Alarms are one of those deals they are tied in with an installer.

 

If you fiddle around noone will want to touch it or they will charge an arm and leg to fix it.





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lchiu7

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  #3411416 5-Sep-2025 08:14
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MichaelNZ:

 

No, don't do this. Just pay the installer.

 

Alarms are one of those deals they are tied in with an installer.

 

If you fiddle around noone will want to touch it or they will charge an arm and leg to fix it.

 

 

 

 

I called a nuimber of installers recommended by Arrowhead from this list

 

 

 

https://www.aap.co.nz/InstallersDistributor/NZInstallers.html

 

 

 

Previously I had a quote for $400+G but another installer came back with $295+G so I am going with them.  After providing all the details of my system they felt confident they could do this.

 

I actually own the alarm system so I don't need ADT to come and fix it. There are a bunch of others who can do that but hopefully I won't need any of their services.

 

 





Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD.  https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd  PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.


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