Subscriber Discussion

Any Alarm Dealers Affected By Upcoming 2G Sunset?

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Brian Karas
Dec 22, 2016
IPVM

We are just over a week away from the 2G sunset, I was wondering if any alarm dealers here have been affected by this? Seems like there has been plenty of advance warning, but legacy installers with thousands of 2G radios may have had to scramble.

Any first hand experiences or war stories to share?

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Dec 22, 2016

We were pleasantly surprised at the lack of pushback on upgrading these customers. We had a pretty decent markup on the swap and didn't lose anyone. 

(3)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Dec 22, 2016

We replaced over A LOT of units last year well before the sunset came...it's been coming for years. War stories you ask? The provider we chose for about 600 units has utterly failed us, we are currently at "war" with them for help resolving the mess they created. 

(3)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Dec 22, 2016

What kind of mess?

(1)
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Brian Karas
Dec 23, 2016
IPVM

Interesting. I am somewhat surprised to hear you got in a jam, it is not like any of the equipment you are dealing with for this should be overly complex or "bleeding edge". I would think it would all be very straightforward.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Dec 23, 2016

It was supposed to be straight forward. We moved from one provider to another and the new provider for a particular client and the new cell radios aren't properly relaying signals to the central station as they go through the providers servers before they push them on to the central. They're blaming it on the carrier but we have another provider who also uses verizon with just as many accounts and zero issues. It's been a nightmare transistion. We will probably be moving those accounts to the provider with no issues this next year. 

(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Dec 23, 2016

Would you care to disclose the provider?  

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Dec 23, 2016

I would rather not. We have gone through nearly every cellular manufacturer over the last few years, and one out of the 4 we have tried actually works consistently.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Dec 23, 2016

I realize I am being pretty vague here, but I don't want to get into details at this time. I will say that we have installed thousands of cellular radios. We have a lot of experience and typically know more regarding the full operation than the providers. Getting technical support from the manufacturers has been the worst part of all of this. We only have one we deal with that is good. 

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Dec 27, 2016

We upgraded / are making the last minute push this week to move our 2g customers to aes mesh where we can.

U
Undisclosed #5
Dec 27, 2016
IPVMU Certified

Its only mid-afternoon at one carrier, at least:

T-Mobile says its 2G network will stay active through 2020

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