Bosch B-Series Intrusion Tested

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Apr 10, 2017

Bosch is one of the biggest names in intrusion but their B-Series panels, targeted at smaller site installs and available through distribution, are relatively new for intrusion standards.

We bought a Bosch B3512 panel and a B942 graphic keypad to see how it stacks against competitors.

In this test, we examine the system on this criteria:

  • Strengths & Weaknesses
  • Competitive Comparison
  • Distribution Availability
  • Physical Overview
  • Keypad Options
  • System Price
  • Remote Security App
  • Monitoring Options

Inside, we detail our results that contrast the B-Series to other enclosure panel based intrusion alarm systems.

Note: in our next test, we cover the Bosch G-Series.

***** ** *** ** the ******* ***** ** intrusion *** ***** *-****** panels, ******** ** ******* site ******** *** ********* through ************, *** ********** new *** ********* *********.

** ****** ****** ***** ******** ***** ******* ******** *** *** ** stacks ******* ***********.

** **** ****, ** examine *** ****** ** this ********:

  • ********* & **********
  • *********** **********
  • ************ ************
  • ******** ********
  • ****** *******
  • ****** *****
  • ****** ******** ***
  • ********** *******

******, ** ****** *** results **** ******** *** B-Series ** ***** ********* panel ***** ********* ***** systems.

****: ** *** **** test, ** ***** *** Bosch *-******.

[***************]

Strengths ********

*** **** ******** ***** B-Series *** **** *********** advantages, ********** ******** ** other ***** ****** ** the *********** ******:

  • ******* ******** & *** jacks:*** *-****** ******** **** integrated ******* *** *** ports *** ********* ******** connections ** **-***** **********. While **** ****** ***** this ** ****** **** a ******** ******, *** B-Series ******** **** ** default. ** *** ****, the *** ****** ****** a ******, '*************' ********** to *** *****. **** feature ******** ********** *** network ****** **** ********* local ** ********* ** the *****.
  • **** ******* *******:**** '*****' ********* ******* simplify ********* *** *********** of *** ****** ** stripping **** ************* *******. Unlike ******* ******** *** *********** *********, *-****** ****** ******** settings ** *******, ***** codes ** *****, *********** fire, *** ********** ********* that *********** *******, ******* integrated ********* *******.
  • '****' ***** ***********:*** **** *******, '******' integration **** ********* ******* are ******* ** * few ***** *** ********** cameras *** *** ******* add-on ***** ******* ** integrate *****. ****-****** ******** **** (***** and ***** ******)******* ** **** ***** and * ***** ** camera. ***** *** *********** is ******* ** **** Bosch *******, *** **** range ** ******* *** be **** *** ****** sensor ****** *** ***** system *********.

Weaknesses ********

*******, *** **** ***** the *-****** *** **** drawbacks ******** ** ********* competitors:

  • ****-********* *******: ******* ******** * B-Series ******, **** * basic ***, ***** **** and ********* ** **** ordering *** *******. *** range ** *******, ***********, and ************** ****** *** rather ******* *** '**** & ****' ************* **** not ** *******.
  • **** ********* ***** ********:** *******, * ****-****** installer ******* *** * 'blow *** **' ****** to ******* ******* *** move ** *** **** job ** ****** ***** to ** *********** ** the ****** ** ************* options *** ********* *********** needed ** ***** ********* a *-****** ******.
  • ***-******** *****:****** **** ***** ********* panel ***** *******, *** B3512 ** ***** ** 16 ***** *** ** users. ******* ** ********* via ****-********* *******, *** B3512 **** ** ******** with ******* ****** ***** if ******* ****** **** small ****.
  • *** ******** ** *******:**** ***** ********* ******* and ********** **** *** wireless ******* ** ***** and ******* ****** *******. While *-****** **** ************* ********, ***** *** **** through ******** *** ************ purchased ******* **** *** both **** *** ****.
  • ** **** ********** ** Default: ** **** ********, our *-****** ***** ******* integration ** ******* ** Z-Wave ** ****** ******* onboard. ************* ******* *** *********, ********** **** **** cost *** ********** ** a ****** ***** *********** often ******* **** ** default, **:*********.

Competitive **********

** ***** ** ******** and ******** ******, *-****** is ** *** ****-*** of ***** ********* ********* with **** *************, ***** video ***********, *** ***** fire/smoke ********* ******, *** unlike ********* ********* *** residential ********, * *-****** system ******** ********** ******** and ********** *******, *** the ****** ************* ***** more **** ** ****.

***** *-****** ** ****** roughly ***** ** ***** basic ********* *******, **** the ***** ******* **** than *** ******* ******. The ***** ***** *** a ****** ***** ** ~$175, ***** *** **** keypad ****** ** ~$***. For ***** ******** ****** by ***** ** ***** residential ********* *********, *-****** will ** **** *********** on ******** *****.

*******, *** ** ***** of ***** ********** ***** sensors ** ** **** automation ** *******, *** and **** ****, ***** offered ** ***** *********, will ** **** ********* for ***** ********* *******.

B-Series **** ************

********, ***** ********* *****-****** ***** ** ********* from ************, * ****** **** the ******** ******-**** *****. While ******* ** *** smaller *-****** ****, ***** is ***** ******** *** larger *-****** ******** ** sales *** ******* ** trained *******.

Test ****** *******

*** *-****** ***** **** tested *** ******** ** an***** *****, *** ****** *********** ************** **** * **** readers, *** ** *** of ********* ******* ********* a***** **** **** ********* Motion ********.

** ****, **** ********** was *** **** **** traditional ********* ****, *** the *****, *******, ******(*), and *********. ***** *** installers **** **** ** specify *** *** *** pieces **********.

Physical ********

*** ***** ** ** 16-zone ****** ***** ********* inside * ***** *** enclosure, **** * ********* and ******* ** * wireless ***** *******, *** up ** * ********** keypads. ** * ******** small *********, ***** ** room *** *** ** VDC *** ****** *********.

*** ******* ******** ******* circuit ***** ** ******** with * ****-******** **** ethernet **** *** *** port, ***** **** * configurable ******.

************, *** **** ***** supports ** ***** **** 14 ********* ******. ** more ***** ** ***** are ******, ****** ***** of ****** **** ** be **** - **** of *********** ** *** biggest ******** *** *** users *** *** *-******. The ***** ****** ** the ******, *** *****, B5512, *** ***** ******* up ** ** ***** and *** ****** **** B4512 ****** *** *****-*********:

Keypad *******

** ****** *** ***** using * **** *********** keypad ********* ***** * traditional *-**** ********* ***. In ***** ** ********* and ***********, *** ****** uses *****-******** *******, *** button ********, *** ** easy ** ********* ***** features *** ****** *********.

*** ******* ***** ******* will *** ** **** enough ** ******* *** of ********** *****, *** *** ****-******* panel *** * ****** sensor *** ************* ******** when ***** ********.

*** *** ***** ******** can ** ********** ** keypad, *** ******* ******* the *** ** ** installer ** *** *****'* free ********* ************* ***.

***** ******* *** ** used ** ******* ***** features,******* ** **** ** configure '******** **************' ******** from ***** ************ *******, output ***** ***** ***********, zone ***** ***** *******, and ********* ***** ******* templates.

Advanced ********

*-****** ****** ******* ***** features *** ****** ** other ***** ****** *********. These ******** *******:

  • **** **-***: **** *******, ***** needed ** ***** *** Vault, ************* **** ** area **** ***** ** has **** ********, *********** 'relocking *** **** ****** users'.
  • ***-*** *****:**** ******* ******** *** different ***** **** ********* codes ** ********* ********* to ***** ****** * system, ********** *** **** under ****** **** ***** forced ** ****** * system.
  • **** **************: **** ******* ******** two ***** ** *********** or ***** ** *******/***/****** the ******, ********* ****, cards, ** ******** '*****' verification.
  • ********* ******: **** ****** ****** and ******* *** ** programmed ** ******** ** a ********, ****** **** only **** ** **** activation.

***** ******** ********* ********* ones ********** **** ** other ***** ********* *******, but ***** ** * distinct ********* *** *-****** panels ** ***** *** high-security ************.

System *******

*** ***** ***** *** a ****** ***** ** ~$175, ***** *** **** keypad ****** ** ~$***. Contrasted **** ********* **** Vista ** ***, ***** B-Series ** ********* **** competitive. * *-****** ***** does *** ******* ***** standard ******** **** *******, door/window ********, ****, *** motion ****** *****. *** total '***-**' ***** *** a ***** * ****, ten ****** ****** ***** exceed $****, ********** ** wired ******* ** **** automation ** **********.

******** ** *** ***-*** 'door *******' ******* **** by **** ******** ***** companies, *-****** **** ** 2X - ** **** expensive *** ******* **** labor ** ********** ******** modules, *** *** ***** system *** ***** **** granular **********, ************, *** control ******** ** ***** offerings ***** *** ** a ********** ***** ***** high-security ****** *********.

Remote ***

***** *-****** ** ********* by *** ****** ******** App, * **** ****** control ** ***, ******, and ********* ******* *** system **** ***********.

***** ****** ******** ******* allows ****** ****** *** disarming *** ********** ** connected *******, *** **** live ***** **** ********** cameras, *** *** ******** segments.

Central ******* ********** *******

***** ****** *** ** centrally ********* ** *** majority ** ******* ********, as **** *** *****/********* 'Modem4' *** ************* *********. **** ******* *** widely ********* ** ******* station *********, **** ** major ******** **** ** monitoring ** *** ******* of ***** ******* *** in **** ** *** globe.

***** ***** * **** of ******* ******* ********* that ******* * ***** range ** ****** *********, including *** ***** **** used ********, ********* ***, Format **, ******, *** Radionics. ***** ********* *** not **** ******* ** Bosch *****'* *********, *** many ******* ******** *** them ** ******* ********* even ** ***** ****** are *** *** ******* type ***** *********. **** geographic ***** ******* ******** monitoring ******* ********** *** formats **** ** ***** alarm ******.

Upcoming *-****** ****

**** **** ** *** first ** *** ******** Bosch ********* ********. ***** this ******, ** **** look ** *** ****** scale ********** *-****** ****.

Comments (6)

Shannon Davis

TED Systems | 04/10/17 06:02pm

We have installed several of these. If you are experienced with Bosch the installation is relatively simple. The major draw back to these is the internet experience. You have to use RPS over the internet to change the user codes as compared to Honeywell where through the Total Connect you can do this. They did upgrade the panels late last year to have their Bosch Cloud service available which makes programming remotely somewhat easier.

Avatar

Greg Levorchick

04/19/17 03:29pm

These are great, solid & reliable panels. We typically do not install the B3512 but rather the B4512/B5512 and the larger G-Series. We are very pleased with the products that Bosch is producing with quality continuing to be emphasized. As stated though, they can require more steps to get ordered/installed & operational compared to some competitor models and training would be recommended. We have been using Radionics/Bosch products since 1983 and have seen a lot of good, along with some bad(DS years) products - These are definitely on the good end. While the mobile app may not be as robust as some competitor offerings, it is very secure from what we've found with "Certificates" issued to each authorized user for remote access along with encryption. We charge a fee for the initial certificate issuance and then a monthly access fee for certificate maintenance. This allows us to maintain a close relationship with our clients and to make sure things are current & operating as expected, enhancing the overall service experience.

Note that there are other keypad offerings, LCD screen, that are less expensive than the touchscreen shown tested. Though the vast majority of our own clients select the touchscreen when shown/demonstrated. It is fairly intuitive to use with minimal instruction needed.

All together a good review of a good system.

Avatar

Steve Beck

06/16/17 03:14am

Brian-

You should take the scalablity out as a weakness. Any Bosch dealer worth their salt is going to quote a 4512 for an extra $12.00 over the 3512 panel. This panel is only deployed in unique situations.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Steve Beck | 06/19/17 11:01pm

Interesting point. Which unique situations is this panel deployed?

From the report, the B4512 supports up to 28 points which is more than the 16 of the B3512.

Avatar

Greg Levorchick

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 06/20/17 08:54pm

The B3512 is just a very limited panel that is designed for budget, simple and small installs. That is not generally our market so we have not used it but a few times. Like S. Beck stated, for a small dollar amount more, you increase the functionality and expansion capabilities by using the B4512/B5512. If a client makes a change in their home or business and needs to expand the system, I'd rather be able to easily connect and tie-in additional devices rather than having to explain why they need to purchase a new control panel. Not worth it. I'd rather eat the difference and do what's right and better in the long run.

Avatar

Steve Beck

06/20/17 01:56am

I've quoted this panel twice. Once for a fast food chain and other was for a bus garage when we were deploying B8512 G series panels for a school district at all their buildings. We ended up taking over the existing DSC panel instead of going with the 3512. Basically the panel is quoted for people who already have Bosch or need a bare bones small system apart of a larger project. 8 wireless and 8 hardware zones really limit on what you can do with it.

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