Path: utzoo!attcan!telly!problem!compus!lethe!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!psuvax1!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: rrw@naucse.cse.nau.edu (Robert Wier)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Alarm Autodialers
Message-ID: <15409@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 13 Dec 90 18:35:49 GMT
Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu
Organization: TELECOM Digest
Lines: 48
Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 881, Message 7 of 10


In article <15381@accuvax.nwu.edu>, William.Degnan@f39.n382.z1.
fidonet.org (William Degnan) writes:

> One of the toys with which I have played is the Sensaphone. When I
> worked for an interconnect company, we sold some for vacation homes.
> The homeowner could select four (I believe) telephone numbers, which
> are called in sequence until somebody calls the unit back to
> acknowledge the voice message.

Heathkit (if they are still in business when you read this - one
wonders). Sells a unit very similar to this.  I have one in my house
in Colorado (at 8000' in the winter, it gets COLD!).  It monitors and
alerts on high temp, low temp, excessive noise, power off, and include
a connection to an alarm system.  It will dial out up to four numbers
to give an alert.

My major gripe is that it's not remotely programmable. So, if I close
up my house in September, and don't get back till Christmas I can't
make any changes.  The first winter I used it (last winter) I THOUGHT
I was going to leave the heat on at 55 degrees.  However, propane (my
fuel) went up in price from about 82 cent/gal to $1.40 cents/gal, so I
decided to shut the house down (off furnace, drain pipes, etc).
Forgot to reprogram the low temp setting before I left.  It was
calling my real estate agent, insurance agent, et al.  Finally just
had to have them go over and shut the thing off.

This winter, I have it on the line, but programmed NOT to call out.  I
periodically check it to make sure things are still working. It
doesn't give the same security as the call out feature, but not being
remotely programmable, it looks like the best compromise for now.

The Heath units (not a kit - already assembled) run around $140 and
are HARD to get - I had to place a backorder for about three months.

If anyone knows of a similar unit which is remotely programmable and
at a reasonable cost, I'd be very interested.


Thanks,

Bob Wier

insert favorite standard disclaimers here
         College of Engineering
Northern Arizona University / Flagstaff, Arizona
Internet: rrw@naucse.cse.nau.edu | BITNET: WIER@NAUVAX | WB5KXH
     or   uucp:  ...arizona!naucse!rrw