Napco: Radio Network and Landline Sunsets Signal Fire RMR Dawn

Panels utilizing sunsetting networks can be a great new RMR opportunity for the original dealer, or any dealer that treats these legacy systems as prospective, lucrative takeover targets.

With POTs lines vanishing, millions of fire alarm control panels (FACPs) are in jeopardy of failing to communicate in an emergency. At the same time, across the country older cell networks like 3G and CDMA are rapidly being sunsetted — neighborhood by neighborhood and region by region, seemingly out of the blue.

Like most things, this technological disruption in alarm communications can go one of two ways — good or bad. It can result in unexpected liability and/or potential loss of a fire account for the original dealer/integrator as the system goes offline. Or it can be a great new RMR opportunity for the original dealer, or any dealer that treats these legacy fire alarm systems as prospective, lucrative takeover targets.

On the pro side, LTE cellular communicators can represent an economical “fix” to safeguard accounts for the long term. And they pleasantly come with an inherent, compelling reason accounts themselves will welcome. Budget savings!

Typically, end-user cellular alarm monitoring costs will be significantly less vs. each FACP’s pair of dedicated leased landlines. By replacing them, customers can save thousands of dollars a year. Plus the fire alarm dealer/integrator and new cellular service provider earn the incremental RMR instead of the phone company. It’s a win-win.

With low cost, ease of installation and reliability, NAPCO’s popular StarLink Fire LTE Cellular Communicators are a class-leading solution for these applications. These products are universal, supporting all brands of 12V and 24V FACPs (ideal for retrofits) and use panel-powered technology.

Installation takes less than 15 minutes; dealers can still report alarms to their choice of central station via AT&T LTE or Verizon LTE cellular nationwide; and they’re AHJ-friendly and code-compliant NFPA 72, UL, CSFM, NYCFD, LAFD, etc.

Avoiding onsite issues, StarLink Fire products are preactivated so dealers know it’s a go — before rolling trucks. Answering dealer input, NAPCO recently enhanced its StarLink Fire Dual Path Cell/IP units by adding four programmable EOLR zone inputs; two Form C relay outputs (eliminating extra supervision modules); and two onboard modular-plugs to speed FACP connection.


Author

Judy Jones is Vice President, Marketing, NAPCO Security Technologies

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