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[WildBill47]

First I want to say I have had a Proector Plus since 2002 and it is a great Alarm System but 7 years and no major enhancements come on guys, it is great but everything could use a feature or two added over time, here is my list of order of what I would love to see in a Protector Plus v2. (It only took a couple years to add RF to the ICON Remote and I even bought one, I only mention this because I think adding useful features will drive sales, I had only bough my other ICON Remore last year! ...)

1. Voice Message that tells what zone was tripped that you can record, so it would be short, like "Zone 1 Living Room Motion".
2. Separate Voice Message for each of the 4 numbers it will call in addition to the message in #1.
3. One Phone Number tied specifically to a feature I will note next, it would call that number first, give the appropriate message you recorded, then jump to the normal call list.
4. A X-10 Smoke/Fire Detector that Calls the dedicated number mentioned in #3 to call the Fire Department.
5. Much longer Voice message for each one.
6. Dry-Contact Interface for say 2-4 Dry Contact Trips
7. Dry-Contact Interface that Closes when the alarm is triggered (more flexibility)
8. Ability to "Install" Non-Security X-10 Modules, like other Motion Dectectors (This way AHP could be more useful with security events without having to run a computer 24x7 (A Green Idea
9. Zone Specific X-10 Commands. So say I have rigged a water pipe break sensor (which I have) the DS7000 would in this case trip but not set off the security lights, power horns, but would send the X-10 command to an appliance module that shuts off your water, then use added features #2 & #3 to call you and tell you you have a water problem.

The DS7000 is such as great system and at a great price I can see why you may not have been motivated to mess with it, but it could be so much more with a few added features, I assume much of it is PIC controlled so most this this would not take a rocket scientist or a lot of cost to add, my guess is you would sell new DS7001's to a good percentage of your existing customers who would love the added features.

[steven r]

...The DS7000 is such as great system and at a great price I can see why you may not have been motivated to mess with it, but it could be so much more with a few added features... ...my guess is you would sell new DS7001's to a good percentage of your existing customers who would love the added features.

I've soap boxed my opinions on alarms 2 or 3 other places in the forum so I won't get long winded again here.

One of the drawbacks of a DIY system, such as the DS7000, is some of its inherent limitations but the price makes it a good system as long as you go into it fully aware of its features and limitations.

Even so, a few added features, such as the ones you've suggested, would be a big step towards making it competitive with some of the full featured systems out there.

[WildBill47]

...The DS7000 is such as great system and at a great price I can see why you may not have been motivated to mess with it, but it could be so much more with a few added features... ...my guess is you would sell new DS7001's to a good percentage of your existing customers who would love the added features.

I've soap boxed my opinions on alarms 2 or 3 other places in the forum so I won't get long winded again here.

One of the drawbacks of a DIY system, such as the DS7000, is some of its inherent limitations but the price makes it a good system as long as you go into it fully aware of its features and limitations.

Even so, a few added features, such as the ones you've suggested, would be a big step towards making it competitive with some of the full featured systems out there.

Some of the features I mentioned would be a little harder and more expensive but 6 & 7 would be chump change, 8 & 9 would only require a small changes to the I assume PIC program, 1 & 2 would be a little more as they would have to add memory most likely, 3 would also be just a msall program change.

I really wish I could get my hands on a schematics for a DS-7000, I have them for many X-10 devices but hunting as hard as I can I have never found one on the DS-7000 and I would literally pay for the program source code for it, then I could do my own mods and just burn a new PIC. Again I am assuming they are using PIC micro-controllers since I have seen them in other devices. I plan to get a DS-7000 to reverse engineer enough just to finish a project I am working on but life would be so much easier if I could get the schematic for it....

[HA Dave]

I've soap boxed my opinions on alarms 2 or 3 other places in the forum so I won't get long winded again here.

One of the drawbacks of a DIY system, such as the DS7000, is some of its inherent limitations but the price makes it a good system as long as you go into it fully aware of its features and limitations.

Like steven r... I also have posted my opinions about the DS7000 and alarms in general... in at least a couple other threads. I like the DS7000! When used.. as I think it is intended to be used.. it is a tremendous value. Even when used as a standalone alarm and not taking advantage of the inherent HA features.

UNlike steven r... I cant keep my fingers off the keyboard (mouth shut?).

No device that arrives in the mail (or FedEx) is going to make a home or a family safe or secure. Whereas I wouldn't want to NOT have a security/alarm system and [again]... I like the DS7000... safety and security isn't a technology that comes in a box. Technology and features are cool stuff.. for sure. But neither the beginning nor ending to home security. Alarms add to.. and enhance the other security measures, processes and procedures also in use.

Any alarm... at any price.. never becomes more than an alarm.