Wednesday, January 5, 2011

2GIG Technologies Go Control Wireless tries to look high tech

I just stumbled across an article about someone (Who will remain unnamed) within the security alarm industry and his move over to 2gig technologies. This prompted me to do a little research on the company. It seems the gang over at APX are using it so it must be crap... or at least cheap.

Cheap does not always mean bad so I looked a little further. Well, first of all, the security alarm portion of the 2Gig Go Control system is completely wireless. Not good touchscreen or not.

Looking a little further, 2Gig is touting the 2 gig technologies Go Control as a complete home automation system stating "Make any home a smart home." I will be the first to admit smart home technology is highly overpriced for what it is. The thing is, cheap Home Automation "Solutions" such as the 2Gig Go Control bring back nightmares of X-10 and what they were trying to do.

So what is the 2Gig Go Control you ask. Well, from initial review, I see it as nothing more than a souped up DSC Alexor, GE Simon, Paradox Magellan, Alarmforce, Honeywell Lynx, Snif or any of the other wireless wannabe security alarm system pieces of trash. I really wish the alarm manufacturers would get a grip on reality and realise security alarms are serious business. Security alarm systems are not toys, security alarm systems need to be able to withstand the attack of a potential intruder. A transistor radio sized box mounted on the wall by the front door and containing the entire 'Brains' of your security system is not real security. I don't care how fancy you make it and how many functions it can do, this type of wireless 'security alarm system' is just a fancier toilet alarm. It just looks a little nicer before the would be intruder steps on it, rendering the 2gig technologies Go Control home automation security alarm control panel totally useless when compared to its' hardwired counterpart.

Sorry guys, I did take an honest look at the 2gig Go Control security alarm system and just do not like it, even with the cheesy little touchscreen and online demo. I will continue to stick to hardwired security alarm systems as well as automation systems. When it comes to wireless and security alarm systems, I firmly believe it should only be used for systems which much be portable as well as cellular communications to the monitoring station. Of course, cellular communications uses a completely different type of wireless. If this technology was deployed in security alarm system sensors, they would be financially out of reach for consumers. So to those mooks and boneheads who like to use cellular phones as a defence for wireless security systems... get a grip.

Controlling lighting via wireless is not as bad, but that is only because lighting does not tend to be mission critical. So what if a little interference stops your lights from being able to be remotely turned on. It is not as if you are relying on this function to contact the fire department if your house catches on fire, or notify the police if you are being broken into.