Question for Customers of Alarm Relay. Also specific Canadian questions

[RogueOne]

I am considering using alarm relay for my ELK system in Canada. 

1. How has your experience been with it?
2. Does Alarm Relay send email alerts as well as phone calls?
3. How difficult was the setup?
4. The toll free number they provide doesn't seem to work in Canada, what number do you guys use?

Thanks

 

[neillt]

I don't have any Canadian experience.  I actually live just a few miles away from Alarm Relay, which is a coincidence.
 
No issues with my OmniPro IIs.  This is via hardline.  A friend uses their remote communicator and it works just fine as well.
 
Setup was awesome.  The techs that you will do the setup over the phone with know what they are doing, and are used to homeowner installers.  They will walk you through configuring the panel with the correct account codes and dialing information, and do as many zone tests as you want to ensure everything is working OK.
 
Their local San Diego number is (619) 599-0146, but if you can't dial their toll free numbers you may have a problem as I seem to remember the alarm contact ID dial numbers were also 855 or 866 numbers.

 

[42etus]

I've had Alarm Relay for about 10 years. we've had no issues at all. In addition to alarm violations, they have called to notify me about low battery  and loss of supervision conditions. 
 
To answer your questions:
 
1. Our experience has been just fine.
 
2. Yes, They call the numbers that you set up with them and send emails.
 
3. Setup was easy. You make an appointment with them, a tech calls you and walks you through it. As I recall the whole thing took about 10 minutes.
 
4. For me, in Oregon, 619-442-9595 works. YMMV in Canada

 

[ano]

I'd say OK experience, not great.

They initially walked me through setup and testing. The initial cellular modem they recommended ended up not working, which they said happens 50% of the time. So they sent another
I initially had open and close reports turned on as they suggested. About 6 months later I get a call from them saying this will incur additions charges, so I had to turn it off.

I'm used to an alarm company having a web-based access to do things like putting my alarm in test and maybe cancelling a false alarm, but his company has no web access of any kind that I have seen. Everything is via phone calls.

The only email I have ever gotten from them is yearly they will tell me to renew my alarm permit, which is a bit redundant because the city sends me the renewal form ever year as well. I give them the permit number which they keep track of.

My home owners association has a security patrol so I gave them information on how to contact them, but I'm not exactly sure how they will incorporate that into the response, and I'm not sure where I would call to ask.

I've never had a true alarm, so I can't vouch for that. So to sum up, they appear to be doing what they should be doing, but not lots outside that.

 

[RogueOne]

Thanks guys
 
42etus: What does YMMV in Canada mean?

 

[42etus]

Your Mileage May Vary. 
 
Meaning that the phone number I gave may or may not work for you.
 
On another note, I connect to Alarm Relay over copper phone lines. Be sure to ask them about that in Canada.