Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - GE SmartSecurity = Simon3 (!)
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LewisR
05-05-05, 01:25 PM
Hi everyone,
Thanks for this board. I am excited to learn from your feedback.
About a year ago, in need of a very basic system, I purchased and installed the GE SmartSecurity system from CircuitCity. We do not have it set up to be monitored; rather it calls me with alarm notifications.
As a very basic system, it does what it is supposed to do, but I would really like the system monitored. I've called several companies (e.g. AlarmRelay, Alarm.com) and ask if they can monitor this existing system, and they say that no, I'd need to purchase one of their systems.
Rather than go through the expense and hassle of re-installing a new system, I've done some research online and discovered that the SmartSecurity system I have is IDENTICAL to the Simon3 - the very unit that these companies want to sell me!
Apparently, GE took the Simon3's and programmed some of them to only work as unmonitored systems, which I have purchased. What I need to know is if that programming is reverseable or if the limited functionality of the SmartSecurity flavor is actually hard-coded into the elctronics. I seriously doubt that, because other than the "SmartSecurity" sticker on it, this device IS the Simon3, down to the part number.
I've been able to find surprisingly little information online about this unit, so would greatly appreciate any insight that anyone may have to offer.
Thanks in advance,
Lewis
Thanks for this board. I am excited to learn from your feedback.
About a year ago, in need of a very basic system, I purchased and installed the GE SmartSecurity system from CircuitCity. We do not have it set up to be monitored; rather it calls me with alarm notifications.
As a very basic system, it does what it is supposed to do, but I would really like the system monitored. I've called several companies (e.g. AlarmRelay, Alarm.com) and ask if they can monitor this existing system, and they say that no, I'd need to purchase one of their systems.
Rather than go through the expense and hassle of re-installing a new system, I've done some research online and discovered that the SmartSecurity system I have is IDENTICAL to the Simon3 - the very unit that these companies want to sell me!
Apparently, GE took the Simon3's and programmed some of them to only work as unmonitored systems, which I have purchased. What I need to know is if that programming is reverseable or if the limited functionality of the SmartSecurity flavor is actually hard-coded into the elctronics. I seriously doubt that, because other than the "SmartSecurity" sticker on it, this device IS the Simon3, down to the part number.
I've been able to find surprisingly little information online about this unit, so would greatly appreciate any insight that anyone may have to offer.
Thanks in advance,
Lewis
MrRonFL
05-05-05, 05:20 PM
I have a sneaking suspicion that this is hard coded, but I'll give it a check. It doesn't come up on any searches on the GE website, so I'll have to wait on an email response. You can try getting a Simon3 manual and see if the central station communication portions of the program are accessable.