Jim Corbett, United Alarm, Brookfield, Conn., is warmly called the “fastest panel programmer in the East” by NAPCO Security Technologies Inc., Amityville, N.Y. He can program panels like nobody’s business, having plenty of practice since he has been at it since 1974. He has seen it all — from the early panels before digital dialers to today’s wireless/interactive services-packed panels. He has even dealt with the challenges of installing alarm systems — panels, sensors and all — for five episodes of the 2007-2008 Discovery Channel show, “It Takes a Thief.” That’s a situation that demands a panel that can be installed fast and work without any glitches when the cameras are rolling.
Corbett, like everyone in the alarm industry, has definite preferences on the features he looks for in a panel. SDM asked installers like Corbett and panel manufacturers: What panel features matter the most to you right now?