Meet the people behind the S3 Series (including a certain forum member 
) and listen to testimonials by installers, architects, designers, and safety personal.
Nice video! Was this shot in Northford?
Also, is that you at 1:22? 8)
Also looks like youâre using the SpectrAlert Advance chime/strobes in that demo setup. Nice video!
Shot in our engineering office in Canton, MA
I talk in the video numerous times, you have to âstrategicallyâ look
You see some shots of our test lab with that bank of SpetrAlert AVs.
BCarl: Would you be surprised if someone made a better competing product?
Sure and im actually challenging the industry to do so. 10 years ago our company came out with the 1st color touchscreen display back when touchscreen wasnt commonly used and yet the industry still uses push button keypads.
The fact that someone has done something completely different moves this industry forward in making it easier for everyone to use the fire alarm panel.
YouTube Link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QdTpNRc9MU&feature=share&list=UU5tNvvtB5uQPxEv2mF7YLmg
I think the big problem with other brands rolling out a panel similar to the S3 is comfort level and money issues. I like the idea of using a touchscreen but people seem to be more comfortable with buttons right now. Designing it like a smartphone is great for the end user as long as the âappsâ are decent too.
However, I think the big problem is some of the companies might have trepidation to design, develop, and release a product that presents as big of a change as this. Their big worry I guess is what if nobody buys it? For example, Notifier came out with their Onyx FirstVision several years ago and as a Notifier ESD we havenât installed a single one anywhere. Weâve done the sales pitches for some of our biggest installs but customers just donât want it, even if it could mean an easier system for large facilities.
I applaud Gamewell-FCI for being bold enough to develop a revolutionary new product. Even if it hasnât sold much yet, I am sure it will. At least if it fails, you guys are backed by Honeywell. If it doesnât sell much right now then donât throw it away â it will pick up eventually.
I think the S3, the E3, the NGA, and all that stuff are pretty nice systems.
Now if Notifier started working on a new version of their NCA that didnât have so many buttons (I counted 69) and gave it an operating system whose display didnât show so much information at once that it looked cryptic and complex, maybe theyâd be able to come out with something more user friendly too.
From what I have been told, Honeywellâs fire alarm brands are all owned by Honeywell but they function like competitors to each other. I imagine it like this: Honeywell provides the funding and support for four groups that develop and sell panels (Notifier, FL, GWFCI, SK) and then a fifth group (System Sensor) that provides peripherals to use with those products. Some of the four panel groups share products between each other (SFP-2404/MS-4/GWF-404/SK-4,etc) If this isnât completely accurate, let me know.
Good luck!
BCarl: Can I have a link to the S3 Manual and the annunciator? I could not find it on the website or by googling either. Thanks
Correct people are comfortable with just rows of buttons. Its safe for the people who have been involved with the industry. But im just designing something that fits the needs of our end-users (building owners, facility managers, etc). And I can tell you, they HATE all those buttons.
Wanted to take a chance and its paid off. We have outsold our forecast. Our ESDs love having something different to sell.
Your assumptions are pretty close to accurate. Wont go into details on the business but all the brands play nice within the walls of the Honeywell. If we win, everyone wins because it doesnt go to Simplex, EST, or Siemens.
Manuals are only available to authorized installers and distributors of the product.