A few alarm enthusiasts have a simplex 4100ES panel. How can I acquire a Simplex 4100ES panel?
Honestly even if you could I wouldn’t recommend doing so as the software needed to program them is not available outside Simplex (this also goes for Simplex’s other two ES-series panels as well).
I feel like the enthusiasts that have them either work as a Simplex technician or know someone who is.
Yeah, more than likely. Either way owning one is more trouble than it’s worth I’d say.
is it the same for the 4100U?
Yes, most of Simplex’s higher-end panels in fact. This is what I believe to be the full list of Simplex panels that can’t be programmed without the software, that the software for can’t be obtained outside of Simplex, or both:
2120
4007ES
4010ES
4020
4100 Classic
4100+
4100U
4100ES
I’d honestly recommend getting an Autocall 4100ES instead of a Simplex one, for some reason Autocall doesn’t use a proprietary programmer (I’m not 100% sure of it tho so I’d advise doing some research first.)
Actually only the Autocall 4007ES can work with the Autocall ES Programmer: the higher-end 4010ES & 4100ES cannot.
and you would still need autocall branded devices
Just generally for others here, I am part of the 15 or so people with a 4100U/ES. I do not recommend getting one as there is so much stuff to learn and obviously no hands on the programming software which I cannot disclose my means of acquiring that. Let’s just say you have to make the right friends and get the know the right people.
They can btw you just need the software dongle installed.
Oh definitely: I would advise going with a much simpler & easier-to-use Simplex panel instead like the 4001, 4002, 4004, 4005, 4006, 4008, or 4010 (as well as possibly the Foundation series when it comes out as I believe it can be programmed via a freely-available mobile app).
Oh okay, good luck obtaining that though.