I recently had to replace my old Gemini alarm system because the main board fried in a lightning strike.
I wanted a modern alarm with color LCD touch screen and Zwave home automation support. After talking to vendors and talking to alarm companies I purchased the 2Gig GoControl system from DFW Security. It is installed currently with 2 Yale locks, 4 cameras, and 6 lights.
I also have a Vera 3 from MiCasaVerde. My intention was to either switch to the 2Gig for everything, or make one of them a secondary controller. This turns out to be impossible.
HUGE PROBLEMS:
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2Gig can only be the primary controller with NO secondary controllers, or it can be a secondary controller, but you lose much functionality (locks no longer work from the alarm panel for example).
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The 2Gig as a primary blows chunks because it does not support anything beyond simple little scenes. And since it does not support secondary controllers, no scene controllers or remote controls. The 2Gig also does not maintain state of anything but locks, so you can’t look at the website or iPhone app and know if a light is on or off. It is a very half baked product.
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The people who run the place are total @$$ holes. I called support three times and talked to a Director in the sales division. I have email threads I’ll be happy to post. But they simply do not want to work with other zwave devices. They want to be their own system and independent of other controllers. Or in their words “we want to play first fiddle only.” When you tell them their product is not mature enough to play first fiddle, they say “that is your opinion.” When you ask for a roadmap, or when they plan to fix it they say “We don’t have that information.” Completely useless.
Whatever happened to companies caring about their customers? What ever happened to companies wanting to create a following? My experience with 2Gig is that they want to tell me how I can do business with them and use their product on their terms, and if I don’t like them, that’s too bad. I can uninstall their system. A system they overstate its abilities, and all on my dime.
Buyer be ware and check the forums here and at MiCasaVerde.com before you buy this panel. You may wind up with something sold to you as the best Zwave alarm ever made, only to find out it is half baked, and support by a bunch of people who could not care less about their customers needs.
From Tua Toiaivao, Sales Support Manager at 2Gig - “It can be the primary if it is the only controller. 2GIG doesn’t make the GoControl to play second fiddle to other Zwave controllers. Ours was designed to meet demand in the residential home security market for the masses for those that wanted more than just home security. Since coming to market 3 years ago we have had nearly one million GoControls installed.”
My 2Gig BS translator: “We made it to work by itself and zwave home automation services are half baked, but we make it sound like in our documentation and sales literature that we are #1. We fooled you and a whole bunch of other people. Now go suck it!”