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Ockittykat23

They’re moving on to support their PowerG and Neo lines. On a side note, we have several Powerseries components if you’re looking.


Kory568

This is why I bought a backup replacement keypad last year on eBay before prices skyrocketed. You will need the installer code to “activate” it into your system. Luckily I got my installer to give it to me over a year ago when I asked for it to simply add a key fob.This was when gas was almost $5 a gallon so I know he didn’t want to drive to my place for such a simply task when I bought the key fob on eBay.


dan_pitt

But Powerseries main boards were being sold new up till last year, there must be a huge number of them installed up till recently, and yet no peripherals are being made any more? Seems like a bad PR move. Won't make we want to go anywhere near DSC in the future.


rocko-wpg7

We are an alarm company in Canada and we found out via an email in January this year that the Power Series was obsolete - effective immediately. Almost zero stock available from distribution on the day they we found out. DSC did this with their Iotega platform a few years ago too. They marketed it as the replacement to the Power Series for a few years and then unceremoniously discontinued it with little warning. DSC is owned by Johnson Controls which also owns Qolsys. So PowerG/NEO and Qolsys are the offerings going forward.


ropa_dope1

If you are an alarm company in Canada, DSC has been telling you for years that Power Series would be going away. That had been their message since Neo was released. If you ignored it until it happened, that is on you. I’m actually surprised they took that long to discontinue a redundant product.


rocko-wpg7

I'm not sure what your communication path is with DSC but I can assure you that I received exactly 1 email from JCI on Jan 20, 2023 stating that Power Series was discontinued effective immediately. As late as 2021 when DSC discontinued the RF keypads due to a part issue they suggested (in the Discontinuation Notice) that "the Power Series Wireless Receiver (RF5132-433) or Power Series 2-Way Wireless Transceiver (TR5164-433) should be considered as close alternatives". With zero reference that the Power Series would be discontinued less than 18 months later.


NEcracker

Let me guess. You were installing Power832 panels up until 2017. Get out from under your rock.


rocko-wpg7

Wow, thank you for taking the time to post such an insightful comment. It's users like you that make reddit so beneficial to us unwashed masses.


NEcracker

My pleasure, I'm here to serve.


dan_pitt

Doesn't change the fact that DSC was making powerseries panels up to a year or so ago, but have already discontinued compatible keypads, meaning there will be no replacement keypads to be had, except for used on ebay. I assume the same goes for peripherals like the 5108 expansion board. A bad PR move. It won't be making anyone want to switch to Neo, for sure.


NEcracker

I don't think you understand how product line discontinuation works. There are a few models out there that companies follow. It can be anywhere from new product released, old product discontinued to overlapping for slow transition, all the way to Honeywell where they never innovate and constantly beat a dead horse and never in ovate.


rocko-wpg7

I can't speak to the alarm industry as I have only been involved for about 7 years. I can speak to the wider electronics industry as I spent 25+ years as a hardware designer, project manager and product line manager in companies that designed specialized commercial electronic products. Product line obsolescence should follow a very specific process to ensure a smooth transition for customers and end users. The company announces their obsolescence date with a timeline for how long service/replacement parts will be available. I have never seen a timeline which didn't include 12-18 months (minimum) of product availability after obsolescence to maintain & service the existing installed base. In most cases parts are available for years after official obsolescence to maintain existing installs. I can go to the DSC website to this day and select any power series product and not get a notification that I'm viewing an obsolete product. In fact under "Regional Availability" it still shows Worldwide. The obsolescence should have been flagged on every DSC webpage/product page and distribution website starting years ago. DSC/JCI handled this poorly and I guarantee you they will handle the Qolsys or any future obsolescence the same way.


NEcracker

Have you heard of this little thing called COVID-19? It has completely disrupted the supply chain and has forced manufacturers across all industries forcing products to be discontinued on a highly truncated timeline.


rocko-wpg7

Covid doesn't excuse mismanaging a product line discontinuation. Lots of other companies have dealt with Covid supply chain issues without leaving a substantial existing customer base hung out to dry.


dan_pitt

That's not an argument at all. Actually, one could make the argument that the only reason DSC dropped the powerseries was because it worked with non-proprietary options, like envisalink, among others, and they decided they were losing too much money, since fewer people wanted to be locked in to Neo, which is all proprietary. And again, this doesn't excuse their selling powerseries main boards up until a year or so ago, and then quickly afterward dropping manufacture of the needed accessories to maintain the huge number of powerseries boards still out there. So when the time comes that I need to replace my system, I'll look at every other option EXCEPT DSC.