Nate, you posted above:
- Noonlight can dispatch both police and fire department. Scout can only do police.
That’s not true if they don’t know that it’s a smoke alarm. They are not contacting fire dispatch directly. They are making a general 911 call, which is the same thing that Scout does. It’s just that scout tells you upfront that they are not going to call the fire department. With the general 911 called, the jurisdiction sends out a police cruiser first to see what’s going on. Then if the police determine that the fire department is needed, they send for them.
The distinction here is really critical, particularly for people like myself who are not able to evacuate on their own in the event of a fire.
UL listings make a distinction between those monitoring centers able to call fire dispatch directly and those who make general 911 calls. In most cities you have to have a special license to be able to call fire dispatch directly. ADT generally has those licenses. It does not appear that Noonlight does.
I found this today on the Noonlight site:
Once you’ve synced your Noonlight account with your selected Nest Protect devices, we’ll immediately notify you when your Nest Protect detects heavy smoke or carbon monoxide. Our certified dispatchers will also text and call to check on your safety.
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If there is a real emergency, or if you can’t respond, we contact your local 911 center and send help.
I know it’s a subtle difference in the wording, but that’s not the same thing as calling the fire department.
ADT in contrast says:
When every second counts, monitored smoke and heat sensors can detect the first signs of fire. Then our monitoring centers can quickly alert your local fire department and send you a text or alert as soon as fire is detected in your home.
That actually requires a different license. A lot of people won’t care about the difference. People like me will care a lot.