CareTaker Plus: Home Automation from 1992

[@trillalvax]

"Memory, goodbye."

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

I thought that was an amusing Easter egg the programmers did so I had to record it

[@lincolnking-cliby972]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm Probably a combination of a programmer making the most of what they had (voice synth chips only had so many words/phrases that could be stored/recalled and I'm guessing "memory" was needed for something user facing -- though I didn't notice it in the vid -- maybe something like "alarm memory" (same with "goodbye") so programmer was like "it needs to do something but I don't have room for anything new"... uh... huh... what words to I have available? "Memory Help Help" would have been even funnier though :)

[@MarkBurfeind]

I’m an IT nerd, I love watching videos on old tech from 8 Bit Guy & Lazy Gamer Reviews. This is a whole new avenue of retro technology that I didn’t know I wanted to watch. Very cool channel, subscribing!

[@jonosadler]

This is a great blast from the past... we've come a long way in the last 30 years. Great video, keep up the good work!

[@MichanaAlerting]

I'm amazed how many features and how much convenience they were able to pack in to a security system, even in this era! I would love to have one of these for my home system if I lived in the time when they were used. This and the FBII StarFone have been my favorites in this series so far, and I'm glad you've kept some of the fire alarm stuff to use on these panels. Keep up the good work!

[@johnpanzer2034]

Man I remember these. Our company had a bunch of ITI customers from the late 80’s/early 90’s. Spent a lot of time working on SX-IV, SX-V, Caretakers, Concords. Even had the ITI receiver that went to these systems!

[@phillies4100_mainsite]

It's cool how it was a smart security system before Smart Security Systems were a thing!

[@darkthorr350]

This is awesome! I'm a computer tech who goes from home to home, and I love seeing the gadgets or old tech people still have. Of course, this wouldn't be in my field of expertise, but if for some reason they had something like this and wanted to show me their CareTaker system, I would have stuck around to listen to how it worked.

[@Joshtheweatherman]

Love that old 2500 touch tone phone. I have a red one, and it's my batphone! Good ole' reliable, it always works when a bad storm hits and we loose power for days.

[@NyxKemo]

What an amazing system, wired security systems with home automation are the type of panels i’m the most interested in, i myself have a panel that can do home automation, it’s the ELK Security M1 Gold, it’s feature packed and it can also talk like the Caretaker Plus and Concord 4

[@hqgirl567]

Interesting alarm system. I kinda would like to have this in my house. It’s cool to see something so old but literally so cool!

[@dylan_00]

This is fascinating! As someone who is interested in smart home tech, both old and new, I love the X10 integration. The funny thing is that X10 is still technically around!

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

I've been using X10 for over 20 years and I still use it!

[@ethernet01]

still using X-10 for 20 amp smart plugs or 250v appliances, and more importaintly to run automations that must run even if the local network fails in a non cloud homekit/homeassistant setup, and one of those with a original 70s appliance module helps the new system recover from a failure without intervention!

[@johnwfmak]

This really bring back memories of when I got my first house and try to diy an alarm and end up getting all the Ademco Vista modules I can find and install, including the Ademco Vista Phone models that work like this system and also work with x10. Also can use the bring back option with a modem to remotely program it. Too bad I sold that house with the old Visa phone modules few years ago.

[@Retroman8000]

I installed fbii xl2 for years working for my dad's company. Id only seen caretaker units at trade shows. Crazy how many features they got.

[@PatrickBaptist]

I have an alarm from 1978 (well had), it was in a nice metal box about 12"x18" or thereabout, it had modular boards on it for each module, a modem that looked like it had a 8bit ISA slot LOL, I didn't have space for the stuff so I trashed it and kept the box as a controller housing for my bus to RV conversion. This was neat to watch thank you. First time viewer BTW, Ill be back for more.

[@cyberlight22]

I love the system they should this in an old how to TV show called HomePro I remember the system, so well thank you for showing this

[@Alarmo05221]

I find the caretaker plus’s panel styling a bit ugly but it does not matter. What I notice with this setup is that the system uses a similar voice to the concord 4’s voice chip, difference is that it has different messages Glad to see this series active again

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

I actually think the same lady did the voice on both systems. Although, she does sound a bit nicer on the concord.

[@Alarmo05221]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm Imo, she is stern and more robotic on the caretaker, vs on the concord, it reads the actual zones quickly and easily. But it probably is the same person. Caretaker: INTRUSION! INSTRUSION! HELP! HELP! Alarm. System. Is. Off GOODBYE! Concord: Front Door Alarm. Police panic alarm. System is disarmed. System is ok.

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

part of the reason for this is flash memory was very expensive in 1992 and they had a significant limit on how much vocabulary they could squeeze into this panel. I think I remember seeing a data sheet somewhere that said it only has 38 words in its vocabulary

[@ksrproductions4660]

The legend is back everyone

[@JessieMHadaller]

I remember seeing a caretaker plus and wondering what keypad it used, thinking it was some futuristic high tech gadget. The enclosure is super neat and unique. It’s a shame companies don’t manufacture alarm panels with style anymore.

[@captainchris2016]

I need to play with mine someday. It’s a nice panel.

[@TheHouseOfTheDead1Fan]

Super awesome video, you might have just gotten me into a new hobby

[@realthegreydiamond]

That's really cool. I knew about X10, but I didn't know that there where security systems that supported it. I always thought it was a really niche product not used by anyone 😅

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

ITI was the big one that supported it, but I know of at least two other systems from other manufacturers that did as well. It wasn’t that big of a thing. X10 was still very popular at the time when this came out because it was pretty much the only thing of its type on the market before Zwave came around.

[@Slimey117]

been looking for a caretaker for some time. got an SX-V because of you and the programming demo helped a lot

[@PINKBOY1006]

This was a very good video! Glad you made it, very cool stuff!

[@EASProductionsGaming]

I love this system. it's old school.

[@thecooldude9999]

The voice status report reminds me of a Sensaphone. The Sensaphone 2000 uses similar voice prompts, but with a male voice.

[@55Berg]

So ITI turned into Interlogix, and then Interlogix bought Caddx controls, and then Ge bought Interlogix. GE had the Concord line of systems, but GE also had the Network X line of systems. So the concord system was based off of the ITI caretaker systems, but are the GE Network X systems based off of a Caddx controls security system?

[@XMguy]

While I like the styling of the main unit. The control module is very confusing it seems. Also I wonder how short commands on the phone would work. Like *86?

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

I forgot to mention in the video that there is a code you can dial on the phone which disables the telephone interface temporarily to allow you to do short codes or interact with an IVR

[@thecooldude9999]

I was wondering the same thing. FWIW, they’re technically called vertical service codes.

[@iansanchez1470]

The Voice on the ITI CareTaker+ sounds like the voice on the GE Interlogix 4.

[@Rob_M_jr]

That's because GE acquired Interlogix in 2002, which was part of ITI, and also included Kalatel, Sentrol and Caddx.

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

I believe it’s the same woman, an employee of ITI

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

Concord series was released before the GE acquisition. It was originally from the late 90s.

[@Rob_M_jr]

@NewAgeServerAlarm I remember those early ITI Concord panels well, I still come across a few every now and then. I've been in the alarm industry for 30+ years, working for my father's alarm company. My grandfather used to work for Wells Fargo installing systems starting in the late 60s. Burg and fire systems have been in my family for generations. It's awesome to see such a well produced video about the Caretaker+. Oddly enough, I just serviced one last week, the customer (who are in their 80s) refuse to upgrade because they like using their phone to control it.

[@Lachlant1984]

When you control the system via the phone, either locally or remotely, do you hear the speech prompts through the phone? The siren sound isn't particularly intimidating or frightening in my opinion, I presume ITI sold other sirens that were compatible with this system, did they?

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

1, yeah, you do hear it through the phone. You also hear it through the system speaker. 2. You could connect an external siren, it just had to be 6V.

[@jeffmoss26]

Wow! Very cool

[@smithandsuperdeadeyeofthew823]

Im surprised that your still posting all these years later

[@tronicsterspeaker9946]

what is the model of the pull station ?

[@Ronnocbot]

Great demonstration! Quick question though, what module do you use to amplify the telephone signals through a speaker? Looking to make something similar, was just curious how you went about it. Thanks!

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

it's a telephone line tap. Homemade. Uses a small audio isolation transformer and a handful of misc parts. You can find diagrams for them online. There's a few small companies who make them though. I have its audio output connected to an old JBL bluetooth speaker.

[@Ronnocbot]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm thanks for the response

[@wesleywfc9821]

Can you make a video about your concord

[@423tech]

You can't tease us with a 1A2 2565 set and not show us the system! 😅😂

[@cee_tee]

That Buddy system feature is really neat, too bad ITI didn't persue it much further.

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

they honestly could’ve done a lot more more with it like actually make the module transmit the sensor number and the status to the other panel instead of just a generic alarm signal

[@KarsonM2011]

HE HAS POSTED CHATTTTTTTT❤😂

[@MrFiver1111]

The Jablotron of 1992

[@ixellion02]

oh, another ITI

[@Alarmo05221]

Iti made a lot of interesting thingies. Simon, Concord, NetworX, Caretaker, SX-V, maybe more.

[@ixellion02]

@@Alarmo05221 WOW! I had no idea!

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

for the record, NetworX was actually not an ITI product. It was made by another company called CaddX who was actually purchased by Interlogix around the turn of the millennium.

[@RoscelynTabora]

Hi! I would like to reach out to you to discuss a potential partnership with a fire safety brand. :) Is there an email I can reach out to you? Thanks!

[@lukykuky1559]

long video but good video

[@ukfireenthusiast2301]

Might have to make this in roblox.

[@sirensofnewjerseyissimplyt429]

nice video! i have this VERY RARE Honeywell Solid State System 7000 from 1995. i can ship it to you and make a video on it if you'd like. just lemme know if you want to.

[@22408aaron]

I would hate to have to program these. That beep is insufferable.

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

They're actually pretty quiet in programming mode, which is nice

[@Undercoverelevator212-s2n]

Alarm. System. Is. Off.

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

Alarm. System. Is. On. Level. Three. No delay.

[@Undercoverelevator212-s2n]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm Intrusion. Intrusion. Sensor. 2.

[@ketas]

4:45 what alzheimer is