tekserv

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NEW LOCATION

We have Moved to a new larger facility with a much larger warehouse. Our New location is

78 Talamine Court Colorado Springs, CO 80907

this is just around the corner from our old office just off North Nevada and North of Fillmore.

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New Power Backup Code

The regional building department is enforcing a recently adopted code. This code requires that there ba a 4 hour backup power for all elevator telephony equipment. We are providing a nice little elk power supply that supplies backup power for over 72 hours. I do think the average person won't wait for 72 hours during a power outage to push the button on the elevator but it is better to be over prepared.

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TEKTalk Retro Krista Install

I am doing Nor'wood inspections this week and ran across this beauty. My girl Krista did this install. It's a flawless install with the fire alarm panel and tree of devices above it to the conduit work on the riser itself. Confidently I grabbed one of the junction boxes on the riser and said to the building rep... see these things won't move because we double lock nut them. I was soooo proud that the box didn't even jiggle. Krista did an amazing job that will last for decades to come. It's really cool and on routine inspections I run across these Krista installs all the time. Her business cards are still in the fire panel backbox. I leave them in there because it is a legacy. I see lots of fire panels with peoples business cards in them and I leave them because it is legacy. This panel is one of Kristas legacy's and whenever she drives by the building she will say...."I did that". I do it all day myself.

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New Elevator Two Way Communications Power Requirements

This year the Regional Building department is enforcing 4 hour battery backup requirements for all elevator emergency two way voice systems. We immediately went to the test bench and are providing ELK power supplies that have a 12v 1.5 amp power supply with a backup battery of 12v 4ah. This is the first installation for a Elevator two way emergency phone and an Elevator landing communication system. Our backup power should easily hold the backup power for 72 hours in a power blackout. Granted if you are in still stuck in an elevator during a 72 hour power blackout, you can now have a long chat with one of our operators with this new equipment.

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Powers Point Shopping Center

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Another Amazing install. This was phase II upgrading to a voice system. It was also less expensive to replace the fire panel with this Kidde FX64 than it was to have Simplex send out a technician to program their equipment. It will be better served for the customer in the long run to have a non-proprietary panel.

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TEKtalk 2/19/2024

TEKserv Technologies now provides local and remote low earth orbit satellite service up to 200 mbps download for $200.00 flat fee / month. Equipment price based upon location and service type. Price plans available.

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New Window Cling for Professional office buildings downtown for fire alarm

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New Door/Window Sticker

This test sticker was placed on our own door for security alarm systems.

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TEKServ NEWS 7/31/2023: New service rates.

Much like any professional industry ours has many levels of competency in the field of technology, Security, and fire alarm systems. As such we are adjusting Service rates based upon competency. Standard service technician rates will continue to be $100.00/hour billed at $200.00 for the initial visit and $100.00/hour additional or return trip hours. Bill Cole is a Master Technician Level V with 35 years of experience. The advanced service rates are as follows. Technician Level III 10 Years of Experience $150.00/Hour, Technician Level IV 20 Years Experience $200.00, and Master Technician Level V 30+ Years experience $300.00/hour. Technician Level 4 & 5 are assigned and invoiced for those accelerated services when there is a degree of difficulty requiring that experience level. If a technician Level 3-5 are sent to your facility to replace a battery or do basic technician operations the rate falls back to the default normal service rates. Upper level technicians are available for remote travel at an agreed to rate anywhere in the continental United States for Electronics, Security, and Fire Alarm troubleshooting. The rates above apply for over the phone technical support billed in 15 minute increments.

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TEKtalk 6/11/2023 Old Versus New:

Get several opinions before spending a large amount of money on an unnecessary upgrade!

We routinely get calls from a building manager usually in an incredibly desperate situation where a licensed fire system inspector told them that they need to upgrade their system. The desperation comes because the upgrade comes at a great cost. Often the inspector recommends the upgrade simply because the fire alarm panel is so old that the inspector doesn't know how to work on the older equipment.

Pyrotronics System 3 Mid to late 80's

We got a call from a church that was given an upgrade price for their Simplex 2000 series fire alarm panel from the early 80's. The panel had several yellow lights on and the duct detectors didn't work. The upgrade price given to them by our competitor was $150,000. We were asked for a competitive price. The building manager was so convinced by the sales person that he had to have a full upgrade to his building. I asked if I could just have a 2 hour service call and if during that service call I couldn't make the repair the service call was free and I would give them an upgrade price.

The fix was a blown fuse on the power circuit. As soon as the new fuse was installed all the yellow lights went out and the panel operated as originally designed and engineered.

New Silent knight 6820 replacing 5820XL

The red panel shown above replaces an older version that was only 20 years old because the processor in the old one failed. The really old panels from the 80's have no processor to fail. My recommendation is to keep your old panel and do not upgrade unless there is a really good reason to do so. A major addition to a building may exceed the capacity of the existing fire alarm system facilitating an upgrade. This is incredibly Rare.

Old Simplex 4010 from the Mid 80s-Mid 90's

A change in occupancy is the most common reason that a system may need an upgrade. Converting a strip center 'B' (business) occupancy with a dedicated function sprinkler monitoring system being to an 'E' (Education) occupancy or 'A' (Assembly) which could be a church or large restaurant will change the requirements of the building. This would require pull stations and occupant notification throughout. At that point a simple little Conventional Fire alarm panel will not do as all the zones should be used to monitor the fire sprinkler system and associated devices.

Just because it is old doesn't mean that is isn't doing it's job. Get 3 opinions before spending a large amount of money on an unnecessary upgrade.

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Hilltop Ranch TEKserv 2023 Grant Recipient

I received a call from the director of Hilltop Ranch a home committed to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. They are expanding their faith based mission but found out that the fire alarm system installed did not meet the capabilities for the upgrades being performed at their facility with installation of a fire sprinkler riser. I was also told that they did not have the 30g to pay for the fire system upgrades and were told by the person providing them the bid to call us. One thing that I have iterated many times in the past is that my business has never been hurt by giving back to the community and to special programs such as this. This morning is our first Electrical Rough inspection and will have a fire final soon after the fire sprinkler riser is built. I look forward to what Hilltop Ranch will be doing in the near future.

Bill Cole

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Saying Goodbye

We say goodbye to Alexis Black today. She has been a valuable employee and are sorry to see her go. We do however wish her well as she goes on to bigger and better adventures.

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Holiday Hours

Though we are a 24/7 emergency response business our offices are closed for Thanksgiving and the day after thanksgiving as well as the Monday following Christmas. Please don't hold our service requests though. Someone will answer your call and it doesn't cost money to place a call to us. We are available 24/7 to meet your needs. If you get a voice mail please leave a message and a technician will return your call promptly.

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It's really neat to be able to see where all we have serviced so far this year. Data provided by Big Brother Google.

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TEKtalk 8/3/2022 NEW SERVICE: Monthly Required elevator two way voice testing.

We listen to you. At the request of our customers we now have implemented an elevator monthly two way voice inspection as required by the Elevator Code. During this inspection we also will be performing the required quarterly Fire Service Testing. Documentation will be left onsite for review by the Regional Building Department or state of Colorado Elevator inspectors. A website for this will be coming soon focusing on all services provided for elevators and elevator landing communication systems.

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TEKtalk 3/14/2022

Great changes for TEKserv this year. We have 2 new staff members and a new apprentice technician. We welcome Alexis Black of the Black family that operates Blaze Fire and Safety, Technician Scott Lavine, and Assistant Emily Wright.