Tennessee Alarm Contractors License TN C - 0828 With Classifications in CCTV & Burglary
Alarm Systems & VoIP Phone Lines

( VoIP = VOICE over Internet Protocol )

Ahh... So you are thinking of or already have switched to VoIP Phone Line Services.

Below you will find some helpful information on this subject. I switched to VoIP service in my home to save money. Boy was I mistaken. If you read the fine print on a VoIP document, it states that alarm systems and fax machines may not work correctly with VoIP services.

I'm not saying your alarm or any alarm will not communicate via VoIP. VoIP is just unreliable for data, which is what Alarm Systems & Fax Machines send, not voice.

I had to re-connect a landline phone line (option 3) for my alarm & fax machine.

I also installed an IP Communicator & Cellular Unit (option 4) because I wanted my signals to get thru fast (IP) and reliable (Cellular).

So much for saving money. But at least I'm sure my signals will make it thru to the monitoring stations.

Any questions, just ask. - David Frankich, President

What is VoIP and how does it work?

This is an acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol. Simply put, the VoIP of your choice provides you with a converter box that you install onto your Broadband (Highspeed) Internet Connection. This converter box changes the analog telephone devices in your home or business into a digital signal and broadcasts it across the Internet. Somewhere on the opposite end of the Internet another converter box changes it back from digital to analog and completes the connection to whoever you dialed.

How does the digital converter box affect Analog Data Communications? (Alarms, Fax Machines)

This is not a simple answer. However, during the conversion process of analog to digital and digital back to analog can cause noise, data loss, incorrect conversions. This is dependent on usage of the local network your converter box is attached to, your Internet Provider, the Regional Internet Provider, the local Internet Provider on the far end and the Local Network of the far end converter. Any little glitch in any of these areas can cause some of these issues, not to mention a loss of power which shuts the connection down.

My Alarm System & VoIP

Will my system communicate thru VoIP?

Maybe!

Due to the unreliability of the VoIP system in sending data, your system may communicate now but maybe not next time you need it and again it may communicate the time after that. ALSO, we have to switch to a SLOWER Communications Format which takes more time to get the Monitoring Station thus making a LONGER Response Time to your needs. Keep in mind VoIP is for VOICE, not Data Communications.

How can my system communicate now that I have VoIP?

Good Question! You have several options. Of course each requires some sort of upgrade charges but these are reliable forms of communications which are recognized by the NBFAA (National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association) and your Monitoring Station.

1st - IP Communicator - This is a device that allows the alarm to communicate to the Monitoring Station thru the Internet using Standard Internet Protocol. You have to have a Broadband Internet Connection, Router and Battery Backup on your Modem & Router. This is a supervised device and your keypad will alert you if your IP connection is off-line for some reason. There is NO Aditional Costs on your monthly monitoring fees for this device to be used.

2nd - Cellular Communicator - This is a device that allows the alarm to communicate to the Monitoring Station thru the Cellular Network in your area. It has battery backup that is charged by your alarm system. (Note, Cellular companies use backup generators in case of a power failure insuring your call gets thru) This device sends full communications as if connected to a POTS Line (Plain Old Telephone Service). There is a slight FLAT additional monthly cost for "air-time" on this device.

3rd - POTS Line (Landline) - You can have a Plain Old Telephone Service Line installed for your anolog devices like your alarm system & fax machines. You can usually get a simple line installed for a few bucks a month, as our alarm dials an 800 number so no local or long distance costs are incurred by you.

4th - IP Communicator & Cellular Communicator - This is an option that many of our clients have had installed. Yes it's a little more costly but it's a way to make sure your alarm signal gets thru!