karimkb
join:2004-10-23
Stone Mountain, GA
1 edit | VOIP for home securit system?
Well, i was thinking of canceling my home telephone all together, since all we use is our cellphones anyway and have no use for a home phone, and getting a dry line dsl connection from speakeasy, but then realized that i need a phone line for my security system.
I dont know if its possible, but if any of you guys know, will my security system be able to work (dial out if alarm goes off) using a voip service?
Im gonna call the alarm compnay and find out, but thought i'd post here to get some other ideas as well as info from people who ran into the same roadblock.
>>also, what is the CHEAPEST rate available for voip if it is possible (its going to be used mainly/only for security system), cheapest i found so far was $9.95/month
The cheapest phone plan for me w/ my phone company (atlanta, ga) is about $25/month, but with all the taxes and charges, goes to about $32/35
Thanks |
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dcurrey
join:2004-06-29
 ·ViaTalk
| Voip doesn't usually work with anything like tvio, direct tv, and alarm systems. Some users have been able to tweak the setups to get them to work.
You could also try the one alarm company designed to work of the internet NextAlarm.
»https://nextalarm.com/services.jsp;jsess···B888E7BE |
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PinkFloyd
Premium
join:2003-06-25
Wallingford, CT
| reply to karimkb
said by karimkb  :Well, i was thinking of canceling my home telephone all together, since all we use is our cellphones anyway and have no use for a home phone, and getting a dry line dsl connection from speakeasy, but then realized that i need a phone line for my security system. I dont know if its possible, but if any of you guys know, will my security system be able to work (dial out if alarm goes off) using a voip service? Im gonna call the alarm compnay and find out, but thought i'd post here to get some other ideas as well as info from people who ran into the same roadblock. >>also, what is the CHEAPEST rate available for voip if it is possible (its going to be used mainly/only for security system), cheapest i found so far was $9.95/month The cheapest phone plan for me w/ my phone company (atlanta, ga) is about $25/month, but with all the taxes and charges, goes to about $32/35 Thanks You should check with your alarm monitoring company to see if they have an adapter or possibly a different unit that could plug directly into your router or switch using IP to communicate with the alarm co. Then you wouldn't need Voip company at all.. Good luck! |
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blohner
join:2002-06-26
Cortlandt Manor, NY
clubs:
·Vonage
 ·Optimum Online
| reply to dcurrey
said by dcurrey :Voip doesn't usually work with anything like tvio, direct tv, and alarm systems. Some users have been able to tweak the setups to get them to work. I would rephrase that to: your milage may vary. Some users - including myself - got it working just nicely.... For the Alarm: You need to use G.711 on your VoIP line - you need to wire it up correctly and ADT will not work (from experience). With other providers it depends on the data format they use for the transmissions.
Using nextalarm.com or a similar gadget as PinkFloyd mentiones is the safest way to go....
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I am addicted to speed --- OOL speed that is ---
~Help find a cure for cancer~Proud Member Team Discovery |
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WhyADuck
Premium
join:2003-03-05
1 edit | reply to dcurrey
I would agree that NextAlarm is probably your best option, since that would work over the Internet and does not require a phone connection of any kind (I think they actually do use a VoIP adapter, but they ship their own adapter which is used only with their alarm system and presumably is tweaked to work properly). But if for some reason you want to keep using your existing monitoring service and it is not ADT, you can go to the page at »michigantelephone.mi.org/distribute.html which has a section on alarm systems and VoIP. If it is an ADT system then it seems they are pretty adamant that they don't want their customers using VoIP with their alarms (according to previous posts in this forum) so in that case I would again recommend looking at NextAlarm.
Also, make sure whatever VoIP service you choose will let you place calls using the G.711 codec by default (that is, if there is a "bandwidth saver" feature it should be turned off, or set to high bandwidth/best quality). It's much less likely the alarm will work properly if anything other than G.711 is used (see the sticky thread in this forum, »Who uses what Codec? ).
Edit: Apparently blohner and I were typing some of the same things at about the same time! |
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Tom867
join:2004-05-25
Edison, NJ
·Vonage
·Comcast Digital Vo..
·BroadVoice
| reply to karimkb
I've been through this. I have had 4 VoIP provders and only 1 of them worked with my alarm system out of the box. VoIP providers do not care or would not want to support your alarm problems. They're not even good enough to want to care to make it work....so they just don't bother.
I use Nextalarm.com service. It monitors your panel through your broadband connection using a small adapter you need to buy for about $110. Connects right into my router and was alredy configured and setup. If your panel is not a rarely used panael it will probably work with NextAlarm. The first day I hooked my panel up with NextAlarm all my codes reported just fine and I didn't have to make a change anywhere. Although, you still need an alarm technician to service your hardware if there's a problem. That shouldn't be a problem since these guys charge regardless if you are a paying customer or not. This was my only option...using Nextalarm. I was weary at first, but I've had them for about 3 months and it's been just fine. |
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karimkb
join:2004-10-23
Stone Mountain, GA
| reply to WhyADuck
Well, i called up my security system and they said they dont really know how it works thru voip or if thats possible for them to do (he said we've never had to do anything like this b4, but says it should be possible, he just doesnt know how yet), but hes looking into it. (its one of our friends, so hes gonna call up other companies/ppl and see if he can get some info)
He suggested cellular transmission, but the equipment for that is like $200 or so and like a $7 charge extra a month, which in the long run would save more money.
Nextalarm sounds good, but i dont really wanna switch, since nextalarm doesnt provide any equipment or repairs, and right now i get free repairs and equipment and upgrades thru the company im with.
Hes gonna call me back and tell me what he finds out. |
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txcas
join:2004-04-27
Grand Prairie, TX
| Dude when was the last time you alarm panel stopped working? In the last 13 years all I had to do in three different alarm systems is change the backup battery with a replacement from Radio Shack. I switched to NextAlarm and could not be any happier. With the money I am saving I could easily pay for any repairs in the future, but I doubt I will have to. |
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WhyADuck
Premium
join:2003-03-05 | reply to karimkb
Well, be sure to give him the URL for that web page »michigantelephone.mi.org/distribute.html because some of the information there may well be helpful to him. |
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Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York | reply to karimkb
I'm using Slomin's with Broadvox direct, and it works fine. |
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karimkb
join:2004-10-23
Stone Mountain, GA
| reply to txcas
heh, well true, havnet really had any repairs or anything done in a LONG time, i could just upgrade the panel n stuff and then switch to nextalarm, but the cost looks like the same as if i decided to go cellular way.
How hard/easy is it to setup w/ nextalarm? Am in required to go into the alarm box or is it just plug it in and ur set? |
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Trimline
Premium
join:2004-10-24
Orlando, FL
·Callcentric
 ·AT&T Southeast
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | reply to karimkb
All of the suggestions here are quite good. I personally contacted Brinks and they do support VoIP (ADT is still in the 70's). I found more interesting alternatives by contacting a security consultant via the yellow pages. They act to sell various products from different vendors. The latest item now offered by some companies is an ethernet connection directly plugged in to your router.
Since many folks are now dropping POTS altogether and only have a cell phone available, I see this as the best alternative.
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FWD#537129 |
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txcas
join:2004-04-27
Grand Prairie, TX | reply to karimkb
You do not have to upgrade your alarm panel. You give NextAlarm your panel model and they will help you program it for their service using the key pads. It takes 15-20 minutes to do it. |
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karimkb
join:2004-10-23
Stone Mountain, GA | reply to Tom867
what happens if theres a power outage or dsl is down? I guess those r the disadvantages of using this type of service? |
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Tom867
join:2004-05-25
Edison, NJ
·Vonage
·Comcast Digital Vo..
·BroadVoice
| reply to Trimline
said by Trimline :All of the suggestions here are quite good. I personally contacted Brinks and they do support VoIP (ADT is still in the 70's). I found more interesting alternatives by contacting a security consultant via the yellow pages. They act to sell various products from different vendors. The latest item now offered by some companies is an ethernet connection directly plugged in to your router. Since many folks are now dropping POTS altogether and only have a cell phone available, I see this as the best alternative. Ethernet connection right into your router? Have you read this thread? If you read my previous post in this thread it's already indicated about using alarm monitoring through your Broadband connection. It's also been avaiable for several years now. So, I doubt it's the "latest" as you put. |
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Tom867
join:2004-05-25
Edison, NJ
·Vonage
·Comcast Digital Vo..
·BroadVoice
| reply to karimkb
said by karimkb :what happens if theres a power outage or dsl is down? I guess those r the disadvantages of using this type of service? Well, if there's a power outage your cable modem goes out and guess what? So does your VoIP service that would have to dial to send signals for your panel. So it's cancels each other out if you ask me. If you UPS your cable modem and router and you use a broadband monitoring service it will continue to monitor even if your power goes out. There's a lot of options to do...and everyone has different applications for what they need. I'd trust Broadband monitoring before I'd trust touch tones with VoIP. |
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WhyADuck
Premium
join:2003-03-05
| reply to karimkb
Power outage: Use a good uninterruptable power supply. Make sure your DSL modem, router, alarm unit, and any other equipment associated with the alarm (such as the device that NextAlarm sends you if you use them) are all plugged into the UPS.
DSL down: In that case you're screwed, but that would be the case if you phone service is interrupted using your present system, so unless your DSL is far less reliable than basic phone service it shouldn't be an issue. Of course some alarms do use a backup method of communication that travels over the cell phone network, but I would guess those are pretty expensive. |
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dipswich
Premium
join:2003-06-27
Raleigh, NC
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·RoadRunner Cable
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·ViaTalk
| reply to karimkb
There are a couple different types of "phone line" alarm circuits. One is voice-grade circuit that really uses the phone line as you're used to. Data modem, DTMF, voice playback or whatever method. A G.711u codec, perhaps disable echo-cancelling on your ATA, and you're gold with VoIP (err, should be).
The other is a special "alarm circuit" from the telco. This is essentially dry-pair service, either via copper or these days with a fiber-in-circuit alternative (point-to-point DSL killer). The circuit doesn't support voice or telephone signalling, only open/closed (and *slow* toggling for "data"). Alarm companies use them because they are less expensive than phone lines. Because it isn't "voice," "voice over IP" isn't a substitute. |
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karimkb
join:2004-10-23
Stone Mountain, GA | reply to Tom867
well i wasnt planning on getting voip, but just a dry dsl line along w/ nextalarm.
voip was a choice if it would work w/ my existin monitoring servicek. |
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lestat99
join:2000-08-04
Piscataway, NJ
1 edit | reply to karimkb
said by karimkb :what happens if theres a power outage or dsl is down? I guess those r the disadvantages of using this type of service? You should never have an alarm system without wireless backup anyway. I use AlarmPath as a wireless backup. »www.alarmpath.com Any intruder with half a brain is going to cut your phone line before the break-in rendering your system useless. We had a series of break-ins in my neighborhood were the intruder did just this to the alarm systems. They ransacked the house, hauled off a cartload of stuff and the alarm did nothing. This isn't something that the big alarm companies like to point out but your system is giving you a false sense of security without some sort of wireless backup connection. Alarmpath is nice in that it is two way ackowledged. This means that when signals are sent they are acknoledged by the receiving side. Some wireless backup systems simply send the wireless report and hope it got there. |
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