Are you a residential or commercial alarm user? Then you need to know more about VoIP…

By: Thomas P. Helisek
Vice President, Information Services Group
Vector Security, Inc.

If you’re a residential or commercial alarm user, switching your telecommunications system over to VoIP may bring a lot of headaches along with it, unless you involve your alarm company in your decision right from the start.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the technology used to travel calls over the unregulated Internet, thus avoiding the traditional phone taxes and regulations normally associated with local and long distance phone calls. There are currently about 5 million VoIP subscribers in the United States. Broadband providers, cable providers, and traditional phone service providers are now regularly offering voice calls over the public Internet (VoIP), instead of the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS).

In the business world, using a company’s private data network (that connects its office to share email, files and printers by VoIP technology) is a routine practice to transmit voice calls between office locations. This practice can result in cost savings as well as a significant customer service benefit, since you don’t have to give customers another number to call. As prices for residential VoIP drop and features increase, including videophone service, more residential customers are opting to use broadband and VoIP instead of traditional phone service.

Here’s where the headaches for alarm users begin…There are six potential problems to be concerned with when a residential or commercial alarm system transmits signals through VoIP. It’s also important to know that VoIP comes in different “flavors,” including facilities-based and non-facilities-based. Facilities-based VoIP services are provided by telephone or cable companies; while non-facilities-based services are provided by companies such as Vonage and Sunrocket.

So, if you have already switched to VoIP services or are considering doing so in the future, here are the potential pitfalls you need to consider:

Line Seizure – Alarm systems are designed to allow the system to “take over” a phone line to dial the central station, even if it is being used for a voice call. If not installed properly, line seizure may not be available when your alarm system is configured within your VoIP configuration.

Electrical Power Outage – While traditional telephone service is not affected by an electrical power outage at your home, broadband modems and home routers used for VoIP will not function during an outage, unless they are equipped with battery back-up. This means that if the electrical power is not working in the home, your alarm system will not be able to transmit a signal to your monitoring company in the event of an alarm. Additionally, anyone in the home will not be able to make a voice call in the event of an emergency.

Battery Back Up - If battery back-up is provided with your VoIP service, you need to be aware of the length of time the battery will last. After that period expires, your alarm system will be unable to report an alarm event. In some cable configurations, when the cable network senses a power outage, functionality is scaled back to allow the battery life to be sustained for a longer period of time. You need to make sure that in an outage, the portion of your cable serving your alarm system signal transmission needs remains 100% functional.

Internet Service Interruptions – Although Internet access or service is more reliable than it has been in the past, interruptions and delays still occur. During an Internet service interruption or peak usage, your alarm system will not be able to communicate with your monitoring company or the communication may be delayed. In addition, you may not be able to make a voice call in the event of an emergency.

Signal Distortion - Most alarm systems are designed to communicate with the monitoring company through a series of tones over your POTS line. VoIP transmits digital instead of analog tones. The conversion of analog to digital signals could result in the transmission of incorrect or unrecognizable signals to the monitoring company. This signal distortion will also likely eliminate the ability to make remote programming changes to your security or access control system. This will include changes to access code and time schedules.

Installation of VoIP Communication Devices – The configuration and installation of VoIP communications devices may have an impact on your alarm system; depending on the VoIP provider, type of VoIP facilities, and the design and signal transmission format of your alarm system.

With these potential problems in mind, you should retain your POTS line for the alarm system and emergency voice calls. It will allow you to retain your peace of mind! If your intent on eliminating your POTS lines; there are a number of technologies available to provide alternative monitoring services. These technologies vary from market to market depending upon the available infrastructures, so contact your local Vector Security office. They’ll schedule a service call to look at your set up and discuss which alternative is best for you.

VoIP FAQs      VoIP Information

What is VoIP and how does it work? Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the technology used to travel calls over the unregulated Internet, thus avoiding the traditional phone taxes and regulations normally associated with local and long distance phone calls. In the business world, using a company’s private data network (that connects its office to share email, files and printers by VoIP technology) is a routine practice to transmit voice calls between office locations.

Who commonly provides VoIP services? Broadband providers, cable providers, and traditional phone service providers are now regularly offering voice calls over the public Internet (VoIP), instead of the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS). VoIP comes in different “flavors,” including facilities-based and non-facilities based. Facilities-based VoIP services are provided from telephone or cable companies; while non-facilities-based services are provided by companies such as Vonage and Sunrocket.

What problems can be experienced by alarm users who switch to VoIP-based services? There are six potential problems to be concerned when a residential or commercial alarm system transmits signals through VoIP.

1. Line Seizure – Alarm systems are designed to allow the system to “take over” a phone line to dial the central station, even if it is being used for a voice call. If not installed properly, line seizure may not be available when your alarm system is configured within your VoIP configuration.

2. Electrical Power Outage – While traditional telephone service is not affected by an electrical power outage at your home, broadband modems and home routers used for VoIP will not function during an outage. This means that if the electrical power is not working in the home, your alarm system will not be able to dial your monitoring company in the event of an alarm and a person will not be able to make a voice call in the event of an emergency.

3. Internet Service Interruptions – Although Internet access or service is more reliable than it has been in the past, interruptions and delays still occur. During an Internet service interruption or peak usage, your alarm system will not be able to communicate with your monitoring company or the communication may be delayed. In addition, you may not be able to make a voice call in the event of an emergency.

4. Signal Distortion - Most alarm systems are designed to communicate with the monitoring company through a series of tones over your POTS line. VoIP transmits digital instead of analog tones. The conversion of analog to digital signals could result in the transmission of incorrect or unrecognizable signals to the monitoring company. This signal distortion will also likely eliminate the ability to make remote programming changes to your security or access control system. This will include changes to access codes and time schedules.

5. Battery Back Up - If battery back-up is provided with your VoIP service, you need to be aware of the length of time the battery will last. After that period expires, your alarm system will be unable to report an alarm event. In some cable configurations, when the cable network senses a power outage, functionality is scaled back to allow the battery life to be sustained for a longer period of time. You need to make sure that in an outage, the portion of your cable serving your alarm system signal transmission needs remains 100% functional.

6. Installation of VoIP Communication Devices – The configuration and installation of VoIP communications devices may have an impact on your alarm system; depending on the VoIP provider, type of VoIP facilities, and the design and signal transmission format of your alarm system.

What should I do if I have already switched to VoIP or are considering doing so in the future? Involve your alarm company right from the start! With these potential problems in mind, you should retain you POTS line for the alarm system and emergency voice calls. It’s also important to schedule a service call any time you make ANY telecommunications changes at the location protected by the security system; so we can ensure that your alarm system is still communicating properly.

What if I still want to cancel my phone lines? If you’re intent on totally eliminating your POTS lines, there are a number of alternative monitoring technologies we can provide which will enable a more reliable monitoring service. These technologies vary from market to market, depending upon the available infrastructures, so contact your local Vector Security office. We will be happy to discuss which alternative is best for you.

What is meant by back-up communications? It is always best to have two independent ways for your alarm system to transmit signals. In the event the primary means of communications is unable to transmit due to a breakdown; your system then uses a secondary transmission pathway to allow signals to reach the monitoring center.

Many VoIP providers have information on their web sites about how their technology works with alarm systems. Major providers strongly recommend keeping alarm systems on traditional phone lines.