Home Alarm - Alarmforce

[godot2012]

This may not be a new topic since there are postings dealing with alarm systems on VoIP. So the sysop can file this post where appropriate for easy reference by others.

I have used Alarmforce for many years now (10++). Note that Alarmforce uses two-way voice communication.
After reading the many posts here on this topic, I decided to call alarmforce service. I explained that I am in the midst of my evaluation process before changing (or not?) my phone service to VoIP. I connected the Alarmforce in home controller to the GrandStream ATA - SpeedTouch (ST 516 v6) modem and TP-Link Router.
After duly warned that VoIP is i not a recommended, reliable connection, the tech and I decided to run a complete test. The first time the 'panic' feature failed. The system failed to seize the line and dial. The tech offered some reconfiguration at his end. After that the system performed flawlessly.

Both the tech and I felt good about this result and he asked for my 'service provider'. He never heard of FONGO but he was familiar with 295.ca my DSL provider. He said he will make a note. He said that most VoIP connections won't work, except Vonage -which sometimes works, sometimes not. Nobody is sure why.

Some disclaimers here:
I am not saying that there are no risks with using VoIP connection, but there are also risks of failure with relying on POTS.
Let see the risks:
1. Cut phone lines - either by the force of nature or by a perpetrator will cause the failure of the alarm system regardless of the technology used.
Backup Solution: Cell Phone

2. The second valid concern is loss of power. This does not effect POTS, but ii is a valid concern with VoIP. I measured the total power consumption of my DSL Modem+ATA+Router. It is around 10W. If one is concerned, a relatively small, say 300W UPS (under $100) will provide plenty of juice for hours for these devices.
Backup Solution: Cell Phone

3. The unknown nature of Internet. Oh well .......
Backup Solution: Cell Phone

As a last though you might want to consider this. Should there be a break-in into your home/business, statistics would probably show that "experts in the trade" would be gone with their loot before the cops show up. They know that they have about 20 minutes to get out and away. The alarm company sign will probably do more good as a deterrent than fancy technology. And if someone is really determined to get into your home anyway, they will.

Considering the above and the successful test I personally feel confident that the risks of using VoIP for my alarm connection are reasonable. (Yes, we have two cell phones in the house.)

[Bloodsong]

This may not be a new topic since there are postings dealing with alarm systems on VoIP. So the sysop can file this post where appropriate for easy reference by others.

I have used Alarmforce for many years now (10++). Note that Alarmforce uses two-way voice communication.
After reading the many posts here on this topic, I decided to call alarmforce service. I explained that I am in the midst of my evaluation process before changing (or not?) my phone service to VoIP. I connected the Alarmforce in home controller to the GrandStream ATA - SpeedTouch (ST 516 v6) modem and TP-Link Router.
After duly warned that VoIP is i not a recommended, reliable connection, the tech and I decided to run a complete test. The first time the 'panic' feature failed. The system failed to seize the line and dial. The tech offered some reconfiguration at his end. After that the system performed flawlessly.

Both the tech and I felt good about this result and he asked for my 'service provider'. He never heard of FONGO but he was familiar with 295.ca my DSL provider. He said he will make a note. He said that most VoIP connections won't work, except Vonage -which sometimes works, sometimes not. Nobody is sure why.

Some disclaimers here:
I am not saying that there are no risks with using VoIP connection, but there are also risks of failure with relying on POTS.
Let see the risks:
1. Cut phone lines - either by the force of nature or by a perpetrator will cause the failure of the alarm system regardless of the technology used.
Backup Solution: Cell Phone

Code: Select all

Convince Alarm companies it is time to invest in additional technologies, such as IP connected monitoring equipment thus requiring the attacker to know what kind of internet connection you have/use and that your alarm system is internet based, be it fiber, phone, cable, umts/hsdpa+, or other

2. The second valid concern is loss of power. This does not effect POTS, but ii is a valid concern with VoIP. I measured the total power consumption of my DSL Modem+ATA+Router. It is around 10W. If one is concerned, a relatively small, say 300W UPS (under $100) will provide plenty of juice for hours for these devices.
Backup Solution: Cell Phone

Code: Select all

Primary Solution: Uninterruptable Power Supply "UPS" 

3. The unknown nature of Internet. Oh well .......
Backup Solution: Cell Phone

Code: Select all

Primary Solution:Tested and optimized network settings and QOS
Backup Solution: Convince Alarm Force to offer you a VPN tunnel to route the call directly into their network. (Kind of surprised this sort of things doesn't exist already, alarm systems are still old-fashioned)

As a last though you might want to consider this. Should there be a break-in into your home/business, statistics would probably show that "experts in the trade" would be gone with their loot before the cops show up. They know that they have about 20 minutes to get out and away. The alarm company sign will probably do more good as a deterrent than fancy technology. And if someone is really determined to get into your home anyway, they will.

Considering the above and the successful test I personally feel confident that the risks of using VoIP for my alarm connection are reasonable. (Yes, we have two cell phones in the house.)

A few more notes in code blocks interspersed with the original quote.

Edit:

Also as I've noted in other threads before, I have seen several home alarm systems, mostly out-ward communication only systems working flawlessly with VoIP installations. Thank you godot2012 for your testing and review of two-way alarm communications, and thank you to the Alarm Force technician who assisted you in this testing.

[godot2012]

I am looking for a UPS unit. Convincing Alarmforce or any other alarm company is quite a hurdle. I will take a 'kick at the cat' and talk to Alarmforce about setting up a VPN tunnel. Not sure anyone there knows what it is all about. Right now I am unhappy about a "frequent problem" of my called party can not hear me. I put it between qoutation marks because it only happened to me once, but supposedly this is a frequent problem. This does not look good for alarm systems.

[kjmj]

Dump alarmfarce for a monitoring company that offers a cellular link.