The Monitoring Center will attempt to work with your VOIP provider. Please call us FIRST if you are thinking of changing to VOIP.
VOIP is a communication path which uses your internet connection to enable you to place voice calls over internet based networks.
Your alarm system is designed to send signals to the monitoring station over an analog phone line. In order for your alarm system to transmit any emergency signals properly over VOIP, the signal must be converted from analog to digital at the VOIP modem then converted back to analog along the phone network. During this process is where problems may develop. It is possible for data to be lost through this conversion process resulting in errors in the signal at the monitoring station or simply not reach the monitoring station at all.
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Power Failure Issues
Your alarm panel comes equipped with a back up battery to power your alarm system in the event of a power failure. Traditional analog land lines will still work during a power failure and the monitoring station will still receive signals properly. With VOIP your phone service will not operate during a power failure, as both your internet router and VOIP modem rely on a constant power source to operate.
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Technical Issues
VOIP services are more prone to "unknown" technical issues and dropped calls. Your alarm panel may be in the process of communicating vital data to the monitoring center when the call is dropped. Some possible explanations include fluctuations or low bandwidth from your VOIP provider, inconsistencies with your internet or caller ID blocking.
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Security Vulnerability
Similar to a conventional land line your VOIP or Cable based phone line can be cut or disabled by a potential intruder. This stops your alarms ability to communicate with the monitoring center. Additionally, your VOIP signal quality could possibly be set too low and/or the data package wasn't turned on.
