GSSC

SECURITY SYSTEM ADVICE

All-In-One Type Systems

All-In-One type systems do not have a separate Control Panel. As a result, touchpad in these systems contain all the smarts, the siren, the dialer and the battery backup. More importantly, depending who installs an All-In-One system, the touchpad is not connected to your phone D-marcation box of the home. Instead they are usually plugged into the most convenient phone jack.

Since the siren, smarts, dialer, and battery backup are all in one place (touchpad), simply by smashing the touchpad disables virtually everything before an alarm can be reported. GSSC installs systems where these items are separate from the touchpad and if the touchpad is smashed, that event doesn’t stop the alarm.

Likewise, systems that are not connected to the D-marcation box cannot support Phone Line Seizure, which is necessary for alarm systems to obtain a dial tone for communication to the monitoring center. Alarm systems not connected properly, can also be disabled very quickly simply by taking any home phone in the system “off the hook.” If a dial tone has been obtained by another phone, that system dialer cannot dial out. GSSC installs systems that utilize the Phone Line Seizure feature which prevents this vulnerability.

VOIP or Cable Phones

In many cases, the result of a subscriber converting to cable phones (VOIP) has been the incompatibility of cable phones to the subscriber’s alarm system. Alarm system users should be aware of the four main problems with cable phone issues and alarm systems:

1. First the actual tone signals emitted by alarm systems and their intended central monitoring station receivers do not reliably and consistently propagate over a VOIP channel cable phones. While some cable companies have had success in overcoming this, total compatibility is by no means universal.
2. Some cable companies will often connect the VOIP cable phone service on the backside of the in-place telephone service (usually the most convenient wall jack), eliminating the important “line seize feature” employed by properly-installed alarm systems. The result is that, even if the tones were to propagate without distortion, in such a configuration the alarm system could not physically communicate with the central station.
3. Alarm panels cannot sense the loss of the ability to sense a telephone line. The ability should be provided for control panels to "see" a telephone line equivalent, in other words the presence or loss of cable connectivity would reflect in presence or loss of line voltage and dial tone.
4. Power failures at the protected premises renders the cable modem and any VOIP hardware connected inoperative, even though the alarm panel has its own battery backup. Since the cable modem and any attached VOIP hardware is in the path of the alarm system, these devices must have an extended source of backup power as well. Unfortunately, many do not have sufficient back up power, thus when power is totally lost, no dial tone. If no dial tone means the alarm system cannot communicate unless the homeowner has wisely included a separate communications backup device which enables the alarm system to communicate regardless of cable phone failures.

DSL Connection

If you have DSL in your home, GSSC must include a DSL security filter which enables your DSL service to be compatible with the alarm system. Without the filter, your alarm system and your DSL service cannot communicate properly with the monitoring center.

Proprietary Alarm Systems

There are a few alarm vendors who install proprietary equipment making it very difficult for you to ever consider other service or monitoring companies to interface or takeover your control panel. Proprietary equipment is generally not industry compatible. When alarm monitoring rates from these providers increase beyond your comfort level, you cannot switch these services unless you’re willing to invest in new keypad(s) and a control panel. GSSC has promos in place to offer you a new control panel and touch pads for these non-compatible systems and make them industry compatible. Contact ours Sales Department for details.

For more information on these great offers or to receive a free security analysis, contact Home Security Sales at 952.858.5000 or customerservice@gssc.net