Home Alarm Monitoring System and Your Phone Line

A typical home alarm monitoring system uses the home telephone line to transmit alarm signals to the central monitoring station.

This is accomplished by connecting a 4-conductor wire between the security panel and the main phone company's box.

It is very important that the connection is made the right way to achieve what is called line seizure. It ensures that a dial tone is available for the security system to call out on. Without line seizure an intruder could cause a busy signal by calling the home or by taking the phone off the hook. This would keep the monitoring station from receiving any signals.

The security system technician is supposed to connect the incoming telephone line to the security panel first and then feed the home phone line from the security panel. You should double check to see if this has been done.

Have You Recently Changed Your Phone Service to VOIP?

A call to the monitoring company is needed to check the phone connection to the security panel. Many times the cable company will disconnect the phone connection to the security system and attach it to their equipment. The homeowner doesn't realize there is a problem because there is no apparent change to the phone service.

If you upgrade your Internet connection to high speed DSL, there may be a compatibility problem that can prevent your home alarm monitoring system from dialing out. To remedy this problem you can pay your monitoring company a service call fee to come to your home and install a DSL filter.

While using your existing phone line is the most cost effective way to notify the police, it does leave your home vulnerable if your phone line is cut. Intruders use this vulnerability to help cover up the crime. When the owner returns home, their initial shock turns to anger when they realize how easy the home security monitoring system was defeated. The good news is that there is a solution available.

Install cellular-backup equipment to your security system and never worry about a cut phone line again! Adding this equipment to a home security system turns your outdated monitoring method into an ultra secure system like many banks and large businesses have.

Once installed your security system will use your phone line as your primary means of notifying the authorities. But if your phone line is cut, then the company monitoring your home security system will be notified through the cellular network.

The intruder may get overconfident and stay in your home longer, giving the police an opportunity to catch them. Most security companies will charge an additional fee for monitoring a home security system using cell-backup.

Although the fees can get expensive, it is well worth the peace of mind you will have knowing you and your home are well protected. Check your insurance policy to see if there is a discount given for home security monitoring.

The bottom line is the phone line is the lifeblood of your home alarm monitoring system. You should test your system on a regular basis and make sure you notify the monitoring company if you make any changes to your telephone service.