VoIP and Home Security Monitoring

Most people switch to VoIP from their land line phone to save money. However, alarm systems are not compatible with the VoIP phones, so they have to keep their old phones also. This eliminates the savings that they are making from VoIP. So what is VOIP? How is it interfering with my alarm system’s monitoring capabilities?

VOIP stands for “Voice Over Internet Protocol”. It is used to make voice calls over the internet. The consumers pay monthly bills, the call rates are generally less than the landlines. Examples of such services are MagicJack, Vonage, CallVantage, AT&T and Ooma.

Using VOIP And Alarm Systems Can Pose Problems Because:

1. The alarm system sends the signals over analog phones. So to transmit the signals those must be converted from the digital to analog then sent over, that can take time. The problems occur during the conversions.

2. The alarm panel has a power backup because the traditional phone line keeps on working even there is no power. The station will receive the signals. But the VoIP does not operate without power. You can prevent this by getting a UPS (Un-interruptible Power Supply) for your PC.

3. VoIP has more technical issues than the landlines. If the call is dropped while the data is being transmitted to the alarm panel then there is no point of security at all. This happens because the VoIP signal’s quality might be very low. It depends on the bandwidth also.

4. VOIP lines can also be cut just like the phone line disabling the entire system.
These are a few reasons that the customers do not use the security systems with the VoIP.

So What Is Being Done To Make VOIP And Alarm Systems More Compatible?

The VOIP manufacturers are still working hard to get the solution. But for now you have to use the landlines or the cellular or radio monitoring to transmit the alarm signals. These were designed as a backup, so are not available in all areas.