Warning!

Changing to VoIP telephone service will disrupt the communication
of your traditional Burglar/Fire Alarm with PM Alarms Local 24-Hour Monitoring Center.

What Is VoIP?

VoIP is a new internet or cable phone service option available to anyone with a high speed modem. VoIP allows phone calls to be made over an internet connection instead of through the traditional phone lines Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). VoIP offers unlimited local, regional and long-distance calling within the US and Canada along with popular calling features, at an attractively low monthly rate when compared to traditional phone service. However, at this time VoIP is not fully regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), because it is viewed as a service option, not a primary means of telephone communication. Consequently, while there are standards being created to promote uniformity, there is nothing mandating that all VoIP service providers abide by these standards. The process of transmitting voice as digitized data used in VoIP has created an unreliable means of communication between security systems and monitoring centers. Many VoIP suppliers actually specify in their literature and web pages that alarm systems should not be connected to VoIP. They encourage customers to keep one POTS line available for emergencies, such as 9-1-1, which also does not always work through VoIP.

The following statements have been taken from the corresponding websites of companies offering VoIP services.

 Taken from AT&T U-verse Voice

^{(Click To Visit this website)}

 ·  Prior to your AT&T U-verse Voice installation, AT&T strongly recommends that you notify your alarm company of your switch to AT&T U-verse Voice service and your scheduled U-verse installation date in order for your alarm company to test and check the status of your alarm system with you prior to installation and once installation is complete.

·  You will be responsible for testing your alarm system with your alarm company after installation of AT&T U-verse Voice is complete, and on an ongoing basis.

·  If your alarm company determines that your existing alarm panel does not work with AT&T U-verse Voice, your alarm company may be able to install an alternative alarm panel that will work with AT&T U-verse Voice, or a panel that uses cellular phone service, or an IP-based panel that uses your Internet access service. (Talk to your alarm company about these alternatives and any additional equipment and/or monitoring service charges). Note: If your alarm company installs an IP-based panel that will use AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet as the communications pathway, you must ensure you have functioning battery backup power for your Gateway (and your Optical Network Terminal, if you have one) for your high speed Internet service to work with your alarm panel during a power outage. See learn more about AT&T U-verse Voice and Residential Gateway with Battery Backup.

PM ALARMS HAS DISCOVERED NO ALARM SYSTEM WORKS WITH AT&T U-VERSE!

Taken From Verizon Voice Wing
^{(Click To Visit this website)}

 Verizon Voice Wing, as a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service, differs from regular telephone service... Voicewing will not work if the power is out... Voicewing will not support home security systems.

PM ALARMS HAS DISCOVERED NO ALARM SYSTEM WORKS WITH VERIZON HOME PHONES!

Taken From Vonage.Com
^{(Click To Visit this website)}

 A telephone based monitored alarm system uses a phone line to contact a central monitoring center in the event of fire or a break in. The monitoring station usually tries to contact the homeowner to verify the event prior to contacting the police, fire department, or ambulance. "Vonage does not support the use of a telephone based monitored alarm system, and recommends against using a telephone based monitored alarm system with Vonage."

Additionally, it's important to note that while Vonage may work with a alarm system, we do not recommend it. If for any reason you lose your Internet connectivity - due to a power outage or problem with your Internet service provider, for example - Vonage will not work, and your alarm system will not be able to make an emergency call if it's triggered. For this reason we recommend you keep a basic traditional landline dedicated to your alarm system and use Vonage for the rest of your calling needs.

PM ALARMS HAS DISCOVERED NO ALARM SYSTEM WORKS WITH VONAGE OR MAGIC JACK!

Comcast, Charter and EPB fiber optics

Comcast, Charter and EPB works with most modern alarm systems that use tone dialing and standard data protocols. Comcast, Charter and EPB does not guarantee that the digital phone service (including, without limitation, the feed between the alarm panel and the supplied eMTA) will be uninterrupted or compatible with each and every make or model of alarm systems.

CHARTER - PM ALARMS FOUND SOME CUSTOMERS' EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AND OTHER DO NOT.

COMCAST - PM ALARMS FOUND SOME CUSTOMERS' EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AND OTHER DO NOT.

EPB FIBER OPTICS - PM ALARMS HAS NOT EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH SYSTEM  

The following information provides an overview of the problems
associated with VoIP internet and cable phone service,
available solutions and what the future holds

Reasons That VoIP Will Not Work With Your Alarm System

• When the VoIP adapter was installed it was not wired correctly by the phone or cable technician.
• The VoIP adapter is wired correctly but signals will still not go through for various reasons, such as the alarm user is accessing other Internet services at the time an alarm goes off.
• The VoIP service cannot accurately reproduce the sounds from the alarm communicator over the internet or cable service.
• Even when internet or cable phone service is working fine, alarm signals may cease to transmit properly due to fluctuations in the compression technology which VOIP uses.
• VoIP providers use different internet communication methods, depending on cost savings, to carry their internet and cable phone service. The customer will not be aware of any change until the alarm system is no longer able to transmit signals.
• VoIP requires continuous power. If you lose power, you will not be able to use any phone equipment connected to VoIP. More Importantly the security system will not send a signal to your Central Station Monitoring Company.
• POTS telephone lines are required to have their own power supply and will always work in a typical power outage. VoIP is not required to have a backup power supply and may not reliably work during a power outage.
• If you have a Fire Alarm it is required by NFPA 72 Fire Code to be a P.O.T.S. line. Therefore you could be fined for using a VoIP line on a fire alarm, not to mention if there was a fire it may not transmit to the authorities causing a delay in the fire company coming out to save lives and may cause major repercussions from your insurance company.
• If your Alarm System has a line cut feature, it may NOT sound the alarm if the communication line on the outside of your premise is cut. The alarm panel checks the telephone line for voltage that is currently supplied by your telephone company. Certain characteristics of VoIP may lower the voltage and affect the security features of your alarm causing false alarms.

PM Alarms offers two options that will guarantee that  you alarm will transmit its signals during an alarm condition if you have VoIP.