[Freeswitch-users] Alarm, KISS OFF

[Steve Underwood]

The commonest alarm protocol is Ademco Contact ID and it variants. This 
is very undemanding of the channel, and it would take a pretty broken 
VoIP connection to stop them working. VoIP channels tend to fail for 
alarms when people ignore the fact that VoIP usually uses mains powered 
terminals, with no battery backup. A simple power outage means no 
911/999/112/whatever calls, and no alarm protocols. That's the real 
weakness.

Steve

On 04/30/2013 02:15 AM, Steven Schoch wrote:
> Speaking of alarm systems over VoIP, here's a story of an alarm 
> company that was sued by the estate of a murdered woman because her 
> alarm system failed to notify the central station when the attacker 
> broke in. It turns out she had switched to VoIP a few weeks earlier, 
> which caused problems: 
> http://www.security.honeywell.com/hsc/documents/alarmorg_VoIP.pdf
>
> Here's something from an alarm company: 
> http://www.thealarmcompany.com/files/voip%281%29.pdf
> And from another alarm company: 
> http://bentleyalarm.com/why-voip-is-bad-for-your-alarm-system/
>
> Bottom line: I'd think really hard before switching an alarm system to 
> VoIP. When we switched the company to VoIP, I was able to get a very 
> inexpensive measured line for our alarm system. (We also use it for 
> incoming FAX, because it works.)
>
> -- 
> Steve