Re: Long distance carriers going with VoIP

[robertlbass@xxxxxxxxxxx]

> ...Local VOIP may be an issue, but long distance probably is not...

Actually, Bob, that is precisely what the article in CEPro warned
about.  A local carrier opted  for long distance via VoIP and alarm
systems started malfunctioning.

When you connect a customer's alarm to his phone line, regardless if
what LD carrier you happen to use for your monitoring center, the calls
are routed through his local telco and if they go VoIP you may have a
communication problem.  If the CLEC in your home base area happens to
choose VoIP you might find yourself with hundreds of alarm systems that
can't get through to the central station.

Heretofore we only had to contend with occasional clients going VoIP.
The CEPro article from which I quoted makes it clear that the VoIP
issue can affect your entire customer base at once.  That's not a
rehash of earlier discussion (as Leuck would have you think).  It's a
whole new ball game and for now most alarm companies don't have a
single hitter.

ELK's M1 Gold system offers the possibility of Internet monitoring.
Ademco has an Internet enabled version of the Vista-20P.  I haven't
checked but HAI's Omni series may offer a solution.  Other than the
Honeywell (Ademco) Vista-20P, these are high end panels that are
inappropriate for the vast majority of alarm jobs.  They are certailny
beyond the budget for lick'n'stick outfits like most of Monitronix' and
P1's delaers.

Regards,
Robert L Bass
www.BassBurglarAlarms.com