Re: Call setup... does it have to go to a monitoring company?

[Frank Olson <use-the-email-links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dave wrote:
> On Feb 17, 9:19 pm, "Doug" <n...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> "Dave" <dave.har...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>
>> news:55ab75dc-1e6b-47b0-921e-311b4f50b0f6@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>>
>>
>>> I'm new to alarm systems, and was interested in setting up one in my
>>> home.  The main reason is to alert me if someone breaks in while my
>>> family and I are asleep (preventing theft while we're gone is
>>> secondary).  So I'm not really interested in monitoring, but would
>>> like to get a call on my cell if my wife and I are gone and the alarm
>>> goes off.
>>> I called one of the online alarm suppliers and asked about the call
>>> setup (specifically for the GE Concord 4), and I was told that most
>>> alarm systems can only call monitoring companies... but I'm
>>> questioning that.  They told me I could get a telephone module that
>>> would call additional numbers, but I'm wondering why I can't do that
>>> with the base system.  Surely the number is programmable, although
>>> maybe only monitoring companies have the capability of programming
>>> it...?
>>> So my question is this: are most alarm systems set up to only call
>>> monitoring systems?  If so, is there a way around it?  It doesn't
>>> violate any laws if I program it myself, does it?
>>> Thanks in advance!
>>> Dave
>> The number the alarm calls is programmable, and you could program it to call
>> your cell phone, but the alarm won't talk to you unless you can mimic and
>> interpret the tones the alarm communicator and CS receiver use to transmit
>> and acknowledge the alarm signals.
>>
>> The easiest way is add a voice dialer to the system.
>>
>> Doug
>
> Thanks for the response.  I'm ok with it not being able to
> "communicate" with me, so long as I can program the number myself.
> I'll know it's the alarm if I start getting silent calls from my house
> when we're out.

The problem is that the panel will continue to attempt to call until it
it's able to "dump" it's information.  After the pre-programmed number
of attempts it will go into "trouble" (communication fault).  It's far
better for you to use a voice dialer (as Doug has suggested) if you're
too cheap to have it professionally monitored.  I'd suggest contacting a
couple of your LOCAL alarmcos.  You might be pleasantly surprised as to
how inexpensive it might be to have your system professionally monitored.


>
> I also have a quick question about jamming wireless sensors (I've read
> some conflicting information)... do most wireless systems require the
> sensor to check in periodically when the system is armed to make sure
> there's no RFI being used?  How frequently does it require sensors to
> "check in"?

It's possible to "jam" wireless sensors, but the ability to do so
requires some specific knowledge of your alarm system as well as some
pretty sophisticated equipment.  The chances of a burglar gaining access
to any of this is remote, let alone some "crack-head" whose only concern
is getting ahold of some saleable stuff he can take down to the local
pawn shop to exchange for ready cash.