Quote from: Wilson on December 09, 2012, 11:31:54 AM
I have an older unit... one of those DIY wireless systems. The system uses wireless sensors that trigger the alarm and it calls out to the monitoring company using a POTS line. Protection One is the service that I use. They were able to reprogram the alarm system with the different zones and change the call out number to the Protection one monitoring service number. Of course, they claim now that this would not work with VOIP and they asked that I upgrade my system to a newer one but that would mean a new panel, all new sensors etc.,
When I trigger the alarm I can see the calls going out through the call log but something is likely amiss with the handshaking between the alarm and the monitoring system's receiver because it connects, attempts to transmit through what sounds like fax tones, disconnects and reconnects to try the communication again. It does that several times before giving up with a phone communication failure error.
The symptoms you describe are EXACTLY why you can't use GV for this purpose. Even if you could figure out the proper settings / codec to use that might get the signal through (seems unlikely), you'd find your alarm company would likely make you sign something that removes their liability.
Wiring isn't the issue, as you say you hear the call connect. The wiring link you provided really doesn't solve anything. To my understanding, the wiring for alarm panels uses 4 wires with the phone service, as follows:
The phone service is on 2 wires. The house is on 2 wires. Both come into a junction box and connect to the panel. When an alarm is triggered, the panel seizes the two wires servicing all the phones and kills them, giving it control over the 2 wires that connect to the phone service, so it can call the alarm company's panel. Nothing magical here about how whether it uses POTS or anything else.
Since you can hear the call connect, it's an issue with how the tones come through to the alarm company. Each company has certain capabilities. Apparently yours doesn't like GV. But it does work with VoIP, so ask them WHICH VoIP providers they support.
You can consider switching to cellular (NOT a cell phone, a cellular device that attaches to y our panel). You need to see which devices are compatible with your panel, as well as which devices are compatible with your monitoring company. Yes, you cannot just use any cellular device with your alarm company.
I went through this with my panel. I found all the possible cellular devices, and settled on an HAI C3, which I setup with a T-Mobile SIM card. Basically a small box that plugged into my panel. After a lot of playing around, I learned that the HAI did not produce sufficient line voltage to work with my panel, the calls were not made properly (the panel does the dialing remember). I easily could use the HAI (with a plugged in phone) to call the Alarm company's panel manually. Wasn't a total loss - I used that SIM card to switch my service from ATT to GV, then returned the HAI to Amazon.
Some of the cellular options go through a third party to your alarm company, and have monthly fees in addition to your monitoring fee.
I'd suggest calling Alarm Relay. Their monitoring is as stated prior (except third year and forward is $10.45 a month paid in advance), and they will NOT work with GV. The ARIM is $150, one-time charge. Note that some of the functionality, like monitoring openings and closings, will cost extra.
I'd also suggest you review one of the several DIY alarm forums where people are better equipped to answer alarm questions, such as
http://www.diyalarmforum.com/
