I have followed multiple guides, and it came down to 1 or two settings in the obitalk device. For me I had to MAKE SURE not to use a web browser and log in directly to the obi110, what worked was the expert configuration through the site. Settings didnt keep until I did it that way.
As for the phone not going off hook, have you verified that 1) the alarm is wired correctly? 2) that it is actually trying to pick up the phone line?
you can check 2) by attaching a phone to the same side of the alarm phone line in and listen to the phone and see if it tries to pick up and dial.
a side note, Next alarm is not really a great option for alarm monitoring service. They dont even do the monitoring themselves, they are expensive, and the company they do use to monitor are very rude. I use another company, but I am not trying to sell them so I wont say who.
