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Voice over IP
Mar 23, 2007
VOIP: What you need to know When end users began shutting off their traditional phone service and replacing it with voice-over-IP service, it didn’t take long before some people started having problems with their alarm systems, which typically are designed to share the customer’s phone line. Four years or so later, the VoIP and alarm industries have had mixed results in finding solutions to these problems. The NBFAA it still seeking a legislative solution, and John Chwat, NBFAA director of government relations, expects to get several provisions written into any telecom bill proposed this year. Some of these provisions—including a requirement that VoIP providers contact customers’ alarm companies if VoIP is installed--simply codify what many providers already are already doing.
Two of the nation’s largest alarm installing companies have begun to endorse VoIP providers they say have taken the appropriate steps to address incompatibility issues. But those steps aren’t sufficient to satisfy the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA), which represents alarm installing companies and is pursuing legislation that would place additional requirements on all VoIP providers.
One issue is that, unlike traditional phone service, which is powered through the central office, VoIP relies on premises-based power, which means that a customer could be without security during a power outage. Some VoIP providers, including some of the cable companies, provide battery backup.
Another issue is that most alarm systems need to be rewired in order to work properly when traditional phone service is shut off in favour of VoIP. Alarm systems use a specialized phone jack, known as an RJ31X, which must be installed near the point where voice service enters the residence. With traditional phone service, that point is typically in the basement or back of the house. But cable modem service typically originates near the living room or family room television, while DSL originates near an office computer. If the RJ31X jack is not repositioned, Hope explained, a burglar could defeat the alarm system by taking a phone off the hook. In that scenario, he said, “The alarm panel would see a busy circuit and couldn’t get a dial tone.”
A third concern is that some VoIP services may not reliably transmit all alarm communication formats, which are used to send alarm signals to a central monitoring station and to remotely download changes to alarm system settings. Alarm industry communications formats are based on touch-tone, analog modem and other analog communication methods--and some of these may perform sporadically when used with VoIP, said Hope. He hastens to add that digital modem manufacturers have made some inroads in addressing this concern. But, he said, “It’s still not what I would consider POTS line quality and you still may not be assured that the message will get there as cleanly as necessary.”
“In our terms of service, we acknowledge the fact that some home security systems are not compatible with Vonage service,” a Vonage spokesman said. “Users may be required to maintain a telephone connection through their local exchange carrier in order to use any alarm monitoring functions for any security system installed in their home or business. The customer is responsible for contacting the alarm monitoring company to test the compatibility of any security system with the service.”
The final concern about alarms and VoIP—sporadic network outages--also may pertain primarily to VoIP services that use the public Internet for transmission. A requirement—to provide 24-hour battery backup—could add substantially to the cost of VoIP service. Today, even VoIP providers that offer battery backup typically only provide it for a few hours
Since few people expect to see telecom legislation passed this year, the threat may not be imminent. But, said Chwat, “It’s a high-profile issue within the telecom Senate staff. They know there’s a problem and they need to address it.”