Communication Failure?

If your Fire Alarm or Security system is having issues sending signals with your phone line connection it may be change from analog to digital that is the issue. You may be getting a message on the keypad that says COM FAIL or Communication failure or your monitoring company may be calling you letting you know that your panel is missing self test signals. This means the dispatch center is waiting to get a test and they are not getting the regular test signals.

Analog or POTS (Plain old Telephone System) phone lines typically were about 48-54 volts and the new digital VOIP lines are around 18 volts. If your phone company is telling you that you have analog phone lines those lines may be coming from a digital phone system.

If your system was being monitored using an analog line know that the government told the phone companies last year (Aug 2022) that they no longer had to service analog lines. If your bill for analog lines has gone up that is why.

Often it is less expensive to install a cellular unit than it is to change the VOIP line to an analog line. Your VOIP (Voice over IP) may be working although often VOIP digital lines will not work well with security or fire alarm panels since they are not only looking for a higher voltage but when VOIP is used often not all the signal information is sent.

Peak Alarm can monitor your security systems, fire alarm systems and the elevator phones using new supervised advanced cellular communicators. Call Larry Love with any questions or comments 801 898 6003 [email protected]