Problem with Alarm system??

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 26, 2006 Posts: 1

I use Vonage as my only phone line. Recently I asked a security company to install alarm system. When the alarm is triggered my vonage stopped working. No dial tone, I can't call out. About 10 minutes after then I can start hearing dial tone again Eek

Anyone has similar problem? Does vonage service has any compatiability issue with security system? Can this issue be solved?

Posts: 4751 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4751

JustaUser wrote:

I use Vonage as my only phone line. Recently I asked a security company to install alarm system. When the alarm is triggered my vonage stopped working. No dial tone, I can't call out. About 10 minutes after then I can start hearing dial tone again Eek

Anyone has similar problem? Does vonage service has any compatiability issue with security system? Can this issue be solved?

Are you using house wiring with your Vonage system, and did the alarm technician wire it all up? Is your alarm able to call out when triggered? If the answer to both questions is yes, then things may be operating normally. Normally an alarm preempts the phone line when it's triggered and you are unable to use your house phones until the alarm is finished reporting.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 27, 2006 Posts: 3

Steve48 is correct. Alarm systems are wired into the house phone network so that they can take priority in the event of an alarm. This is to stop sophisticated buglars from dialling your phone while breaking in and thus potentially stopping the alarm system from dialling out.

Interestingly two major alarm companies refused to install an alarm system when I told them I was VoIP only. They would only offer wireless dial out systems. However I know now that other alarm companies will work with VoIP... as long as it's Vonage.

Regards
Ian
Microsoft Home Ambassador