Vonage and ADT alarms

Posts: 183 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: May 05, 2004 Posts: 183

holio wrote:

Ok, so I finally found someone that understood what I was talking about and was able to change the packetization settings on my Motorola ATA from 20 down to 10. Unfortunately, that didn't solve my problem because I think I've got a ground loop problem. There's noise on the line whenever the ATA is routed through the regular phone lines, thus my assumption.

Anyone have any experince or guidance in troubleshooting this issue. I'd really like to get this working correctly so I don't have to pay SBC just to keep my alarm system working. Assistance appreciated in advance.

Noise on the line can be a BIG problem, and the Voip process likely can make it worse. You may be able to filter it, but in the worst case you may have to rewire with CAT5 wire (or at least CAT3, with twisted pairs). Do you have the old stuff, four wires (red, green, black, yellow) that aren't twisted in pairs? That is very prone to noise, twisting really helps to combat that.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: May 21, 2004 Posts: 2

Confirmation: The packetization setting of "10" resolved my alarm "dial-in inability to complete the call" issue as well.

Crude diagram of setup:

Comcast --> Motorola Surfboard SB4200 cable modem --> "External" (WAN) port on Watchguard Firebox 700 firewall === "Optional" (DMZ) port on firewall --> Motorola VT1005v Vonage appliance --> RJ31X jack --> Ademco Vista 20P alarm --> House phone lines

Concerning DirecTivo not dialing out, I just completed setting up my HDVR2 serial port --> Win2k COM1 === PPP --> "Trusted" (LAN) port on firewall === "External" (WAN) port on firewall --> cable modem --> Comcast --> DirecTivo server.

It works great and fast (115k). Tivocommunity has all the info for that and for using an external modem that you can throttle down to 56k or less to get through Vonage.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 16, 2004 Posts: 2

I have a Vista 10se alarm panel not monitored by ADT,winfax software, my back up dial up srevice, all work with my Vonage.I have read that problem with ATD is the programming of some of its panel.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 16, 2004 Posts: 2

garys_2k wrote:

holio wrote:

Ok, so I finally found someone that understood what I was talking about and was able to change the packetization settings on my Motorola ATA from 20 down to 10. Unfortunately, that didn't solve my problem because I think I've got a ground loop problem. There's noise on the line whenever the ATA is routed through the regular phone lines, thus my assumption.

Anyone have any experince or guidance in troubleshooting this issue. I'd really like to get this working correctly so I don't have to pay SBC just to keep my alarm system working. Assistance appreciated in advance.

Noise on the line can be a BIG problem, and the Voip process likely can make it worse. You may be able to filter it, but in the worst case you may have to rewire with CAT5 wire (or at least CAT3, with twisted pairs). Do you have the old stuff, four wires (red, green, black, yellow) that aren't twisted in pairs? That is very prone to noise, twisting really helps to combat that.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 11, 2005 Posts: 2

With much help from people in this forum, and NO help from ADT, here is how I got my ADT system working properly.

The first thing I did was to call Vonage and decrease the packetization to "10" like several people have suggested here. When I called in to ask for this I was immediately transferred to technical support (of course immediately meant I was on hold for about 15 mins) and the guy who answered the phone knew what I was talking about. I don't know if this is necessary because I did this first, but many people have suggested it, and it works with my system.

The next thing I did was make a crossover cable to connect my ATA to my home wiring. You need a section of phone cord with 4 wires (most cord you get when you buy a phone only have two wires, red and green) two standard phone jack ends and a crimping tool to put them on. This crossover cable is made by taking a section of phone wire and on one end, line up the wires in the plug from left to right: black, red, green, yellow. On the other end: red, black, yellow, green. This sends the signal from the phone adapter into line two (black and yellow) which I assume most people are NOT using.

This is necessary because the way ADT wired the phone line was to have the incoming signal (from the Phone Company) go into their system and then to the rest of the house. If you do not perform this step and simply plug a regular phone line directly into the wall, the phones will work, but the ADT system cannot seize the phone line and perform the dial out as required.

Next, go outside to the phone company box. On the customer access side, you should have already unplugged the stubs from their connections inside the box to isolate your home wiring from the phone company You should have something similar to this: something lableled "line one" with a bunch of screw terminals and one or several green and red wires connected to the terminals, and what looks like a traditional phone plug UNPLUGGED from its jack. Then something labeled "line two" with a bunch of screw terminals and one or several black and yellow wires connected to the terminals, and again what looks like a traditional phone plug UNPLUGGED from its jack.

After locating the "line two" stub (short wire with traditional phone plug) connect it to the "line one" stub (short wire with traditional phone plug)using a double female connector. You should still have two empty jacks in the phone company box where it looks like you could plug a phone directly into those jacks. That's OK. It means you have isolated your phone lines from the phone company's line and connect your line one and line two together.

This should configure your home wiring so the alarm system does not know the difference. Be sure to conduct a test to make sure ADT receives that alarm signal. I cannot explain why some people can seize the line and dial out, but not connect to the monitoring center's computer.

I do not have *99 in my dialing pattern. Also my ATA is behind my linksys router (which does have port forwarding enabled as described on the Vonage site).

As for reliablilty and safety, it is true that the phone company was more reliable than my cable company. However, don't forget, the alarm keeps working even if it doesn't dial out, and the burglar doesn't know whether it dials out or not...

I hope this help. I certainly wouldn't be this far without the help of this forum. If anyone need further assistance send me a private message and i'll do what i can.

***DISCLAIMER*** I am NOT an electrician or Alarm company installer. What I describe here is how I got my system to work. I make no guarantee about whether this will work for you. As described in other posts, this may VOID the warranty on the ATA and/or your alarm system so please check your documentation. Furthermore, it may cause damage to certain components if done incorrecty or if other factors in your situation are different than mine. If you are unfamiliar with phone wiring, the wiring of your own home and the phone company interconnect do not attempt this modification.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 2

Does anyone have the new linksys with the combined router and phone adapter? I am trying to get my adt to work with this one. I havent called anyone yet but it seems that ADT still doesnt know what Voip is yet. This is quite annoying because Vonage and other Voip services are becoming the most popular thing because it can be offered so cheap. This is quite ridoculs that no one can get this to work the way it is supposed to and have it realibly. The idea of batery backup is good however. And i admit that my cable has only gone out 1 time when i didnt pay the bill on time! but i need the adt to work. I wouldnt care if i didnt live in a run down city. The crime rate is very high and i cannot afford to have adt not working. Someone please come up with a good way to get this to work and email me at allan98@gmail.com

Posts: 2251 · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:33 pm Post subject: Re: Linksys Router/phone adapter

Allan98 wrote:

Someone please come up with a good way to get this to work and email me at allan98@gmail.com

"Someone please come up with a good way to get this to work and ..."
Please post it for all to view.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 29, 2005 Posts: 1

Getting a modem to work with Voip can be very difficult as many of you have experienced. ADT does offer a cellular backup unit which can be used as the primary means of communication. (No phone line needed!) You just need to consider the additional costs and your location. It is probably the most secure means of transmission.

A bit cheaper and almost as reliable (depending on your provider) is a little known product that just hit the market in the last year. It’s called a dialer capture module and it’s made by Bosch security. It uses a network connection to talk directly to ADT. (Once again no phone line needed!)

http://www.boschsecurity.us/pdf/EN/40668F%20C900TTL%2DE%20Dialer%20Capture%20Module%20Datasheet%2Epdf

What the C900TTL-E does is fake the alarm panel by supplying dial tone and handshake signals. It then retransmits the signals over your broadband connection to ADT. When ADT gives the kiss-off to the C900TTL-E, it will then ‘hang up’ with your alarm panel. I know there is a cost for the device and a tech to install but I’m not sure if ADT charges more for monitoring. (I don’t think they do.)

Call your local ADT office and see if they can help you. Some may not have any idea what you’re asking for but keep trying. Try the 800 number. They are using them.

Good Luck!
Cool

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 03, 2003 Posts: 8

[quote="travis"]With much help from people in this forum, and NO help from ADT, here is how I got my ADT system working properly.

Travis,

Thanks for the tips and I got my system up and running. The ADT operator received the alarm signal from my house.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: May 16, 2005 Posts: 1

I connected my ADT system directly to the ATA and I have the packitization level set to 10 but it is still not working. Am I missing something? Also, once that's done, how do I reconnect my phones?