Vonage and Security System

Posts: 13 · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 9:33 pm Post subject: Vonage and Security System

Hi,

I have a security monitoring service and it requires a phone line. I was with SBC, but now with Vonage. The way it works is that whenever alarm goes off, it will also dial to the mornitoring center, and they will call back to see what is happening?

To test the security system, today I intentionally let the alarm go off today, but my security system did not call me after it. Now I doubt if Vonage works with the system mornitoring service. Does any body have any success story? Please share here.

All other Vonage functions work well.

Thank you.

Posts: 13 · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 9:36 pm Post subject: Some More Info

By the way, My vonage use the existing home phone wiring, however, it is disconnected from local phone line.

Posts: 21 · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 10:57 pm Post subject:

What kind of security system do you have?

First, most installed systems have a RJ31 jack that runs to it. This provides line seizure - letting the alarm system take over phone lines in the house in the event of an alarm. I don' t know for sure, but if you simply connect the ATA to your house wiring by plugging it in to a wall - you are connecting it to the wrong side of the RJ31.

I ran a wire from my ATA to my security system. From there, it connects to the rest of the house.

My Alarm still wouldn't dial - I had to call vonage and have them set the Packetization level to 10 on my account. Once that was done, all was good!

BTW, you should call the alarm company and put it in "test" mode before intentionally setting it off. Smile

Let me know if you need any additional info.

Posts: 13

Thank you very much, ericgo. You really know it, and the information is very helpful. Yes, the security use a RJ31 jack, which I did a google search, and found a picture of RJ31.

You ran a wire from my ATA to your security system. From there, it connects to the rest of the house. Could you explain more how you do it? My ATA box is upstaires, and my secuirty box is downstairs in the Master bedroom closet. Is there any other way to connect to the right side of RJ31. Running a wire down to the closet seems to be an impossible mission to me. Is wireless connection somehow a possible method? I have a Belkin wireless router before the ATA box, and maybe I can put the ATA box downstairs by the system system?

Here is more FYI:
I called my security company - Centex HomeTeam Security. We performed the security test. Basically, the alarm went off, but the security company did not get it. I told them I am using VOIP - Vonage, and was told it won't work. The reason is that VOIP only transfer voice, but not data. The alarm system use the local phone line to dial to the monitoring center using data, therefore, I was told it won't work. However, yours is working, I think they are wrong.

I also called Vonage technical help, and they are not sure about it. Some user did call about it, and were advised to add a low pass DSL filter (Radio Shack has it for about $3), but those users did not call back again. Vonage assumes it works, as no news is good news.

Thanks in advance.

Posts: 21 · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 1:29 pm Post subject:

Okay, for one thing, Data over VoIP does work - that is what a fax really is right?

The packetazation level thing is key - If that wasn't set, my system would attempt to dial out, but not have any luck. Do you see your system trying to dial out? I had a number of outgoing calls showing up on my activity list - all to my security monitoring station (ADT)

As for wiring. Prior to having VoIP, when the alarm went off, did it grab the phone line? I assume it did as you have the RJ31 and you also had someone install it for you. If that is the case, the security company had to have wired one side of the RJ31 to the rest of your house somehow.

Here is what I would check next. There probably is one set of wires (4 or 6 individual wires) headed to your alarm panel. Two of those wires bring the telephone line to the alarm panel, two of them bring it back from the RJ31. USUALLY, Red/Green go in and Black/Yellow bring it back. Although there is no hard-fast rule for that. Then, the B/Y would be hooked to the R/G wires for the rest of the house, usually at your DMARC point (Box on the side of the house).

If all of your wires are "home runs" (From the telephone box outside to each jack) You could do the same type of thing for your Vonage. Where you have the Vonage box, you could plug the Vonage box in there, At the other end, use the R/G pair and hook it where your telephone POTS line was attached. That would bring Dial tone to the house, correctly with the Security system.

It seems a bit complicated, but it isn't too bad. Be careful though! Smile

I was lucky - a few years ago my entire downstairs flooded and during the remodel to fix everything, I re-ran all the telephone and cable in my house. Makes things like this really easy. Smile

Also, I'm sure your security folks could help you out (for a fee of course) to get it all wired up.

Let me know how it goes!

Posts: 13 · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 4:25 pm Post subject:

Thanks, ericgo. You are the man!

Unfortunately I did not find any outgoing dialing to my alram company by checking the call log. I will go back home and check the security box im the Master closet, and probably the attic to see if I can do some wiring. To me, it might be complicated, but I will post my progress here.

I greatly appreciate your time and kindness.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 08, 2004 Posts: 3

Something else to check... If your security system is dialing a local phone number, chances are it was not programmed to dial a "1" first - which is needed by Vonage's 11-digit dialing. If your system dials a toll-free number, then you should already have the 11 digits. This could be why it does not show up in your activity log. Just a thought.

Posts: 21 · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:50 am Post subject:

Just a thought? Well, it is a good one! Man, sometimes I get so wrapped up in what is going on I forget the basics!

Yes, do be sure you are dialing all 11 digits - that would account for not being able to see anything show up on your Vonage Dashboard.

Let us know what your progress is!

E

Posts: 13 · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2004 11:12 am Post subject: 1-800 Number Dial

Thans for the replies, guys.

I contacted my alarm company, and was told the number will be dialed is a toll free number, 1-800, so there is not a problem for the dialing digits.

Sorry I am usually busy in week days, and can not continue the testing until this weekend. But I will keep trying, and let you guys know the result.

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: May 13, 2004 Posts: 11

I just wanted to thank everyone on this board for the packetization suggestion. The installer from CPI Security in NC tried for a couple of hours to get the system to call over Vonage and had no luck. This site came up on Google and I had the fix almost immediately. Vonage was very friendly and the whole process took 15 minutes. I wish I had surfed here sooner. LOL.