ADT stops working when using Vonage

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 14, 2006 Posts: 3

call your alarm company.

Sorry

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 09, 2006 Posts: 5

Well, I already called my alarm company. My previous post actually opens with the fact that ADT doesn't want to help anyone with Vonage. They flat out tell you it's not compatible even when plenty of people here have no problems. I must admit I should have done more research before going with a stone age company like ADT.

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 22, 2005 Posts: 5

trongod05 wrote:

I must admit I should have done more research before going with a stone age company like ADT.

Who else would you have gone with? Brinks is even worse...

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:15 am Post subject:

Basically, ANYONE is better than ADT or Brinks. One of my clients (gov't) is in the process of removing all 3rd party (Sonitrol/ADT/Brinks) alarm systems from their facilities and is implementing their own. What they're discovering (besides the fact that Sonitrol equipment is junk) is that most of the installs are poorly done and about half of the systems don't work. Monitoring costs were rediculous, to the point that it's CHEAPER for this particular client to set up their own monitoring station and pay people to work it 24/7.

I have heard some very good things about AlarmRelay and know that they offer wireless service as well as dial-in. Vonage pushes Alarm.com, but I don't know anything about their service as far as equipment and technology goes. It's most likely a re-badged AlarmNet or cellular connection.

I personally use NextAlarm/Amcest (Same company, different name depending on which states they have monitoring licenses in) and can't say enough positive things about them. I'm using an Ademco Vista20Pi panel and am using regular POTS monitoring via ContactID and haven't had an issue, can't vouch for their broadband adapter. I love the online status logs and e-mail reminders/updates. VERY quick too. I disarm or arm my system and my phone's text message is usually there within 10 seconds. Their monitoring center has been professional every time I've talked with them. They've always requested the password, even when I attempted to pass it off as "just testing the alarm." I would also recommend the Ademco Vista series alarm panels. Very flexible and very reliable.

I had an attempted burglary in the beginning of this month. Amcest dispatched the police after the alarm system called the monitoring center and the intruder didn't attempt to answer the phone when they called. The bottom line is that the police were at my door 4 minutes after the alarm sounded and greeted my "visitor" at my front door. He hadn't even gotten any of my loot out the door when they showed up. This is an amazingl response time. I believe most alarm cos would tell you (if you pushed them to put it in writing) that a response time usually is 10-20 minutes.

Your alarm system is only part of your home security, and really should be the option of last resort. By the time an intruder has set off an alarm, it's usually too late -- they're inside your home. I had a pretty well-thought out security plan in place, including plenty of outdoor lighting, security cameras, alarmed windows, reinforced doors, even upgraded locks... My intruder came in through the same way I do -- the front door, with a key no less. I had a contractor doing some work to my place in December. Apparently when they went out for lunch, they also went to a hardware store and duplicated the key. I was aware that my key could be duplicated at any hardware store, but figured it wasn't THAT high of a risk. I got VERY lucky this time.

So, now all of my doors use this:

You can take my key to the hardware store, but they won't know what to do with it. You can take it to a locksmith, but most of them won't have the equipment to cut these keys. If by some chance, you do happen to find a locksmith with the right machine, the next question is if they have the right key blanks. The keys & locks have different "keyways" or grooves in the keys to prevent unauthorized duplication and also to guarantee business for the original locksmith. I intentionally bought my lockset & keys from an out-of-town locksmith I've done business with for many years. His keyway is unique to him and the local locksmiths don't have the proper key blanks to make duplicates. Even if they did have the right key blanks, the machines which cut these keys need the # off the key card (given to you when you buy the lock) and can't duplicate keys from already-cut keys. Additionally, all of these locksmiths require a signature and photo ID AND the original key card to make the keys. So, safe to say, that security hole has been plugged. The sad part is that this lock only cost $40 more than what I originally had installed on the door, but is FAR more secure. Worth every penny.

Having a working, monitored alarm system is a good idea, but it's FAR better to keep the burglars on the outside and your stuff on the inside in the first place. Smile

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 27, 2006 Posts: 7

The simple answer to how to avoid a conflict wtih Vonage and ADT alarms is to use a cell back up unit. This unit operates on a wireless network and can transmit a signal regardless of the condition of the phone line. Should you have a problem with the Voip connection or a burglar cut the line the cell back up will still send a signal. Because there is no lines it is nearly impossible to disable the transmission. Just be sure that there is adequate protection in the area around the control panel so a prospective thief cannot gain entry without tripping the alarm. Should there be no alarm a thief could in theory destroy the control panel and defeat the systems ability to transmit via any form. Any more questions please send me a direct email.

Jason Munro
ADT Security Services
jmunro@adt.ca

Posts: 15 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 16, 2006 Posts: 15

Looky looky, ADT is here to spread some misinformation...

Anyways, I just eliminated my main phone line and replaced it with Vonage. I have an ADT security system and did a *lot* of research before making the switch. Best article I found was a report by the Canadian Alarm and Security Association, where they tested various alarm protocols over a Voip connection. The report (4 page PDF) is here:

http://www.scottsecurity.ca/VoIP_Results_Publication.pdf

Their results? SIA and pulse formats worked, Contact ID and DTMF Express didn't.

But how do you know what format your system is using? There are a few ways:

-My installer was 'nice' enough to leave the ADT default programming worksheet in my alarm panel box. It says that the system should be programmed for SIA. My sheet looks like this:

http://www.chuma.org/crap/adt%20installer%20sheet.png

-You can call ADT and ask them. They might just blow you off.

-If you have your panel's installer code, you can review the settings. I've got the installation manual for the DSC Power832, (aka ADT Focus 32)...

Remember, after the first year of your ADT contract, you own your system! Try calling the company who installed it and get your installer code.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 27, 2006 Posts: 7

Perhaps you are misunderstanding the entire problem with mixing Voip and an alarm system. Sending some signals isn't the problem. Sending them everytime and having the monitoring station receive them in their entirety is. Your phone line can be cut, your ISP can be down, you can have your call dropped, and the list goes on. A bypass is a bypass not a fix.

Posts: 15 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 16, 2006 Posts: 15

JasonMunro wrote:

Perhaps you are misunderstanding the entire problem with mixing Voip and an alarm system. Sending some signals isn't the problem. Sending them everytime and having the monitoring station receive them in their entirety is. Your phone line can be cut, your ISP can be down, you can have your call dropped, and the list goes on. A bypass is a bypass not a fix.

I'm not misunderstanding anything. Yes, alarm monitoring over the Internet means that more problems could arise. Do you really think that people here don't realize that? Perhaps you should go and read trongod05's post again, where he says what ADT told him. I understand the systems involved, not just through my own research but through ADT's customer newsletters. And that research took me a month of reading forums, reading people's experiences, talking to some ISPs, and talking to friends and people who were former alarm system installers. My final conclusion was that the security industry seems hell-bent on keeping information out of the consumers hands, so they can do lots of hand-waving and fearmongering and then reassuring to make the residential sales.

Even if you have a standard phone line and phone-based monitoring from ADT, if your line is cut, ADT still won't get a signal. If ADT really considered this a problem, why isn't CellGuard standard equipment? Why bother with phone lines anyways?

What I think ADT is failing to realize is that more and more people are UNDERSTANDING the risks of alarm monitoring over the Internet or Voip, and are willing to accept them. I realize why ADT won't accept Internet monitoring: it's not reliable enough for them. ISPs won't guarantee their connections, so ADT can't in good conscience support it. Go back into the history of alarm systems and there was a time when normal phone lines weren't even considered robust enough for alarm monitoring. Eventually they were accepted though. Now the same thing is happening with monitoring over the Internet. Technology is moving forward and big companies move too slowly.

To make it completely clear: I am aware that my ISP and Vonage are now two more links in the chain between my house and ADT's monitoring center. I am willing to accept this. I have all of my network hardware on a UPS to keep it up in case of a power failure. My internet connection stays up through a power outage.

In case you haven't noticed this is a support group, where we're trying to help someone out with his specific problem. He's aware of your CellGuard product. He knows he could give you another $200 and go with the "simple answer" as you put it. Your posts aren't adding anything of value to this thread.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 27, 2006 Posts: 7

Cell backup isn't standard because it isn't required in every home. Many new homes have lines that are entirely below ground and therefore much less available to theives. Why make you take something you don't need. ADT offers bundles that let you pick only what you want and need. If this is a support group then why can't a professional oppion be posted? This concept you post that ADT is out for money is poorly based. How does offering products that counter problems caused by outside sources beyond ADT's control constitute trying to get poor victims money? The chance of me even ever meeting anyone as a client from this site is nearly impossible as that the chances of you being in my territory are improbable. I simply come here to help. You can get as aggressive as you want and assume you know what others are thining but I make a living assuming nothing and listening a lot. Should people want to risk their homes and those in it to a system similar to yours I am not about to try and convince them otherwise.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 16, 2006 Posts: 2

ADT talked me into cell gauguarden though I was prepared to pay the cancellation fee to get out of the contract early. It took some wrangling, but I convinced them to install it for $75 and keep my monthly monitoring fee at the same rate. (The already high 34.99, what was I thinking when I had it insinstalled The cell gaugourds installed 1 1/2 weeks ago. Monday morning at 1:20am my alarm went off scaring the daylights out of my wife and I. After waiting 10 minutes for ADT never called. I looked at the alarm control and it said zone 6 was triggered, yet I do not have a zone 6. I called ADT and we determined that the cell ggourdlost communication with the tower causing the alarm to trigger. The rep said it is common for cell towers to go down for service in the middle of the night and she receives many calls like mine.

Sorry for the long winded message, but I wanted to let anyone who is considering ADT cell gourd to know what they are getting into. It's ironic that they will not allow Voip because it is "unreliable" when cell gourd appears to be no better.