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MORE ON PROBLEM WITH BACK UP POWER SOURCE FOR COMMUNICATION PATHWAYS
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Ken,
    The bigger question to backup batteries on these modems is, why are you not indicating to your customer that these are not POTS lines and VOIP does not work in our industry? Most, if not all, of these modems are VOIP, digital to analog converters, IP over cable, etc., and don't work with alarm panels 100% of the time!  Unless you are using an alarm panel that uses an IP based technology on a modem that is designed for an IP based world, then look for the problems to start. I will agree that some providers “work” with alarm panels designed for POTS better than others, but is receiving 9 out of 10 alarm signals good enough for you?  Not me. Make the customer aware! Sell them a system that works with IP, use a cell or backup radio. Then when the power is out and the chicken ***t modem the cable company provided doesn’t work, the alarm passes through cell/radio. I am good with 98% of my alarm traffic passing through a cable modem, AT&T Uverse, Satellite, whatever, without any power backup to them, but there had better be some sort of backup communication on the alarm system that I maintain and know works. 
    And by the way, replace your batteries in your alarm panels, they don’t cost that much. 3-5 years is when they fail. NFPA says 5 years max. A good battery prevents so many issues!
Jason
TEXAS
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Ken,

    I find it humorous that some of us in the industry are still trying to fool ourselves into thinking we can work with the “phone line” provided by Comcast (11-11-15 newsletter) by using battery backup or increased test signal supervision.  If you look at the fine print on the Xfinity/Comcast home security offering they require you to have a “compatible high-speed Internet service” when you install an Xfinity/Comcast home security system. My understanding is they back that high-speed Internet service up with cellular. If Comcast isn’t using their own phone service to provide alarm signals to the central station why would we try to make our alarm systems work with it? I’m sure the argument will be that they just want to “lock the customer in” to the high speed service but if that was the only reason why not lock them into Internet OR phone service?

    Directly from Xfinity’s website (http://www.xfinity.com/corporate/legal/XHSecure300_2995x12) on 11-11-15:  “…Requires subscription to compatible high-speed Internet service. Visit www.Xfinity.com/XFINITYHomeSupport for more details.”    

     Increasing the test supervision time or installing a UPS or battery backup for the system only helps assure the equipment is up and running, it doesn’t do anything for the corrupted signals or the delay in communication because the panel has to attempt to send the signal multiple times before it actually can get through successfully. It is very difficult to educate and explain all of this to a customer when someone else will walk in behind you and say “sure it will work on your Comcast/FIOS phone line”. I wonder what happens when someone suffers a loss and through discovery of the central station records it can be shown that the signals from that security system were routinely taking 2-3-4 attempts to successfully send the signal. I know the Kirschenbaum contracts should protect the dealer since the communication method is outside of the dealer’s control but when you’ve assured someone that their system will “work” on phone line and they can show that it is a known issue that signals get lost or misinterpreted using that same phone line it is an argument I don’t want to have to defend.

BG
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Ken,
    When I come across someone with modem based telephone service I tell them the pitfalls.  If they do not want an alternate medium I have them sign your Disclaimer Notice that I warned them that there are times their alarm system will not report.  Is this OK?
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Barney O’Donnell
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RESPONSE
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    Yes.  That is one of the items covered in the Disclaimer Notice.  The All in One forms also make the point.
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