If you presently use a regular hard phone line, your services could be limited in the near future. Voice over internet protocol is the latest practical way to make phone calls over your internet connection. VoIP is a recreation of the telephone, allowing users to reach anyone across the globe with little to no issues as well as at a lower cost. More importantly, if you have a security system, the inevitable switch from a hard phone line to Voice over Internet Protocol will eventually make your systems unable to function.
Here is some helpful information to answer what Voice over IP is and how you can keep your security system running optimally.
What is Voice over Internet Protocol?
VoIP basically just uses your internet connection to place your call. VoIP transmits someone’s voice into a digital signal that can travel across that internet connection. The technology behind VoIP will entirely replace traditional phone systems and render them obsolete. Companies Vonage or MagicJack, offer services that allow customers to make calls to virtually anyone with a phone number and internet connection, all at a fraction of the price. Many major telephone service companies such as Verizon and AT&T are also converting towards VoIP.
Calls are limited to only places that you have a broadband connection. However, home systems that have internet connection and public internet places make VoIP more flexible than the traditional wireline system.
How Does VoIP Affect Security System?
A traditional telephone system works by the phone service company running a telephone line to central point in your home. A typical older alarm system will by using a telephone signal from that same center point. The alarm system is able to “capture” and take over the phone line when the alarm system needs to transmit an important signal to its central monitoring hub. Due to the fact that VoIP is entirely wireless, alarm systems that are using a VoIP platform will need the same access to send an emergency signal to its center monitoring device.
Most VoIP systems are enabled with a similar feature known as QoS or quality of service. The feature allows for prioritized information to be sent digitally over the internet connection so platforms such as your alarm system can stay reliable and consistent. A highly qualified alarm technician needs to ensure your system will successfully “capture” the line through the new wireless method.
Other Need to Know Info
Within the next 10 years, switching to VoIP will no longer be optional. Here are some other helpful tips to ensure your alarm system will continue to run smoothly, keeping you and your family safe:
- Contact your telephone service providers on more information about the switch to VoIP from traditional wirelineservice.
- VoIP calls can drop or be interrupted if your internet connection speed is too slow. Most service providers can tell you the exact speed of your connection. Contact customer support to make sure sure your internet speed is at least 384 kbps(kilobits per second) for a good VoIP experience.
- Be sure to ask for the Quality of Service (QoS) feature so systems like your alarm can run consistently on your new VoIP service.
- Power outages can prevent your alarm system from using an internet connection. A standard alarm system will have a backup power supply for the centralized monitoring hub in case there is a loss of power, but a computer or internet modem will not. Make sure you have an uninterruptible power supply device for backing up all of your internet based devices in case of a power outage.
