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Radio monitoring is quickly replacing phone line monitoring.
By Steve Coppola
During a recent string of burglaries on Staten Island, it was brought to my attention that alarm systems were “disabled prior to entry.” What this means is that the intruders simply cut the phone lines, which are generally located outside the home and are easily accessible to a criminal. The actual alarm system would still work, assuming it was armed; however, the Central Station would not receive the signal. Thus, the police and homeowner would not be notified, and only the sound of a local siren (which could be disabled by the burglar) would result.
Technology has existed since 1995 which allows alarm system owners to replace obsolete “phone line monitoring” with an “AES Intellinet” radio transmitter. I have been recommending this equipment for years and remain puzzled as to why most people haven’t switched. When I called alarm owners to ask, the typical response was “ since I’ve had your alarm, I have never been robbed so I’m not interested right now.” Meanwhile, those homeowners who have had their phone lines cut and their home burglarized are in panic mode now looking for a solution. If you know any of them, perhaps you should send them a copy of this article.
Typically, after an initial installation charge of under $300, the homeowner (or business owner) gets an incomparably higher level of protection without having to pay a higher monthly charge, since AES completely eliminates the need for the phone line monitoring. This is good news also for those who wish to eliminate phone service (using cell phones instead) or those that have the added risk of their phones being affected by their cable provider. Since each AES radio transmitter has its own built in repeater, the proximity to the Central Station is of utmost importance. Staten Island alone has over 400 repeater sites making the borough an optimal choice for AES transmitters.
My second choice is a cellular transmitter, for homeowners that are not monitored by a central station that has an AES network in their area. Unfortunately, cellular relies primarily on signal strength which varies throughout the island and was affected severely during our nation’s last emergency. In addition, the monthly fee is usually higher due to a third party cellular charge. Call your alarm company and ask whether a disabled telephone line would render your protection useless. If so, inform them that you are interested in radio monitoring. However, unless they are subcontracting the monitoring to a local central station that offers AES Intellinet, don’t be surprised if they only recommend cellular.
Whether you already have an alarm or are contemplating the purchase of one, do your homework on how the system will be monitored. All alarm companies know how to protect doors, windows and other access points but very few have invested in, what I consider to be the most effective method of transmitting that crucial alarm signal. Imagine paying year after year for Central Station Monitoring only to discover that when you really needed it, it failed.
