A recent communication failure of AlarmNet and several failures by systems utilizing Amazon Web Services (AWS), such as Ring, resulting in alarm signals NOT being transmitted to their respective monitoring stations, we feel it is critical to discuss diversity of communication paths to your central station.
There are currently four options for communications utilized by Guard Tronic (most other companies can offer the first three of these).
1 – Digital communicators should be upgraded as soon as possible.  Plain Ole Telephone Service (POTS) is nearing its end-of-life. The copper that phone companies strung all over the US is now being used for more efficient communication methods, like internet.  If you still use an alarm system that communicates over a telephone line, we highly recommend calling us to discuss options for upgrading.
2 – Internet – The fastest way to communicate an alarm is over the internet.  Provided your internet is reliable and your IT guy allows it, we highly recommend using the internet as one method to communicate to our central station. The bandwidth necessary for sending alarm traffic is minimal (almost undetectable) and requires nothing more than an always-on connection (DSL, cable modem, fiber modem, etc.).  Other than a IPv4 to IPv6 upgrade in the distant future, the internet provides a fast, reliable, long-term solution for communicating alarms.
3 – Cellular – One of the most reliable communication paths is cellular. While more expensive than internet communicators, it provides a dedicated path to the central station, which allows remote access to your system for remote control via smart device apps.
4 – Two-way radio – the FCC has dedicated some frequencies for alarm companies to communicate. This is true point-to-point communication with no third-party service providers (not dependent on an internet service provider or cell phone company).  Because of the limited power requirements, only Guard Tronic customers in the Fort Smith area and Northwest Arkansas are eligible to use this service.
Guard Tronic’s monitoring center is a UL 827 Central Station, which means we can have no single point of failure. We utilize three internet service providers, two local telephone providers, and three long distance providers to exceed the UL 827 requirements. We highly recommend using two of the options above to ensure the emergency signals sent by your alarm system are received by our listed central station.
We would love to speak with you about the diversity of communication paths used by your current system and discuss any upgrades you may wish to achieve.
Guard Tronic
Proven Property Protection Since 1959
(800) 542-7866
info@guardtronic.com