LANVAC - ULC Alarm Monitoring

Spectrum Systems is partnered with LANVAC for its ULC alarm monitoring services for intrusion and fire systems. Video monitoring to confirm alarm is also available Professional team of highly trained operators responding to EVERY alarm signal in real time 24/7. With 5 monitoring stations that are synchronized, the signals are sent to all station simultaneously allowing the first available operator to respond to the alarm. Very competitive rates with no long term contracts.

Ajax Systems Wireless security systems

Cellular / GSM Monitoring

Many control panels are moving to cellular/GSM technology to transmit signals to monitoring stations. In a similar method to traditional phone lines, alarm notifications are transmitted via cellular signal.

Cellular Advantages:

Lower cost monitoring for houses that wish to drop or do not have a phone line
Phone lines cannot be cut, can still function on battery backup unlike most Broadband solutions
Cellular technology is now very stable

Cellular Disadvantages:

Hardware in slightly more expensive
poor weather & location can cause week cellular signals

Using a Phone Line Monitoring

Also known as POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) monitoring, this is the traditional and tried and true form of monitoring. Most alarm companies still offer monitoring by phone line, and existing alarm equipment is more likely to be designed for your phone line.

Phone Line Advantages:

Compatibility with a large number of monitoring devices
Alarm seizes line to transmit signal
If the control panel has a battery back up, the system will operate during a power outage
Very stable technology, panels are likely to be more reliable

Phone Line disadvantages:

Costs: a POTS is required to use phone monitoring. For households that are now exclusively using cell phones this is an added monthly expense
Phone lines can easily be cut

Broadband Monitoring (High Speed Internet)

Everything from your cell phones to your day planner has moved to your broadband connection, why not your alarm monitoring? Connect directly to your monitoring station using the internet.

Broadband Advantages:

Bundling with home automation products becomes practical
No phone line required

Broadband disadvantages:

Only as stable as your internet connection is, anything that can interrupt your network can now interrupt your monitoring
Some control panels are still more expensive than POTS models or a T-Link modem is needed

VOIP Monitoring

Voice-Over-IP monitoring combines POTS technology and Broadband for an alerting system. Adapters transmit a voice signal over the internet to monitoring station. This method is only recommended if you ownership of legacy hardware and desire to not pay for a phone line are import factors. This method is sometime is unreliable and should be tested prior to implementing. When signals get translated from analog to digital and back to analog, it sometimes misses some data.

Unmonitored System : Going without a Monitoring Package

The easiest way to save costs is to completely abandon monitoring. Your alarm will still work, but there will be no notifications. This is the least secure, and least expensive choice for your home security system.

Unmonitored Advantages:

No monthly costs or contracts
No false alarms
Sirens and other alarms still work
Deterrents such as stickers, cameras and signs are still valuable tools

Unmonitored disadvantages:

Obviously, that fact that it is no monitored
You will not be notified if you are not within earshot of the alarm
No monitoring company agents will be contacted
The police will not be contacted if the monitoring company needs to escalate the alert