The strength of any monitored alarm system lies in its ability to communicate with the facility that is monitoring the Alarm. AlarmNet provides connectivity and redundancy to alarm systems through GPRS, GSM and PSTN technologies.
GPRS
GPRS is an ‘always on’ communication technology and is comparable to 3G broadband services for mobile phones. The GPRS service offered by OPTUS is known as Direct Wireless. The Telstra service is known as “Ultra High Speed” or UHS.
GPRS enabled systems offer multiple redundancies as they have the ability to fall back on GSM services if GPRS communication is unavailable.
Our systems poll GPRS services either every 90 seconds (or 60 minutes depending on plan type) to test that they are functioning correctly. If a response is not received from the GPRS device an alert is triggered at our facility and if backup communication systems offered by the GPRS device do not respond, action is taken.
GSM
GSM technology is an ‘always on’ service that offers a lower data transfer rate to GPRS technologies. If GSM data services fail, they have the ability to communicate with our facility through dialler technology in much the same way a phone call is made on a mobile phone.
PSTN
PSTN technology is data communication through a traditional phone line. Some older alarm systems only communicate via PSTN, while newer technology alarms utilise PSTN as a backup communication method.
4 Communication Paths
= 4 Levels of Redundancy
AlarmNet has the ability to offer 4 communication paths for alarm monitoring. This provides the ability to offer highly redundant systems. A GPRS enabled alarm can fall back on GSM technology in the event of a communication failure, which can in turn fall back on GSM dialler communication. If this fails the Alarm can then utilise PSTN technology if the alarm is connected to a phone line.
IP Monitoring
AlarmNet now offer IP monitoring services (monitoring over the Internet). Your Alarm is monitored via your ADSL Internet Connection with PSTN Back up or GSM.