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What is it and how does it work?
The monitoring for your alarm system is done through an Atlanta area central station. The central station is a facility that receives signals from your system such as fire, burglary, panic, tests, trouble with the system, etc.
When your alarm system is activated by an alarm, it dials out over your phone line and transmits the signal(s) to the central station. When the central station receives the signal(s) it follows a standard procedure based on the type of alarm and any special instructions you have given us.
During the time the signal is transmitting you will notice your phone line goes “dead”. This is because the alarm system “seizes” the line to send signals. The more alarm devices that are set off (doors/windows opened, motion detectors or glass-break detectors activated) the more signals that are sent and the longer the phone line will be seized. This line seizure function ensures that all emergency signals are sent even if you are on the phone, connected to the Internet, sending a fax or have taken the phone off the hook.
As soon as the central station receives a signal, the dispatcher proceeds as follows:
- Your premise is called to verify the alarm.
- If there is no answer, or if answered and an incorrect password is given, the dispatcher will notify the authorities.
- If the authorities are notified, the dispatcher will then contact you or someone on your Emergency Contact List to inform them of the alarm and action taken.
- If the police find no evidence of a problem upon checking your premises, they do NOT call to inform the central station.
- If the police find a problem (such as an open door or broken window) they WILL call the central station to have them inform the owner and may request that the owner or another key holder meet them at the property. It is always good to have at least one person on your contact list that has a key to your property. (Gwinnett County Police will notify owner directly through their own dispatch center.)
The Central Station:
- Has no access to your alarm system from their location. It can only be armed and disarmed at the premises by an authorized user.
- Cannot tell if the system has been turned on or off. They are only alerted if an alarm occurs. If the system is not armed and a burglary occurs, the central station will not be aware of it.
- Cannot tell if the control panel has ceased to function. Test your system monthly and have it professionally checked once a year.
- Cannot tell if the telephone line has failed or been cut. For this concern, it is recommended to install a cellular back up unit, which will transmit signals even if your phone line is not working.
- Does not know when you’re on vacation! Call the office or the central station to notify them of when and how long you’ll be gone, phone number where you can be reached and if anyone will have access to your property while you’re gone.
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