Do all home security systems communicate over POTS?

[Descartes]

That always seemed absurd to me. If all one has to do is cut the phone line so that the system won't communicate with the monitoring office, one has all the freedom they need whilst burglarizing a home. Of course, more measures would need to be taken to kill the siren, but how many people listen to those anyway?

Are there any systems that communicate over radio modem, satellite, etc.? Still not foolproof, but it's a step up...

 

[StageLeft]

My parents' one has an antenna sticking up from it. I'd always assumed that this was so that if the phoneline is cut the head office would receive a radio signal if the alarm was tripped.

 

[Bulk Beef]

The bike shop where I used to work got hit like that. The burglars cut the all of the lines at the main box at the street, killing the phones on the whole block. They smashed through the front door, threw the safe down the stairs, stole a hand truck to haul it away, and netted themselves a grand total of about eighty bucks in cash.

 

[squirrel dog]

Newer models have wireline/wireless.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: sward666
The bike shop where I used to work got hit like that. The burglars cut the all of the lines at the main box at the street, killing the phones on the whole block. They smashed through the front door, threw the safe down the stairs, stole a hand truck to haul it away, and netted themselves a grand total of about eighty bucks in cash.

moral of the story: don't steal from bike shops

 

[dman]

And the phonebox is on the outside of the house and the newer ones don't even need clippers, just:

1) open w/ a phillips screwdriver
2) pull out the RJxx test jacks. Close box (optional)
3) Rob house.

Not that it matters, you'd have a good 30minutes most places before police show up.

About only thing alarms are good for is HOInsurance discount.

 

[rh71]

Yes my security guy said all they'd have to do to disable central monitoring is to cut the phone line outside. He gave me an option of some wireless/cellphone-type deal that calls central station that way... for more money.

 

[StageLeft]

Not that it matters, you'd have a good 30minutes most places before police show up.

Dunno where the heck you live but I highly doubt most people in the US have to wait 30 minutes for the police to show up on a home invasion.

 

[dman]

If you call 911 for a home invasion, no, not a half hour.

But, if your alarm goes off and the alarm company says no response from home owners and notify police, I bet it's still a good bit of time to get in and out w/ the loot.

Really depends on area though.

 

[Ylen13]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Not that it matters, you'd have a good 30minutes most places before police show up.

Dunno where the heck you live but I highly doubt most people in the US have to wait 30 minutes for the police to show up on a home invasion.

wow 30 min no way.All i have to is used a walky talky and cops will be here in second. Parents own medical transportation company so we have radio contact with cops just incase we need them.

 

[MattCo]

Couldnt you just call the house to tie up the line as you break and enter? When the alarm accesses the phone lines to make the outgoing call it will just be "answering" your incoming call and the dial tones and connection will just be broadcast to you. I always wondered that about alarms.

-MC

 

[Ylen13]

Originally posted by: MattCo
Couldnt you just call the house to tie up the line as you break and enter? When the alarm accesses the phone lines to make the outgoing call it will just be "answering" your incoming call and the dial tones and connection will just be broadcast to you. I always wondered that about alarms.

-MC

u would have to know the house phone #

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Ylen13

Originally posted by: MattCo
Couldnt you just call the house to tie up the line as you break and enter? When the alarm accesses the phone lines to make the outgoing call it will just be "answering" your incoming call and the dial tones and connection will just be broadcast to you. I always wondered that about alarms.

-MC

u would have to know the house phone #

That, and it would be an unlisted SEPERATE phone line I'm sure. I doubt many people would ever use their standard phone line as the line for their home security system as well.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Ylen13

Originally posted by: MattCo
Couldnt you just call the house to tie up the line as you break and enter? When the alarm accesses the phone lines to make the outgoing call it will just be "answering" your incoming call and the dial tones and connection will just be broadcast to you. I always wondered that about alarms.

-MC

u would have to know the house phone #

/me dials 411: "Hi, what's the phone # for this address?"

 

[MattCo]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Ylen13

Originally posted by: MattCo
Couldnt you just call the house to tie up the line as you break and enter? When the alarm accesses the phone lines to make the outgoing call it will just be "answering" your incoming call and the dial tones and connection will just be broadcast to you. I always wondered that about alarms.

-MC

u would have to know the house phone #

/me dials 411: "Hi, what's the phone # for this address?"

True, I hadn't thought about that. Using the internet it is easy to find addy/phone #s though.

Also, I don't know of too many people that have seperate phone lines just for their alarm system, probably only the smart ones.

-MC

 

[rh71]

It uses the same primary phone line. When I first moved in, I was testing the alarm, but forgot I was dialed-up to the internet at the time. I set the alarm off (to test) and it promptly kicked me off the internet. Central Station called me a minute later.