The first thing to do is press the '#' sign on the keypad. This will cause the beeping to stop. The trouble light will remain lit until the problem is rectified.

Determining what the problem is depends on the keypad. Press '*' and then the number '2'. If you have an LCD keypad which displays information in plain language, it will tell you exactly what the problem is. If you have an LED keypad, one of the first 8 'zone lights' will come on. Make note of which number it is. The number corresponds to a condition. Information on trouble conditions is available in your user manual. If you do not have a manual, one can be downloaded here.

Press '*' then '6' then the Master Code. The Master Code is the primary code used to turn the system on and off. It is most likely the code you are using. This will put you into system programming. Press '1' to set the time, and then enter it in 24-hour format (01 to 12 and 13 to 23 for hours). Press '#' twice to leave programming.

We recommend testing your alarm system at least twice a year. It is important to alert the monitoring station that you are testing your system BEFORE sending any signals to them. Your passcard should list the monitoring station phone number which is 1-877-888-2527 as well as your system number. If you do not have a passcard, please contact our office.

Call the monitoring station and give them your system number. Ask them to put your system on test. From there you can arm the system as you normally would, making sure to open and close the entry door so the system believes you are leaving the building. Once the exit delay beeping has stopped, you can run around the house opening doors, windows and setting off motion detectors. Let the sirens ring for a minute or so, then type in your code to silence them.

When your phone lines return, call the monitoring station back and give them your system number. They should be able to tell you exactly which devices were tripped. If anything seems strange, please contact our office and arrange for a service call if necessary.

A properly installed security system is connected into your telephone lines via a special jack called a CA38-A. This jack allows the security system to 'seize' dial tone from the lines when it needs to contact the monitoring station. This prevents someone from taking a phone off the hook, or someone dropping a telephone and interrupting communication to the station. When a panel seizes a line, it is temporary, and should never be more than a minute or two. If your phones are out for a long period of time, it is a simple matter to unplug the CA38-A jack. It should be located near your security system panel, probably near your electrical panel. It looks just like a phone jack, only slightly larger. If, when the jack is unplugged, your telephones return to service, there is a problem with your system. If however, the phones are still malfunctioning, it is likely a Bell problem with the incoming lines.

YES. Because of the way a security system is connected to your telephone lines (see above) high-speed DSL signals pass directly through the modem in the panel. As well as the possibility this could damage your security system, alarm signals may not be received properly at the monitoring station due to the extra noise on the line. A filter is required on the CA38-A jack which is connected to the alarm panel. Note that a regular filter supplied by Bell will NOT work. A special filter is required to allow the signals to pass by the alarm and continue on. Filters are available from us, please call if you have any questions.

Yes.......and no. VoIP as it is commonly called uses a high-speed connection to allow for telephone conversations over the internet. The system simulates a dial tone and then converts the voice sounds to a digital format for transmission. There are several concerns with alarm systems and VoIP. The first is that often the dial tone is 'backfed' over the existing telephone lines. This can either remove the security system entirely from the circuit, or at the very least remove the line-seizure function which is an integral part of your personal security.

The second concern is that the sounds are manipulated by the VoIP system in order to transmit them. While almost all of the time this is seamless, sometimes slight noises are generated. These can prevent the sensitive modem tones of the security system from reaching their destination. While we are fairly sure that the alarm will work, there are NO GUARANTEES that any given signal will reach the station.

And finally, most critically, if power is out to the VoIP unit that means no telephones. No telephones means no security. A UPS will provide a few minutes of backup power, but a few minutes is not good enough when your personal protection is the concern. Understand therefore, if you have Voice over IP, and we connect an alarm system to it, you will be required to sign a waiver that we are not responsible for any damage to the equipment, or for any lost signals to the monitoring station.