On this page:

• Digital Dialler
• IP Multipath
• GSM
• Medical Alarms (Medi Alarm)

Digital Dialler:

Majority of intruder alarm systems installed have the provision of a digital dialler as a built in option. A digital dialler requires an active conventional telephone service or PSTN (public switched telephone network) to transmit signals to the monitoring station. Security Control Systems Australia’s qualified technicians can provide the Telco outlet if required.

Diallers are the most common method of communicating to a monitoring station. As the service is a dial up, local phone call cost associated with every dial up transmission to the monitoring station is chargeable. The cost per call is charged accordingly by the service provider to the service billing account holder. The associated phone call cost generated by the dialler are an additional cost to the monitoring charges.

The alarm panel are commissioned with dedicated 1345 primary and secondary service numbers. The dedicated 1345 service number provide total duplication which is connected to two separate answer point numbers on different PSTN networks and technologies, including two dialler receivers providing a degree of redundancy. It should be outlined that the transmission path being fully duplicated is still not constantly monitored.

Security Control Systems Australia suggests that regular tests are sent by the alarm panel at least 168 hour cycle periods for domestic alarm monitoring, and 24 hour cycle periods for commercial premises to the monitoring station. Automatic tests are programmed in the alarm system by our technicians. These automatic system dial check ins to the monitoring station are known as periodic test signals. Security Control Systems recommends that each separate detection device or commonly known as a zone be transmitted independently when the device is activated and in an alarm state. Each monitored system is configured for dialler lockout. Dialler lockout is a feature which allows the alarm system to telephone the monitoring station only the one call per alarm point activation. Dialler or zone lockout and ensures that you as the client do not receive excessive phone charges due to unnecessary transmissions to the monitoring station. All system event signals are also sent and monitored. A system event for example could be a low battery, fuse failure or mains failure.

The use of a dialler as the transmission method is based on the risk assessment for the premises as contained in Australian Standard AS/NZS2201.1:2007 (Systems Installed in Clients Premises), and as per the specifications and limitations which are contained in AS/NZS2201.5:2008 (Alarm Transmission Systems). In the event your site requires a higher level of monitoring to better suit the Premises Risk, consideration should be given to the Inner Range IP based Multipath device.

For further information about the installation or monitoring of a digital dialler system please contact us and our sales and technical team will assist you with your enquiry.

IP Multipath:

The IP Multipath system is a relatively new high security monitoring service which is a SECURITEL replacement. The Multipath device utilises a combination of either Ethernet, and or GPRS and PSTN to transmit signals to dedicated servers located at the monitoring station.

The multipath has been developed in Australia by Inner Range. The multipath is part of the Fratech product family range and is installed and maintained by Security Control Systems Australia in accordance with Australian Standards AS/NZS2201.5:2008.

The Transmission System can be configured to a Class 3, Class 4 or Class 5 monitoring service and has multiple polled transmission paths to ensure speed of transmission of alarm signals and reliability of service via a high availability.

To keep costs at an cost effect level this system endeavors to use Ethernet as the Primary path. GPRS is charged on the amount of use and data sent.

The following are the path configurations which are available for IP Multipath system to communicate from the Intruder Alarm System installed in the Client's Premises to the monitoring equipment located at the monitoring station.

Path 1: Ethernet connection using an ADSL service on the Public IP or Proprietary Ethernet service used in a Company local area network(LAN). Either connection has 128 bit AES encryption for security of the data transmitted.
Path 2or 1: GPRS reporting via a Telstra National VPN as the backup path or as the primary path where Ethernet is not available. Other service providers such as Vodafone or Optus can be used
Path 3or 2: PSTN reporting via the normal Telephone Service as the third non polled path or GPRS via a Vodafone connection as the backup to the Primary GPRS where Ethernet is unavailable.
Path 3: PSTN as the third path to two GPRS services where Ethernet is unavailable.

There are two Multipath IP types which intelligently select the most available Path to transmit alarm information in accordance with Australian Standards AS/NZS2201.5:2008 to achieve Class 3, 4 or 5 signaling. The two Multipath types are Multipath Ethernet IP STU or Multipath GPRS STU. The most common standard selected Class 3 polling rate of one hundred and twenty (120) . Based on the Risk and System Classification and the system intelligently uses the combination of the three paths to transmit alarms and system information. The Primary Ethernet system with GPRS as the Backup path is the most cost effective solution with the added advantage of alternative technologies and is the preferred choice for this product.

For further information about the installation or monitoring of an IP Multipath system please contact us and our technical sales team will be able to assist you with your enquiry.

GSM

GSM is the second generation of digital technology used for mobile phone communication but with the added capacity to send data services. In the Security Alarm Industry it is used to transmit digital alarm signals as a backup to or to replace the PSTN Telephone Digital Dialler if the service is not available.

A GSM module containing a SIM card is included or can be added to a security alarm panel by Security Control Systems Australia to allow reporting over the GSM Network. The GSM network is primarily shared with other mobile phone services supplied by Telecommunications Carriers such as Telstra, Optus, Vodafone etc. Some of the systems available in the market place also use the SMS (short message service) path to transmit signals but this should only be used for low priority messages not alarm conditions as SMS is a “Store and Forward” method with no time requirements for a message delivery.

In should be addressed that the GSM method of alarm signal transmission shares the network with voice communications which consists of many users, a voice priority in demand, complicated switching between network cells, and variance in signal strength. Due to these variables beyond the control of Security Control Systems Australia, it is strongly advised that Alarm signals over GSM Networks should not be considered as a solution for a higher level of security monitoring. The GSM network is primarily a dedicated voice service and on occasion can be corrupted and messages can be lost. It is not normally a polled service and as such is a backup to a dialler.

If you require any assistance regarding the installation or monitoring of GSM backup system please contact us and our technical sales team will be able to assist you with your enquiry.

Medical Alarms (Medi Alarm)

The Medi-alarm is a locally designed and manufactured unit by NESS. Similar to the monitoring of a digital dialler, the medi alarm utilises conventional telephone service or PSTN (public switched telephone network) to transmit signals to the monitoring centre. The service is a non polled service and additional interfaces can be added for a higher level of redundancy. Features of the medi-alarm include a reminder for medication. A feature of the medi alarm which Security Control Systems Australia monitor is inactivity monitor alarm whereby if movement is not detected within a certain pre programmed time frame an alarm event is transmitted to the monitoring station. Response instructions to an alarm signal can be tailored to your individual needs and could be to alert a carer if not contact is established on site or to the dispatch the Ambulance Service.

For further information about the installation and monitoring of the medi-alarm please contact us and our team will assist with your enquiry.