| FAQ
What is alarm
monitoring?
Upon receiving a signal from your home or
business, Alarm Relay dispatchers will immediately call the
location to verify whether you set your alarm off accidentally.
Whoever answers the phone is required to give a secret password
that is stored securely in our records. If we do not receive an
answer or if an answering machine picks up, we will immediately
dispatch your nearest local authorities and/or contact your
approved call list. If a panic button is triggered or if a smoke
detector signal is received, we will immediately dispatch and
then call your home. In any event, it is your nearest local
authorities (Police, Fire, and Paramedic) that respond.
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How does it work?
Your security system is designed to plug
into a standard phone jack installed at your premises on one of
your regular telephone lines. When activated, a relay in your
security system dials our the central station and the signal is
received. The call to our central monitoring station is placed
over a toll-free number.
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What happens during a
power failure?
Your security system runs on the AC current
in your home normally. However if the power fails, your system
will automatically revert to its own back-up battery for several
hours if necessary. Once the power to your home returns, your
security system automatically reverts back to AC current.
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What is an RJ31X Jack?
Your security system is also designed to
plug into a RJ31X jack. The RJ31X provides additional security
through a feature knows as “line seizure.” When activated, a
relay in your security system "seizes" your phone line and gives
the security system priority use of this line, allowing the
security system to report its signals to Alarm Relay’s central
monitoring station. This means that if you are talking on the
phone when the alarm is triggered, your call will be
disconnected and the alarm signal will be received by the
central station.
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What if I want to test my system?
By calling the Alarm Relay monitoring
station and requesting that they put your system into a "test"
mode, you can activate the system and then test any feature you
have. Alarm Relay representatives will be happy to inform you
about the signal they received and where it came from in the
home.
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What if I accidentally
set of my alarm system?
If you ever accidentally set off your
security system, don’t worry. Alarm Relay representatives will
call you immediately upon receiving a signal. When you answer
the phone they will identify themselves and ask you to do the
same. Here is where you will give them your secret password.
They will not dispatch the police to your home if you simply
tell them your password. CAUTION: If the signaled received is a
“panic” or “fire” signal, we dispatch the authorities first and
they call you.
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What if I am currently
under an alarm-monitoring contract?
If you have an existing monitoring agreement
with another provider, you have to wait until it expires. Most
providers require advanced notice before you can cancel. Also,
it is common practice in the industry to use “automatic
roll-over agreements.” So watch your expiration date closely.
Once you are free from your obligation, give us a call. We want
an opportunity to earn your business.
We recommend that you send a certified
letter to your provider immediately. Inform them that you want
to continue your service on a month-to-month basis once the term
of your agreement is completed. Send this letter now. It will
protect you from automatic rollover agreements.
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What is a zone?
A zone is an area that is monitored by your
alarm. Typically a door, window, or motion sensors are
separate zones. If you are requesting an install or
upgrade it is very helpful for us to know how many zones you
have prior to contacting us. For example if you have 3
doors, 5 windows, and 2 motion sensors this would equal 10
zones. Anything over 8 zones increases the cost of a new
system and more than one keypad also increases the cost.
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