Can I use EVL3 and keep monitoring from alarm company

[alec6542]

Hello,

I have a DSC 1832 installed by a local dealer who have their own monitoring. I paid full price for the system and it belongs to me. I just got an EVL3 module I have yet to install. Right now I already have regular telephone monitoring with my local alarm company, which I pay $18 a month for.I am fine with that, and would like to keep the regular monitoring, but also have the EVL3 so I can remotely arm and disarm my alarm, which I cannot do right now. Will installing the EVL3 affect the monitoring that my alarm company provides?

[Flyct]

Hello,

would like to keep the regular monitoring, but also have the EVL3 so I can remotely arm and disarm my alarm, which I cannot do right now. Will installing the EVL3 affect the monitoring that my alarm company provides?

YES! The EVL-3 works great with whatever monitoring company you have. It is just like installing an additional keypad.

My main home is monitored with Alarm Relay. It has an IpDatatel CDMA radio and IP connection to the central station in addition to the Envisalink-3. The IpDatatel has a prettier user interface APP for the iphone but the Envisalink-3 connection communicates for arming and disarming more reliably.It takes between 15-30 seconds for commands to reach the alarm system My remote access preference is Eyezzon Envisalink.

The Envisalink texts work great also with whatever monitoring company you have.

[alec6542]

Alright so the EVL3 will not affect the monitoring by the alarm company. Is it even necessary to let the alarm people know that I will be installing an EVL3, or can I just do it?

[NonTech]

There is one issue you should be aware of. Because you turn on a number of alerts, it is possible that your Monitoring Company might bark at the number extraneous alerts that will be sent their way and might want to charge you extra per month for the "extraneous" alerts being sent their way.

There is at least one Poster who reported this very same issue. I will try to find the thread and link it if I do find it. I would suggest you discuss it with your Monitoring Company to see if it will be an issue with them before moving ahead with the installation. Of course you do have the option of using the EnvisaLink 3 as your primary mode of Alarm Monitoring using either a Company such as Alarm Relay or the Eyez-On Launches Full ULC Monitoring Option:

http://forum.eyez-on.com/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=207

thereby abandoning your current Monitoring Company PSTN (Phone Line) Monitoring.

Do you know who your Local Monitoring Company uses for their Monitoring and can they monitor your Alarm System using the EnvisaLink 3? Often times, they are not using their own MC, but some National Monitoring Company and they are just a reseller.

EDIT: Here is the link to the Thread where the Alarm Monitoring Company (Alarm Relay) wanted to charge an extra $15 per month for "Extra Alerts" (opening/Closings) being sent to them.

http://forum.eyez-on.com/FORUM/viewtopi ... d54f#p2588

[alec6542]

Thanks for your reply. My local alarm company who installed and monitors my system does all their their own monitoring from their office in town. It's one of the nice things about the company and the main reason I want to keep using them. They do offer their own interactive package, C24 or spmething like that, for their alarms, but it costs an extra $15 a month. That is why I decided to give EVL3 a try.

[NonTech]

Not to debate the issue with you, but have you seen this Central Station with your own eyes or are you parroting what they have told you? Is this a UL Certified/Listed Central Station (UL listed for both alarm monitoring service and Burglar and Fire system installation) and what type of redundancy do they have in place? Are they a full standalone Central Station or are they simply relaying signals (using some unattended piece of equipment) to another Nationwide Monitoring Company?

There was this Installer (who worked for one of the big Alarm Companyies and freelance on the side) who converted a friend of mine ADT System to an Updated Ademco VISTA 20P, with all wireless window contacts (there was no window contact before), Wireless Smoke Detectors, Keyfobs, etc. He was pressuring the homeowner to let him supply her with Alarm Monitoring. She declined his offer and went with Alarm Relay. We discovered later through another Dealer/Sales Representative that the "Unlicensed"/"Non-UL Listed Central Station Monitoring this Installer was offering was being run out of someone's Master Bedroom in Miami, Florida....that WAS the Central Station. The Central Station was being Monitored by the Wife and Husband Team from their Bedroom. I'm sure none of their customers knew that this was the setup that existed or knew who their Monitoring Company was or where they were located.

BTW, we couldn't get the Installer to come back to address any minor issues with the system, since his installation cost was very low and he was pissed he did not sell my friend this 3-year monitoring contract with this Bedroom Montoring Company.

Thanks for your reply. My local alarm company who installed and monitors my system does all their their own monitoring from their office in town. It's one of the nice things about the company and the main reason I want to keep using them. They do offer their own interactive package, C24 or something like that, for their alarms, but it costs an extra $15 a month. That is why I decided to give EVL3 a try.

[Flyct]

I originally went with the Eyzon central station monitoring using the Envisalink to communicate with central station. It was 8.95/ month.

I was concerned about Internet reliability so the I installed an iPdatatel CBAT that communicates via CDMA. GSM at&t signal was horrible at the house). I bought the CBAT from Alarm Relay for $179. I self installed it and now have phone line monitoring, Internet monitoring via the CBAT and CDMA radio monitoring via CBAT reporting to Alarm Relays Central station. All this for $16.95/mo which includes interactive iPhone keypad, text messages and live person monitoring at UL Listed Central Station.

As a backup I also have my Envisalink for interactive and text messages.

I have everything reporting and Alarm Relay had no issue with this

[median]

I would install an UPS if I concerned about internet stability. For example, Motorola 6141 cable modem consumes 9W, a WiFi router for 6W, and 5W for power adapter loss = Total 20W. If you install 330W APC ES550 UPS(+-$60), it will backup for +15 hours.

Protecting a cable box outside home will be an issue...

[alec6542]

Not to debate the issue with you, but have you seen this Central Station with your own eyes or are you parroting what they have told you? Is this a UL Certified/Listed Central Station (UL listed for both alarm monitoring service and Burglar and Fire system installation) and what type of redundancy do they have in place? Are they a full standalone Central Station or are they simply relaying signals (using some unattended piece of equipment) to another Nationwide Monitoring Company?

With my own eyes, no. However, this alarm company has been in business for almost 60 years, and they have nearly 100% residential marketshare in my town, based on me looking at yard signs.

I've tripped few false alarm at my house several times, and the person who calls is almost always the same lady I talk to to when I called them about a payment issue . When they installed the system, they tried to sell me on paying the extra $18 a month for cellular communications by talking about its more secure, and how they recently purchased their own $150k on-site cellular receiver, and it is constantly "pinging" our systems. Whether this is true or not I don't know. I turned down having cellular.
So back to my question, can I just install the EVL3 without letting them know, or will the EVL3 disrupt their phone monitoring somehow?

Thanks again.

[Flyct]

I would install an UPS if I concerned about internet stability. For example, Motorola 6141 cable modem consumes 9W, a WiFi router for 6W, and 5W for power adapter loss = Total 20W. If you install 330W APC ES550 UPS(+-$60), it will backup for +15 hours.

Protecting a cable box outside home will be an issue...

I've been using APC UPS's for years. I do have a UPS powering the cable modem/router and for the Verizon Fios box it has a 8ah backup battery. The Ups works only when home power is the only thing that goes down. When the provider has an outage the ups doesn't help.

I'm currently away from home and just received this text below from Verizon. My services will be down for possibly 24+ hours.

With cellular (CDMA) device the alarm still can contact central station and with the CBAT I have full ability to monitor and full ability to interactively control it remotely via iPhone.


"Outage Alert- All Services Impacted
An outage has been detected that impacts your ability to use the Internet, send and receive email, and utilize FiOS TV services, including live TV and Video on Demand, and telephone services. Estimated Restoration time: 19-APR-15 06:15:00 EDT"

"