Vonage and ADT

[MIB]

Will my ADT security system work with FiOS? What about Vonage?

[KenAF · Accepted solution]

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@MIB wrote:
Will my ADT security system work with FiOS? What about Vonage?

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You no longer need a landline for ADT.  You call ADT and tell them that you no longer have a landline.  They'll come out and replace your older phone hookup with a cell device.  It doesn't cost extra.

Cell would seem to be even safer because someone can't bypass your alarm system by cutting the phone line.

[MIB]

What about Vonage?

[KenAF]

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@MIB wrote:
What about Vonage?

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The same applies to Vonage.  If you get Vonage, just call ADT and tell them you no longer have a landline.  They'll come out and replace your box in the basement (or wherever it is they put it) with a newer, cellular model that doesn't require a telephone connection.

@I am on the [unadvertised] $4.99/mo Vonage "Zero" plan that includes unlimited incoming minutes, with outgoing calls @ 0.038 per minute.  My typical Vonage phone bill is a little over $8/mo after taxes.  Most of my outgoing calls are done via my cell.

[Techman28]

yes Vonage does work as all you will have to do is plug it in and let it go.

[exlieut]

Message Edited by exlieut on 01-19-2009 03:31 PM

[exlieut]

Your alarm will work fine with with fios. I happen to be an alarm technician and I just had to help the verizon tech sort things out. Make sure your alarm system still has line seizure when the alarm goes off. Cellular service is normally just used as a back up if your phone line gets cut.(plus you have to pay for cell service for the unit)

[zooky]

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@exlieut wrote:
Your alarm will work fine with with fios. I happen to be an alarm technician and I just had to help the verizon tech sort things out. Make sure your alarm system still has line seizure when the alarm goes off. Cellular service is normally just used as a back up if your phone line gets cut.(plus you have to pay for cell service for the unit)

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THANKS!!!!  That made me feel warm-n-fuzzy all over.

[dbrennan]

I'm a little upset and disappointed in that I contacted Verizon prior to the install to be sure that there would not be a problem with my home security system.  It's about 10 years old but a very good one.  It is a two-way voice system - that is when the alarm is activated, I can speak to the central monitoring station through the keypads.  Since installing FIOS, I have been getting "communicator failed" notifications from the security system, and a check with the monitoring company confirmed that they are not getting a signal.  When I contacted the company that installed the system, I was told that it was most likely a FIOS problem in that the 2 way systems like mine require a copper connection.  Short of completely replacing the security system, what optiions do I have?  System is an Apex Desitny 6100

Message Edited by dbrennan on 06-19-2009 08:12 AM

[CharlesH]

Assuming you have dial tone to the security system, there is really nothing else FiOS could do...

Message Edited by CharlesH on 06-19-2009 01:33 PM

[dbrennan]

Charles, I'm a little dense on this stuff.  How would I determine whether or not I have dial tone to the security system?

[CharlesH]

Some systems have a "test jack" for a phone to be plugged into for testing reasons. If not, how to test would depend on if the telephone wire is either plugged into the system via a rj11 jack or is punched down the with wire showing...

[dbrennan]

OK, I am really disappointed both in Verizon and in my security company at this point.  After 3 weeks of the security company telling me they were in contact with Verizon, I am now told that I will need to spend $499.00 to have the security company replace the security panel with something that uses celluar service instead.  I saw the posts above that suggest ADT would replace the box for free but I find that hard to believe.  Why should they?  After all, it's not ADTs fault that FIOS changed the equation.  I don't have ADT, but am fuming over having to pay 500.00 just to keep something working that was fine before.  It would be different if Verizon had told me up front.  I did ask them, and was told there should not be a problem.  A couple of weeks ago after going around in circles with tech support, I got a message that said something about FIOS using a low voltage signal and that was the problem.  I guess I made a huge mistake going for the "triple play" package.  I'm wondering now if I can ditch the FIOS phone service, go back to copper, and end up losing less money than the 500.00 it's going to cost me to keep things working.

Verizon owes it's customers, particularly long time loyal customers (not to mention retired employee) better than this kind of treatment.  At least be honest with people up front so they can make an informed decision.

[zooky]

How about APX?  They're coming out to dig up my lawn today, install FIOS next week.  I called Tech support at Verizon, they're not sure, suggested I call APX.  Called APX, they said they don't support digital especially VOIP.  FIOS is NOT VOIP so that gives me a better chance but they're not sure.  Said to call them before installer leaves and they'll send test signals to see if it works.

If it doesn't I have to go back to copper.  Has anyone been through all of this?  Did they charge you for the install, deinstall and then again for going back to copper?

[Keyboards]

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@zooky wrote:

  FIOS is NOT VOIP so that gives me a better chance but they're not sure.  Said to call them before installer leaves and they'll send test signals to see if it works.

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Correct - FiOS is not VOIP.  For all intents and purposes it is the same POTS that you have had forever over copper.  The only difference is that the carriage from your home to the CO is now digital and converted to ATM (by a SLIC in the ONT) as opposed to analog for many thousand feet before being converted to digital (ATM) at the CO.

Don't know about the charges from Verizon, just thought I'd elaborate on the technology differences and similarities.

Message Edited by Keyboards on 01-19-2009 02:12 PM

[zooky]

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@Keyboards wrote:

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@zooky wrote:

  FIOS is NOT VOIP so that gives me a better chance but they're not sure.  Said to call them before installer leaves and they'll send test signals to see if it works.

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Correct - FiOS is not VOIP.  For all intents and purposes it is the same POTS that you have had forever over copper.  The only difference is that the carriage from your home to the CO is now digital and converted to ATM (by a SLIC in the ONT) as opposed to analog for many thousand feet before being converted to digital (ATM) at the CO.

Don't know about the charges from Verizon, just thought I'd elaborate on the technology differences and similarities.

Message Edited by Keyboards on 01-19-2009 02:12 PM

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Hmmm, *sounds* reasonable.  But, if that's the case, I wonder why APX says they "don't support" digital.  Something doesn't add up here.

[MIB]

What is APX?

[zooky]

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@MIB wrote:
What is APX?

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APX is just the name of yet another alarm system company.

[Keyboards]

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@zooky wrote:

Hmmm, *sounds* reasonable.  But, if that's the case, I wonder why APX says they "don't support" digital.  Something doesn't add up here.

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Probably because APX doesn't understand the implementaion used with FiOS and just ASSUMES it is a VOIP/digital implementaion because of all the FiOS advertising calling it all digital.  Just my assumption   FiOS is POTS - the connection past the ONT in your home is analog.

[zooky]

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@zooky wrote:

Message Edited by Keyboards on 01-19-2009 02:12 PM

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Hmmm, *sounds* reasonable.  But, if that's the case, I wonder why APX says they "don't support" digital.  Something doesn't add up here.

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Just a quick f.y.i. - FIOS installed with NO interuption of APX functionality (APX tested it at the other end).

Perceived problem solved.