customer care center > questions > cellular transmitter
faq's regarding your alarm system’s cellular transmitter
1. Does my alarm system require upgrading from an analog to a digital cellular transmitter?
If you received our mailing, Interface Security Systems records show that an analog cellular transmitter is part of your security system.
2. What is AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service)? What is digital?
In the United States, AMPS analog cellular service was widely deployed in the 1980s. Analog cellular services became so popular that the analog systems reached capacity. Digital cellular signaling was developed to add capacity and advanced features. Digital signaling is now the worldwide standard and analog systems will be going out of service.
3. How do I know if my cellular transmitter is analog?
If your system was installed before April 2006, and it included a cellular transmitter, it will have an analog model that must be replaced. If your system was installed after April 2006, Interface Security Systems is attempting to contact customers through letters and phones calls to notify them if they are affected.
4. Why does my alarm system require this upgrade from an analog to a digital cellular transmitter?
Upgrades are necessary as a result of a policy change by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) allowing cellular operators to upgrade their analog networks to digital technology. ALL analog cellular devices, including those used in conjunction with security systems, MUST be upgraded to digital in order to operate on the cellular operators’ digital cellular networks.
5. What happens to my system if I do not upgrade?
If you use analog cellular as a parallel method of alarm signal transmission, your security system will not be able to transmit signals to Interface Security Systems Monitoring Centers when the standard telephone line service is disrupted. You will lose the redundancy that cellular parallel protection adds to your Interface Security alarm system. If analog cellular is your primary and sole method of alarm signal transmission, your Security System will NOT be able to send alarm signals to the Interface Security Monitoring Centers. Your protected property will not receive the benefits of Interface Security monitoring 24-hours a day, seven days per week.
6. Will the new digital cellular network work with the old analog cellular network?
No. The old analog cellular network system will cease to operate. The new digital technology will be required for Interface Security (and all other alarm companies) to provide monitoring as needed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
7. When is this going to happen?
Interface Security Systems has begun to upgrade customer’s analog equipment to equipment with the required digital cellular equipment. Please contact Interface Security when you receive the letter at (800) 301-9441.
8. What does a cellular alarm transmitter do?
Interface Security Systems cellular alarm transmitters send alarm signals to the Interface Security’s Monitoring Centers through wireless networks.
Many customers with a standard telephone line who want an extra layer of protection use Interface Security’s parallel protection. When regular phone service is disrupted (due to construction, power failure, cut or downed lines), the cellular alarm transmitter can send signals to Interface Security’s Monitoring Center. This helps prevent lapses in security.
For customers without a standard landline telephone, the cellular alarm transmitter provides their primary (and only) method of communication with Interface Security’s Monitoring Center.
9. What does the nominal upgrade fee include?
Customer’s upgrade fee includes all costs related to hardware, installation, programming, and system checks at the company’s cost.
10. What benefits will I get from this?
The analog equipment will cease to send alarm notifications to Interface Security. The new digital technology can provide monitoring as needed 24-hours per day, 7 days per week.
11. Who do I call if I have any questions about this change from an analog to a digital cellular transmitter for my alarm system?
If you have questions, please call Interface Security Systems toll-free at (800) 301-9441.
- Does my alarm system require upgrading from an analog to a digital cellular transmitter?
- What is AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service)? What is digital?
- How do I know if my cellular transmitter is analog?
- Why does my alarm system require this upgrade from an analog to a digital cellular transmitter?
- What happens to my system if I do not upgrade?
- Will the new digital cellular network work with the old analog cellular network?
- When is this going to happen?
- What does a cellular alarm transmitter do?
- What does the nominal upgrade fee include?
- What benefits will I get from this?
- Who do I call if I have any questions about this change from an analog to a digital cellular transmitter for my alarm system?
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