Vonage problems w/ Brinks, DirecTV?

[wahnula]

Hello,

I switched to Vonage last year, for the most part I'm happy, except...it seems my Brinks alarm system cannot call out on its own, and the DirecTV has problems also. DirecTV gave me a different phone # for DirecTV dialup (long distance) and it works but the receivers dial the number 20-30 times a day, resulting in 1200 minutes a month! The Brinks system tests fine, so they are receiving signal, but it has problems when it calls out on its own.

I have scheduled Brinks service to come out & have a look, but if there's a cheap fix I could do myself (attach filter, amplifier etc.) I would appreciate the info and $$$ saved. I already have my Vonage set to highest quality for phone calls. Thanks!

Tony

 

[ISDNman]

Most VOIP system do not work well with modems (including fax machines and alarm systems), which is your problem.

A well designed VOIP system will detect modem calls and make adjustments automatically.

You might look at Vonage's FAQ, they certainly *should* have info on this topic. If not, check to see if you have the ability to set bandwidth. If so, setting this adjustment to maximum (64 kbps) should halp.

Best of luck.

 

[wahnula]

Thanks for the reply, I have done some searching at Vonage's forums and found out that Brinks uses tone dialing for distress and test calls, which work fine, but their default protocol for daily dial-out is pulse dialing (!), which must be reset by a Brinks tech as there is no UI. Buggers!

Tony

 

[dhnl]

So what happens when the power goes out, your high speed internet and vonage is down and someone breaks into your house? If you insist on using Vonage as your only telephone service I suggest installing a cellular dialer on your alarm panel. I'm surprised your alarm company would not insist on such.

 

[wahnula]

I have a monster battery backup, good for 2-3 hours of running the 2 modems. I've even used it to dialup to the Internet w/ a PC during power outtages.

Brinks came out & changed the board to a VoIP-friendly one for free.

Every crook knows an alarm system is connected to the phone line, that's the first thing to be cut. No safeguard there!

Go ahead & cut mine! Turn off the power too!

I refuse to pay the insipid taxes levied by phone companies.