Solving Central Station Telecom Challenges with IPtelX – With complicated routing and a wide variety of equipment that delivers information from a subscriber’s premises to an operator’s screen, there are many telecom challenges that central stations must address to offer reliable and efficient monitoring services. But with the sunset on legacy alarm panels becoming increasingly evident and the merging of digital and analog technology leading to an increase in lost or undeliverable alarm signals, central monitoring stations are looking for telecom providers that understand the issues they’re facing and offer meaningful solutions.
That’s why the New DICE Corporation developed IPtelX, a complete telecom solution designed exclusively for alarm signal transmission. Let’s take a look at three common challenges impacting central stations today and explore some of the solutions IPtelX offers to keep your central station running under challenging circumstances.
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Challenges Of Solving Central Station Telecom Challenges with IPtelX
Loss of Broken Alarm Signals
With traditional carriers, completing a call or alarm signal transmission requires remote call forwarding to occur multiple times before reaching a final destination. Like photocopying a photocopy, the call quality is reduced each time, leading to communications errors and undeliverable signals. Because the alarm industry has historically used analog technology, alarm signal transmission issues were rarely a significant issue. However, suppose a customer moves to another carrier and replaces an analog line with a SIP trunk. In that case, many alarm companies are under the impression the carrier caused the alarm panel not to work. The real problem is that the central station uses an analog line, making the signal convert back from analog to digital, resulting in alarm signals with delays and errors.
The Discontinuation of the Adtran 550 PRI Channel Bank
Adtran recently discontinued its 550 PRI channel bank, including replacement parts and support. These channel banks were essential in completing DTMF conversions and breaking down frequencies to analog lines that go to the receiver cards on a data center’s legacy receivers. Unfortunately, many central stations are now unable to find replacement parts to fix a product that is no longer available.
Out-of-Date Receivers
Sur-Gard Receiver Systems 3 and 4 are also being discontinued, and the cost to replace them, including each line card, can be costly. Plus, maintaining receivers in your facility goes hand in hand with the previous challenge, the need for channel banks to communicate with receivers.
Solving Central Station Telecom Challenges with IPtelX Solutions
It is important to note that the challenges listed above are all interconnected. So instead of simply addressing each problem individually, it is important to consider the big picture.
New Channel Bank Solutions
Since Adtran’s channel bank solutions are no longer an option, it is necessary to find a replacement. IPtelX has developed a virtual channel bank that is less costly, has 48 lines (compared to Adtran’s 24), and is supported 24/7. Another solution offered by a company in the alarm industry provides a PBX with channel bank functionality. However, it does not make sense to purchase a PBX to handle a small number of signals transmitting to a receiver. Plus, if you want to move to another PBX in the future, you will encounter the channel bank problem again. The IPtelX solution is built for particular tasks exclusive to the alarm industry, including redundancy, auto-dialing integrated to all automation suppliers, and built-in call recording. IPtelX can also provide solutions if you prefer to keep your receivers on site.
IPtelX Alarm Signal Network
IPtelX is the only telecom provider in the alarm industry that has a dedicated alarm signal network. Like a GPS system, IPtelX selects the best route for each alarm signal, ensuring the signal reaches its destination. The alarm signal network can also direct peering, allowing users to establish a direct telecom connection between one point and another. Think of a carrier as a series of roads. A traditional telecom network owns “Interstate A” and will only allow you to take that route to get to your destination, leaving you with no other way to proceed. On the other hand, IPtelX and the alarm signal network works with “Interstate A” and a series of other roads to provide multiple paths to your destination. If “Interstate A” is your clearest route but is experiencing disruptions, IPtelX works to ensure another path is available, such as “Interstate B,” to provide a clear connection without downtime or interruption.
UL 827 Data Center
DICE and IPtelX can host receivers, signals, channel banks and has a simple driver into any automation platform. This solution is turnkey in the cloud and handles almost everything. It is also UL 827 compliant, eliminating the need for you to recertify with UL on an ongoing basis.
As you can see, central stations face several challenges as telecom technology and the security industry evolves. Fortunately, DICE and IPtelX offer several solutions. If you are interested in learning more or are unsure which solution is right for you, contact us today. Our team is available to answer your questions and help you make the best decision for your central station.
Author: Avi Lupo, Co-President Dice Corporation
Copyright 2021