| Posted By |
Message |
Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
|
home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
We have optimum voice as our phone service and are thinking of getting a home alarm system. I've heard there can be a problem with the alarm going off if your cable goes out and there is no dial tone.
Are there ways around this? Can we have our alarm programmed so that it doesn't go off when there is no dial tone? We don't want our alarm going off all the time if the cable goes out - especially if we're not home.
|
Posted 12/4/07 2:04 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource | Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate |
bicosi
life is a carousel
Member since 7/07 14956 total posts
Name:
M
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
In our NY house, the unit they (optimum) put in had a back-up battery in case the power went out.
Message edited 12/4/2007 2:08:32 PM.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 2:07 PM |
| |
|
AOMom
LIF Adolescent
Member since 11/06 856 total posts
Name:
j
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
A lot of companies will try to sell you a wireless system and say that it works fine with cable phones. You're right though, if cable goes out or if the power goes out these systems go down. After a lot of research we decided to stay away from these systems.
The systems are most secure if you use them with a landline phone. If you call Verizon, they do have a landline phone that they offer for this particular purpose...sort of an emergency line. It costs only about $10/month to have, plus any calls that you make on it (but the idea is not to make actual phone calls on it).
|
| Posted 12/4/07 2:10 PM |
| |
|
LIMOMx2
...
Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
Name:
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
We have had Optimum Voice and an alarm system for 3 years with not one problem.
I think maybe in 3 years our power went out once for like 3 mins so that never bothered me.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 2:12 PM |
| |
|
Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
Posted by bicosi
In our NY house, the unit they (optimum) put in had a back-up battery in case the power went out.
]
Did you ask for that specially? I'm pretty sure ours doesn't have that. I'll have to ask DH...
|
| Posted 12/4/07 2:14 PM |
| |
|
bicosi
life is a carousel
Member since 7/07 14956 total posts
Name:
M
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
Posted by Kara
Posted by bicosi
In our NY house, the unit they (optimum) put in had a back-up battery in case the power went out.
]
Did you ask for that specially? I'm pretty sure ours doesn't have that. I'll have to ask DH...
No, the tech. actually told me about it. I didn't even think of it until he explained to me how it worked.
I only moved recently, but in the years we had it (from 2003), we've had no problems with it.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 2:16 PM |
| |
|
GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
For FiOS, I'm pretty sure the 8 hour battery backup is standard with the installation. Same issues apply with FiOS as with Optimum Voice.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 3:10 PM |
| |
|
CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
We recently got quotes from 5 alarm companies and all but one specifically asked if we had OptVoice and when I said no they were telling me how a lot of homes are still having false alarms from losing the signal.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 3:11 PM |
| |
|
Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
Posted by GoldenRod
For FiOS, I'm pretty sure the 8 hour battery backup is standard with the installation. Same issues apply with FiOS as with Optimum Voice.
\
It is, but FiOS isn't available to me. I need to know for Optimum voice. Our power went out the other day and I'm pretty sure our phones were not working either...
|
| Posted 12/4/07 3:17 PM |
| |
|
Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
Posted by CathyB
We recently got quotes from 5 alarm companies and all but one specifically asked if we had OptVoice and when I said no they were telling me how a lot of homes are still having false alarms from losing the signal.
But can you just get an alarm system that isn't hooked up to your phones?
|
| Posted 12/4/07 3:17 PM |
| |
|
CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
Posted by Kara
Posted by CathyB
We recently got quotes from 5 alarm companies and all but one specifically asked if we had OptVoice and when I said no they were telling me how a lot of homes are still having false alarms from losing the signal.
But can you just get an alarm system that isn't hooked up to your phones?
I think there are do it yourself systems that set off a siren when one of the alarm sensors is breeched, but it wouldn't send a signal to central station for FD or PD to come over.
They will install the system with OptVoice, but they warn you that you are more likely to have a false alarm than Verizon customers. We have FIOS and they said they haven't had the same issues. Not really sure why but I didn't question them after they said ours was fine.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 3:20 PM |
| |
|
MrsSchwags
Soccer Baseball Lax Mom
Member since 10/05 11240 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
i have both for over a year and a half now and haven't had any problems with my alarm and optimum voice.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 4:31 PM |
| |
|
jrbaby
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 1204 total posts
Name:
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
We have an alarm and Optimum Voice. We have had a number of false alarms. They always happen in the middle of the night and it scares thr crap out of us. Apparently, Cablevision upgrades their system at nighttime to disrupt the least amount of people. It hasn't happened in about 4 months now, so maybe they fixed the problem.
We've asked them numerous times if there is anyway around this and they said no except getting a land line.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 7:22 PM |
| |
|
june262004
But I love the Snow!
Member since 5/05 15379 total posts
Name:
Kristin
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
We have been in the house for 2 years. Never had a problem with false alarms.
If this is something you are worried about you can get a battery backup.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 7:42 PM |
| |
|
Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
We have had both for years and have never had a problem.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 8:27 PM |
| |
|
MrsM-6-7-08
<3
Member since 8/06 4249 total posts
Name:
Nicole
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
My FH's company does alarm systems both residential and commericial, and you have to very careful which systems you get and how they are configured to work with optimum voice,
If you want more info I can get you in touch with him, and a price quote
Message edited 12/4/2007 10:26:37 PM.
|
| Posted 12/4/07 10:26 PM |
| |
|
Kate
*****
Member since 5/05 7557 total posts
Name:
Kate
|
Re: home alarm systems and Optimum Voice
We have had this problem several times. The alarm company can bypass that feature and then it is not a problem.
|
| Posted 12/5/07 12:46 PM |
| |
|
