CELLULAR BACKUP

A traditional alarm system uses a phone line to communicate with the monitoring station; when there is an alarm event, the alarm system has to use this phone line so that it can send the signal. This is called line seizure and it is a complex process that requires specially installed equipment. These days, more than on one in every five Americans have no phone line. Therefore, for many people, the phone line's only use would be for the alarm system.

Aside from the hassle of line seizure, a clever burglar may know that alarm systems rely on phone lines to contact help. A burglar can cut the phone line outside, which would trigger the alarm system's siren, but the alarm system will be unable to call for help.

A cellular-based alarm system uses a built-in cellular radio to send signals. It's fast, safe, and makes the system virtually impossible to defeat. When your alarm system needs to send a signal, it uses its own cell radio to communicate with the monitoring station; so line seizure is not an issue. For the residents of Baltimore, an alarm system's cellular radio is totally independent from your or anyone’s personal cell phone.