Why the switchover matters to alarm owners
Providers are replacing traditional phone services with digital landlines that run through a broadband connection. For many households the change is straightforward. The exception is equipment that still depends on the old telephone socket or uses the line to make a call.
That can include security alarms, telecare equipment, personal alarms and health pendants. Ofcom says a care or telecare device might not work properly on a digital landline. The provider may need to check the setup or supply different equipment. In some cases, they pause the migration until a safe arrangement is made.
Power matters too. A digital landline normally needs the broadband router and related equipment to have power. If the power fails, the phone service may stop unless a suitable back-up is in place. Ofcom says people who depend on their landline and lack a working mobile alternative should tell their provider. The provider must offer an emergency-call back-up solution free of charge where the requirement applies.
Five checks to make before the line changes
- List every device connected to the phone line, not just the handset. Include an alarm panel, care pendant, fax, door-entry unit or any other equipment plugged into a telephone socket.
- Ask the landline provider when the property is due to move and what equipment will change. Tell them about every alarm or care device before the appointment.
- Contact the device supplier or installer. Give them the make and model if you know it, but do not open the panel or alter wiring yourself.
- Ask how the setup behaves during a broadband fault or power cut. A battery inside an alarm panel does not automatically keep the router or digital phone service running.
- Test the agreed arrangement after the change. Record who carried out the test and what was confirmed.
Do you need a new alarm?
Not necessarily. Some equipment may be compatible as it stands. Other systems need an adaptor or a configuration change, and older panels sometimes need replacing. The answer depends on the property, the current panel and how it communicates. A phone conversation helps, but it cannot always replace seeing the wiring and equipment.
Kings Watch Communications provides intruder alarm installation, care alarm options, repairs and maintenance. System takeovers are also available. Exact compatibility and the final hardware specification are confirmed after assessment. Detailed monitoring and alert features remain subject to the selected system and must be confirmed before quotation.
What to ask during an assessment
- Does the existing system use the landline at all?
- Which parts can stay and which parts need attention?
- What keeps working if broadband or mains power is unavailable?
- Who should test the system after the telephone service changes?
- Are there any ongoing service or monitoring arrangements outside the installation quote?
Kings Watch supplies systems with no monthly fees. That applies to systems supplied by Kings Watch, not to any separate third-party service a customer chooses to add.
Request a compatibility check
If you are unsure what is connected to your telephone line, arrange a site assessment before the switchover reaches the property. Request a quote or call 07532 619 908. Free local on-site surveys are available. For travel over 50 miles, a survey charge applies and is credited against the main job if you proceed.