That Annoying "Comm Fail": Why You May Be Receiving More (Part 1 of 2)
When an alarm system experiences communication issues connecting to its monitoring center, the alarm panel will display a Communication Failure trouble condition ("Comm Fail"). When this happens, the owner receives an automated alert notifying them of the trouble condition. While these alerts can be a nuisance, they should never be ignored and checking the panel display to confirm it
is still in trouble as soon as possible is highly recommended.
If your alarm communication equipment still relies on traditional telephone lines, you may have noticed an increase in these alerts. For systems still on phone lines, communication failures caused by deteriorating telephone service or compatibility issues with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are increasing.
Copper Telephone Line Retirement
Since 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted policies that reduce regulatory requirements associated with maintaining legacy copper telephone infrastructure. The FCC has stated that these changes are intended to accelerate the transition from outdated copper networks to modern communications technologies.
As a result, telecommunications providers are focusing their investments on fiber, wireless, and IP-based services instead of maintaining decades-old infrastructure. This means carriers have already moved national and/or local switch stations to digital formats. Although you may still see the same phone line running from your business to the utility pole, the signal may now travel through a digital network.
The Compression Problem
While digital formats work well for voice conversations, older alarm communicators designed for traditional copper lines may struggle with them. Alarm communicators transmit specialized tones to the monitoring center, which sends back a confirmation tone indicating that the signal was received. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems may compress, digitize, and reprocess these analog tones as they travel through the network. This process can alter the tones enough that the alarm communicator does not recognize the monitoring center’s confirmation. When the confirmation is not received, the communicator may repeatedly attempt to send the signal. The result is the dreaded “Comm Fail”.
The Voltage Concern
Another difference between VoIP service and a traditional Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) line is line voltage. Many older alarm communicators were designed to operate with the voltage characteristics of a traditional POTS line. VoIP adapters may provide a lower or different type of line voltage. Think of it this way: the communicator was designed to "hear" a strong voice, but the digital line may sound more like a whisper. Even when dialing tones are present, the communicator may not recognize them correctly.
To Summarize
The retirement of copper telephone networks is no longer a future concern, it is happening today at local and national levels. The alarm systems that depend on these aging communication
paths are becoming increasingly vulnerable to service disruptions and communication failures. The good news is that modern communication technologies offer more reliable alternatives and in Part 2, we'll explore the solutions available to help future-proof your alarm system. If you are already experiencing multiple “Comm Fail” signals, click on the button below for a free no obligation quote.
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