vs. Telstra Secure – securitel
Before you make a Decision
Do your Homework. If your past experiences with Telstra are not enough to deter you from using Telstra Secure, sites like Tell the Truth Telstra should give you an insight into the type of after sales service you can expect from them.
Be aware that on the 31st December 2009, securitel will be NO LONGER -
One of the main concerns for Telstra customers when considering a move to VoIP is their security alarm system. This page explains that Telstra slowed PSTN’s decline to just 3.2 per cent, with the number of retail access lines increasing by 87,000 during 2007-2008 compared with a 5,000-line decline in 2006-2007. Telstra state they are committed to the AS2201.5 alarm industry standards. That is an understatement as they have been up to their old tricks and as good as wrote the standards to prevent customers upgrading their systems to IP. They were written in such a way that the only two companies who could reasonably comply with the standards and offer security solutions were Telstra and Optus. Unfortunately for the two corporate giants, the security industry saw through their attempt to stifle competition and the standards are now being rewritten.
Companies like IP Alarms who already have proven solutions in overseas markets where the uptake of VoIP is far more advanced can now enter the Australian market and compete on a level playing field.
Consider your Security Requirements and Budget;
For many IP Alarms customers, it is acceptable to use the popular low cost (under AU$60) Linksys PAP2T or similar adapter to provide an “IP Only” solution that relies on the availability of your existing Internet connection. Why spend extra on Telstra’s private network when it’s perfectly safe and secure to use your own Internet connection. Telstra and Optus will try to convince you otherwise, but if it’s good enough for your Internet banking, then it’s good enough for your alarm monitoring.
For those who are not prepared to rely totally upon their Internet connection, one step up from this is the use of a Linksys SPA3102 adapter. It has a lifeline port that can be connected to a PSTN line or to a GSM/GPRS backup device so that the alarm panel has an alternative transmission path in the event of Internet failure. These devices can be provisioned in such a way that when the alarm panel dials the primary number, alarms are sent over the Internet. If that process fails, the panel will dial it’s secondary number and the alarm will be sent out of the lifeline port and over the GSM/GPRS network.