Elevator and OP II on AT&T Cellular

kwschumm

Active Member
We're building a new house in a Rural area and want to eliminate the landline.
 
This house is two story ADA with a small elevator. The elevator requires an emergency phone.
 
We also will have an OmniPro II system that needs a phone line.
 
The AT&T 4G LTE signal is strong in the area (we plan to use that for internet too).
 
I could install separate communicators for the OPII and elevator but that seems unnecessarily expensive and more to maintain.
 
Is there a product that will connect to the AT&T network to provide a dial tone that will work with both the elevator and alarm system?
 
How would you folks approach this problem?
 
Thanks!
 
 
 
AT&T has this: https://www.att.com/cellphones/att/att-wireless-internet.html#sku=sku8550279 which lets you connect a phone line to the elevator.
 
For the alarm, I'd contact AlarmRelay and see what their cellular options are.  They have devices that'll hook directly to the alarm panel - and they include the cellular piece in their cost.
 
Though both applications use a phone line, they do so very differently... packet data is much different than voice.  With POTS lines they can both be used the same, but with any digitally-emulated phone line (cellular, voip, etc), it's not the same and isn't very reliable with data such as the alarm or a fax machine.  A direct cellular connection will be the most reliable and most responsive.
 
If it were me though, I'd go with something like a GrandStream HandyTone ATA device that's configured to use voip.ms - it'd cost you like $2/month.  Or even Ooma - again, they're like $4/month.

HAI used to have the C3 communicator - I'm not sure if they still do, but that device would give you cellular which you could use for both alarm and elevator and you provide your own SIM and cell service.
 
For OPII AlarmRelay uses the IPDatatel BAT.  It hooks directly to the phone terminals of the Omni, but only connects/reports alarm events.  It does not dial or connect voice for sending messages outbound or inbound.  While it has worked well for me with regard to alarm connection, there is no voice.   I kind of miss the ability to call out with messages but...
 
OTOH, it's inexpensive.
 
A couple of the other options sound interesting.  I'd like to hear more on those as well.
 
Dan
 
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