M1XEP Monitoring in Canada?

[mcraven]

New M1G install is working via phone line... ultimately, I'd like to use the phone line as a backup and have the monitoring primarily via the M1XEP (internet). I found an older thread (5 years ago) discussing NextAlarm. I had a look at the site and they seem to offer both dispatched and non-dispatched options. The prices seem in line with what I'm currently paying for phone only service.

anybody have comments about M1XEP monitoring in general? Specifics to Canada? Any horror or success stories with specific providers?

Basically, I'm looking for reliable, dispatched monitoring with notification if communication is lost. Beyond that, anything else is gravy.

thanx.

 

[Del91574]

Depends on your flavor of IP and how it gets to your house as far as reliability and how the CS acts on certain events.

If using TCP/IP for monitoring purposes, you really need to make sure your modem has a UPS, same as any network hardware that is connected between that and the XEP. The XEP should preferably be connected to the alarm panel's aux power or a separate alarm power supply/battery.

Keep in mind, I prefer IP monitoring with enterprise grade hardware between the broadband and XEP or whatever broadband communicator I'm using. Also, there is a difference in consumer grade vs. enterprise grade hardware and broadband.

Using broadband for monitoring vs. POTS or cellular is a choice, but be aware that many ISP's perform network upgrades/service at off peak hours, which most don't discover until the system is supervising the IP connection.