What is a Central Monitoring Station?

Installing a System

An alarm system can be installed to emit a local alarm using a bell or siren, and/or it may be connected via a common carrier network (i.e. telephone lines) to a monitoring or " central" station where trained operators verify the alarm and dispatch the appropriate response authority (police, fire or medical) when the system transmits a signal. They also notify you or your designee of the alarm signal.

Alarm signals are usually transmitted over telephone lines, but some systems transmit signals by radio or cellular phone for added security. In addition to the police, fire or emergency medical dispatch, a monitored system may also emit a local siren when activated. A "local only" system does not, in itself, dispatch emergency response.

How to Receive Help

In order to receive emergency police, fire or medical response, you must either rely on a neighbor calling in the alarm (in the case of a local system) or you must have the system monitored (24 hrs) by a monitoring station. For this service, a monthly fee is paid and is arranged through your alarm installation company. In most municipalities alarm systems may not be connected directly to the police.

Choosing a Company

While there are a number of companies which install and monitor their own accounts, there are many more that install systems and contract with a third party monitoring facility.

When you are deciding on which company to use, be sure to understand the service provided. The fact that the installing company subcontracts monitoring services is not necessarily negative feature but, rather, practice in the industry. Due to advances in telecommunications, it is common practice to have your account monitored by an out-of-town or an out-of-state station.

Revised July 9, 2004