Alarm Monitoring with MJ+

aaronc70 · Post by **aaronc70** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:58 pm

Hi all,
I just got the Majic Jack Plus and love it so far, much cheaper than Comcast VOIP. The only thing I can't figure out yet is getting my alarm monitoring to work. I've read lots of other forums and see that it can work (although it may not be as reliable as POTS monitoring, and I'm OK with that) even though the alarm companies won't admit it.
I've caught a few threads that get into CODEC, SIMS, G111 boxes and other things I don't understand but I'm sure I can google and learn about that stuff.
I've tried hooking the MJ+ into the home phone system and it's not working. I have not been able to try plugging the alarm directly into the MJ+, so that is my next step.

I'm using comcast internet, Safemart as my monitoring company (formerly was using ADT w/ Comcast VOIP with good success), ADT alarm system that also works with Safemart, I think it is probably a GE system but it's not really clear.
Anyways, any help anyone can provide about thier successful setups might get me (and anyone else having the same problem) and would be much appreciated. Thanks all!
Aaron C.

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:54 pm

Considered MJ's notorious unreliability, if you choose to go this way it would indicate to me that you really do not need an alarm. there are inexpensive, reliable ways to do it. I once briefly spoke to a technician who installed alarm monitoring with T- mobile prepaid SIM cards.

aaronc70 · Post by **aaronc70** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:17 am

cell14 wrote:Considered MJ's notorious unreliability, if you choose to go this way it would indicate to me that you really do not need an alarm. there are inexpensive, reliable ways to do it. I once briefly spoke to a technician who installed alarm monitoring with T- mobile prepaid SIM cards.

Yes the monitoring company has a cellular option for an extra $10/month and $200 dollar purchase. But as stated in my original post, there are a good number folks out there who are getting consistently reliable monitoring via Majic Jack. I just want to be one of them and hopefully create a thread for anyone else looking to do the same.

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:45 am

But as stated in my original post, there are a good number folks out there who are getting consistently reliable monitoring via Majic J

It is not quite clear to me how a consistently unreliable phone service can
provide consistently reliable alarm monitoring, but that's just me.

aaronc70 · Post by **aaronc70** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 4:26 pm

OK, so nobody HAS EXPERIENCE with alarm monitoring with MJ+??? just a final try before I go for the cellular service.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 5:06 pm

aaronc70 wrote:OK, so nobody HAS EXPERIENCE with alarm monitoring with MJ+??? just a final try before I go for the cellular service.

The Plus is new enough that's it not surprising that there are no posts on it being hooked up to alarms yet. Did you try plugging the alarm directly into the Plus as mentioned in your initial post?

As far as the consistently unreliable service mentioned earlier, other than some recent STILL unresolved issues with GoogleVoice, my service has been remarkably consistent for over two years. As good, if not better, than various cellular services I've had over the years. If I had the need for an alarm, I would feel as comfortable using MJ as I would using cellular for it. That said, you may be on your own getting it working with the Plus. Logic would think that with some tinkering it would work. But MJ and logic are frequent strangers.

Matt9876 · Post by **Matt9876** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:57 pm

aaronc70 wrote:OK, so nobody HAS EXPERIENCE with alarm monitoring with MJ+??? just a final try before I go for the cellular service.

MJ and MJ+ uses 10 digit dialing XXX-XXX-XXXX if the Alarm system only dials a seven digit local number XXX-XXXX or adds a 1 at the start 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX then you are going to have a real problem.

In fact this is one of the big reasons most alarm systems won't work with MagicJack!

aaronc70 · Post by **aaronc70** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:38 pm

nailgunner wrote:
aaronc70 wrote:OK, so nobody HAS EXPERIENCE with alarm monitoring with MJ+??? just a final try before I go for the cellular service.
The Plus is new enough that's it not surprising that there are no posts on it being hooked up to alarms yet. Did you try plugging the alarm directly into the Plus as mentioned in your initial post?

As far as the consistently unreliable service mentioned earlier, other than some recent STILL unresolved issues with GoogleVoice, my service has been remarkably consistent for over two years. As good, if not better, than various cellular services I've had over the years. If I had the need for an alarm, I would feel as comfortable using MJ as I would using cellular for it. That said, you may be on your own getting it working with the Plus. Logic would think that with some tinkering it would work. But MJ and logic are frequent strangers.

Nailgunner,
No, haven't been able to try that yet. I will probably need some sort of converter because the plug coming out of the wall into the little RJ?? box on the alarm is a fatter, DSL style, phone cord connector. I haven't been to Radio Shack to see if they have something like that yet.

As far as the 10 vs. 11 digit dialing, I'll have to ask the alarm company that question, maybe that's my problem. Thanks for the advice and I'll post if I get it to work.

mmagic · Post by **mmagic** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 12:03 am

aaronc70 wrote:Nailgunner,
No, haven't been able to try that yet. I will probably need some sort of converter because the plug coming out of the wall into the little RJ?? box on the alarm is a fatter, DSL style, phone cord connector. I haven't been to Radio Shack to see if they have something like that yet.

As far as the 10 vs. 11 digit dialing, I'll have to ask the alarm company that question, maybe that's my problem. Thanks for the advice and I'll post if I get it to work.

Alarm circuits properly wired to POTS lines use a special RJ31X jack that cuts off ("seizes") the phone line while the alarm is using it. If you also have DSL service on the same POTS line, an additional filter jack is required.

Basically an alarm panel is establishing a dial-up modem connection, similar to a fax, with the monitoring company. VoIP services are notoriously sketchy in carrying these signals, which were designed for analog devices.

My alarm monitoring company, www.watchlight.com, offers a $144 Alarm Relay Internet Module that lets you plug your alarm panel directly into your Internet router. I have one on order. It seems more reliable to go that route than hoping for a good connection through MJ or another VoIP provider.

aaronc70 · Post by **aaronc70** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 12:31 pm

Yeah, I have given up and gone with the cellular monitoring provided by Safewatch. It's a $100 purchase for the device (actually $200 but they give you a visa card rebate) and brings my alarm monitoring up from $10 a month to $20 a month. I don't have it installed yet but should have it up by next week. I'll try to remember to post a review on here how well it works. I'm sure it will do the trick though. Thanks for all the advice guys.

mmagic · Post by **mmagic** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:54 pm

Do you additionally have to buy a cellular contract for that device, or is that included?

The Alarm Relay Internet Module that I mentioned is working but sometimes goes offline...hope to talk to tech support about that tomorrow.

aaronc70 · Post by **aaronc70** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:12 pm

mmagic wrote:Do you additionally have to buy a cellular contract for that device, or is that included?

The Alarm Relay Internet Module that I mentioned is working but sometimes goes offline...hope to talk to tech support about that tomorrow.

Well, you basically modify your alarm monitoring contract to include the cellular service. I paid for one year at a time. It's not like going down to the verizon store and signing up for another cell phone. It was all pretty simple, at least with safewatch. The alarm seems to be working fine now.