According to Census Bureau data, more than a quarter of U.S. households do not have a landline. This trend is driven by younger Americans who rely solely on their cell phone. Although this is cost advantageous, there are still many reasons to keep one. First and foremost is call quality. Land line calls are far superior to mobile phones, which is the price you pay for mobility. Second is reliability. Storms and power outages often knock out digital communications while land lines are often untouched. Third is convenience. You always know where the house phone is. In the event of an emergency where time is critical, the time it takes looking for a cell phone can seem like an eternity. If you want the benefits of a land line, but without the expense, a VoIP line may be a better solution. The device which runs about $50, plugs into your router and the service runs about $2.50 per month for unlimited calling. One such device is www.nettalk.com, but there are others. If you have a landline or VoIP service, our alarm systems can communicate effectively and reliably over them. However, if you decide that you don't need a landline, we can also communicate alarm communications via IP/Ethernet, WIFI, or via cell providers. Each will all communicate the alarm signal, and all have their advantages. Let us know what you have in your home or business and we'll recommend the best solution for your needs!

With broadband in home and businesses now mainstream, gateway security to protect all users and devices are not. Many large businesses and enterprises have the budget and staff to deploy IT security measures such as Firewalls and Intrusion Protection and Detection Systems.  There is a new startup called Itus Networks that has an all-in-one device called the iGuardian which is currently on Kickstarter for $149. It protects your whole network, including Smart TV's, cable boxes, and other devices that rarely have built-in security. This device has the same level of protection that $1000+ enterprise level devices have. You may think your anti-virus is sufficient but it is a reactive measure, meaning it only kicks in once the threat has reached your device. The iGuardian is a Firewall & IPS that stops threats from reaching your devices. It's completely plug & play, with no configuration involved and updates are automatic. It plugs in between your modem and router and it's the most simple to use security device I have seen especially at this price and would highly recommend it to all homes and small businesses.

Your alarm system control panel, backup power supply, and communication connections should be in a metal enclosure such as this and mounted to a wall.