GPRS networks provide a wireless alternative to sending alarms over DSL, Cable or Fiber Internet connections. Although not as fast as wired Internet connections, they offer a robust solution where a wired Internet connection is not available.
GPRS Internet connections can be fully supervised by the Monitoring Center and operators are alerted when a network failure is detected.
The UK and Australian security industries are fortunate enough to have reliable GPRS networks available to them at a very reasonable cost. As a result, the monitoring of alarms over GPRS is very popular. Not so in North America where the high costs of data plans have thus far stunted any potential for growth. This may change with the onset of 3G networks and IP Alarms will be ideally positioned to use the valuable exprience gained from International markets.
IP Alarms currently offer the 804G GPRS communicator (shown above) for integration with their IP Suite of software components for Central Stations. All network communications are fully encrypted and the polling interval is adjustable to allow maximum flexibility where the data allowance is low. There is a 24 volt version available for use with Fire Alarm panels.
We also have a GPRS board under development in the UK which will have similar features at a lower cost. It is modular in design and there are plug-on options for Ethernet(IP) and Zigbee.