Do you Really Know where your Alarm systems signal is going?

Do you really Know where your Alarm Systems monitoring signal is going?

is it really local like with in yours or adjoining area code or is it going out of state?

Many alarm systems especially national alarm company's signals go to New York or Chicago or California.
with the advent of cellular and analog phone line communication your signal could be going anywhere. Often times even small dealers use out of state central monitoring stations regardless if they answer in the alarm dealers name.
This means your panel is dialing an 800 number service line. If the 800 service goes wacky guess what no signal delivered. unlike dealers like my self who use 3rd party monitoring services which are with in the region and who have programmed there alarm panels to dial both an 800 number plus a back up normal area code number such as 412,814,724 etc.
This way if the 800 service is not working properly the signal will get thru on the normal local area code exchange number.
How often does 800 service go out More often than you know. Regardless if the central station pays extra for " always Up service " from Verizon or AT&T .
800 service will go down. then also the central station operators who answer your calls are not aware what severe weather is going on or other issues a local 3rd party service would be aware .
of.
also do the national services keep an eye on panels not communicating and getting hold of the dealer when a 24 hr report is missed? don't bet on it.
After having worked as a sub contractor and seeing all the problems with delayed signals and no signals being received at these national services this is why my customers are all thru a regional 3rd party UL listed central and my customers know exactly where there signal is being received and can talk directly to the owners when required.
that's also another good point is the national service UL listed do they have proper trained operators etc etc etc.
Also smaller stations with fewer operators generally have there receiving equipment right near there work stations so they can watch and see the recivers and know if there working properly
while big centers have all there gear in racks off in a separate room and no one watching to catch any anomalies quicker than the big centers there by getting it corrected faster
If you have critical alarm needs you need to be asking questions where exactly is my signal going and should be able to visit the central station to satisfy your requirements are being meet.