Security Sales & Integration

October 2012

SSI serves security installing contractors providing systems and services; surveillance, access control, biometrics, fire alarm and home control/automation. Coverage in commercial and residential product applications, designs, techniques, operations.

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TECH TALK TOOL TIP I want to thank Honeywell for fulfi lling my Wi-Fi wish from earlier this year. Today's installation of central station communications should be easy and the L5100 WiFi communications module for the wireless LYNX Touch 5100 self-contained control panel/keypad completes this task. The product is ideal for use in tandem with the GSMLVP5-4G for two layers of reliable communica- tion. Other features include: • Wi-Fi 802.11 B/G/N compatibility • Secure wireless connection to the Internet for alarm reporting, content and remote services • Eliminates the need to run and connect an Ethernet cable for Internet access A monitoring provider must work to set up fi rewall rules with a customer. T e most eff ective monitoring occurs when a central station can interface directly with a customer network — the fi rewalls are in sync and network access rules are in place. Proper fi rewall access would allow a central station to access devices on the network, such as alarm panels, once they are identifi ed by IP address. Correlating external IP addresses with a customer network requires Network Address Translations or NATing. T is requires the challenge of reconfi guring numbers on either end of an access point via a translation table, managing changes to devices, network and IP addresses. You must monitor the system to ensure all components are working correctly. T ese strategies are not "set it and forget it" procedures. Monitoring companies must be aware of how changes impact the transmission of security communication signals. How is Diebold addressing the ASAP to PSAP evolution? How quickly do you see this technology progressing? Grimm: Diebold is a charter member of the CSAA [Central Station Alarm Association] ASAP. T e challenge now for ASAP to PSAP is connecting through a gateway to a police department's 911 system. Although many monitoring centers are ready, there are hundreds of thousands of 911 systems not currently upgraded. For now, roadblocks for ASAP to PSAP relate to economics in local governments. Other than tapping into the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications network [NLETs] — which is only available in some geographies — upgrading software still seems to be the solution for most municipalities. A lot of the hard work has been done on the monitoring center to accommodate ASAP. T e plan is in place for ASAP to PSAP, but the next step is to ensure law enforcement offi cials have the funding necessary to upgrade their systems and get onboard. What challenges do you see in the near future for central station communication technologies? Grimm: First, dial-up, or POTS, lines will be completely phased out in the next three to fi ve years. Secondly, AT&T; announced that it will have completely shut down its 2G cellular network by 2017. While these two transitions don't aff ect every security device, many customers continue to use 2G and POTS lines as backup. Are there any central station communications issues you believe are going to be "game-changers" in the near future? Grimm: As technology evolves, the biggest game-changer will be price. Currently, Diebold delivers video verifi cation through individual frames, which is far less expensive than the bandwidth-intensive live streaming video from a remote location. T e same can be said for advanced technologies like 4G wireless: it allows monitoring of video in a secure manner and it's fast. But for remote IP video, it can be expensive. Video compression techniques have become more robust and the price of 26 / SECURITYSALES.COM / OCTOBER 2012 The L5100-WiFi communications module is intended to provide compatible Honeywell LYNX Touch control panels with a Wi-Fi connection. The module connects directly to the control panel and is powered via the control panel's connection. Photo courtesy Honeywell networking has continued to drop over the years. Even so, storing video data locally is a cost-eff ective alternative to live streaming video through external networks 24/7. To provide customers with a cost-eff ective option other than investing in a costly data center to store video, Diebold off ers third- party video storage. UP TO US TO KEEP DIY IN ITS PLACE One more trend I want to touch on, and like many such new wrinkles it can be viewed as either a threat or an opportunity. I am talking about the growing do-it-yourself (DIY) segment of the market. Popular late-night news shows have been glamorizing incidents in which homeowners have confi gured their own video monitoring and verifi cation. An inexpensive camera equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity to a home network and the Internet, motion sensing software, and possibly even pan, tilt, zoom (p/t/z), is installed. A video alarm event is automatically sent to the homeowner's PC at work and/or their smartphone. A home intrusion is observed, the homeowner calls the authorities, and arrests are in order. Rebroadcasting of these videos on the news is, of course, a great endorsement for others to follow the same. However, I call on the security industry — in particular organizations such as CSAA — to provide studies and statistics reinforcing the reliability of dedicated central station monitoring. T e public needs to know. Security salespeople need the stats. Such eff orts will ensure when the DIY dust settles it will be more of an opportunity than a threat.

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