 HallPremium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
kudos:1 | reply to Ebolla
Re: They shouldn't be able to call it "9-1-1" My point was, some things you don't or shouldn't "test". As scary as it is, you have to trust that it just works. How many people test a fire sprinkler system ?? How 'bout draining the oil from their car to see if the oil light comes on ?? 
When 911 service was first started, did it work 100% ?? I suspect not... And we're dealing with POTS back then. If 911 is of any importance to anyone, take your chances with VOIP and similar phone services. They're still in their infancy and still have bugs to work out. You'd think E911 would be an absolute priority though. |
|
 ColorBASIC8-bit FunPremium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA
2 edits | WRONG!
Of course fire sprinker system installers test their systems after installation. Same with alarm monitoring systems. And I run little chance of death if the oil drains out of my car. Maybe a $5000 Haz-Mat fine, but that is why I use a new washer and a torque wrench on my drain plug instead of a calibrated wrist.
Sorry. If Verizon, Vonage, Time Warner, or anyone else that I have shows a pattern of problems with routing 9-1-1 calls to the 9-1-1 call center...it's gonna get a quick test and if it fails they're gone. |
|
quatrixPremium
join:2005-02-11
Davie, FL
kudos:2 | When I test our security system, it sends a test signal to Brinks and waits for a response. That's a lot different than "testing" by intentionally triggering the alarm or pushing one of the emergency buttons and waiting for the police to show up. |
|
 SmokeyI'd rather be skiingPremium
join:2003-05-20
Wild West
 ·Verizon Wireless..
| reply to Hall
Most emergency communications centers have, or should have policies to conduct a test of a phone line's ability to access the 911 network. My former ECC's policy was to call the non emergency number and request a test "slot". The dispatcher would make sure there were resources to conduct the test, get the callers information *name, number, address...* and then tell the caller to conduct the test.
--
Para Bellum!! |
|
| reply to quatrix
A correct way would be to arm the system, trigger all sensors if possible or rotate weekly, wait for the call center to get it and call you, you can put it into test mode so their people know you're testing. This is not a complete test because you're not having the call center call the police but that is different. I haved tested my 911 with sunrocket and vonage a couple time. I recommend everyone does. All operators that I have spoken to understood completely and were very curtious about it. |
|
ColorBASIC8-bit FunPremium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA | My alarm has a self diagnostic mode...supposedly. According to my ViaTalk call logs it also dials in every day. I don't know why. Maybe to check line quality. When the alarm company found out that I was using VoIP they said they were going to make some changes, maybe this was one of them. |
|
| Still if you're not testing a sensor but an actual trigger then it is not a full test. nextalarm.com monitors over the internet through real polling (every 5 min) so if your line gets cut then you will be notified. I also pay them about $11 a month, interested? |
|
ColorBASIC8-bit FunPremium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA | I don't know what else it tests. The only backup it has is cellular backup. It's not connected to my home network or anything. |
|
| reply to Smokey
I live in a town of 10,000 people. I called the non emergency number and ask to speak to the chief of police. I told him we have VOIP in our town and it's new so I would like to test the e911 service. He didn't have a problem with it at all. I called 911 and the call work fine. Came up with my name and address. |
|
Time4aNAPPremium
join:2007-04-09
Des Plaines, IL | said by captme:I live in a town of 10,000 people. I called the non emergency number and ask to speak to the chief of police. I told him we have VOIP in our town and it's new so I would like to test the e911 service. He didn't have a problem with it at all. I called 911 and the call work fine. Came up with my name and address. Most jurisdictions tolerate a brief, well-stated test of a new phone number. Most will cooperate by verifying your Caller ID information. IME tests of numbers assigned to non-ILEC customers is of vital importance, because of the ILECs' tendency to sabotage Caller ID data to make the competition look bad.
The rules vary, depending on where you are. 911 call centers that have a problem with frivolous calls tend to have stricter rules in reaction to previous abuse. If in doubt, check with your local government. |
|
Reviews:
 ·Bright House
| reply to ColorBASIC
I say test it only if you're not resourceful enough to actually have the number that the 911 call goes to. Lets be real folks, whether or not it works, it is more reliable, and a better idea, to just have the direct number stuck to the phone, or programmed to the number 9 key on your phone. Sorry, but the 911 system is so old, and is in major need of upgrade. The reason this can be a "hidden" problem is because of number portability. If someone ported a number to another carrier, and that carrier managed to re-assign it without releasing it back to the original office/carrier, then you can have a problem with the switches records. Since VoIP is not physically terminating to the persons house, you can have a situation where the info never reaches the CAMA trunk to get the correct billing info to the 911 operator. All of "the big boys" in VoIP have had at least 1 issue with it, but even better, the landline providers have had it happen too, so you'd be a fool NOT to keep it posted JUST INCASE.
--
SIPPhone/Gizmo # 17476200648 / PIMPNET Chatline / Ran by Asterisk & Slackware 10.1. |
|
