AFAM monitors your Fire System using the cellular network for the primary communication path, and one of a number of options for a secondary path should the primary path fail.

A failure of the primary path can be caused by anything that prevents the monitoring system from receiving a signal from the Fire System via the cellular network. This can include an interruption of the radio signal, a local cell site or a cellular network outage caused by maintenance, bad weather, power outage at the cell site etc.

It is common practice for cellular network operators to periodically update the software in their cell sites. This activity is generally scheduled to take place between midnight and 4:00 a.m. so as to cause minimum disruption to other users, but the fact remains that there can be loss of the primary communication path during that period. These circumstances apply to all systems (Vodafone, Spark, 2-Degrees etc), and without a secondary communications path will result in your premises not being monitored/protected during one of the most vulnerable periods of time as no one is in the building to raise the alarm.

Given the above and AFAM’s commitment to provide a top-quality service, we strongly recommend the use of a secondary communication path, and are able to provide this service through any one of the following options:-

Dual Sim Monitoring CTU – Transfers data over the cellular network to separate cellular operators. The Automatic Fire Alarm Monitoring dual sim unit can connect to two network service providers, eg Vodafone and Spark.

WIFI – Provides a wireless connection from the CTU via the customers local WIFI internet connection.

Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA) – Connects through the CTU telephone modem device to the customers local Lan (Internet) connection.

Analog Phone Line (PSTN) – Transmits data through the customers copper phone line, which may be a shared line, dedicated line, or a PABX.

For more information including a basic flowchart of the operation of each option please review “CTU Backup Path Options” document.