Central Stations in Alarm Monitoring Services
There are local central stations and national central stations. There are also monitoring services that don’t use a central monitoring station at all, and instead let you control what happens when your alarm is triggered ( see Blockwatch Alarm for more information ). Larger alarm installation companies have their own central stations, but 90% of alarm companies use l do not have central stations and use a 3rd party “wholesale” central stations. Be sure that any central station you choose is UL listed. This is a listing that is given by the Underwriters Laboratory and insures that the monitoring center meets specified requirements for:
- Building construction,
- Staffing requirements and training,
- Computer hardware and software
- Regular and backup power requirements
- Building and records security.
My own opinion is that either one will do a good job of responding to your alarm needs. Companies defending the location of the central monitoring station that they use generate most of the controversy.