Will a DSC Impassa Work w/ a Phone Line?

Yes, a DSC Impassa will work with a phone line. If no upgrades are provided for the system, then phone line connectivity is the only type of monitoring service that can be used. However, the system can be upgraded to use a cellular connection instead. This is strongly recommended.

By default, a DSC Impassa can only receive monitoring from a phone line. A phone jack will connect with the panel, and it will send outbound communication signals through the phone line. The system's dialer will need to be configured and set up with a central monitoring station. The Impassa will then alert the central station whenever an alarm event occurs. This type of setup is still possible today, and many people depend on phone service for monitoring.

But using a POTS (plain old telephone service) connection is generally discouraged today. Telephone lines represent an old and outdated technology, as the service is unreliable, and the connection speeds are slow. For that reason, we usually recommend our monitored customers to upgrade to a different communication path for their alarm system. And if a DSC Impassa meets certain requirements, it can use a cellular connection instead.

Cellular connectivity is the ideal communication path for an alarm system. It is extremely reliable, and it provides fast speeds that are generally on par with WIFI connectivity. But unlike WIFI, a cellular connection is not affected by typical power outages, and the service is almost never down or unavailable. This makes upgrading to cellular on a DSC Impassa (or any alarm system) very important.

In order to use a cellular connection, a DSC Impassa must be running firmware version 1.3 or higher. Any DSC Impassa that is not running at least version 1.3 cannot be upgraded, and it will need to be replaced entirely. The system will also need a compatible cellular communicator, and the user will need a cellular alarm monitoring plan. Any Impassa System sold from Alarm Grid will be running at least firmware version 1.3, and it will come included with an integrated cellular communicator for this purpose. The user will just need to obtain an appropriate monitoring plan, such as the Gold or Platinum Plans from Alarm Grid.

A cellular connection will also allow the DSC Impassa to connect with Alarm.com. This is an interactive service platform that users can access to control their security systems. By accessing the service, a user can arm and disarm their system, check the current status of sensors and control Z-Wave home automation devices. By using the Alarm.com Mobile app on an Android or iOS device, these actions can be performed from virtually anywhere.