Time is running out and the 3G sunset is looming. If your home security or fire alarm uses 3G to connect with your central station monitoring service, then the deadline to upgrade may already have passed.
If AT&T is your telecom provider, then 3G has already been discontinued in favor of LTE. Your alarm system may suddenly have displayed an error recently, indicating that your central station service isn’t protecting you any longer.
If Verizon is your provider, your connection may be severed any time between now and December this year. You still have time – but a short one – to upgrade and be prepared before communication with your central station monitoring service fails, too.
If you’re not ready, or perhaps not even sure what the 3G sunset is, keep reading. It’s the difference between a home security and fire protection system that keeps you and your family safe, and one that’s as good as defunct.
The 30-Second Wrapup: What Does The 3G Sunset Mean To You?
First there was 1G, then 2G, and finally 3G, where most major carries stayed for nearly two decades. The 3G protocol was designed to support voice and limited data transfers during a time when nobody anticipated the massive quantities of data we’d be transmitting today.
To keep up with the data needs of our exceedingly connected society, carriers are retiring 3G and putting LTE in its place.
With LTE, data can be transferred and accessed in greater quantities, in a fraction of the time as before. This is great news for anyone who wants fast, reliable internet and telecom services. But it does have a down side – and that’s the transition required for consumers to jump from 3G to LTE.
If your home alarm system uses 3G on AT&T or Verizon’s network to connect to your central station monitoring service, then you’re going to need to upgrade your system or that vital connection will fail.
So, exactly how complicated is it to upgrade? That depends…
Challenges You May Face Trying To Upgrade
Unfortunately, the 3G sunset comes at a time when our global and local economy is already experiencing supply chain disruptions, long shipping delays, parts shortages and labor issues.
Compound that by the fact that some carriers were slow to get the word out about the impending sunset, and plenty of homeowners are left scrambling for solutions.
Dealing with large alarm companies can be a hassle, too. From getting lost in phone queues to long wait times on hold, you can end up feeling like a very small number in a very large pool of people all competing for the same attention and service.
And when you do finally get attention, you may be faced with the same answer a lot of people are getting: the parts you need aren’t available, and service calls can’t be scheduled for weeks or months on end.
The Easiest Way To Make The Transition From 3G To LTE
If you find yourself in this same boat as so many New Jersey homeowners, you may be frustrated and even anxious about what to do. The good news is that you’re not alone.
Our alarm pros at New Jersey Fire & Security saw this coming and prepared long in advance so our customers wouldn’t have to deal with a moment’s hassle.
The simplest way to start the upgrade process for your home alarm system is to send us a photo of your alarm box. That’s it. You can email it, submit it through our website, or simply text it to us at (732) 795-0611.
Once we see what you have, we can tell you what you need. The good news is that 90% of the time we can use your existing equipment with no need for a big, expensive upgrade.
You won’t have to worry about parts shortages, either. We have cell radios available and in stock for all major alarm manufactures, including Honeywell (Residio), DSC, Bosch, DMP, QolSys, NAPCO, and 2GIG.
You can count on us for same-day response and prompt scheduling, whether you need a brand new system or you’re looking for someone to take over maintenance and monitoring of your existing system.
With 75 years in the alarm and contracting business, our longevity speaks for itself. We’re here to take the headache and hassle out of technology so you can feel safe and protected.
Why You Need A Local Company During Times Like These
Let’s face it, there are pros and cons to dealing with big companies. Sometimes they bring extensive resources and leverage to bear that a small company just doesn’t have. But when it comes to your personal security and the protection of your home and family, what you really want is someone who cares about _you_.
When you deal with a smaller, local company, your voice is powerful. You have a direct line of communication to the owners of that business, who are also part of your local community and have a responsibility and incentive to serve you as part of that community.
You want someone on your side, not just as a business person but as a neighbor and a part of your collective family. That’s the kind of passion we bring to the alarm business and to each customer we engage.
Local Company, Extensive Resources
When you hear “local company” you may hesitate. After all, you may be glad to get someone on the phone but you don’t want to rely on a neighbor to pick up the phone in the event of a fire or break-in at your home!
But “small company” doesn’t mean unequipped. The central station monitoring that we offer is provided by a Five-Diamond service with round-the-clock live agent monitoring.
In the event of an emergency, your alarm system will alert central station agents, who will immediately attempt to contact you and/or dispatch first responders as needed.
In addition, New Jersey Fire & Security is one of the only alarm companies in NJ with access to FirstNet radios. The FirstNet network is for emergency responders throughout the country and is currently available to some residential areas. In the event of a catastrophe that takes down communication systems, this network is the first that will go back up.
Where other companies are suffering from supply chain issues, we’ve prepared with the equipment that we know our customers will want and need. If you’re interested in knowing whether your manufacturer has FirstNet radios, just ask. If they do, we can provide them for you. If not, we can discuss upgrading your system to a provider that does have FirstNet options.
The 3G sunset is here. If your alarm system uses 3G then you’ll need to upgrade. The question is: do you want it to be fast and simple? If you said yes, then get in touch, call or text us at (732) 795-0611, email us directly, or submit our web form.
We’re here to give you personal, professional service that you can trust – no hassles or headaches at all!