Help CenterNo, the OSI Alarm System does not support 3rd party Alarm Monitoring. Although we will be releasing a new Self-Monitored Alarm System that also works with an App which will give you the option to subscribe to an Alarm Monitoring Service with a click of a button directly within the app. This will allow you to have 24/7 monitoring services on month to month payment plan. This product will be available Fall 2021.
GSM can be a great addition to your home security set-up and for when you want that extra sense of security or do not have a smartphone. GSM stands for Global System for Mobile, which means your home security connects to a GSM cellular network. The GSM on the OSI Alarm System is used to support the SIM Card which is used for the "Auto Dial Feature", text notifications (SMS), as well as being able to remotely Arm and Disarm the alarm system using a phone. This GSM alarm system communicates an alert via a SIM card, just like the one in your mobile phone. So, like with a phone SIM card, you’ll need to pay subscription costs to keep your home security system linked up to the cellular network. No matter what type of GSM Network, 3G, 4G, LTE, the GSM in the OSI Alarm System will connect via SIM card to make your calls. Also, just like your cell, if you're in an area where lte, 4g or 3g is not supported, it will use gsm for calls. Again, please note that you cannot use this alarm system with 3rd party alarm monitoring services as it does not support Contact ID and/or SIA TCP/IP protocol.
Below is an explanation of how the Auto Dial Feature works.
Auto Dial Number Feature
You will need a sim card if you choose to use the auto dial number Feature. The way it works is that when a sensor is triggered and the alarm occurs, the host will dial the preset phone numbers. After the user answers the phone, it will play a recorded message letting you know that the alarm has been triggered. You can either keep the default message or record your own (20 seconds maximum). It will then give the user 4 different promps to choose from which allows you to take action by pressing a number on your phone.
These promp options are:
- Press 1 to ARM: If you do not have Wi-Fi you can call the alarm system to Arm it remotely.
- Press 2 to DISARM: Once pressed it will disarm the system immediatly
- Press 3 to MONITOR: Call the alarm system to hear whats going on with the internal speaker on the alarm system.
- Press 4 to TALK: Once pressed you can speak and your voice will be heard through the internal alarm system. This way you can either speak and scare off the introder, or talk to the person who is visiting or lives there who may have accidently triggered the alarm.
If the user fails to answer the alarm system will continue to dial the preset numbers until the user receives the call and makes a choice. If the user is not sure what to do, its best to just press 2 to Disarm the system and go to the house to see if everything is ok, or call the police if you feel that it is definitely not a false alarm.
What type of sim card do i use and where can i buy one?:
You can use any type of sim card that connects to a major provider such as BELL, Telus, T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Rogers etc. You only require a voice plan which typically costs $15 to $20 per month depending on the provider. You can purchase SIM Cards from Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart etc. for anywhere between $5 and $10. Depending on where you purchase you may get the SIM card for free and pay the monthly fee only. Prepaid cards are a great option as well if you are going out of town on a business trip or holiday and just wanted to have the Auto Dial feature for extra protection so you have someone else monitoring your system when you are away. This is a cost effective and easy solution if you are trying to avoid reccuring monthly fees.