Analog handoff phone line to Siemens

We switched all of our copper lines over to a fiber line this morning. Everything has been handed off via an analog device. At our other building, the handoff is good, no issues with the fire alarm panel. But with the Siemens it is throwing up a trouble related to communication error. I have tested for dialtone at the panel, and I am getting it. Any idea’s where to possible check?

By going to fiber optic lines your phone service is now VoIP. Depending on the analog to digital converters, the fiber length, and other factors the tones used by the DACT to DACR equipment can become distorted. That means the two pieces of equipment can no longer communicate reliably.

The introduction of the VoIP equipment into the data stream brings up a very critical issue. How long does it work on battery backup? Most systems only provide 4 to 8 hours of battery backup. The old hard copper lines were powered by the telephone exchange. They had large battery banks and standby generators to keep those lines powered for a very long time.

You may have to switch to IP based monitoring for reliable service. There may be a board available for your fire alarm system. If not there are adapter units that connect to the DACT and your internet service. Then your central station can switch you to IP monitoring. IP monitoring tests the connection every 90 seconds so a monitoring failure is sensed instantly.