CAT Signal Transmission and Central Station Monitoring

Question 1

Which communication format is most widely used to transmit alarm signals from a control panel to a central monitoring station via telephone lines?

Accepted Answer

Contact ID

Answer

FSK tone burst only

Answer

SIA DC-09 IP

Answer

DTMF handshake only

Question 2

What does the term 'polling' mean in the context of alarm signal transmission?

Accepted Answer

The central station periodically querying a communicator to verify it is online

Answer

Counting the number of active zones in a panel

Answer

Testing alarm panel batteries under load

Answer

Manually triggering zones to confirm sensor operation

Question 3

Why is a standard POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) telephone line considered a vulnerability in alarm signal transmission?

Accepted Answer

The line can be physically cut, defeating communication before an alarm is sent

Answer

It transmits signals too slowly for modern receivers

Answer

It is incompatible with Contact ID protocol

Answer

It requires a dedicated circuit that increases installation cost significantly

Question 4

What is 'split reporting' in alarm signal transmission configuration?

Accepted Answer

Routing burglar alarm signals to one central station and fire alarm signals to a separate central station

Answer

Dividing alarm signals between two receivers at the same central station

Answer

Splitting a single phone line between voice and data simultaneously

Answer

Using two independent control panels to cover one protected premises

Question 5

What is the purpose of a 'handshake' in the Contact ID digital communication protocol?

Accepted Answer

To confirm the central station receiver has acknowledged and accepted the transmitted message

Answer

To encrypt the signal payload before it is transmitted

Answer

To test the telephone line for noise and signal quality

Answer

To establish a live voice channel between the panel and the monitoring operator

Question 6

What is 'supervision' in the context of alarm signal transmission?

Accepted Answer

Periodic check-in signals between a communicator and the central station to verify the communication path is intact

Answer

Monitoring zone wiring continuity for open or short circuit conditions

Answer

The process of assigning zone descriptors and labels during programming

Answer

Central station operators viewing live video feeds from the protected premises

Question 7

What is the primary advantage of using cellular communication over POTS for alarm signal transmission?

Accepted Answer

Resistance to line-cut attacks since there is no physical wire to defeat

Answer

Lower monthly recurring monitoring service fees

Answer

Significantly faster signal delivery speed to the central station

Answer

Better backward compatibility with legacy control panel hardware