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FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who owns my alarm system?
    You do! Whether you bought a place with an existing Amax Praetorian system, or had us install one, the equipment is owned by you.
  • What is the difference between a monitored and a non-monitored system?
    When an alarm system is monitored, there are signals reporting to a central station and operators act upon signals received. The operators will send the correct help required. Non-monitored systems have only local notification (a siren on premise), which may not alert anyone’s attention.
  • What am I paying monitoring fees for?
    Service fees are paid for operators on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to respond to incoming signals from your alarm system.
  • What is the difference between a "FREE" system, and the systems you offer?"
    Free systems are 9 times out of 10 inadequate to effectively protect one’s property, and often require the customer to sign a binding contract with inflated monthly fees. In order to obtain the full protection of your property, you would have to agree to an up-sell. The equipment remains the property of the security company, and if you do not renew your contract they remove it. ​ We offer our customers tailored systems that are designed to offer maximum protection. We will never try to sell you something you do not need with your security system. Our monitoring agreements are open ended, and there are no surprise fees should you decide to cancel.
  • I am planning on, or I have changed, my telephone service provider. How will that affect my alarm system?"
    Alarm systems communicate through a POTS (Telus) or modem based (Telus or Shaw) phone line. Changing your telephone service provider can potentially affect your alarm. In particular, changing to an internet based phone or VOIP (Voice Over IP) will likely result in a communication failure. ​ It is in your best interest that you advise your new telephone service provider in advance that you have a monitored security system. Before the installer leaves your premise, we highly recommend you test your alarm system to the Central Monitoring Station, thus ensuring that your alarm system is reporting correctly. If your system is not reporting to the Central Station, you will need to have the telephone service installer to correct the connection. Alternatively, you may call our office after the fact and request a service call* to have one of our technicians reconnect the alarm system for monitoring.
  • The trouble light is illuminated on my keypad. What does this mean?
    A trouble light could mean a few different things: a low system battery, a faulty zone or telephone line connection problem, etc. The most common trouble is a low backup battery on your system, or a communication failure. On rare occasions, the trouble could more complicated and greatly affect system operation. To find out which trouble is on your system, please refer to your user manual for instructions. If you are having difficulty, you may call our office and a technician will be able to help you diagnose the issue. Quick Reference to view trouble condition: - Paradox system, press the Trouble Button - DSC system, press [*][2].
  • How long can I expect my backup battery to last?
    Backup batteries can be expected to last anywhere between 3 and 5 years, depending on the size and power demands of your system. If you experience frequent outages or occasional long periods of time without electricity at your location, the life expectancy of your battery may be reduced.
  • How do I test my alarm system?
    We recommend that you test your system at least once a month. Click here for a basic testing procedure.
  • What can cause a false alarm?
    False alarms are not uncommon. Misaligned doors/windows or a breeze blowing drapes past a motion detector among other scenario can lead to a false alarm. Large dogs or climbing cats can also cause false alarms if the motion detectors installed are not pet-friendly. As with any technology, aging equipment can eventually cause false alarms and overall poor system performance.
  • What should I do if I accidentally set of my alarm system?
    Disarm your system, and call the monitoring station immediately to advise them of the false alarm. Please refer to our information page here for full instructions.

Have a question not answered here? Please send us an email or give us a call!

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