Contact ID | Settings

  • Dial Attempts: Determines how many times the controller will attempt to dial each number before moving on to the next backup number. This limit applies even when the report was successful.

    For UL/ULC installations (with Enable UL Operation Mode enabled in Sites | Controllers | Options) the controller will not allow values above 8.

  • Port Attempts: Determines how many times the service will attempt to gain access to the onboard modem before reporting a communications failure. This may occur when another service is using the same port for communications.

  • Report count: Determines how many reports the service can send in each call to the monitoring station. When set to 0, all pending reports can be sent in one call. This is acceptable for most scenarios, but confirm with your central monitoring station.

    When using multiple reporting paths that can report the same event to multiple locations, a limit of 8-16 is recommended. If the limit is reached, the controller will dial out again to send any remaining messages.

  • Handshake Time: The length of time (in seconds) that the controller will wait to receive a handshake message response from the remote receiving unit. This can be adjusted if a longer than normal call completion time is required.
  • Dial Time: The length of time (in seconds) that the controller will wait following a failed reporting attempt before redialing or dialing a backup number. The minimum value is 10 seconds.
  • Off Hook Output / Output Group: This output or output group is activated when the service begins using the modem and is deactivated when the communication is completed. It can be used with remote exchange systems that require ground start communication connections.
  • Report OK Output / Output Group: This output or output group is activated when the service successfully completes a report. It is not deactivated automatically, and should be programmed with an Activation time (Programming | Outputs) to ensure that it is turned off between reports.

Background Monitoring

  • Enable Background Monitoring: When background monitoring is enabled the service will regularly send polling messages to confirm that the phone lines are operational. This ensures that issues in any of the phone lines (whether primary or backup) are detected.
  • Background Poll Time When OK: Determines how often (in seconds) the controller will check the status of the service when there are no known issues.
  • Background Poll Time When Known Failure: Determines how often (in seconds) the controller will check the status of the service when there is a known issue.
  • Offline Poll Report: The Contact ID event code, group number and zone number that the controller will send to poll the backup phone numbers.
  • Phone 1 Failed: The Contact ID event code, group number and zone number that the controller will use to report failed communication with Phone Number 1.
  • Phone 2 Failed: The Contact ID event code, group number and zone number that the controller will use to report failed communication with Phone Number 2.
  • Backup Phone Failed: The Contact ID event code, group number and zone number that the controller will use to report failed communication with the Backup Phone.