Practice Test Geeks(CAT) Certified Alarm Technician Level I Practice Test
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Alarm Communication Systems & Signal Transmission Flashcards

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  1. What is the primary purpose of a digital communicator in an alarm system?

    Answer: Transmit alarm signals to a central monitoring station

    A digital communicator sends alarm event data from the control panel to the central monitoring station so operators can respond to the alarm.

  2. What does PSTN stand for in the context of alarm system communications?

    Answer: Public Switched Telephone Network

    PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network, the traditional landline infrastructure historically used for alarm signal transmission to central stations.

  3. Which communication method transmits alarm signals over a broadband internet connection?

    Answer: IP/Ethernet communication

    IP/Ethernet communication uses internet protocol over broadband connections to send alarm signals to the central station receiver.

  4. What is a dual-path communication system in alarm monitoring?

    Answer: A system using two independent channels so if one fails the other still transmits

    A dual-path system uses two independent communication channels, such as cellular and IP, providing redundancy if one path fails.

  5. Which contact format is most widely used as the industry standard for transmitting alarm event data to central stations?

    Answer: Contact ID

    Contact ID, developed by Ademco (now Honeywell), is the dominant industry-standard format for transmitting alarm event codes digitally to central station receivers.

  6. What does a telephone seize circuit do in an alarm communicator?

    Answer: Disconnects in-use telephone devices so the communicator can access the line

    The telephone seize circuit takes control of the phone line from any in-use devices so the alarm communicator can immediately transmit an alarm signal regardless of whether the line is in use.

  7. Which type of alarm communicator is most vulnerable to being defeated by a burglar cutting the telephone line?

    Answer: PSTN landline-only communicator

    PSTN landline-only communicators rely entirely on the physical telephone line, making them completely disabled if that line is cut by a burglar.