CAT Alarm Technician Security Protocols 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a 'shunt' mean in the context of alarm security protocols?
- A backup power source for the control panel
- A temporary bypass of a specific zone or device (Correct answer)
- A type of encrypted communication between panel and central station
- A grounding method for outdoor sensors
Correct answer: A temporary bypass of a specific zone or device
Shunting bypasses a specific zone so it does not cause an alarm while the area is occupied or under maintenance.
Question 2: Which authentication method is considered MOST secure for a dual-credential alarm system?
- PIN only
- Key fob only
- PIN plus biometric verification (Correct answer)
- Proximity card only
Correct answer: PIN plus biometric verification
A PIN combined with biometric verification (something you know plus something you are) provides the highest two-factor security.
Question 3: When wiring a control panel to a telephone communicator, which precaution is most important?
- Connect the phone line before AC power
- Ensure the line seizure terminal captures the line before dialing (Correct answer)
- Use twisted-pair wire no longer than 10 feet
- Ground the telephone line to the panel chassis
Correct answer: Ensure the line seizure terminal captures the line before dialing
Line seizure ensures the communicator takes control of the phone line before dialing, preventing a busy signal from blocking transmission.
Question 4: A central station operator reports receiving partial signals from a panel. The technician's FIRST diagnostic step should be:
- Replace the communicator module immediately
- Check the phone line or network path for integrity and signal strength (Correct answer)
- Increase the panel's communication retry count
- Switch the account to radio backup
Correct answer: Check the phone line or network path for integrity and signal strength
Verifying the communication path (phone line, IP, or cellular) ensures the issue is the medium before replacing hardware.
Question 5: Under UL 2050, which action must a monitoring center take when a hold-up alarm is received from a commercial account?
- Call the subscriber first to verify before dispatching police
- Dispatch law enforcement immediately without calling the premise (Correct answer)
- Send a guard and wait 10 minutes before calling police
- Log the signal and dispatch within 90 seconds
Correct answer: Dispatch law enforcement immediately without calling the premise
UL 2050 requires immediate police dispatch on hold-up signals without a premise call to protect individuals who may be in danger.
Question 6: What is the significance of a supervisory signal in a fire alarm system?
- It indicates a confirmed fire condition requiring evacuation
- It indicates a trouble condition with a system component that needs attention (Correct answer)
- It silences the local alarm while the central station investigates
- It tests the audibility of all notification appliances
Correct answer: It indicates a trouble condition with a system component that needs attention
A supervisory signal indicates an off-normal condition (e.g., a sprinkler valve closed) that requires attention but is not yet an alarm.
Question 7: Which encryption standard is recommended for IP-based alarm communicators to protect signal data?
- WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
- AES-128 or AES-256 (Correct answer)
- MD5 hashing only
- DES (Data Encryption Standard)
Correct answer: AES-128 or AES-256
AES-128 or AES-256 are the industry-standard encryption levels used to secure IP alarm communications against interception.
CAT Alarm Technician Security Protocols 3
What does a 'shunt' mean in the context of alarm security protocols?