NCJ Number
57723
Date Published
1976
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER SUMMARIZES A RECENT COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF LOW-COST MEDIA FOR TRANSMISSION OF ALARM SIGNALS. THE SELECTED MEDIA SHOULD BE SUITABLE FOR USE THROUGH THE 1980'S.
Abstract
THE PRINCIPAL TRANMISSION MEDIA CONSIDERED WERE CROSS-TOWN POWER DISTRIBUTION LINES, CABLE TELEVISION (CATV), ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF USING TELEPHONE FACILITIES, AND RADIO (RF). EVALUATION PARAMETERS INCLUDED COST, AVAILABILITY, RELIABILITY, AND REGULATORY AND POLICY CONSTRAINTS. THE TABLES AND FIGURES INCLUDED SHOW THE BASIC COMPONENTS OF TRANSMISSION MEDIA/SYSTEMS; A COMPARISON OF MEDIA SYSTEMS; CURRENT ALARM TRANMISSION SYSTEMS COSTS PER SUBSCRIBER PER MONTH; AND ALARMS TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS COSTS PER SUBSCRIBER PER MONTH ON BOTH A LONG-TERM AND A SHORT-TERM BASIS. THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT TELEPHONE CIRCUITS USING MULTIPORT BRIDGES AND CATV, IF AVAILABLE, MAY REPRESENT OPTIMUM SOLUTIONS FOR THE COMMERCIAL GRADE OF ALARM SERVICE FOR RESIDENTIAL OR SMALL BUSINESS PURPOSES. CURRENTLY AVAILABLE RADIO SYSTEMS ARE TOO COSTLY: SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF EQUIPMENT COSTS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIABILITY ARE NECESSARY TO MAKE RADIO COSTS COMPETITIVE WITH TELEPHONE OR CATV MEDIA. CROSS-TOWN POWER LINES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE OR DESIRABLE FOR ALARM SIGNALING BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES OF THE UTILITIES AND THE NATURE OF THE NETWORK. SUCH UNCONVENTIONAL TRANSMISSION MEDIA AS LASERS, MICROWAVES, AND OPTIC FIBERS HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO BE TOO COSTLY ALSO, ALTHOUGH THEY PROVIDE MUCH HIGHER DATA RATE CAPABILITIES THAN THE MAJOR TRANSMISSION MEDIA UNDER CONSIDERATION. THE USE OF WATER LINES (USING PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS) WAS ALSO CONSIDERED AND FOUND IMPRACTICAL. (AUTHOR ASBRACT MODIFIED--MHP)