What Happens to a DSC Impassa When the Internet Goes Down?

Nothing happens to a DSC Impassa when the internet goes down. The system cannot receive monitoring through an IP connection. Only phone line monitoring and cellular monitoring will work with the system. Therefore, an internet outage will not affect a DSC Impassa System in any way.

In order for an alarm system to connect to the internet, it needs either a WIFI card or an IP communicator. There is not a compatible WIFI card or an IP communicator for the DSC Impassa Alarm System. For that reason, there is no way for a DSC Impassa to connect to the internet. So if the internet goes down, the system will be unaffected.

A DSC Impassa relies on other communication methods for monitoring. Specifically, the system can use either a phone line connection or a cellular connection. To use a cellular connection, the DSC Impassa will need a few upgrades. But a phone line connection can be used with no add-ons. However, we do not recommend using a phone line connection with the DSC Impassa.

Phone lines represent an archaic and outdated technology for alarm systems. This type of connection is very slow, and it is a rather unreliable form of communication. Phone line connections can also be easily tampered with by potential intruders. So while a phone line connection can still technically be used, we generally discourage the practice for modern alarm systems.

However, a DSC Impassa can use a cellular connection very effectively. This will require a compatible cellular communicator and an alarm monitoring plan that includes cellular connectivity. Additionally, the Impassa System will need to be running firmware version 1.3 or higher to support the communicator. Cellular connectivity is great for alarm systems, since it provides fast speeds, is very reliable, and it is nearly impossible for others to tamper with. Cellular communication is also unaffected by typical power outages.

By using a cellular connection, a DSC Impassa System will be able to connect with Alarm.com. This is an interactive service that a user can access to control their alarm system. By accessing Alarm.com, a user can arm and disarm their system, check the status of sensors, control Z-Wave devices and more. The service can be accessed from a web browser or remotely using the Alarm.com Mobile App on an Android or iOS device.