Virtual Receiver Versus Physical Receiver

The advantage of the IP Alarms Virtual Receiver is that it is software based and easily scalable so that it can handle hundreds of signals per second if required.

When provisioned for use with the Virtual Receiver, remote Linksys VoIP adapters can continue to function well and send signals even under low bandwidth network conditions.

Redundancy

The fact that it is software based could also be considered a disadvantage as there is always a risk of a hardware or software crash on the live computer running the Virtual Receiver. A backup computer should be prepared and ready to replace the live computer as quickly as possible.

The Virtual Receiver is only able to accept signals from alarm panels and communicators/diallers using DTMF based alarm protocols.

The advantage of an SPA8000 interface connected to your POTS receiver is that it is hardware based and alarm protocol independent, however, the solution relies on a reasonable amount of upstream bandwidth (50-100K) and stable network conditions at both the client and server ends in order to function reliably.

Each SPA8000 connects to up to 8 line ports on 8 line cards and is therefore able to receive a maximum of 8 signals at a time. You can use any number of SPA8000's alongside each other provided you have enough bandwidth available on your Internet connection. Of course, the SPA8000 can be connected into your existing PBX system for better handling of line cards.