The Pros and Cons of LAN Communication in Commercial Intrusion and Life-Safety Applications

September 18, 2023

Graphic showing dual-path alarm communication using internet and 5G LTE-M cellular connectivity.

Dual-path alarm communication combines internet and cellular connectivity for added reliability.

The internet is an incredible way to connect the world and it has become a standard fixture in many aspects of our lives because of its wide accessibility. However, using a LAN (Local Area Network) connection in life-safety situations has both positives and negatives that should be carefully considered before deploying alarm systems that rely on it. And if it’s decided that LAN is the way to go, Telguard communicators with a dual-path option will give the customer an extra layer of reliability and confidence in their alarm system.

The Positives of a LAN Connection

Fast Connection: Because of the minimal data size transmitted during alarm events, utilizing a LAN pathway to connect to the supervising station is one of the fastest ways to deliver the events.

High Availability: Internet access is readily available in most commercial and residential installations and the beauty of using LAN as a pathway to deliver alarm events is that it’s also relatively inexpensive. Its usage will not incur any extra charges or fees for the end-user, making it an appealing option for home and property owners.

And because data consumption is relatively low, the customer can use the same LAN connection that they already have in their building, warehouse, or apartment complex which helps with the ease of installation.

The Potential Negatives of a LAN connection

Locally Managed Connection: In residential applications, the LAN connection is locally managed by the homeowner while the person who has access to the router configurations acts as the network manager. In commercial applications, the job usually falls on a dedicated network administrator. So, for dealers and integrators using internet devices, it generally means that someone else can interfere with access at any given time.

Shared Connection: Although internet access is readily available in most situations, it will be a connection that’s shared with many other devices unless the service is provided—and segregated exclusively—for an alarm system. It’s very possible the available bandwidth could be overwhelmed by the uncontrolled usage of other non-alarm-system devices on the same network which can have a latency effect on communications for the alarm system.

Dependency on More Equipment: Think about all the equipment that is needed to provide internet access to most premises. The situation becomes even more complex with commercial fire applications because of AHJ requirements that may come into the picture as they relate to power supplies. The more devices that are needed, the higher the probability of a single device not functioning properly and impacting the pathway. In other words, the number of extra devices translates to additional points of failure.

Telguard Ideal Solutions Utilizing LAN Fit Any Need

Part of the full line of Telguard universal communicators, the TG-7E (intrusion) and TG-7FE (life-safety), offer two communication pathways to reliably transmit signals: a wired LAN connection to the internet and wireless 5G LTE-M cellular. These dual-path options give the customer more flexibility to address their unique situation because either path can be designated as the primary pathway at any time.

As security breaches continue to make the news and network requirements keep getting stricter, acceptance of internet-based devices in commercial intrusion and fire applications has been a challenge. Network administrators are charged with protecting their networks from intruders and one of their biggest concerns is the issue of limiting inbound access. However, the way that these Telguard communicators work—by simply using cellular connectivity for inbound messaging when needed and LAN for outbound messaging—provides a level of comfort by removing some of the concerns with threats of intrusion into the network.

There are many reasons why a customer would choose to set up LAN as the primary pathway in a dual-path option. The communicators will quickly switch to always-on cellular if the LAN connection gets interrupted or goes down and will switch back when everything is normal once again. Additionally, the customer can make LAN the primary pathway if there isn’t adequate cellular coverage or signal strength in the area.

In situations where the network administrator makes changes to the network (e.g., changing IP address assignment) that block the device from accessing the internet, the communicators provide a cellular connection to also reconfigure the device to adapt to those changes. This gives the integrator the ability to continue transmitting signals and also, to recover in more extreme situations.

Other the other hand, if internet access in the area is weak or can’t be trusted by the customer, cellular can be set up as the primary pathway. The dual-path option of these Telguard communicators is all about giving the customer greater flexibility in addressing their specific situation.

TG-7E: Dual Path Internet and 5G LTE-M Commercial Intrusion Communicator

For intrusion security, this dual path communicator is highly configurable and powers directly from the panel’s auxiliary power supply or via an included plug-in transformer. Check out the additional benefits and data specifications for our TG-7E Dual Path Internet and 5G LTE-M Commercial Intrusion Communicator

TG-7FE: Dual Path Internet and 5G LTE-M Commercial Fire Alarm Communicator

This dual path communicator fits any commercial fire need and powers directly from the fire panel’s 12/24 VDC auxiliary power supply or via an included plug-in transformer. It works with any panel, including a DACT-less panel when used with the Telguard TG-PEM accessory. Learn more about our TG-7FE Dual Path Internet and 5G LTE-M Commercial Fire Alarm Communicator

Alarm systems taking advantage of internet access to deliver intrusion and life-safety events to supervising stations seems like a no-brainer concept and although it’s a great communication pathway to utilize, there are inherent negatives about the way access is provided. However, Telguard’s dual-path communicators—which include a LAN connection pathway and wireless cellular pathway—are ideal solutions that can work under any condition and provide the level of redundancy and assurance that customers need for any situation.

About Telguard

Telguard is the leader in cellular alarm communications for fire and intrusion systems, protecting people and property with proven reliability. Backed by decades of innovation, UL‑listed technology, and dealer‑first support, Telguard delivers secure, future‑ready solutions for residential, commercial, and fire applications.

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