ATS path fault

We are inundated with calls about ATS path fault this morning. The storms last night have clearly done some damage to a mobile mast in the area. If your burglar alarm is affected present your fob twice to the keypad & then press reset. Our customers are welcome to give us a call and we will help you over the phone!

This post is back from 2011, but it continues to be our most searched page.

Therefore here is some more information on ATS path faults and what to do about them.  Hopefully it will be useful for you.

The Basics – What is ATS?

ATS is short for Alarm Transmission System.

A monitored intruder alarm is connected to a central monitoring station by either one or two paths. This is either a mobile line,  a landline or an IP line.

On a “single path” system (e.g. Digiair or Redcare Classic) only one line is monitored.

On a “dual path” system (e.g. DualCom or Redcare GSM ) then two lines are monitored.

A “self monitored” solution is the increasing popular “Smart Connect” app, where you control your alarm via an app on your phone.

This works via the internet in your home.

An error message is simply a warning that there has been a fault, or there is still a fault with the way your alarm communicates.

Error message ATS path fault:

If a fault is detected on any of the lines of communication the system will display an “ATS path Fault”.

The fault could be the mobile signal has been lost. It may indicate a fault with the phone line.  Or it maybe an issue with your broadband.

Possible reasons why:

1. There is a phone line fault on your line.
2. There is mast down in your area causing a temporary loss of mobile signal.
3. You may have a new phone line provider and this hasn’t been set up in your alarm panel.
4. If you have a Smart Connect App, it could be that your broadband has dropped out, or that you have a new router.
5. Or of course, it could be part of a planned attack on your property.

The reason we take it seriously is twofold.

1. If there was a break-in at your property the signals cannot be transmitted via the “faulty” communication path.
2. It could indicate an attack on your property is in progress, and the phone line has been cut or signal blocked.

However, most of the time the fault is temporary and nothing to worry about. We are all familiar with temporary losses of mobile signal on our phones. The same loss of signal will cause a temporary ATS path fault on your monitored intruder alarm.  If your broadband drops out, this will cause the error message through your “Smart Connect”.

How to deal with it:

1. If the fault on the line is no longer present, you can simply reset your alarm. It simply wants you to acknowledge that there has been a fault. To do this you present your fob and press reset. You may have to do this twice. You shouldn’t need to do it more than twice. That should clear it.
2. If there is still a fault present, the system will give you the option to “arm with faults”. You can do this, but obviously be aware that your alarm may not operate correctly in the event of a break in. This should only be used in exceptional circumstances, and certainly not on a daily basis.
3. If the fault doesn’t clear following the steps in point 1, or the fault returns, then contact your alarm company for advice.
4. If you have a “Smart Connect App” and you have an issue with intermittent broadband you may choose to turn off ATS path fault alerts. Contact your alarm provider for advice.

If you have a ESI alarm you can contact us and we will be happy to help.