DIY wireless alarm system supports 3G/4G SIM card

From January, 2017, we heard some feedback from our US clients that AT&T had already announced definitive plans to shut down their legacy GSM/EDGE 850MHz and 1900MHz networks, this means our GSM technology based alarm system will no longer can rely on GSM network to transmit alarm signals by using AT&T SIM card.

Though the T-Mobile has no such a plan to discontinue GSM network. As AT&T is the major cellular service provider has the largest group of users, the AT&T’s plan will inevitably have a big impact in alarm system industry. Despite many DIY alarm systems use the GSM technology to make phone call and send text message, there are many commercial alarm systems have a GSM communicator as the backup to transmit the alarm message.

Actually, Unifore has this vision, and therefore launched the wireless alarm system based on 3G/UTMS band backed to 2014. The new 3G version alarm panel has a Quectel UC15 module built-in, UC15 is the upgraded version module for migration from GSM to 3G network. The 3G version wireless alarm system can supports UMTS system, which is also refered as WCDMA.  It’s compatible with GSM (2G), 3G, 4G (back-compatible with 3G) SIM Cards from different cellular service carriers.

UC15 is a cost effective UMTS/HSDPA module featuring a maximum data rate of 3.6Mbps downlink and 384Kbps uplink. Designed to be compatible with Quectel GSM/GPRS M10 module in the compact and unified form factor, it provides a flexible and scalable platform for migrating from GSM/GPRS/EDGE to UMTS/HSDPA. This enables integrators and developers to design their applications once and take advantage of true worldwide coverage and service flexibility afforded by the combination of the two most prevalent cellular technologies worldwide.

For an American users who have already had a GSM based alarm system, don't be panic, you still can use the SIM card from T-Mobile, this US cellular service carrier will keep offering GSM network until 2020. If you want to know what the US carrier frequency use, you can check the table as below.

AT&T is the first cellular communication service provider suspended its existing GSM network in the US. We don't expect any other cellular carriers will follow up in the rest of countries. Though a 3G/4G alarm system can support 3G/4G SIM card, but it doesn't necessarily better than the conventional GSM alarm systems, since both systems merely use cellular network to transmit SMS and make/receive phone call, the alarm system will not benefit from high-speed data transmission advantage provided by 3G/4G.