Dual path communicators - overkill or must have for every install?

An old timer named Frank from a supply house in Phoenix told me to always use a cellular and IP dual path communicator on every single job. I thought he was overselling gear. After a job last year where the homeowner's internet went down for 3 days and the cell backup kicked in perfectly, I started wondering if he was right. But another installer I know says he has never had a problem with just cellular and saves his customers $60 a year on IP monitoring fees. Which side do you fall on? Is the extra cost worth the peace of mind for the average home?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_derek1mo ago

Frank over in Phoenix probably sold a lot of those units over the years, so I get why he's pushing them. But in my experience, most folks aren't running a business from home where losing the internet for a few days is that big of a deal. That sixty bucks a year adds up, and if the cellular signal is solid in their area, I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Dual path is nice, sure, but I don't think every average house needs it.

sean_torres711mo ago

You really hit on something there... it's like people forget not everyone runs a server farm out of their basement. I've had customers worry about their alarm going down during a power outage or something, but honestly, how often does that even happen? Most folks just need the basics to work when they're home and asleep. That sixty bucks buys a nice dinner out once a month, you know... I'd rather have the steak than the backup cell path that never gets used. Just feels like overkill for the average ranch house.