Check out our White Paper Series!
A complete library of helpful advice and survival guides for every aspect of system monitoring and control.
1-800-693-0351
Have a specific question? Ask our team of expert engineers and get a specific answer!
Sign up for the next DPS Factory Training!
Whether you're new to our equipment or you've used it for years, DPS factory training is the best way to get more from your monitoring.
Reserve Your Seat Today
Central Utah Telephone (CUT) needed earlier warning on power events at remote sites after a lightning strike left a newly deployed location on batteries for hours. CUT strengthened monitoring with DPS Telecom alarming so low-voltage conditions could be identified quickly and addressed before they damaged switch equipment.
| Industry | Telecommunications (local phone, Internet, and cable TV operations) |
|---|---|
| Company | Central Utah Telephone (CUT) |
| Primary Challenge | Remote-site power events and low-voltage conditions were not alarmed quickly enough, increasing the risk of service impact and equipment damage. |
| Solution Deployed | Centralized alarm monitoring with remote telemetry to bring power, battery, and switch conditions into a single operations view and support paging notifications. |
| Key Result | Earlier visibility into power and battery problems, enabling faster response and helping prevent expensive equipment damage. |
| Products Used | IAM-5 running T/MonXM alarm management software; KDA 864 remote telemetry units |
Kevin Arthur is the Network Operations Manager for Central Utah Telephone. He worked his way up in telecommunications after roles with inside/outside plant in the Air Force and Qwest, and later took responsibility for alarm monitoring at CUT, including a newly acquired Cable TV division.
CUT supports a wide rural service area. With long travel times to key sites and a limited number of technicians, the team benefits from having alarms routed to the right people with enough detail to make good dispatch decisions.
When Kevin first saw CUT's existing T/MonXM WorkStation in the central office, it did not stand out as critical equipment.
"It was under a desk and covered with dust," Kevin said.
The operational risk became clear after a lightning strike at a remote site that had recently been put into operation with all new equipment. The site had a new building, a new rectifier, and a new switch, but alarming was not installed as part of the initial deployment.
The lightning destroyed the rectifiers, and the site ran on batteries for about 18 hours before the condition was discovered. The resulting low voltage caused expensive damage to cards in the switch.
"If we'd had the KDA installed as part of the initial install, we would have been able to catch that before there was major damage. Some of the damage was because of the lightning strike, but most was from running on low batteries. And when you have to pay $5,000 for each blown card ... I was sold on alarming after that," Kevin said.
CUT standardized on a DPS Telecom alarm monitoring approach that brings remote power and environmental conditions back to a central point, where technicians can see problems quickly and receive notifications. For telecom operators, this type of monitoring is often the difference between a controlled response and an extended battery discharge that damages equipment.
Kevin runs monitoring through an IAM-5 (an upgrade from the dusty, under-the-desk T/Mon) and KDA 864 remote telemetry units.
In practical terms, the system is designed to:
For organizations building or refreshing their own alarm strategy, DPS Telecom recommends combining a centralized alarm master (for correlation, notification, and reporting) with remote telemetry at each site. This is exactly the model CUT used with the IAM-5 and KDA 864 units, and it remains a best practice for preventing battery-related damage.
"What I like about the IAM-5 is how easy it is to use ..."
Kevin Arthur - Central Utah Telephone
Kevin describes the value of alarming in direct dollars-and-cents terms: early warning can prevent expensive equipment losses.
"I'm sure we've saved some money because of our alarm system. I mean, if we had to replace just one card in our switch that was affected by heat or power issues, that's money that would pay for the entire alarm system," Kevin said.
Power supplies are a common single point of failure at remote facilities. If the power supply fails, it can take the entire site down and may impact neighboring services. Effective alarming focuses on the conditions that signal trouble early: rectifier status, battery voltage, and duration on battery.
Kevin shared an example from a mountaintop radio site with an ongoing battery issue. Monitoring made it possible to see what was happening and decide when a technician needed to be dispatched. "If we lost that site, we'd lose a whole city."
For telecom and cable operators, DPS Telecom commonly recommends building alarms around:
Network monitoring also supports CUT's operating reality: a wide rural geography and long travel times between sites.
"Alarm monitoring is critical. It takes four hours to travel to two of our main sites, and we have a limited number of technicians," Kevin said.
With remote telemetry reporting conditions back to the central office, the operations team can validate an issue, notify the right on-call staff, and decide whether a truck roll is necessary.
Because monitoring is central to his operations, Kevin continues to add capabilities and use the system more effectively.
"Using paging and paging over e-mail has been our biggest improvement," Kevin said. "We have paging alerts for everything from power outages to switch alarms. Every major alarm is paged to all central office technicians."
Kevin also wants more detailed switch alarming using the IAM-5's ASCII alarm processor. "With ASCII, I'd like to get much more specific alarms. Right now our switch will print out 'Major' or 'Minor.' If I'm going to be paged in the middle of the night, I want to know the specifics: which site, which switch, and which card, so I know whether it's worth it to go check it out."
For teams designing on-call workflows, this highlights a key best practice: alarms should carry enough context to drive action. DPS Telecom solutions are frequently used to normalize alarms across varied equipment types, so operators can route the right notification with the right level of detail.
IAM-5 running T/MonXM alarm management software - Centralized alarm viewing and management for remote sites (legacy deployment referenced in this story). For modern deployments, see DPS Telecom's current T/Mon Alarm Master options.
KDA 864 remote telemetry units - Remote alarm collection for site power and equipment conditions. If you are evaluating current-generation RTUs for similar applications, see DPS Telecom RTU solutions.
When a site runs on batteries for an extended period, voltage can drop below the tolerances of switch cards and supporting electronics. Alarming on battery voltage and duration helps prevent operation in damaging ranges.
Most teams start with AC fail, rectifier failure, battery voltage thresholds, and high temperature. These alarms provide early warning before outages become extended events.
RTUs bring site conditions to the NOC so technicians can verify whether an issue is persistent, understand severity, and decide whether dispatch is necessary.
Use escalation rules and include detailed alarm context (site and equipment identifiers). Kevin highlighted the value of more specific switch alarms beyond generic "Major" or "Minor" messages.
If you want to protect your network against the dangers of service outages and equipment loss, DPS Telecom can help you design an alarm strategy that prioritizes power, batteries, and actionable notifications. Get a Free Consultation or call 1-800-693-0351 to speak with an expert about your project.
Secure Your Network With A Modern T/Mon Alarm Master
If you are upgrading from older T/MonXM-era systems, DPS Telecom offers current Alarm Master solutions designed for faster processing, improved workflow, and compatibility with modern monitoring needs while supporting proven alarming concepts.
