Section 686.320  Minimum Specifications for EHRS Equipment

a)         All home units, at a minimum, must meet the requirements of this subsection (a).

1)         Home units must be able to be activated from:

A)        a wireless remote; and

B)        from the telephone, using a predetermined number;

2)         The wireless remote activator must have:

A)        a crystal or Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) resonator controlled transmitted frequency for long-term reliability;

B)        digital encoding capability for at least 10 combinations;

C)        a minimum transmission range of 175 feet;

D)        an internal battery with a minimum life of 5 years;

E)        low battery signal; and

F)         certification under 47 CFR 15.

3)         The base unit or communicator unit must:

A)        be an integrated unit that connects to the individual's telephone via a modular jack which does not interfere with the normal use of the telephone or be an integrated unit that connects to a stable cellular network available to the individual’s primary residence;

B)        connect to a standard home electrical outlet, as its power supply, by use of an Underwriter's Laboratory approved plug;

C)        be able to seize the telephone line, even when a telephone in the dwelling is connected via a modular jack and is off the hook, and dial the EHRS Center to transmit an emergency signal;

D)        the base unit must have an easily identifiable "Ready" light to verify the unit is on-line with the EHRS Center;

E)        the base unit must have an easily identifiable "confirmation" light to indicate that, if activated, the EHRS Center has received the call;

F)         disconnect and redial, until the call is received at the EHRS Center, if an emergency call does not reach the EHRS Center;

G)        have a simple process by which signals may be aborted, in the event an erroneous signal is sent;

H)        have a battery, which is continuously charged while the unit is on, that will maintain a charge for at least 12 hours in the event of an electrical power failure;

I)         transmit a message to the EHRS Center signifying maintenance of the unit is required in the event of base unit battery failure; and

J)         be certified under 47 CFR 15 and 68.

b)         All EHRS Center equipment, at a minimum, must:

1)         be capable of automatically receiving all signals and displaying and printing all messages sent from home communicators connected to the EHRS system;

2)         have an audible and visual alarm for the notification of all incoming signals;

3)         display and print the incoming message, date, time, and Customer identification for each incoming signal;

4)         have a battery back-up which will automatically take over should there be a power outage, or a single circuit failure.  This battery back-up must supply sufficient power to operate the entire system for a minimum of 8 hours in the event of an outage;

5)         have totally separate and independent primary and back-up receivers.  If the primary receiver should fail, the system must automatically transfer to the back-up receiver to ensure no interruption in services;

6)         monitor all connected telephone lines and give an audible signal should one of the connected telephone lines be out of service for a period of longer than one minute;

7)         be able to identify each individual Customer account;

8)         perform self-diagnostic testing and monitoring to indicate the status of fault conditions, which could interfere with receiving signals and monitoring telephone connections such as power loss, telephone line outages, signals received with no messages, nonoperating transmitters, etc.; and

9)         be certified under 47 CFR 15 and 68.

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 20865, effective December 19, 2022)