In a complete test of a monitored system, what is the recommended procedure?

• A. Test every device and verify with the central station that all signals were correctly received.
• B. Test only a sample of devices and assume delivery of others.
• C. Verify only that the central station has power and is responsive.
• D. Record test results without confirming signal receipt at the central station.

Answer: (A)

When performing a complete test of a monitored system, you want to verify end-to-end operation from every device to the central monitoring station. This means triggering each sensor or device and then confirming that the central station actually receives the signal and logs it. End-to-end verification ensures there are no silent devices, faulty communication paths, or misconfigurations that could prevent an alarm from being noticed and acted upon.

Testing every device prevents missing a defective unit that could go unnoticed if only a sample were checked. Merely verifying that the central station has power or is responsive does not prove that device signals are being transmitted and received. Recording test results without confirming receipt at the central station provides no evidence that the signals were actually delivered.