ST: For instance, ADT alarm systems are known to produce error codes which hinder the functioning of the system occasionally. An example of such terminology is the BF code which means there is something wrong with the alarm panel’s ability to communicate with the phone. The BF code is usually generated if the alarm system tries to dial the phone and connect with the ADT monitoring center but cannot get through due to a cut wire.

Step 1: Press the Keypad Menu Key

The first process is to press the ‘access’ button to locate and get into the menu of your ADT alarm system keypad. The exact steps to access the menu vary slightly across different ADT keypad models but typically involve: 

  • Second, you need to make sure that you enter your 4-digit master code.
  • If the device is being used with a keypad and you wish to scroll down the list press the # key or the menu button several times.

The Second Step is scrolling through the screen to look for the BF Error Code.

After you get the keypad menu up, you need to go through the various status messages that can be seen and the settings that can be made. Try to find a message or code in the program that is marked as BF, which can usually be found under History, Status, or Error. It may be labeled as Phone Comm Failure or BF Phone Com Failure depending on whether it has the complete name on it. This means that the BF error is at the moment impacting your system.

It helps in navigating through the different options using the arrow/scroll keys of your keypad. It’s possible to encounter some keypad models where * has to be pressed to choose Status or Error before the BF code and message. Check the keypad manual for directions in case you are in need to use it.

B) Go to Start, Control Panel, System, Hardware Tab, and finally Device Manager.

When you have found the BF error message or code on your keypad display, you then should delete or remove this error from the system memory.

To clear the BF error message, while the message BF is displayed in the menu, you need to press the ‘#’ key. In some panels, # can be pressed to bring a Clear? This is a Yes/No option, so the answer is Yes by navigating with arrow keys and pressing # if applicable.

Step 4: Try to Shout Out

Erasing BF error is helpful in the system and the next crucial task is to try to make the ADT alarm panel dial to the ADT monitoring center. This verifies whether the removal of the error was actually as instrumental in solving the problem as was thought.

Access the keypad menu system for a second time by entering your master code and selecting a Placement Test, System Test, or Comm Test. Use one of the communication tests to make your panel dial out on the intended call.

In the case that the call gets connected to the call center, there is normally a recorded voice for a few seconds then the call is disconnected. This suggests that your panel can correctly extend to the phone lines and hence; removing the BF code ended the communication breakdown.

Step 5: Additional Troubleshooting

On some occasions, doing the above procedures removes the BF error message in the keypad but your alarm system can still not execute callouts or dial the ADT monitoring center. This shows that there exists still an unresolved problem in phone communication that needs further diagnosis and rectification before the panel communication is brought to a stop.

Some steps to try here include: Some steps to try here include:

  • Ensuring proper connectivity of all physical phone connections and phone cables with a particular emphasis on whether they are firmly connected.
  • The process of using the phone jack your alarm system is connected to, with another phone device to test for dial tone or lineages
  • Disconnecting the ADT alarm panel from the electrical power source for half a minute to activate all circuits
  • Use of the # key after dialing the call-out tests overrides observed phone line problems.

You may also need to liaise with ADT technical support to have items serviced in case a failed call-out is still being repeated after eradicating all the BF errors and other efforts to solve the communication problem have also been futile. When you are going to call for support, the service person is going to require account details and the model of the alarm panel that is installed.

Conclusion

The BF error code on ADT alarm systems means your security panel is unable to dial out to the ADT monitoring center because of a phone line issue. Most of the time this can be solved by gaining access to your system menu options and clearing BF error messages and hence coming out with communication ability. However, troubleshooting additional physical phone connections or contacting the technicians of ADT for servicing might be required if call-out tests fail after erasing BF codes. Understanding the basic flow chart outlined here gives you the knowledge of how to go about troubleshooting and ensuring that your ADT security system resumes its proper functioning of communicating.

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