Abstract: A virtual receiver having multiple communication ports for connecting a link to a plurality of local security systems. The virtual receiver is programmed with a virtual receiver number and a virtual line number for each physical communication port on the receiver. The virtual receiver has a master/slave operational mode such that the data received from the plurality of local security systems by each receiver is transmitted from at least one selected slave receiver to a selected master receiver. The virtual receiver number and virtual line number is used to create a part of a subscriber number. In master/slave operation mode, M number of receivers are linked together and the possible number of virtual receiver lines in a virtual receiver is M times the number in a normal mode of operation.