Julia Ross Posts

The 4th of July, aka, Independence Day is the ultimate summer event. It is a celebration of our country's independence from Britain. On this day, most of us will engage in cookouts, swimming, eating, drinking, and fireworks, or some combination of those things. Just remember to do it safely!

Our hardworking support staff will be off, and our offices will be closed for the holiday. Of course, our central station partners Cricitom (CMS) and Rapid Response will be on the job, monitoring Alarm Grid customer systems. When it comes to alarm response, nothing will change.

If you need to contact the central monitoring station, to cancel a false alarm or verify a signal, customers in the US can contact Criticom (CMS) by dialing (888) 818-7728 and choosing Option [9]. This will get you in touch with an operator who can assist you with canceling a false alarm, putting your system on test, or checking an alarm signal. You can also set up a MyAlarms.com account, so that you can do those things yourself online without having to call.

Canadian customers can contact Rapid Response at (800) 932-3822. Remember when you call either monitoring station, you will be asked for your name, address, and your false alarm password or phrase. Providing incorrect information when asked, will result in the dispatch of authorities.

If you have a support question or if you need to make adjustments to your account, the monitoring station cannot assist you. In that case, send an email to support@alarmgrid.com with details of your request and we will begin to address these support issues as soon as we return to the office on Wednesday, July 5. At that time, we will return to our normal business hours of 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern, Monday - Friday.

We hope you enjoy the holiday. We recommend that you wear sunscreen, and drink plenty of water if you'll be spending time outdoors in the heat, even if you're swimming. Be careful if you'll be handling fireworks and let's all meet back here on Wednesday to share stories about our holiday!

Alarm Grid is now proud to offer the Alarm.com ADC-VDB750 Wired Video Doorbell. This doorbell supports video analytics and two-way audio. It also offers an improved operating temperature range over older doorbells. No power module is required with mechanical chimes, for a simple installation.

The ADC-VDB750 will be replacing the silver SkyBell ADC-VDB105X Slimline II, which has been discontinued. As of this writing, the above-referenced Skybell is still available in Bronze and Satin Nickel from Alarm Grid. The operating temperature range of -58°F - 122°F (-50°C - +50°C) means that users in more extreme climates can now have access to the safety and peace of mind a video doorbell provides.

Also improved is the ADC-VDB750's field of view. With a 165° horizontal and 145° vertical field of view, users will be able to see more of the area surrounding the door. You can now capture all of the activity in the area surrounding the entry to your home. Package thieves, beware!

Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? Sure, sometimes, but not when it comes to the field of view on this video doorbell. With Alarm.com's unparalleled video analytics, the ADC-VDB750 offers People Detection. With this powerful analytics engine you can be sure that when you receive a notification that someone's at the door, it will actually be a person. Not the neighbor's basketball, or your friendly neighborhood squirrel.

The ADC-VDB750 can use either AC or DC power. It can accept 16VAC to 24VAC at 10VA minimum and 40VA maximum (16VAC, 10VA is recommended), or 15VDC to 24VDC at 6W minimum to 20W maximum. If an AC power supply is being used for the existing doorbell, be sure it has the proper specifications to support the ADC-VDB750. A DC power supply can also be used, we offer the Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-PSU-DC which provides 16VDC at 20W. If you aren't replacing an existing doorbell, this might be the easiest way to go. Any DC power supply used will need to provide at least 15VDC at 8W. Be sure to remove power from the doorbell by turning off the breaker, in the case of an AC transformer, or unplugging the DC power supply, before beginning a doorbell swap.

If the existing doorbell uses a mechanical chime, you can replace that doorbell with the ADC-VDB750 and you won't have to use any type of power module. If you're replacing an older Alarm.com video doorbell that used a power module with the mechanical chime, you can remove it. If you will be replacing an older doorbell that uses a digital chime, you will need to install the ADC-VDBA-PM-750 power module.

This power module differs from the power module for the ADC-VDB770 because it only has two (2) wires instead of four (4). The two (2) wires for this power module will connect in parallel to the same terminals the doorbell wires are already connected to on the chime. For example, digital chimes commonly have screws with markings of FRONT, TRANS, and REAR. If your installation has wires connected to FRONT and TRANS, the wires for the power module will connect to these same two terminals, right on top of the existing wires. This connection does not observe polarity.

If you are replacing a Slimline I or Slimline II (Skybell) doorbell, you can use a backplate adapter for ease of installation. Power down and remove the old doorbell, but leave its mounting plate in place. Make sure that all wires are well connected to the screws on the plate and that the bottom set screw is backed out far enough that its threads don't stick up above the plastic. Attach the Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-750-BPA (sold separately) to the back of the new ADC-VDB750, then attach this entire unit to the existing Slimline doorbell mounting plate. Tighten the set screw and return power to the unit.

There is a wedge mount kit available for the ADC-VDB750. This kit contains a 5° downward angled wedge and a 15° left or right-angled wedge. Using these wedge mounts allows you to dial in and improve your doorbell's downward and/or left/right viewing angle for the perfect line of sight. The wedge mount kit, Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-750-WMK, is sold separately. Please note, if you are replacing a Slimline I or Slimline II Skybell Doorbell, and you wish to use the wedge mount kit, you will need to remove the Slimline doorbell backplate and use the one that comes with the ADC-VDB750 instead.

Finally, if you will be replacing an older and larger video doorbell with the new ADC-VDB750, and there's an area you need to cover such as a larger wiring hole, or an area where older, non-matching paint may show, you can use the Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-WPU. This is basically a trim plate that you can install behind the new doorbell's mounting bracket. This trim plate is larger than the mounting bracket and will cover any unsightly old paint or other marks from previous installations.

So, say hello to the Alarm.com ADC-VDB750. The latest, but surely not the last, entry in Alarm.com's impressive list of video doorbell offerings. It joins the Alarm.com ADC-VDB770 wired video doorbell and the Alarm.com ADC-VDB780B and ADC-W115C bundle, which includes the wireless doorbell camera with rechargeable battery, and a wireless chime module. When it comes to video doorbell cameras, Alarm.com has got you covered.

Alarm Grid's Louisville support center will shut down at 12:30 pm today Wednesday, June 7, 2023, so that our team can take advantage of the ESX trade show taking place here. ESX is not as large as ISC West, but it still offers some great opportunities for learning and exploring new products.

ESX is the Electronic Security Expo, and is owned and operated by ESA, the Electronic Security Association. Established in 1948, ESA is the largest trade association in the United States representing the electronic security and life safety industry. ESA also offers training and certification courses for alarm technicians through the ESA National Training School.

There will be many familiar vendors at the ESX show, including Resideo, Alarm.com, CMS, JCI (owners of Qolsys and DSC), and many others. Also in attendance will be many new companies with new products and new ideas. Hopefully, our techs will see something awesome that we can then bring back and offer to our customers.

Although the support center will be closed during this time, our professional monitoring centers will be on the job. All alarm system signals will be processed as usual. Alarm Grid customers in the United States can contact CMS (Criticom Monitoring Services) by calling 888-818-7728 and choosing option 9. Do this if you need to cancel an alarm, put your system on test, or check on an alarm signal. Check out the MyAlarms.com site, set up an account, and you can do all of these things yourself, no phone call required.

Canadian Alarm Grid customers who need to cancel an alarm or verify a signal can call Rapid Response at 800-932-3822. Remember, whether you're contacting CMS or Rapid Response you will be asked to provide your name, address, and false alarm password. If you provide the Duress password, or the wrong password, the monitoring station will dispatch authorities.

If you need to make changes to your monitoring information, send us an email at support@alarmgrid.com and we will reply as soon as possible when we're back in the office on Thursday. The monitoring station cannot make these changes for you. We'll be back in the office on Thursday morning at 9:00 am for our regular business hours.

Alarm.com announces the addition of Tuscon Electric Power, Modesto Irrigation District, and American Municipal Power (AMP) to the Give Back, Get Back Demand Conservation Program. Customers with a qualifying smart thermostat, like the Alarm.com T2000 Thermostat, can earn incentives for participating in the program.

In different areas, these incentive programs are called different things. Demand Conservation, Give Back, Get Back, and others. Basically, they all boil down to one thing. During peak usage times, usually, in the summer months, when demand is at its highest, you give the utility company permission to make minor adjustments to your temperature settings, which allows them to lessen the demand on the power grid during peak usage.

If you sign up for the program, you have the ability to opt out of a single event, and you can opt out of the program completely at any time. However, if you do opt out, you will give up any further incentives that may be available through the program.

Tuscon Electric Power customers can earn a $50 Mastercard e-gift card for each eligible thermostat (up to two (2) total) for enrolling in the Smart Rewards program and earn another $40 Mastercard e-gift card for each year of participation. That's $90 for one thermostat or $180 for two. Between these incentives and the savings provided by a smart thermostat, this is an upgrade that will pay for itself in no time!

Modesto Irrigation District customers will receive a $50 bill credit when they enroll in the MID Power Smart program. Then, receive a $20 bill credit for each year that you remain in the program. If you're adding a new Energy Star® smart thermostat to your home, you can also apply for up to a $50 rebate toward the purchase of the thermostat. The rebate is limited to two (2) qualifying thermostats per household. Visit their website for full details.

American Municipal Power (AMP) operates in several states, including Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, and Delaware. According to Alarm.com, customers receive $55 when enrolling in the program with AMP. However, according to the AMP website, participants who sign up will be entered into a drawing for a $250 gift card at the end of each peaking season. So, do your research if you are an AMP customer looking to sign up. You can check out the program at AMP here. When in doubt, give them a call and get the details.

Not a customer of one of the utility companies listed above? Never fear! There are many, many companies that have been participating in some variation of this program for years. Not an Alarm.com customer? That's ok too. Most utility companies have a list of smart thermostats that are compatible with their version of the demand conservation program. Find your utility company's site and search "smart thermostat." You'll likely come up with the information specific to your area. If not, give them a call. There's a reason these companies are willing to pay incentives for participation in this program. It's good for everyone involved.

Recently, Alarm.com announced support for the Schlage Encode Smart WIFI Deadbolt. This is the first WIFI lock that can be integrated within the Alarm.com ecosystem. It offers both manual control and automation using Alarm.com rules. The Schlage BE489 is popular with both builders and DIYers.

The Schlage BE489 comes in two trims and several finishes. The Schlage BE489 Century is a more modern-looking lock, while the Schlage BE489 Camelot is more traditional in appearance. In addition to the trim options, each trim offers a variety of finishes, including matte black, bronze, satin nickel, and chrome.

It seems as though every device you can use these days has an app to interface with it. Being able to control multiple and varied devices with a single app is particularly handy in today's electronic climate. By interfacing the Schlage Encode Smart WIFI lock with Alarm.com, you can manually disarm your system and unlock the door within a single app.

But the real benefit of this integration comes with the ability to automate the lock based on rules within Alarm.com. For example, you could set up an automation that automatically locks the door when the system is armed away. You can even build an exit delay time into the rule, giving yourself time to exit through the door before it locks.

This feature, the ability to automate the Schlage BE489, is the really exciting part of this integration. The Schlage Encode Smart WIFI locks are popular with builders because, unlike Z-Wave or Zigbee, it's a pretty safe assumption that everyone will be using WIFI in their homes. So, just about anyone who moves into a new home with this lock installed will immediately be able to take advantage of its features. Combine this usability with the Alarm.com integration and this simple WIFI-capable lock moves to another level of sophistication and usefulness.

On top of its usefulness, the Schlage lineup of locks is visually stunning and has a stellar reputation within the industry. The BHMA is the Builders Hardware Manufacturer's Association. It is the only ANSI-accredited organization that develops and maintains performance standards for such items as locks, closers, exit hardware, and other hardware used by builders. The Schlage Encode Smart WIFI locks have a Residential Grade AAA for security, durability, and finish. Grade AAA is the highest grade that can be awarded.

Google is ending support for conversational actions via their Google Home and Google Assistant platforms as of June 13, 2023. This will end Alarm.com users' ability to control their Alarm.com home automation devices using voice through the Google Assistant feature and Google Home devices.

It seems like yesterday, but it's been a couple of years since we brought you instructions on how to set up Alarm.com automation to be controlled using your voice via Google Home. Now that Google is deprecating its conversational actions feature, this integration is going away. This is a shame because we had many customers, and employees, who enjoyed this capability.

This is not something that is within Alarm.com's control. Google giveth, and Google taketh away. As of this writing, it doesn't appear that any new functionality will be replacing what is being removed. If you enjoy controlling devices using voice commands, and assuming you have an Android phone, your best bet for voice control moving forward is to use Amazon Alexa. Apple users also have the option to use Siri Shortcuts to achieve voice control.

We've had no word from Resideo as to how this change may affect the Total Connect 2.0 integration with Google Assistant and Google Home, so we reached out to technical support to ask them. According to their development team, "The sunset of Conversational Actions has no impact to our integration".

What do you think of this latest Smart Home functionality being deprecated by Google? Are you planning to move to Amazon Alexa or Apple Siri for voice-activated home automation? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We're always happy to hear from our readers.

Alarm Grid recently ran into an issue upgrading a customer's 2GIG GC2 with a new 2GIG LTEV1-A-GC2 communicator. The panel simply would not recognize the new radio. To compound the problem, we were unable to find anything online that would indicate that a firmware update was the solution.

After speaking with 2GIG technical support we found that recently, within the past couple of months, all newly manufactured 2GIG LTE communicators that are compatible with the 2GIG GC2 and the 2GIG GC2e require the newest available panel firmware in order to support the radio. For the 2GIG GC2 that means firmware version 1.19.4+ and for the 2GIG GC2e that means 1.24+.

The packaging on these new communicators, both the 2GIG LTEV1-A-GC2 and the 2GIG LTEA-A-GC2 will have information on the firmware update requirement if the communicator is new enough. It should be on the outside packaging, as well as the inside. However, if you don't pay attention to the packaging and discard it, there is no way to look at the communicator itself and tell which firmware it requires. So, if you have a 2GIG GC2 or 2GIG GC2e and you're updating to an LTE communicator, pay attention to the packaging, or at least hold onto it.

If you're in a position to be upgrading your GC2 or GC2e to LTE, you may have an existing communicator that is no longer working. If that's the case, and you need a firmware upgrade before the new LTE communicator will work, don't worry, Alarm Grid has you covered. We host the firmware files for both the 2GIG GC2 and the 2GIG GC2e on our site. There are two ways you can update. You can use the 2GIG UPCBL2 updater cable and a Windows computer, or you can use the 2GIG UPDV EZ Updater Tool.

• How to update the panel using the EZ Updater Tool
• Video instructions for using the 2GIG UPCBL2 updater cable

If you don't want to purchase the EZ Updater Tool, and you don't have a Windows computer to use with the updater cable, Alarm Grid offers a loaner program for the EZ Updater Tool. Contact us at support@alarmgrid.com to inquire about the specifics of the loaner program. If you purchase the EZ Updater Tool, there is a good chance you will need to update it before you can use it. Doing so will require the use of a Windows computer.

This situation is a good reminder to always pay attention to all information you receive with new alarm equipment, including what's written on the packaging itself. You never know when you may have to return a piece of equipment, so keeping the packaging, at least until everything is set up and working, is a good idea.

Update: As of approximately 5:00 pm, the primary internet service has been restored, and service has returned to normal. Thank you for your patience!

Original Post: Due to an outage with the primary internet service for our main call center in Kentucky, Alarm Grid is experiencing a decreased capacity for answering incoming calls. There is currently no ETR on when the primary service will be restored.

In the meantime, if you are an Alarm Grid customer and you need assistance from our support team, you can send your request to support@alarmgrid.com. We will get to your issue as quickly as possible, and if the issue requires a phone call, we can reach out to you.

If you're attempting to plan a new system or have sales questions, you can also send an email to the above address and one of our planners will get in touch with you. They may respond via email or phone if you provide a number in your inquiry. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The year 2022 is quickly drawing to a close, with about 30 shopping days left until Christmas. But before we jump ahead to the next holiday, we wanted to take a moment to reflect and give thanks in honor of Thanksgiving. It's one of our favorite holidays, with a simple goal of togetherness.

If you'll be traveling this Thanksgiving, be sure to lock your doors and arm your alarm system. Your system can't do its job until you do your part. If you have smoke detectors connected to your system you should definitely test them regularly. Whether your system is armed or disarmed, smoke detectors are always active when properly configured.

So that our dedicated support and planner staff can celebrate with their families, Alarm Grid will be closed all day on Thursday, November 24, 2022, for Thanksgiving. We'll be back bright and early on Friday, November 25 at 9:00 am. Of course, our monitoring station operates 24/7/365, so for those customers who have chosen full central station monitoring, your system will be continuously monitored by trained operators who stand ready to respond to any alarm you may have.

If you need to contact the monitoring station, either to report a false alarm or to put your system on test, you can call Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS) at (888) 818-7728 and choose Option [9]. This is the process for Alarm Grid customers who reside within the United States. Once an operator answers, you'll need to supply your name, address, and false alarm password.

For our Canadian customers, our monitoring partner in Canada is Rapid Response. They can be reached at (800) 932-3822. Remember, when you call either monitoring station you will be asked for your name and address, and to verify your false alarm password or phrase. Providing the wrong information, or providing the Duress password, will result in a police dispatch.

If you have a support question or need to make adjustments to your account, the monitoring station won't be able to assist you with that. In that case, send an email to support@alarmgrid.com with your request and we'll get back to you as soon as possible when we return to the office on Friday. There can be a bit of a backlog, so please be patient while we catch up.

2022 has been a year for reacquiring a solid footing in the post-COVID-shutdown era. We've dealt with supply chain issues, sudden discontinuation of some products, and name or model number changes in others while manufacturers struggle to meet the demands of their customers, and by extension, our customers. The waters are choppy, and we're navigating them to the best of our ability. We appreciate you staying in the boat with us. We will arrive at the dock together, safely.

In firmware version 4.1.0 Qolsys added an Input Voltage Test feature to the other system tests already available in the panel. This is a boon to the DIY community, whose users often don't have a multimeter available to check things like input voltage. With this new feature, you can troubleshoot random or recurring AC Loss issues.

If you've been a DIYer in the alarm system community for any length of time, you may know that power issues can be caused by some things that most people wouldn't even think of. The wrong gauge wire, a wire run that is too long, or sometimes a combination of these two things can often lead to power issues. Particularly on the newer touchscreen all-in-one panels. The installation instructions on these panels are very clear about the wiring parameters required to properly power the system, but often people, even professional installers, overlook this information. The result can be nagging power issues that may make you want to pull your hair out!

In the DIY community, this issue can be compounded by the fact that many users don't have the type of equipment for troubleshooting that a professional installer does. Well, the Input Voltage Test feature can help with that. When you run this test, it checks the input voltage at the IQ Panel 4. You may get a different reading each time you run the test, based on the amount of current being consumed by the panel at that moment. In every case, the input voltage should be at least 6VDC or higher. If the panel receives input voltage below 6VDC, it will alert you that the voltage is low, and suggest ways that you can resolve the issue.

You can reach the Input Voltage Test by selecting the gray bar at the top of the Qolsys IQ Panel 4 screen, then choosing Settings > Advanced Settings > Entering the Installer or Dealer Code (Default is 1111 and 2222 respectively) > System Tests. When you select the Input Voltage Test, you'll see a screen like the one on the left below:

When you press "Start" the panel will do a real-time check of the input voltage at the panel. Each time you come to this screen and press the start button, a new test is run, and as mentioned above, the reading may vary a bit each time, depending on what's happening on the panel when you run the test. An example of when it would be good to check input voltage is in a situation where the panel has been reporting either an AC Loss, or a low battery condition, either constantly or randomly. One of the most important factors in having a healthy battery is providing good input power, which in turn provides good charging voltage. Often, one of the first symptoms of an input power problem is a low battery report.

There are still situations where a multimeter is helpful and will make troubleshooting much quicker. For example, if the low input voltage is being caused by a bad DC power adapter (the thing you plug into the wall) this test can't determine that. It can tell you that the voltage is too low, but not necessarily why it's too low. It also can't tell you if you have a bad piece of wire between the power adapter and the panel. To determine those things quickly, you still need a multimeter. We sell an inexpensive meter on our site, and you can probably also find one at your local hardware store.

So, while this test doesn't necessarily negate the usefulness of a multimeter, it will provide the DIY user with information that was unavailable to them before if they didn't possess a meter. When you're troubleshooting an ongoing issue, all pertinent information is helpful. Thank you to Qolsys for providing this handy tool!