March 2024 Archives

From New York to Texas and California to Florida, the news has recently been filled with stories about squatters taking up residence in a home they don't own, and refusing to leave. In some cases, the occupation goes on for years. An alarm system can prevent this from happening to you.

Pictured below: Alarm.com ADC-V723X:

Sometimes, the property may be empty because the occupant has recently passed away, and ownership has yet to be determined. In others, the property is one of several owned by an individual and isn't occupied year-round. Whatever the case, having someone move into your property and then refuse to leave is monumentally frustrating. Many people have found that squatters have more rights than the homeowner!

The Resideo 5800PIR-RES:

The best way to deal with squatters is to prevent their entry in the first place. If they can't get into your property, they can't squat there. A comprehensive security system can alert you to intruders who are trying to gain entry. Since you want to prevent entry, sensors on ground-floor doors and windows and any upstairs doors and windows that may be used as a point of entry are a must-have.

The DSC PG9303:

Another excellent way to protect against entry is glass break detectors. For instance, when an intruder breaks a glass door or window to gain entry, a glass break detector properly positioned and set up as a perimeter sensor will cause an instant alarm. This, coupled with a loud siren may scare the intruders away before they enter your property. Motion detectors are also recommended but only come into play after an intruder has entered the home. Still, we usually recommend that motion detectors be used as a backstop for glass break detectors.

The Resideo/Honeywell Home PROSIXGB:

For preventing squatters in a property that isn't continuously occupied, the best weapon currently available is video cameras. When it comes to video offerings, Alarm.com has the best lineup of cameras and features currently available in monitored systems. With its video analytics, and 2-way communication options, Alarm.com offers a strong deterrent to would-be intruders.

Doorbell cameras allow the user to engage with both individuals who ring the doorbell, and those that are captured moving in the area of the doorbell. A motion detection rule can be set to notify the end-user when activity occurs near the door. The homeowner can then view the area and even speak with any individual who is there. This is an excellent deterrent, as the would-be intruder has no idea if the homeowner is inside, or elsewhere.

To protect your property and prevent squatters from occupying your home, an investment in an alarm system, particularly one with video cameras is one of the smartest moves you can make. Alarm Grid offers video monitoring in several different packages. We offer our Platinum Plan (Self or Full monitoring) and we also offer a stand-alone Video Monitoring Plan that includes video cameras only, no security system required. For help planning a system, email us at support@alarmgrid.com and we'll be glad to assist you!

Recently, we told you about T-Mobile customers who, in the past received MMS notifications with video thumbnails, but now receive SMS notifications with a link. Alarm.com will soon unveil a Push Notification Migration Tool to encourage and help users to switch from SMS to push notifications.

You may be asking, what's the difference between SMS, MMS, and push notifications? SMS or Short Message Service is a text message delivered to your phone through your phone carrier. Changes undertaken by the cell phone carrier can affect how and when you receive SMS notifications, or whether you receive them. These changes are outside the control of Alarm.com.

MMS is Multi-Media Service. An MMS message is sent for video notifications when a thumbnail preview is part of the notification setup. Changes to the way T-Mobile, and now Sprint which was acquired by T-Mobile a few years ago, handle MMS delivery caused the recent change in the way video notifications were delivered to those customers. Again, this is something that is outside the control of Alarm.com.

A push notification is generated by an app. The Alarm.com app can generate a push notification for any notification that may be generated through your alarm system that is connected to Alarm.com. Here are a few examples of why Alarm.com believes Push Notifications are superior to SMS or MMS:

Alarm.com will soon unveil a Push Notification Migration Tool to steer customers toward using push notifications. You can check on the status of the tool rollout here. Not everyone will see the migration tool prompt. Being offered the prompt is based on the login used to access the Alarm.com app. At first, only a very specific group of customers will be targeted. That is customers with exactly one (1) SMS contact and one (1) push device on a network known to have had problems with SMS or MMS recently. This includes T-Mobile, Sprint, and Rogers (Canada) customers.

The full requirements are:

• The login must be the primary login.
• The login must not be linked to other systems.
• There must be exactly one enabled SMS/MMS contact address on the account and no other disabled SMS contact addresses.
• At least one enabled notification rule with an SMS recipient.
• There must only be one active push device on the account, and it must be the one the customer is using. Push notification rules need not already exist for that active push device.

When the tool is rolled out, customers who fit the parameters mentioned above will see a message like this:

As you can see, this is strictly a voluntary change. Users have the option to Migrate now, be reminded later, or never have the prompt come up again. If you use the migration tool and switch to push notifications, your SMS/MMS notifications will no longer be active. However, the SMS contact information will be retained in the address book.

At some point, the switch to push notifications may become mandatory, at least for some cellular customers. If it does, it will likely be due to changes undertaken by the cellular carrier that make the delivery of notifications less than optimal. If that occurs, we'll be sure to let you know about it here in our blog.

Intruducing the Qolsys IQ Heat 135 / 200. It offers a selection for the fixed alarm temperature limit of either 135°F or 200°F (57.2°C or 93.3°C). In addition, it has a rate-of-rise feature that activates an alarm if the temperature rises more than 12°F - 15°F (6.7°C - 8.3°C) per minute.

Qolsys is streamlining their products by combining the features of the Qolsys IQ Heat 135, and the Qolsys IQ Heat 200 into a single device. Using an internal jumper, the user can choose a fixed temperature alarm threshold of either 135°F (57.2°C) or 200°F (93.3°C). Based on this jumper setting, a temperature above the selected threshold will cause an alarm.

In addition to the fixed-temperature alarm threshold, the IQ Heat 135 / 200 also has a built-in rate-of-rise detector. If the ambient temperature rises from between 12°F - 15°F (6.7°C - 8.3°C) per minute, an alarm will occur.

Once either alarm threshold has been met, the IQ Heat 135 / 200 will use its transmitter to send an alarm signal to a compatible system. This includes any of the Qolsys IQ Panel 2, IQ Panel 2 Plus, IQ Panel 4, IQ4 Hub, IQ Hub, and IQ4 NS panels with a 319.5 MHz receiver built in. It can likely also be used with Interlogix/GE panels that support this frequency, such as the Simon panels, though we have not tested to confirm this.

The jumper used to set the fixed-temperature threshold has three (3) pins. If the jumper is across the LOW and center pin, the detector is set for 135°F (57.2°C) if the jumper is across the center and HI pin the detector is set for 200°F (93.3°C). If the jumper is removed completely, or lost, then the detector defaults to the high, or 200°F (93.3°C) setting.

The Qolsys IQ Heat 135 / 200 uses a single Panasonic CR123A 3V battery, and the expected battery life is about ten (10) years. Besides how often the detector transmits a signal, the biggest factor in battery life is ambient temperature. When the detector is mounted to the ceiling, the ceiling temperature should never exceed 100°F (37.8°C) under normal conditions. Just know that extreme temperatures, high or low, will likely affect the life expectancy of the battery.

The detector is fully supervised for RF check-in and transmits a signal to the system every 62 - 68 minutes. If the alarm panel doesn't hear from the sensor for a specified period, it will indicate a trouble condition on the zone associated with the IQ Heat. In addition to RF supervision, the detector is also supervised for tamper. If the heat detector is pulled away from the wall or ceiling, it will generate a tamper transmission to the alarm panel.

Specifications

• Device Type: Wireless Heat Detector
• Operating Frequency: 319.5MHz (crystal-controlled)
• Supervision Interval: 62 - 68 minutes
• Fixed Temperature Detection: Selectable 135°F (57°C) or 200°F (93°C)
• Rate of Rise Rating: 12° to 15°F (6.7° to 8.3°C) per minute
• Mounting Location: Ceiling or Wall
• Ceiling Mounting Specification: At least 4 in. (10cm) away from any walls
• Wall Mounting Height: Top of detector within 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) of the ceiling
• Standby Current: Less than 0.9μA
• Operating Temperature: 32°F to 150°F (0 to 65.6°C)
• Operating Relative Humidity: 0 to 95% noncondensing
• Batteries: One (1) Panasonic CR123A 3V (included)
• Expected Battery Life: 10 years (depends on how often the detector transmits signals, but is more dependent on the temperature of the installation environment. Warmer temps (within range) = longer life)
• Dimensions: 2.29" Diameter x 1.28" High (58.25mm Diameter x 32.4m High
• UL Max Ambient Ceiling Temp: 100°F/150°F (37.8°C/65.6°C)
• Maximum UL Spacing: 50ft (15.2M) x 50ft (15.2M)
• Agency Listings: UL 521 Heat Detectors for Fire Protective Signaling Systems, UL985 Household Fire Warning System Units, CAN/ULC-S530 Heat Actuated Fire Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems, CSFM Category 7270 - FCC: 15.109 Class B, 15.231, Industry Canada: ICES-003, RSS-210

FortrezZ is discontinuing another of its Z-Wave products due to its inability to source some required components. For this reason, Alarm.com no longer recommends its installation. Installed units will continue to work, and Alarm.com will continue to offer troubleshooting support for them.

This may be the result of the supply chain issues experienced a few years ago. FortrezZ was forced to discontinue the MIMOlite some time ago, and now we're seeing the discontinuation of their Water Valve. Products already purchased and/or installed are not affected by this news.

If you already have a FortrezZ Water Valve (WV-01) but haven't installed it yet, no worries. It should still install and operate as expected. If you have any problems related to integrating the water valve with Alarm.com, you can still get assistance from tech support. If you are an Alarm Grid monitoring customer, we offer free technical support as well.

If you were thinking of purchasing a FortrezZ Water Valve, but missed the opportunity, you have other options available. We offer the Alarm.com Z-Wave Plus Smart Water Valve and Meter, and the Alarm.com Z-Wave Plus Smart Water Valve. The Alarm.com smart water valves use Z-Wave Plus and can be used with any Alarm.com compatible panel that supports Z-Wave or Z-Wave Plus.

Left, Alarm.com Z-Wave Plus Smart Water Valve with Meter. Right, Alarm.com Z-Wave Plus Smart Water Valve:

In addition to the Alarm.com options, we also offer the Qolsys IQ Water Valve. It's available in two (2) separate kits. The PowerG Kit offers the IQ Water Valve with two (2) DSC PG9985 Flood Sensors. The S-Line Kit offers the water valve with three (3) Qolsys IQ Flood-S 319.5 MHz S-Line Flood Sensors. If purchasing one of these kits, be sure to take into account what panel the kit is meant to work with. All Qolsys IQ Panel 4 versions can support PowerG while only some can support 319.5 MHz S-Line sensors.

Below left, IQ Water Valve w/ Qolsys S-Line Flood Sensors. Right, IQ Water Valve w/ PowerG Flood Sensors:

A smart water valve is most advantageous when used in conjunction with flood sensors. If a water leak is detected by a sensor, it can alert the alarm system. Then, the system can use that information to run a rule or scene to automatically shut off the water main to the home or business. Having this type of protection can save on homeowner's insurance premiums, and can prevent widespread damage and loss to your home or business.

Specifications for Alarm.com ADC-SWM150:

• Device Type: Z-Wave Plus Smart Water Valve and Meter
• Power: 100-240VAC
• Operating Temperature: 14°F to 185°F
• Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor Use Only
• Valve Size: 1"
• Valve Threads: Male NPT
• Valve Portability: NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 Standards
• Control Unit Dimensions: 2.75"L x 4.0"W x 1.25"D
• Meter and Valve Dimensions: 11"L x 5.75"W x 3.75"D
• Actuator and Valve Dimensions: 2.0"L x 4.5"W x 3.75"D
• Maximum Compatible Pipe Size: 1.25"
• Power Supply Cable Length: 19.7 Feet
• Package Contents: Control Unit, Valve & Meter, Enclosure, Power Adapter, Manual Shut-Off Handle, Cable Ties (x5), Wall Bracket, Wall Anchors (x2), Screws (x2)

Specifications for Alarm.com ADC-SWV100:

• Power: 100 - 240 VAC (50/60 Hz)
• Operating Temperature: 14°F to 185°F (-10°C to 85°C)
• Communication: Z-Wave Plus
• Indoor/Outdoor: For indoor use only
• Valve Specifications:
  • Size: 1"
  • Threads: Female NPT
  • Potability: Conforms to NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 standards for potability
• Control Unit Dimensions: 2.75 x 4.0 x 1.25” (6.99 x 10.2 x 3.18 cm)
• Actuator and Valve Dimensions: 2.0 x 4.5 x 3.75” (5.08 x 11.43 x 9.53 cm)
• Maximum Compatible Pipe Size: 1.25" (3.175 cm)
• Power Supply Cable Length: 19.7’ (6 m)
• Plumbing Certifications:
  • ICC-ES-PMG (compliance with NSF 61 and NSF 372)
  • Massachusetts Accepted Plumbing Products Registry

Specifications for Qolsys IQ Water Valve:

• Product Type: Smart Water Valve
• Kit Contents: Qolsys IQ Smart Water Valve, Qolsys IQ Flood-S Sensor
• Communication: Z-Wave Plus V2 700-Series
• Range: Approx. 130 Feet Indoors or 450 Feet Outdoors
• Application: Quarter-Turn Ball Valve Pipes from 1/2" to 1-1/4"
• Maximum Force: 8 N.m
• Ingress Protection: IP66 (Waterproof & Dustproof)
• Power Supply: Plug-in Transformer - AC (110V 60Hz / 220V 50Hz), DC (12V/1A) - Barrel jack
• Weight: 603g (21.2 oz)
• Size: 5.83" x 3.78" x 5.24" (148mm x 96mm x 133mm)
• Operating Temperature: 14°F to 121°F (-10℃ to 49.4℃)

Specifications for DSC PG9985 Flood Sensor:

• Device Type: Wireless Flood Sensor
• Operating Frequency: PowerG 915 MHz
• Wireless Range: ~2,000 Feet Open Air
• Water Detection Probe: Attached w/ 6-Foot Cord
• Batteries: Single CR123A (~8 Year Life)
• Mounting Hardware: Double-Sided Foam Tape (Included)
• Dimensions: 3.1875" x 1.25" x 1.0" (81mm x 34mm x 25mm)
• Operating Temperature: 14°F to 122°F (-10℃ to 50℃)
• Weight: 53g (1.9oz)

Specifications for Qolsys IQ Flood-S Flood Sensor:

• Device Type: Wireless Flood Sensor
• Operating Frequency: 319.5 MHz
• Wireless Range: ~600 Nominal Feet
• Water Detection Probe: Attached w/ 6-Foot Cord
• Signal Outputs: Tamper & Tamper Restore, Alarm & Alarm Restore, Low-Battery
• Supervisory Interval: 70 Minutes
• Batteries: Two (2) Lithium CR2032 Coin Batteries
• Mounting Hardware: Double-Sided Foam Tape (Included)
• Dimensions: 2.5"L x 1"W x 0.5"D (64mm x 25mm x 13mm)
• Operating Temperature: 14°F to 122°F (-10℃ to 50℃)

In addition to the options listed above, there is also the Honeywell/Resideo 5821 that can be used in conjunction with the FP280 flood probe. This sensor will work with any of the Qolsys IQ4 panels that support 345 MHz RF devices. A panel with one or more of these sensors can be used to automate any of the water valves listed in this post.

What are your thoughts on the discontinuation of another FortrezZ Z-Wave device? Have you encountered similar issues with other products? Drop us a comment and let us hear from you. If you have a specific support question, you can send us an email to support@alarmgrid.com. We're here providing support Monday - Friday from 9:00 am until at least 6:00 pm Eastern Time each day. We list holiday hours and closings in our blog.

If you're shopping for electronic security, Z-Wave, or other low-voltage equipment, and you find a product that you love, that Alarm Grid doesn't currently offer, submit this form so we can list it. Send us an email to support@alarmgrid.com to let us know, and we'll expedite the listing.

We may not be able to source every product you run across, but if we can, we'll gladly list lifestyle and security-related products on our site. If you're designing a system and you need the product within a specific time frame, send us an email to let us know and we'll get the item listed as quickly as possible.

On our New Product Form, we ask for certain information. Below, we'll list each piece of information and a brief explanation of what we're looking for in each:

Product Title (Required):

This is like a Make and Model, or Manufacturer and Model Number. Provide as much identifying information as you can, particularly if different models are very similar and you require a specific one. We may add more than one model, but we want to add the one you're looking for first.

Product SKU (Required):

An SKU stands for Stock Keeping Unit. It helps both manufacturers and retailers keep track of product stock and also helps to make sure that when you inquire about apples, we don't give you oranges instead. For us, it is very important, but may not always be apparent when you're shopping for a product.

Below is an image taken from the Alarm Grid storefront on Amazon.com. As you can see from the listing, there is no SKU specifically called out. But, we happen to know that the SKU for this product is PROLTE-A. So, if you're attempting to provide us with information on a product, and you can't find an SKU, list the model number again (as the SKU is required on the form). We'll do our best to find the correct product with the information provided and may reach out via email to make sure we have the correct item.

Help Us Source It (Optional):

Where were you shopping when you saw this item? Was there a particular website? Provide as much information as you can on where this product can be found.

Approximate Sales Price (Optional):

What is the price you've seen for this product elsewhere? You may think we only ask this so we can charge as much as possible for the product, but that's not the case. Alarm Grid is not a wholesale distributor, and as such, other wholesalers and dealers may have a price for an item that we can't match (and we don't price match).

If we find that's the case, we'll be honest with you about it. We may still list the product on our site, but we won't hold you up if you're waiting for us to list it, only to find that our price is higher than you expect.

Please Describe the Item's Function In a Paragraph (Optional):

Yes, there's homework, though we're not asking for a full book report. Just give us a brief description of what this item is used for. You can even tell us what you want to use it for. This helps us in a couple of ways. It gives us a good understanding of why the product is useful, and it also allows us to be sure that the item will do what you want it to do. If not, we may be able to recommend a different item that will work better.

Please Describe Why You Believe Alarm Grid Should Sell This Product (Optional):

This can be as simple as "Because it's new and you don't offer it yet." Just give your thoughts about the product.

What Is Your Name? (Optional):

This is not a required field, but if you do send us an email to expedite the addition of the recommended product to our site, it will help us tie that email to this request.

Email (Optional):

Once again, this is not required but will help us if we have questions about the product. Particularly, if you're not able to provide an accurate SKU. If we can't properly source the product, and we don't have an email to contact you, then we may have to abandon the attempt to offer it on our site.

So, that's how you can request that a new product be added to the Alarm Grid website. We can sometimes get a product listed on the same day, depending on what time we receive the request and an email asking us to expedite the listing. Just don't forget to follow up on high-priority requests with an email letting us know you're waiting for the product to be available.