Alarm.com offers Perimeter Guard™ for Video Customers

Alarm.com video customers have another great weapon in their defensive arsenal. It's called Perimeter Guard™ and it works like this. Customers with video analytics enabled and using compatible cameras can program those cameras to flash their LEDs and make noise when an intruder is detected.

All that is required in order to enable this feature is an Alarm.com monitoring plan with Video Analytics enabled. Any Alarm Grid customer who subscribes to a monitoring plan that supports video can have this feature enabled. We don't enable Video Analytics by default because we pay more for it, but we don't charge more for it. But if you want to utilize this feature we're happy to enable it for you. Both of our Platinum plans, as well as our stand-alone video plan support this feature.

The list of cameras that can be used with this feature is always growing. Basically, the camera needs to have either a visible LED or a speaker with which to make noise on. Currently, the cameras that support Perimeter Guard™ are (updated 4/23):

• ADC-V724 on firmware version 0.6.1.387+ (supports LED and Audio Alert)
• ADC-V523 on firmware version 0.6.1.387+ (supports LED and Audio Alert)
• ADC-V723 on firmware version 0.6.1.387+ (supports LED only)
• ADC-VC727P all versions (supports LED and Audio Alert)
• ADC-VC827P all versions (supports LED only)
• ADC-VC847PF all versions (supports LED only)
• ADC-VC728PF on firmware version 0.6.3.601+ (supports LED and Audio Alert)
• ADC-VC838PF (supports LED only)
• ADC-VDB770 on firmware version 02199+ (supports LED and Audio Alert)

With Video Analytics enabled and a compatible camera, the only other thing required is to set up a Video Analytics rule for each compatible camera. This is one of those features that you set, then forget. Get the setup correct, and then it'll take care of itself!

To set this feature up through the Alarm.com Customer Website, follow these steps:

1. Log into the website. Go to www.alarm.com/login and using your Alarm.com credentials log in, completing any 2-factor authentication required.
2. Click Video
3. Click Recording Rules
4. Create or Edit Rule. You can either click the pencil icon to add this feature to an existing Video Analytics rule for a compatible camera, or you can Add a new rule. To see how to create a rule using Video Analytics, check out this informative FAQ. Verify that the initial Video Analytics settings are properly configured, then click Next.
5. Choose response. In the Activates section choose the audible and visible response desired:
   
   • Camera LED response. Click to toggle the Camera Status LED to Enabled if you want the LED to respond when activity is detected. There is a Duration drop-down, select how long you want the LED response to last.
   • Camera Audio Alert. This option is only available on cameras using the 2-Way Audio feature. Click the Camera Audio Alert toggle to enable an Audio Alert. There is an Audio Sound dropdown menu. Select the type of sound you want the camera to make.
6. Click Save

To set this feature up through the Alarm.com App, follow these steps:

1. Log into the App. Open the Alarm.com app and using your Alarm.com credentials log in, completing any 2-factor authentication required. Click the Menu icon in the upper left.
2. Tap Video from the available menu. Then tap the Gear icon.
3. Tap Recording Rules
4. Create or Edit Rule. You can either click the pencil icon to add this feature to an existing Video Analytics rule for a compatible camera, or you can Add a new rule. To see how to create a rule using Video Analytics, check out this informative FAQ. Verify that the initial Video Analytics settings are properly configured, then click Next.
5. Choose response. In the Activates section choose the audible and visible response desired:
   
   • Camera LED response. Click to toggle the Camera Status LED to Enabled if you want the LED to respond when activity is detected. There is a Duration drop-down, select how long you want the LED response to last.
   • Camera Audio Alert. This option is only available on cameras using the 2-Way Audio feature. Click the Camera Audio Alert toggle to enable an Audio Alert. There is an Audio Sound dropdown menu. Select the type of sound you want the camera to make.
6. Tap Save

It's that simple! Once you have this configured, using the advanced video analytics available through Alarm.com, the rule will take care of itself. The idea is that the flashing LED and the audible sounder will scare away an intruder before they ever make it to your home. It's a pound of prevention to ward off a ton of regret.

What do you think about this Alarm.com feature? Have you used it and had experience with it? Do you think it's something you'd like to give a try? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We love to hear from our readers.