Julia Ross Posts

Beginning on October 8, 2024, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is mandatory for all new Alarm.com accounts. Existing accounts are being moved to the new standard, with 100% of accounts using 2FA by December 19, 2024. If you're an existing Alarm.com customer, you may have already been updated.

Two-Factor Authentication, also known as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) works like this. You log into an app or a website with your customary username and password. You're then prompted for further authentication via a text message, email, or third-party authenticator app. During the initial 2FA setup, you can choose one or more of these authentication methods.

Via the path of your choice, you'll receive a code. You'll input the code at the prompt, and then you're logged into the app or website. For Alarm.com users, you will be prompted to make the browser or device a "Trusted Device". If you say yes to this prompt, then you may not be prompted for 2FA the next time you log in using that browser or device.

To quote The Dude, there are, "a lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous" here. For instance, if you trust your browser but clear your cache later, you'll need to go through 2FA again next time. If you choose "Skip" at the prompt about trusting the browser, then you will have to go through additional authentication every time you log in until you choose to trust the browser.

This may seem like a real hassle, but let me share a story about someone who skipped enabling 2FA because they thought it was too much trouble. A friend of mine did not secure their account with a large retailer. When offered the option to set up 2FA, they always skipped it.

Their account was hacked and the hacker set up 2FA. They entered a phone number to receive verification codes. My friend was eventually able to change the password for the account with the retailer's help. But because 2FA had been set up with a phone number inaccessible to them, my friend was unable to regain full access. The fraud department for the retailer was unable or unwilling to do anything, so my friend lost years of purchase history. Had they set up 2FA to begin with, this could not have happened.

Fortunately, the scenario I described above can't happen to Alarm.com customers. If you're an Alarm Grid customer and you need help with 2FA for one of your logins, contact us. We'll verify that it's you with either your password or the last four (4) digits of the card we have on fie for billing, then we'll help you reset your 2FA credentials.

After we Reset 2FA for the login through the Alarm.com Partner Portal, the user will be prompted to set up 2FA again the next time they log in. This might be necessary because the user's phone number changed, or the phone carrier changed, or because the user no longer has access to the email used to set up 2FA to begin with. If you're not an Alarm Grid customer, contact your alarm dealer for assistance with Two-Factor Authentication.

Alarm Grid technical support is available Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm EST at 888-818-7728 Option 2. If it's outside business hours you can send us an email at support@alarmgrid.com. For 2FA assistance, let us know and provide either your false alarm password, or the last four (4) digits of the credit or debit card we have on file for billing. Then, let us know which login you need help with, if your account has more than one. This will expedite our response.

As usual, the Alarm Grid office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day so that our employees can enjoy the holiday with their families. This year, Thanksgiving is celebrated on November 28. Though our office will be closed, our monitoring station operators are ready to respond to any signals.

In addition to Thanksgiving Day, our office will be open half-days on Wednesday, November 27th, and Friday, November 29th, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We will resume our regular schedule on Monday, December 2nd at 9:00 AM. All times are Eastern Standard Time.

During the holiday, our central station partners CMS and Rapid Response will be hard at work, monitoring Alarm Grid customer systems and helping to keep you, your loved ones, and your property safe and secure. We appreciate their dedication, sacrifice, and hard work!

Alarm Grid central station monitored accounts located inside the United States report to Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS). If you need to contact the monitoring station, to report a false alarm or to put your system on test, you can call (888) 818-7728 and choose Option [9]. Once an operator answers, you'll need to supply your name, address, and false alarm password.

Our Canadian customers can contact Rapid Response for central station inquiries. 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.

For routine questions or to make changes to your account you'll need to speak to our support team. The monitoring station can't assist you with technical support or with changes to your zone list or call list. For those support needs you can email us at support@alarmgrid.com and we'll handle your request as quickly as possible once we're back in the office. Please bear with us as we clear any backlog of requests once we resume normal hours.

If you'll be traveling this Thanksgiving, be sure to secure your home and arm your system before you leave. Let your system work for you! If you're unsure of your false alarm password, take the time to confirm what it is before you leave. In the event of an alarm, providing the wrong false alarm password is the same as not providing a password at all. It will result in a dispatch.

If you'll be cooking this year, be prepared in the event of a smoke alarm. If you have smoke detectors tied to your alarm system and the alarm goes off due to steam or cooking smoke in the kitchen, silence the alarm. For all-in-one panels this usually means responding to a prompt on the panel screen. For older panels like the VISTA series, it means entering your User Code + Off at the keypad as you do when you disarm the system.

Be prepared, because a smoke alarm on a central station monitored system will result in a call from the monitoring station. For residential Alarm Grid customers, the monitoring station usually calls the user/residence prior to dispatching the fire department. An exception is when you request an immediate dispatch during account setup. If the alarm is the result of a cooking mishap, provide your false alarm password and speak with the operator. Based on the situation, you can determine whether a fire response is necessary.

If a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm is triggered, you should evacuate immediately and allow the responding agency to determine if it is safe for you to re-enter. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can kill very quickly. Pets and children are at particular risk, due to their smaller size.

Understand that the monitoring station must dispatch on a CO alarm report, regardless of whether you provide the false alarm password or not. This is for your safety and protection. The fire department has special equipment that can test for the presence of carbon monoxide, and determine its concentration. They also have ventilation equipment to help remove it. Follow their instructions and recommendations once they arrive.

Alarm Grid wishes you and your family a happy Thanksgiving with lots of great food, family, and friends. Whether you're the one traveling, or the one whose home everyone else is traveling to, we wish you a happy, safe, and secure holiday this year!

Update 11/25/24: This issue appears to have been resolved. Resideo has not provided any information as to the cause of the issue, or the date and time of resolution.

Resideo is currently experiencing an issue with welcome emails for new Total Connect 2.0 accounts. These emails are not going through. Instead, dealers are instructed to enter the phone number and carrier for the user's mobile phone and the account welcome information will be sent via SMS.

When Alarm Grid employees create a new Total Connect 2.0 account we customarily use the email address as the customer's user name. A welcome email is then generated when we commission the account. Within this email, the customer has a link to set their password for Total Connect 2.0.

Unfortunately, as of late Monday, November 18, 2024, a technical issue has prevented some email confirmations for new accounts. Until the issue is corrected alarm dealers, including Alarm Grid, are asked to create accounts as normal using the email address as the username.

But prior to commissioning the account, dealers must replace the email information with the customer's mobile phone number, and specify the phone carrier. Then, when the account is commissioned, rather than a welcome email, the customer will receive a welcome text message via SMS.

This text will include the crucial link that allows the customer to set a password for their TC2 account. Without this password, the customer won’t be able to access their newly created account to remotely control their alarm system and any connected smart home devices.

As noted above, Resideo is aware of this issue and is working to resolve it. We'll keep you updated whey they notify us of any changes. If you have any questions, or if you're an Alarm Grid customer who failed to receive a welcome email for your newly created TC2 account, please reach out to support@alarmgrid.com with questions. We're here Monday - Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm EST.

Resideo’s recent MyWebTech Technical Notification #114 warns of potential range issues with certain 5800MINI transmitters. These units may have a poorly placed FCC sticker inside the cover, hindering their ability to communicate with the receiver. Both 5800MINI and 5800MINIBR are affected.

There are a number of circumstances that could cause range issues for a transmitter. Large metal objects such as appliances, duct work, and even some mirrors can affect the transmission path of a sensor. Even if the obstacle is not within a direct line-of-sight between the sensor and the receiver, the signal can be bounced away from the receiver. This may happen intermittently or consistently.

It's important to note that this issue is specific to a limited number of sensors. To identify affected units, you'll need to check the packaging. Look for a date code of 2429 or 2431 (YYWW format, indicating the year and week of manufacture). The packaging will also have the designation "Made in Taiwan." If your sensor matches these criteria, it may be impacted by this issue.

If you suspect your sensor is affected, it's crucial that you leave the metallic FCC sticker in place. Removing or tampering with the sticker is illegal and could void the warranty. Instead, you should contact your security system provider for further assistance.

If you are an Alarm Grid customer, send an email to support@alarmgrid.com. We will reach out to troubleshoot with you further and will perform a warranty replacement if we determine that the product is the issue. It is important that we perform regular troubleshooting, particularly if you no longer have the product packaging to verify the date and location of manufacture.

Our central station partner, CMS, recently notified us of an uptick in its operators receiving "Line Busy" messages when making outbound calls. This issue appears to be caused by calls being blocked by the carrier or the subscriber. Either way, there is little they can do about this issue.

If you're an Alarm Grid customer with full central station monitoring you should make sure that you are not blocking the number 800-432-1429. Once you verify that this number is not blocked on your phone, or on the phone of any member of your call list, then you might try a test.

To be one hundred percent sure you don't cause an unnecessary dispatch, contact the monitoring station by dialing 888-818-7728 and choosing Option 9. Once you have a central station operator on the phone, let them know you want to perform a test to be sure their calls are coming through properly to your phone. They can then instruct you on the best way to proceed.

This may involve you setting off an alarm, or they may simply be able to call you for verification. If the people on your call list have a different phone carrier than you, you may need to repeat this test for each of their phones. It's best to be sure now rather than risk a call not getting through during an alarm.

To further insure that you receive calls promptly from the monitoring station, we recommend that you add their number to your contacts in such a way that you'll know immediately when you receive a call from them. Name the contact "ALARM! CMS ALARM!" or whatever it takes to get your attention.

It's also a good idea to follow the instructions for your phone so that when your phone is in Do Not Disturb Mode, Sleep Mode, or any other Focus (iOS) Mode you still receive calls from the monitoring station.

On Android phones, go to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Do Not Disturb > Manage Exceptions. You can choose to allow any "Starred Contacts" to bypass DND. You can also select individual people/contacts that can bypass it. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus > Select a Focus such as Do Not Disturb > Allow Calls From > Choose individual Contacts or Groups.

If you verify that you are able to receive these calls based on your phone settings, but still can't receiving their calls, then you need to contact your phone carrier and make sure that they are not blocking the monitoring station's number. This could happen because they believe the number be spam or some type of potential scam. This classification may come from automation on the part of the phone carrier, and the designation may have been applied to the monitoring station's number in error.

If you are a central station monitored customer it is very important that you can receive phone calls from the monitoring station. This prevents unnecessary dispatch of the authorities. Even if you aren't an Alarm Grid customer, you should be certain you are able to receive calls from your monitoring station. As a system, every portion of your alarm must work in order to be effective. That includes the monitoring station's ability to contact you.

Due to an anomaly with Qolsys IQ panels, this weekend's time change may cause panels to repeat the communicator test excessively. To prevent this, Alarm.com will move the test forward by three (3) hours. This will be a transparent change to customers but offers a unique learning opportunity.

Daylight Savings Time (DST) is one of those things that folks either love or hate. There are those who want to switch to DST permanently. Others think the whole process is a waste of time. Regardless of personal preference, the pervasive nature of DST reminders can serve as a helpful prompt for other important tasks.

For instance, fire departments often encourage people to test their smoke detectors during the time change. This is a convenient opportunity to ensure home safety. Interestingly, not all regions observe DST. Arizona, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not participate in the "Spring Forward/Fall Back" practice. We encourage residents of these locations and all others to test their smoke detectors this weekend!

The anomaly we mentioned above is fairly straightforward. Any Qolsys IQ Panel that is programmed to send a communication test between midnight and 2:00 am that falls on Saturday night/Sunday morning may send excessive reports when the automatic time change occurs this weekend. For this reason, Alarm.com will automatically move the communication test time for these customers forward by three (3) hours to prevent any issues.

That means if your system usually sends its communication test at 1:00 am, it will now send the report at 4:00 am this coming Sunday and each time the report is sent moving forward. This will be a transparent change for customers. When it comes to communication tests, you're only notified if they don't happen.

When we talk about a "communication test" we're talking about the equivalent of a "dialer test" on a panel that supports a phone line. Alarm systems supervise themselves in all sorts of ways. Individual wireless zones are supervised for check in and tamper, the panel itself has a cover tamper, and the cellular communicator has a supervision interval.

When we activate an account through Alarm.com, we set the communicator on the account for a supervision interval. If the Alarm.com server doesn't hear from the account for the specified supervision interval, a message is generated to the monitoring station and from them to us. We then reach out to the customer to see what's going on. Alarm Grid enables Daily cellular communicator supervision on all central station monitored accounts. Self-monitored accounts are inherently unsupervised.

The communication test that's programmed through the panel is a little different. This test is generated by the panel and helps to verify that the system itself is capable of sending a signal successfully, not just the communicator. By default, the communication test interval is set to weekly through panel programming. It can be set to daily, weekly, or monthly by going to Menu > Settings > Advanced Settings > Installation > Enter Installer Code (1111 by default) > Installer Settings > Communication Test and Communication Test Start Time.

This test, the one programmed through and sent by the panel, is the one that is affected by Daylight Savings Time. Chances are, you don't know whether or not your system is set to send this test. However, it's a good idea to configure it. It will help to verify that the panel is able to send signals through the communicator. As mentioned above, the default communicator test setting is Weekly.

If you don't program a time for the first test report, it will be randomized at the time the panel is either initially programmed at the factory, or when a Master Reset (factory default) occurs. Once the first test is sent, the panel will continue to send the test periodically, either daily, weekly, or monthly thereafter.

The takeaways from the time change are to remember to test your smoke detectors and any other life-safety devices you may have. You should test them at least twice a year, but Alarm Grid recommends monthly testing. And also, give some thought to checking your communication test settings in the Qolsys panel. This is a good automated test to ensure your system is working smoothly. Check out our FAQ on testing the IQ Panel 4.

Alarm Grid is excited to offer the new Alarm.com ADC-SVR210 Stream Video Recorder! This new recorder offers local video storage, with a 1TB or 2TB hard drive. It seamlessly integrates with most existing Alarm.com cameras and boasts wide compatibility with ONVIF Profile S and VAPIX cameras.

The ADC-SVR210 Stream Video Recorder measures 7.7" W x 7.9" D x 5.5" H (14.5cm x 20cm x 13.9cm):

Alarm.com Stream Video Recorders (SVR) offer customers the option of recording video 24/7. Without an SVR, Alarm.com limits the number of clip uploads available to each video customer per month. This allows Alarm.com to ramp up their cloud storage capabilities in line with the number of current and expected active video accounts. Without clip limits, this would be more difficult to do.

Some video customers may need access to more clips, or extended video playback. There are expansion packs available for customers who exceed their monthly clip limit due to unusual or unforeseen circumstances. But for others, the need for more clips may be the rule, not the exception.

For those customers the ADC-SVR210 offers a tidy solution. With the ADC-SVR210 video is stored locally on the recorder's hard drive. The ADC-SVR210 is available with either a 1TB or a 2TB hard drive. A monitor can be connected directly to the SVR and video can be viewed from it at any time.

Not all cameras are compatible with the ADC-SVR210, but most are. Below is a list of the recommended Alarm.com wired ethernet cameras. Many of these support Power Over Ethernet (POE) and are part of the Alarm.com commercial camera lineup:

• VC727P
• VC827P
• VC847PF
• VC728PF
• VC838PF
• VC725
• VC726
• VC736
• VC825
• VC826
• VC836
• VDB755P
• VC729P

In addition, the following Indoor and Indoor/Outdoor WIFI cameras can be used with the ADC-SVR210. If a camera has no link, it indicates that it has been discontinued:

• ADC-V515
• ADC-V523/ADC-V523X
• ADC-V723/723X
• ADC-V724/724X
• ADC-V521IR
• ADC-V522IR
• ADC-V721W
• ADC-V722W

Unlike previous Alarm.com stream video recorders, the ADC-SVR210 can integrate with third-party cameras that support ONVIF Profile S or VAPIX. ONVIF Profile S is a standardized protocol designed for IP-based video systems. VAPIX is an API (Application Programming Interface) for Axis Communications' cameras. The VAPIX API allows Axis cameras to integrate with a wide range of products on different platforms.

ONVIF stands for Open Network Video Interface Forum. This is a security standard that ensures devices from different manufacturers can work together. They use profiles to categorize products. Each profile has a fixed set of features and specifications that every compatible device must adhere to. A device can support more than one profile. You can see the specifications for Profile S here.

Per the ONVIF website, "ONVIF is a leading and well-recognized industry forum whose mission is to provide and promote standardized interfaces for effective interoperability of IP-based physical security products." The forum includes many equipment manufacturers. Some member companies you may recognize include Axis Communications, Honeywell, HIKVision, Canon, Bosch, Intel, Johnson Controls, and more.

A Profile S device (camera) sends video information over an IP-based network. A Profile S Client, like the ADC-SVR210, can configure, request, and control video streaming over an IP network provided by Profile S devices. It is the ADC-SVR210 software that allows it to comply with ONVIF Profile S. This improved compatibility offers greater flexibility when choosing security cameras for your system.

Specifications For The ADC-SVR210:

• Recording Channels: Up to 8 cameras
• Video Input: 8 channels, 70 Mbps total
• Local Display Capabilities: Live view, recorded playback, clip export
• Local Display Output: 1 x HDMI
• Local Clip Export: Available (1 x USB 3.0 and 2 x USB 2.0)
• Internal Storage: (1) 3.5" HDD, SATA 6 Gb/s, (2TB total)
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 7.7 x 7.9 x 5.5" (14.5 x 20 x 13.9 cm)
• Operating Temperature: 32℉ - 104℉ (0℃ - +40℃)
• Compliance: FCC Class A, IC, CE Class B, UL Listed, NDAA
• Included Accessories: AC power adapter, Ethernet cable, QR card with code that links to this digital installation guide
• Requirements: Power: Standard Electrical Outlet ; Network: Ethernet connection to broadband internet
• PoE Power Adapter: 12V DC
• Max Weight: 2.55 lbs (1.16 kg) with 3.5", 2TB HDD installed

In a prior post, we told you about a mandatory SkyBell firmware update for Total Connect 2.0 users. For most, a prompt from TC2 allowed them to update. They could skip the update, but eventually, it was forced. If you set your SkyBell up through the SkyBell app, your experience may differ.

The full details of why the update is happening and, for the most part, what to expect from the process is included in the prior post, so if you are a SkyBell and TC2 user, we highly recommend you read it. We've seen a few hiccups with the upgrade with some customers encountering a few difficulties. Nothing major, though.

If you happen to be a user who set your SkyBell up using the native SkyBell app, prior to associating your SkyBell with Total Connect 2.0 your update and migration process may be slightly different. You should be receiving an email from SkyBell with steps to follow to complete the process.

This email will be sent to the email address used when initially setting up the SkyBell. So, if you fall into this category, be on the lookout for an email from SkyBell Technologies. It should look something like this:

Dear [First Name] [Last Name],

We are reaching out to inform you about an important update that will improve the performance and reliability of your SkyBell [doorbell model]. Action is required to continue receiving doorbell notifications.

Your SkyBell doorbell has been moved to Total Connect app. This transition will ensure that your doorbell functions smoothly. To restore full functionality to your doorbell, please follow the steps below:

1. Open your Resideo Total Connect 2.0 (TC2) app. Your doorbell will be listed as offline.
2. Tap on your offline doorbell and log in with your SkyBell username and password* when prompted.
   • If you don't remember your password, you can reset it in the SkyBell HD app.
3. Your doorbell will come back online, and you will start receiving notifications again.
   • Please note, your doorbell camera settings will be reset to default. You can easily adjust them in the Resideo TC2 app.

Important: Your doorbell will only work in the Resideo TC2 app. Until you complete these steps in the Resideo TC2 app, you won't be able to receive doorbell notifications or event updates.

After completing these steps, you will no longer need the SkyBell HD app. We recommend deleting it from your phone.

Thank you for taking the time to upgrade your doorbell to the Resideo Total Connect 2.0 app. If you have any questions, please contact your Resideo security professional.

The exact wording of this message may differ slightly, but you get the gist from the example above. The important thing is that you receive the message and follow these steps to make sure your SkyBell doorbell is upgraded. This upgrade is basically about moving your SkyBell completely away from the SkyBell HD app. Once the upgrade is complete you will only be able to access your SkyBell doorbell through Total Connect 2.0.

This notice was provided by Resideo to let customers know that if they receive a message like the one above from SkyBell Technologies, it is a legitimate email and Total Connect 2.0 customers should follow the steps outlined to update their SkyBell video doorbell device. Failure to do so will eventually lead to the SkyBell being unusable with Total Connect 2.0.

We recently posted about the Alarm.com Today Widget being retired in app update 5.6.0 and iOS update 18. At that time, we advised you that new iOS widget options would be coming soon. Now those new widget options are right around the corner, so we want to discuss them in a bit more detail.

You may be wondering, "What is a widget?" Merriam Webster currently defines a widget as: 1: A gadget. 2: An unnamed article considered for purposes of hypothetical example. 3: A small software application that is designed to provide a specific piece of information (such as news, weather, or traffic updates) or a specific function (such as taking notes or controlling another application) on demand. For our purposes it is the third definition we'll be exploring further.

In the next few weeks three (3) separate widgets will be available for the Alarm.com app. They are the System Control Widget, the Saved Clips Widget, and the Safety Button Widget. Alarm Grid does not yet offer the Safety Button feature, so we'll concentrate on the first two options in this post.

System Control Widget

The System Control Widget is customizable and allows a user to perform single-touch commands of their smart home devices and alarm system without opening the Alarm.com app.

Requirements:

• An Alarm.com account with at least one supported device.
• The Alarm.com iOS App version 5.7.0+.
• Apple's iOS version 17+. On lower iOS versions, the Alarm.com widget won't display in the widget gallery.
• You must select Keep Me Logged In to use the widget feature.

When you begin setting up the widget, you can set the size to either small or medium. You can also choose whether you want the widget to be displayed on the Home Screen or on the Today View. When a small widget is selected you can configure up to four (4) actions. When medium is selected you can configure up to eight (8) actions.

Capabilities:

• Quickly arm stay, away, or disarm with a single tap.
• Configure one-touch control of lights, locks, gates, and other automation devices.
• Run pre-configured scenes to control routine automations with a single tap.
• See a device icon, name, and current status at a glance.
• See a timestamp of when the widget last updated. An update automatically occurs every 30 minutes or any time you open the customer app.
• If you have multiple systems linked to your login, all devices from all systems are listed during widget configuration. You can choose which devices you want included. System names are NOT included in the widget, so be sure to include system identifying information when naming scenes.
• The Saved Clips Widget and the System Control Widget can be used together on a single iOS device.

Saved Clips Widget

With the Saved Clips Widget, customers with Alarm.com video access can view saved clips without opening the Alarm.com customer app. This widget can be configured to show from four (4) to 12 thumbnails of saved video clips. The number of thumbnails will depend on the selected widget size. By tapping a thumbnail, saved clips can quickly be viewed.

Requirements:

• An Alarm.com Service Package with Video Analytics. Clips captured without video analytics cannot be viewed in this way at this time.
• Alarm.com iOS app version 5.7.0+
• An iPhone or iPad using version iOS 15+

This widget allows you to keep up with various events around your home or office. You can quickly check thumbnails of video clips and then view the actual clip with a single tap. Tapping a thumbnail will open the customer app, allowing you to view the full clip.

• Multiple Saved Clip Widgets can be added, allowing the customer to customize their experience. This is particularly helpful for users with multiple linked systems.
• The Saved Clips Widget and the System Control Widget can be used together on a single iOS device.
• Home screen widgets can be configured as small, medium, or large and the larger the widget, the more video thumbnails can be displayed.
• The widget can be configured to include one camera, all cameras, or a single camera group.
• Home screen widgets can be used as an alternative to video clip alerts. This may be particularly helpful in active homes or high-traffic businesses as the widget automatically updates through the day with analytics-triggered captured clips.

Enable Either Widget On The Home Screen or within the Today View:

1. When adding to the Home Screen press and hold an empty space within the Home Screen until all the app icons begin to jiggle.
2. When adding to the Today View, from the Home Screen, swipe toward the right. This will bring you to the Today View. Press and hold any empy area within the screen until the icons begin to jiggle.
3. At the top left, tap the Add (+) icon.
4. You can search for Alarm.com to find the Alarm.com Widget, or scroll down and tap on the Saved Clips Widget.
   
   
5. Select a size based on which widget you're configuring.
6. Tap Add Widget.
7. Tap and drag the widget to the desired location in the Home Screen or within the Today View.

When a hurricane strikes, widespread power outages, flooding, and wind damage overwhelm residents and emergency personnel. In such crises, property security becomes secondary to life-saving efforts. Any alarm system may fail during extended power outages, further complicating the situation.

As Florida prepares for Hurricane Milton, the second large hurricane forecast to hit the state within the past month, this is a good time to discuss the ways in which these storms affect your alarm system and the response to it.

The Alarm System

A hurricane can physically affect your alarm system in several ways. High winds caused by hurricanes can rattle windows and doors, potentially triggering alarms in older homes with loose fittings. If your alarm system is armed during a hurricane, these vibrations could lead to false alarms. If you have glass break detectors, they can be triggered by weather-related breaking glass.

Electrical power is crucial for alarm systems. If you're an Alarm Grid DIYer, you know that your system has a backup battery to keep it operating during AC power outages. For hardwired systems, you can choose the battery size based on a battery calculation sheet. The goal is typically at least 24 hours of standby power.

When we refer to "standby power," we mean the power consumed by your alarm system when it's not actively in an alarm state. During an alarm, your system requires significantly more power, which can deplete the battery faster. For hardwired systems, you can calculate this additional power consumption and install a larger battery, provided you comply with the manufacturer's specifications.

For all-in-one systems like the Qolsys IQ Panel 4 or Resideo PROA7PLUS, battery options are limited. The included battery is typically UL or ETL listed for at least 24 hours of standby power. This is often the only available option. To extend battery life during power outages, you might consider using a generator or exploring alternative battery solutions. However, these alternative solutions may void the manufacturer's warranty and may cause issues.

While cellular communication for alarms has become widespread, hurricanes can disrupt cellular service due to power outages, infrastructure damage, and other factors. If your alarm system relies on cellular connectivity and the service is interrupted, your system may be unable to report alarms or other conditions. You may also need to clear a communicator trouble condition when you return.

The Responding Authorities

Police, fire, and EMS agencies have specific protocols for responding to emergencies, including those caused by hurricanes. For example, according to Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS), one of our monitoring station partners, many agencies suspend responses to non-emergency dispatches when sustained winds reach 45 MPH.

During and after a hurricane, emergency services will be overwhelmed with requests. While many calls may be legitimate emergencies, others might be less urgent. Unfortunately, there may not be enough resources to respond to every call. As a result, reports of burglar alarms will not be treated as a priority and may not receive a response for some time after the hurricane has passed.

The Monitoring Station

The monitoring station will also be dealing with higher traffic. CMS has provided the following information:

• CMS has increased manpower at its Longwood, FL, and Manasquan, NJ monitoring centers. Please be aware that despite our best efforts, callers may still experience longer than normal wait times.
• Please understand first responders will no longer respond to dispatches from CMS once sustained winds reach 45 mph.
• CMS will continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety of our dealers, their subscribers, and our employees.

CMS is always prepared with true redundancy; It is equipped with three (3), UL listed, FM (Factory Mutual) approved monitoring centers located throughout the United States. Its monitoring centers are connected using the latest in communications technology, allowing it to load balance by redistributing operator resources during spikes in alarm activity.

If disaster strikes any one of the CMS monitoring centers, each of them is backed up by two (2) generators and uninterruptable power supplies Each center is prepared to route alarm signals to the other CMS central stations located across the country. Through the years, CMS has seen just about every type of emergency. They have the experience and facilities to keep them running 24/7 in the face of any storm or other disaster.

With their unique infrastructure, CMS is ready to handle nearly any conceivable situation. Their operators are second to none in the industry. If you call on them, they will be ready to assist you in any way they can. Please heed warnings from experts in your area and evacuate your family, your pets, and yourself if advised to do so.