Wireless Repeaters Posts

Alarm Grid is happy to announce that the Honeywell Home PROSIXRPTR Wireless Repeater is now available for purchase. The wireless repeater works with Honeywell Home and Resideo PROSIX Sensors and Honeywell SiX Sensors used with the ProSeries Security Panels, including the PROA7PLUS.

If you aren't familiar with wireless repeaters, these devices effectively double the range of compatible wireless sensors. This works by taking the wireless signal sent out from a wireless sensor and sending it out a second time, thereby effectively repeating the signal and doubling the sensor's range, assuming that the repeater module is placed strategically. The PROSIXRPTR is the first wireless repeater released from Resideo since the Honeywell 5800RP Wireless Repeater which is used to repeat the wireless signals of Honeywell 5800 Sensors. The new PROSIXRPTR is also the first-ever encrypted wireless repeater released by Resideo. Up to two (2) PROSIXRPTR devices can be used with a ProSeries System, with each repeater being placed in a different direction from a centralized ProSeries Panel.

There's a lot to take in with the PROSIXRPTR, so we'll do our best to cover everything here. The first thing we want to note is that the PROSIXRPTR is not a "plug-and-play" device, as you may be accustomed to with most wireless repeaters. In other words, the PROSIXRPTR will not begin repeating wireless signals until it is enrolled with a ProSeries Panel. These panels include the aforementioned PROA7PLUS, the Resideo PROA7PLUSC, the Resideo PROA7C, and the Honeywell Home PROA7. Any ProSeries Alarm System in need of a PROSIXRPTR Wireless Repeater must be on at least Firmware Version 3.591.92.0, which you can read about in greater detail here. The reason why the PROSIXRPTR needs to be enrolled with the alarm panel is because it is interacting with encrypted signals, and it needs to know sensitive network information to do its job successfully. Although you can have two (2) different PROSIXRPTR modules paired with a single ProSeries Panel, the two units will not communicate or "talk with" each other in anyway, and you cannot use a "series" setup to "triple" the range by having a sensor signal bounce off of one PROSIXRPTR to another PROSIXRPTR on its way to the panel. The PROSIX or SiX wireless signal will only be recognized by a single PROSIXRPTR, it will get repeated once, and will then end up at the ProSeries alarm panel.

There are other limitations affecting the PROSIXRPTR Repeater that should be discussed. While the unit can repeat SiX Sensors used with a ProSeries Alarm Panel on a high enough firmware version, the PROSIXRPTR cannot repeat the signals for SiX Series Sensors used on a Honeywell Lyric Security System. Remember, the PROSIXRPTR must enroll with the panel it is being used with. The unit has no way of integrating with the Lyric, and it cannot repeat wireless SiX Series signals used with that system. Unfortunately, Resideo never released a repeater for the Lyric and SiX Sensors, so that is just a limitation that Lyric users will have to live with, at least for now. The PROSIXRPTR also cannot repeat the signals of any legacy sensors that are being used with the Honeywell Home PROTAKEOVER Module. There are various legacy wireless repeaters available, so please reach out to us at support@alarmgrid.com during our usual 9am to 8pm ET M-F business hours if you need help figuring out which one to get for your alarm system.

One other thing we want to note with the PROSIXRPTR is that while it comes with its own transformer and backup battery, it does not come with any cabling for connecting the transformer. Make sure you have some around when you go to set it up. The unit supports a wire run of up to fifty (50) feet (~15.2 meters) when using 18 AWG cabling, and the maximum distance goes down if thinner cabling is used, so make sure to observe the permitted wire runs. Alarm Grid offers alarm wiring on its website if you need some. We even offer 10 ft., 15 ft., and 25 ft., pre-cut lengths of 22 gauge, 4-conductor wire. Or, you should be able to find some at your local hardware store. You can also use a Honeywell LT-Cable if you don't want to prepare your own wiring.

The PROSIXRPTR can be purchased on our website now! Please email us if you have any questions. Also, don't forget to leave a comment down below to share your thoughts on this new unit. We would love to hear what you have to say. And of course, keep paying close attention to the Alarm Grid Blog if you want to hear the latest security news, tips, and product releases. We'll be back soon, so stay posted!

Alarm Grid is happy to announce that the Honeywell Home PROSIXRPTR Wireless Repeater is now available for purchase. The wireless repeater works with Honeywell Home and Resideo PROSIX Sensors and Honeywell SiX Sensors used with the ProSeries Security Panels, including the PROA7PLUS.

If you aren't familiar with wireless repeaters, these devices effectively double the range of compatible wireless sensors. This works by taking the wireless signal sent out from a wireless sensor and sending it out a second time, thereby effectively repeating the signal and doubling the sensor's range, assuming that the repeater module is placed strategically. The PROSIXRPTR is the first wireless repeater released from Resideo since the Honeywell 5800RP Wireless Repeater which is used to repeat the wireless signals of Honeywell 5800 Sensors. The new PROSIXRPTR is also the first-ever encrypted wireless repeater released by Resideo. Up to two (2) PROSIXRPTR devices can be used with a ProSeries System, with each repeater being placed in a different direction from a centralized ProSeries Panel.

There's a lot to take in with the PROSIXRPTR, so we'll do our best to cover everything here. The first thing we want to note is that the PROSIXRPTR is not a "plug-and-play" device, as you may be accustomed to with most wireless repeaters. In other words, the PROSIXRPTR will not begin repeating wireless signals until it is enrolled with a ProSeries Panel. These panels include the aforementioned PROA7PLUS, the Resideo PROA7PLUSC, the Resideo PROA7C, and the Honeywell Home PROA7. Any ProSeries Alarm System in need of a PROSIXRPTR Wireless Repeater must be on at least Firmware Version 3.591.92.0, which you can read about in greater detail here. The reason why the PROSIXRPTR needs to be enrolled with the alarm panel is because it is interacting with encrypted signals, and it needs to know sensitive network information to do its job successfully. Although you can have two (2) different PROSIXRPTR modules paired with a single ProSeries Panel, the two units will not communicate or "talk with" each other in anyway, and you cannot use a "series" setup to "triple" the range by having a sensor signal bounce off of one PROSIXRPTR to another PROSIXRPTR on its way to the panel. The PROSIX or SiX wireless signal will only be recognized by a single PROSIXRPTR, it will get repeated once, and will then end up at the ProSeries alarm panel.

There are other limitations affecting the PROSIXRPTR Repeater that should be discussed. While the unit can repeat SiX Sensors used with a ProSeries Alarm Panel on a high enough firmware version, the PROSIXRPTR cannot repeat the signals for SiX Series Sensors used on a Honeywell Lyric Security System. Remember, the PROSIXRPTR must enroll with the panel it is being used with. The unit has no way of integrating with the Lyric, and it cannot repeat wireless SiX Series signals used with that system. Unfortunately, Resideo never released a repeater for the Lyric and SiX Sensors, so that is just a limitation that Lyric users will have to live with, at least for now. The PROSIXRPTR also cannot repeat the signals of any legacy sensors that are being used with the Honeywell Home PROTAKEOVER Module. There are various legacy wireless repeaters available, so please reach out to us at support@alarmgrid.com during our usual 9am to 8pm ET M-F business hours if you need help figuring out which one to get for your alarm system.

One other thing we want to note with the PROSIXRPTR is that while it comes with its own transformer and backup battery, it does not come with any cabling for connecting the transformer. Make sure you have some around when you go to set it up. The unit supports a wire run of up to fifty (50) feet (~15.2 meters) when using 18 AWG cabling, and the maximum distance goes down if thinner cabling is used, so make sure to observe the permitted wire runs. Alarm Grid offers alarm wiring on its website if you need some. We even offer 10 ft., 15 ft., and 25 ft., pre-cut lengths of 22 gauge, 4-conductor wire. Or, you should be able to find some at your local hardware store. You can also use a Honeywell LT-Cable if you don't want to prepare your own wiring.

The PROSIXRPTR can be purchased on our website now! Please email us if you have any questions. Also, don't forget to leave a comment down below to share your thoughts on this new unit. We would love to hear what you have to say. And of course, keep paying close attention to the Alarm Grid Blog if you want to hear the latest security news, tips, and product releases. We'll be back soon, so stay posted!

If you have a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, a DSC PowerSeries NEO, or a DSC Iotega, then you have likely worked with PowerG Sensors. These sensors are highly regarded for their impeccable security and great range. But if you really want to go overkill, you can also add a PowerG Repeater.

The DSC PG9920, more commonly known as the PowerG Repeater, effectively doubles the communication range for PowerG Sensors. The way that this works is that the PowerG Repeater will take the signal sent out from a PowerG Sensor and send it out a second time. The repeated signal will then make its way to the panel for regular operation.

Wireless repeaters have been used in the security industry mostly since wireless sensors became the new norm for alarm systems. Up until recently, wireless sensors for security systems typically had pretty lackluster range. It wasn't uncommon to see a wireless sensor with a communication range of under 200 feet. For those older wireless sensors, wireless repeaters are frequently used, as that is often the only way that they will work reliably in larger homes and businesses.

But PowerG Sensors are a completely different animal. When used with the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, these sensors offer a wireless range of up to 2,000 feet in open air. And if you use a PowerG Sensor on a DSC PowerSeries NEO with an added transceiver, then you can expect a wireless range of 2 km in open air. You read that correctly - 2 kilometers!

Granted, these are open air communication ranges. You will need to consider obstacles like thick walls and large metal obstacles that can reduce wireless range. However, we have had many customers use PowerG Sensors in places like warehouses, strip malls, industrial complexes, and other large locations without experiencing any communication issues. And this is all without the use of a repeater!

With that in mind, the odds of you needing a repeater for your PowerG Security System are pretty slim, unless you're really pushing the limits of wireless communication. Most users are not expecting their systems to work beyond the confines of a home or a small business. But if you do put a PG9920 Repeater to use, then you can expect some truly astounding wireless range. For an IQ Panel 2 Plus, PowerG Sensors can communicate from up to 4,000 feet away in open air once a repeater gets involved. And on a DSC PowerSeries NEO, this range is up to 4 KILOMETERS in open air!

The most common situations where PowerG Repeaters are used are in locations like manufacturing facilities and other major industrial complexes where large metal objects, heavy machinery, and thick walls disrupt the communication range so severely that using a PowerG Repeater is the only way for the sensor signals to make their way back to the panel. But understand that these are very uncommon situations. Most likely, you probably do not need a PowerG Repeater.

If you are setting up a system with PowerG Sensors, then we will typically recommend that you try to do so without using a repeater. You probably don't need one. If you then find that your sensors are experiencing communication issues, then you could try supplementing them with a PowerG Repeater. It is advised that you place it strategically to give the sensors the most benefit. Remember, any PowerG signals detected by the repeater will be sent out a second time so that they can ultimately reach the panel.

Please note that you cannot use multiple PowerG Repeaters to repeat a signal from a PowerG Sensor multiple times. A PowerG Sensor can only have its signal repeated once. Theoretically, you could have two (2) different PowerG Repeaters going out in different directions from the panel to repeat sensor signals coming from both pathways, but that's probably not going to be something you need to do. But if you really have a massive complex with a PowerG Alarm System in the center, it is theoretically possible.

You can get the DSC PG9920 PowerG Repeater from Alarm Grid. But like we said, you probably don't need it. If you have any other questions about the PowerG Repeater or any of the other products on our website, please contact us at support@alarmgrid.com. We operate support hours from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you're in the market for a new wireless repeater for your Honeywell System, you might want to consider our certified refurbished Honeywell 5800RP. Our refurbished model will work just as well as a brand-new Honeywell 5800RP Wireless Repeater, but it is available at a lower price.

Our certified refurbished products are shipped directly to the Alarm Grid headquarters from the manufacturer. The equipment is thoroughly cleaned, and any defects are restored to ensure that the product operates like brand-new. We guarantee that any certified refurbished product from us will work just as well as the brand-new equivalent. For more information on our certified refurbished offerings, please check out this prior blog post.

If you aren't familiar with the Honeywell 5800RP, it is a wireless repeater that works with Honeywell 5800 Sensors. Normally, these sensors only have a maximum range of 200 nominal feet. But the 5800RP will take the signals sent out from these sensors and send them out a second time. This will increase the maximum possible wireless range to 400 nominal feet.

Wireless repeaters like the Honeywell 5800RP are great for situations where you need a little bit of extra range for your sensors to communicate properly. They can also help your sensors overcome obstacles that may disrupt communication, such as thick walls and large metal appliances. For best results, try playing the 5800RP in a location directly in-between the panel and the sensor.

The Honeywell 5800RP is a plug-and-play device, and you do not need to enroll it with the panel for it to work. It will begin repeating 345 MHz signals from Honeywell 5800 Series Sensors as soon as it is powered on. However, you can still enroll it with your panel for supervision purposes. This will require one wireless zone on your panel.

Please note that the Honeywell 5800RP does not include a transformer for providing power. This applies to both the brand-new model and our certified refurbished offering. The transformer you will want to purchase separately is called the Honeywell 300-07753 AC Transformer. You will also need a wire to connect the transformer. We recommend using the Honeywell LT-Cable for this job. The Honeywell K0257 Backup Battery does come included with the 5800RP, and that should last about three (3) to five (5) years with typical usage.

Also note that the Honeywell 5800RP can only repeat 345 MHz signal from Honeywell 5800 Sensors. It cannot repeat 345 MHz signals from 2GIG 345 MHz Sensors. Alarm Grid offers the 2GIG Repeater, which can repeat signals from both Honeywell 5800 Sensors and 2GIG 345 MHz Sensors. But only the Honeywell 5800RP can repeat signals from bi-directional Honeywell 5800 Series devices. These include the Honeywell 5828 Keypad and the Honeywell 5800WAVE Siren.

Finally, it is not possible to use multiple Honeywell 5800RP units to repeat signals an indefinite number of times. Each Honeywell 5800 Series Sensor can have its signal repeated only once. But you can have two distinct 5800RP modules on separate sides of your panel to repeat signals coming from both directions. Keep this in mind if you intend on using the Honeywell 5800RP.

You can get our certified refurbished Honeywell 5800RP right now from the Alarm Grid website. If you have any questions, please email us at support@alarmgrid.com. Remember that our support hours run from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!