Wireless Touchscreen Alarm Panels Posts

You may have noticed recently that some new products from Resideo (formerly Honeywell) are being offered in both Resideo and Honeywell Home variants. Today, we want to clear up any confusion and explain that these are the same products, only with different labeling across the front.

To be clear, there have been three (3) instances of this varied labeling thus far, and it's likely that Resideo will continue this practice for additional products in the future. So far, the products that have been offered in both "Resideo" and "Honeywell Home" variants have included the following:

• Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS & Resideo PROA7PLUSC - Exactly the same!
• Honeywell Home PROA7 & Resideo PROA7C - Exactly the same!
• Honeywell Home TUXEDOW & Resideo TUXEDOWC - Exactly the same!

If you have a keen eye, then you'll likely notice that the "Honeywell Home" variants have the base SKU, while the "Resideo" variants have the base SKU, plus the letter C at the end. The C stands for "Commercial", as Resideo is marketing the "Resideo" variants for commercial use, while the "Honeywell Home" variant is being marketed for residential use. This situation occurred because certain alarm dealers who install in predominantly commercial locations couldn't (or in some cases, refused to) sell a product with the word "Home" on the front. In turn, Resideo made the call to accommodate these dealers.

In each of the three (3) aforementioned cases, Resideo has basically released the same product twice, with one variant being sold under the "Honeywell Home" banner for residential use, and the other being sold under the "Resideo" banner for commercial use. The only difference between variants is that one will say "Honeywell Home" across the front, and the other will say "Resideo" across the front. That's the only difference! All other aspects, such as product features, functions, compatibility, and overall use and performance is completely identical. We promise you, there is no gimmick or surprise here. Whether you get a Honeywell Home variant or a Resideo variant, it really won't matter. They're the same!

In fact, the "Residential" vs. "Commercial" wording is nothing more than a cosmetic difference. If you are buying the product for use in a home, but you like the name "Resideo" more than "Honeywell Home", then feel free to get the Resideo variant. It may be marketed for commercial use, but you can absolutely use it in a residential location. Again, the only difference is the wording. Conversely, you will have no trouble using a "Honeywell Home" variant in a commercial business or industrial location. If you prefer the "Honeywell Home" wording, then get that variant for your office or business. Just because it's marketed for residential use does not mean that you cannot use it in a commercial location!

If you're like many users, then you are likely going to wonder why Resideo would even bother doing this. Again, it's really just marketing and their response to a certain subset of commercial dealers. Resideo has the right to use Honeywell Home branding, and they will continue doing so for name recognition. But they found out that commercial and industrial locations don't want to use products labeled "Honeywell Home" because they look out of place. As a result, Resideo is offering the "Resideo"-labeled alternative to accommodate these users. You might think it's a bit silly - and maybe it is. But it's nothing more than a marketing decision. So go ahead and laugh, then decide whether you want your brand-new security system or touchscreen keypad to read "Honeywell Home" or "Resideo". Either way, you're getting a great product.

And that's really the best news here. All three (3) of these products are awesome. Resideo has really been putting out some sleek and fresh-looking security equipment lately. The three (3) products in question are known for their 7-inch touchscreen controllers and their modern designs that look tremendous in pretty much any home or office. And even if the reasoning is a bit frivolous, the end result is that you have more options to choose from. If you don't want "Home" displayed on your new office security system, then you can opt for the "Resideo" option. Alternatively, if you think "Resideo" sounds goofy and makes you cringe, then you can go with "Honeywell Home" instead. There's no judgment here!

What do you think of this "Resideo" vs. "Honeywell Home" situation? Do you think it's a bit silly, or do you think it's a smart decision by Resideo? Also, which name do you like more? And lastly, have you gotten to try out the new Tuxedo Keypad or the ProSeries 7-Inch Panels yet? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. We used the Honeywell Home variants for our personal office testing, but we're sure the Resideo ones are just as nice. Maybe we'll have both variants hanging around the Alarm Grid office someday. But for now, we hope that this cleared up any confusion or misunderstandings, and we'll be back with more news soon.

Nortek Control, the parent company of 2GIG, has received multiple honors from CE Pro and their Quest for Quality Awards. The company has already received awards for its new 2GIG Edge Security System, and that trend looks to be continuing. Congratulations are in order for Nortek and 2GIG!

The Quest for Quality Awards from CE Pro is in its 11th annual edition. The awards recognize services from companies, rather than specific products. Winners are determined from an open-ended survey, in which respondents vote for the companies they believe are most deserving. This year, a record-breaking number of more than 14,550 votes, covering 17 different manufacturer categories and eight (8) different distributor categories, were received by CE Pro. And needless to say, 2GIG was a very big winner.

In total, Nortek Control and 2GIG received five (5) Quest for Quality Awards from CE Pro. The awards were as follows:

• Platinum Award for Best Sales & Marketing Assistance
• Platinum Award for Best Dealer & Program Incentives
• Gold Award for Best COVID-19 Response
• Gold Award for Best Dealer Protection Policies
• Silver Award for Best Technical Support

We have been covering 2GIG quite often in the Alarm Grid blog lately. Most notably, we have covered the release of the 2GIG Edge Alarm Panel, which only just hit the market last week. This is a state-of-the-art security system that includes a 7-inch touchscreen controller, support for up to 100 wireless zones, optional automatic Bluetooth disarming, live-streaming for compatible Alarm.com Security Cameras, four (4) individual Smart Area Partitions, and much more. Anyone with questions about the 2GIG Edge is encouraged to email our team at support@alarmgrid.com. Keep in mind when emailing us that our support hours run from 9am to 8pm ET M-F.

Have you gotten to test drive the 2GIG Edge yet? Do you have any thoughts about 2GIG as a company? Feel free to leave a comment down below sharing your thoughts and/or experiences. We would love to hear what you have to say. Alarm Grid has very high expectations for the new 2GIG Edge System, and it's looking like it might become one of the highest profile alarm panels of the 2020s. We're certainly excited to see it take off, and we hope that you are as well. Remember to stay tuned to our blog for more security news, and we'll have some more great content headed your way very soon!

After much anticipation and speculation, the 2GIG Edge Alarm System is finally here! We have the Edge Panel available in two (2) cellular communicator options (AT&T or Verizon), plus complete 2GIG Edge System Kits, and various alarm system accessories exclusively for use with the Edge.

If you have been keeping up with the Alarm Grid blog, then you probably already know that the Edge is perhaps the single most highly anticipated thing we have ever seen out of Nortek Control and 2GIG. The state-of-the-art wireless all-in-one (AiO) panel retains virtually all of the same great features and capabilities of the 2GIG GC3e System that came before it, including a 7-inch LCD touchscreen for easy and seamless navigation, 100 wireless zones, support for 2GIG eSeries Encrypted Sensors, and legacy 345 MHz sensors (both Honeywell 5800 and 2GIG 345 MHz), the ability to build and customize up to four (4) individually controlled and operated Smart Area Partitions, One-Touch Arming, Chime & Voice functionality, Alarm.com connectivity, a digital slideshow picture frame, and much more.

But what makes the 2GIG Edge different and unique is its new features. First of all, the Edge has a completely refreshed design for a 2GIG Panel, as it is the first system from 2GIG to break away from the traditional all-white panel. Instead, the Edge comes in a black design that looks impressively modern and fits in nicely with almost any setting. We're also pleased to say that 2GIG was able to fit more hardware into the Edge Panel, putting it in on par with the Qolsys IQ Panel 2+ panels. This includes a built-in glass break detector, a front panel camera that offers facial recognition, and an 85 dB sounder for alarm events.

One noteworthy difference with regard to 2GIG Edge facial recognition is that it can be used for automatically arming and disarming the system upon detecting the user's face, which is not possible on the IQ Panel 2 Plus. Other familiar IQ2+ features also offered with the Edge include optional automatic Bluetooth disarming for your phone, panel live-streaming for compatible Alarm.com Cameras, and full connectivity with the Alarm.com security and automation platform.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the 2GIG Edge is the fact that it has a built-in LTE cellular communicator. This is used for connecting the system with Alarm.com, since ADC requires that all systems using their services have an active cellular communication path. This is in addition to the internal WIFI card for the 2GIG Edge that is also used for communicating with Alarm.com. Using cellular and internet communication together on a security system is often referred to as dual-path connectivity, and it is great because it helps to ensure that the system stays monitored during any type of communication outage. But while internet connectivity is technically optional, cellular communication is required. This means that you will need a monitoring plan that includes cellular communication to get the 2GIG Edge monitored. Some monitoring plans you may consider include the Gold and Platinum Level Plans from Alarm Grid (Self or Full). You can learn all about Alarm Grid monitoring plans in this comprehensive blog post.

As we mentioned before, the cellular communicator for the 2GIG Edge is built into the panel. While this might seem like a positive attribute, it is a bit of a double-EDGEd sword when you consider the issue more closely. On one hand, this means that there is no need to purchase a separate communicator for the 2GIG Edge. Everything needed for the system to connect with Alarm.com is built into the panel. But this also means that if something ever goes wrong with the communicator, then it will be necessary to replace the entire panel, rather than just simply swapping out the communicator. The same is true for the system's WIFI card. If it is damaged, then a completely new system is needed. There is also no word on how a built-in LTE cellular communicator will affect the system in the very distant future when LTE will inevitably face its own sunset. Fortunately, this is unlikely to be a concern for at least 15 to 20 years. We've also seen the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus experience tremendous success while also opting for an integrated, irreplaceable LTE cellular communicator and WIFI card, so there's a good chance that the Edge will end up being just as successful. But we do want to give recognition to Resideo and their PROA7PLUS System for having the foresight to use fully replaceable LTE cellular radios (AT&T or Verizon), plus fully replaceable WIFI modules.

One thing new to the Edge that we have never seen on any other alarm control panel before is a 700-Series Z-Wave Controller. Also known as Z-Wave Plus Version 2, the 700-Series of Z-Wave Smart Home Automation promises significantly better wireless range and battery life, as well as much stronger wireless security when compared with previous iterations of Z-Wave technology. Although we haven't seen many 700-Series Z-wave devices hit the market just yet, it is worth mentioning that 2GIG recently released their own Z-Wave 700-Series Smart Thermostat, the 2GIG STZ-1. This smart thermostat can make a great addition to your new 2GIG Edge System and the automation network you plan to build around it. Remember that we have all sorts of Z-Wave lights and Z-Wave door locks available on our site for you to construct a complete smart home to make your life easier. But if you want to hold out a bit longer for the 700-Series Z-wave devices that will inevitably make their way to the marketplace sooner rather than later, then we don't blame you at all. And as you may have guessed, every Z-Wave home automation device that you pair locally with the 2GIG Edge will also be accessible remotely through Alarm.com once you get the system monitored with a plan that includes remote access.

With all of the introduction and explanation out of the way, let's take a look at the new products. First up is the base 2GIG Edge Panel, available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE:

• 2GIG Edge System w/ AT&T LTE
• 2GIG Edge System w/ Verizon LTE

If you are starting from scratch, then you might prefer to purchase one of our 2GIG Edge Starter Kits, which also include some sensors for you to pair with the system, as well as a Honeywell LT-Cable for easily powering the system. You can choose whether you want a fully encrypted kit with only encrypted sensors or a standard wireless kit, where the included door and window sensors don't utilize wireless encryption. Keep in mind that you can always upgrade to encrypted sensors later if you start out with a non-encrypted system. And also remember that you will need to decide whether you want your 2GIG Edge System to have an AT&T LTE Communicator or a Verizon LTE Communicator. This may be the most important consideration prior to purchase since the LTE communicator can't be replaced. Be sure to check coverage maps for the area where the panel will be used, and choose whichever carrier will have the best signal in the area.

Our system kits come in two (2) sizes. First, we will look at the 3-1 Edge System Kits that include three (3) wireless door and window sensors, and one (1) wireless motion detection sensor. These 3-1 Kits are best-suited for use in a smaller home or an apartment. Here are our 2GIG Edge 3-1 System Kits:

• 2GIG Edge 3-1 Kit w/ AT&T LTE
• 2GIG Edge 3-1 Kit w/ Verizon LTE
• 2GIG Edge 3-1 Encrypted Kit w/ AT&T LTE
• 2GIG Edge 3-1 Encrypted Kit w/ Verizon LTE

We also have our 10-1 Edge System Kits that come with ten (10) door and window alarm sensors, and one (1) motion sensor. This size kit is best used for a larger home or a small business. Again, the same equivalents apply to this size, so you have four (4) possible kits to choose from. Here are the 2GIG Edge 10-1 System Kits from Alarm Grid:

• 2GIG Edge 10-1 Kit w/ AT&T LTE
• 2GIG Edge 10-1 Kit w/ Verizon LTE
• 2GIG Edge 10-1 Encrypted Kit w/ AT&T LTE
• 2GIG Edge 10-1 Encrypted Kit w/ Verizon LTE

Lastly, we want to check out the system accessories for the 2GIG Edge. There are a few usual suspects here, including a replacement transformer and a replacement backup battery, plus a specially prepared power cord released by 2GIG. But we think the most interesting accessory is the wireless touchscreen keypad built exclusively for use with the 2GIG Edge Alarm System. Again in a similar fashion to the IQ Panel 2 Plus, the 2GIG Edge Remote Keypad mimics the system's display and can perform virtually any system function, much like the IQ Remote. But unlike Qolsys and the IQ Remote, 2GIG has made their remote keypad with an end-user replaceable battery, which is a huge improvement in our eyes.

Here are the 2GIG Edge System Accessories:

• 2GIG AC1 Replacement Transformer
• 2GIG Edge 24+ Hour Backup Battery
• 2GIG Edge Prepared Cable w/ AC1 Barrel Connection
• 2GIG Edge Remote Keypad w/ Touchscreen Controls
• 2GIG Edge Remote Keypad Backup Battery

One final note about the 2GIG Edge is that there has been no indication that 2GIG intends to release a new "exclusive" sensor lineup for use with the system. Historically, this is a bit unusual, as you traditionally see a new security system (especially one as heavily promoted and anticipated as the 2GIG Edge) released alongside a new lineup of sensors designed specifically to accompany the system. Even the last major releases from 2GIG saw this, as the 2GIG GC2e and 2GIG GC3e became synonymous with the encrypted 2GIG eSeries Sensors. We only mention this because it's likely that some users out there will be actively looking for sensors to add to their new 2GIG Edge System, and they may be surprised to learn that there is no special 2GIG Edge Sensor Family. However, you still have a plethora of great sensor options to choose from, as the 2GIG Edge thrives in terms of backward compatibility. As we mentioned earlier, the system supports encrypted sensors from the 2GIG eSeries Lineup, plus non-encrypted Honeywell 5800 Sensors (uni-directional only) and 2GIG 345 MHz Sensors. If you are looking to expand upon your 2GIG Edge Alarm System, then those three (3) sensor families give you some awesome options to choose from!

The 2GIG Edge System, our 2GIG Edge System Kits, and the 2GIG Edge Accessories are all available now, and they can be purchased from the Alarm Grid website. Do you have any thoughts or questions about the 2GIG Edge? Leave them down below as a comment. We would love to get some discussions started on this super exciting new security system. Do you think the 2GIG Edge has what it takes to compete with strong systems like the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus and Resideo PROA7PLUS? What aspect of the 2GIG Edge has you the most excited? Is there anything you would like to see in a future firmware update or patch for the Edge? Get the discussions started down below, as we look forward to hearing from you. And stay tuned to our blog for more security system news coming soon!

In preparation for the upcoming 2GIG Edge Security System, Alarm Grid has finished building the product pages for both the AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE versions of the 2GIG Edge Alarm Panel. We now have more information than ever on what looks to be a truly state-of-the-art alarm system.

• Check out the 2GIG Edge w/ AT&T LTE here SKU: 2GIG-EDG-NA-AA.
• Check out the 2GIG Edge w/ Verizon LTE here SKU 2GIG-EDG-NA-VA.

If you check the two product pages linked above, you will see that the 2GIG Edge is currently marked "discontinued". It will stay that way on our site until we have it available for purchase. But at least now, you can check out the page and see all of its great specifications and capabilities. Needless to say, it has a ton to offer. You could say that we're on the edge of our seats waiting.

We would like to take a moment and discuss some of the more noteworthy specs of the 2GIG Edge. Just like its 2GIG GC3e predecessor, the 2GIG Edge supports the same sensor lineups, included the encrypted 2GIG eSeries Sensors, the 2GIG 345 MHz Sensors, and the Honeywell 5800 Sensors. It also supports up to 100 zones, which is the same as the GC3e. There is a possibility that 2GIG might release a new sensor lineup of devices built exclusively for use with the Edge, but we have not seen any confirmation one way or another.

A very interesting discovery about the 2GIG Edge is that its internal LTE cellular communicator cannot be replaced, much like what we have already seen with the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus. For us, this is a mixed bag, or a double-edged sword, if you will. On one hand, this means that you don't have to buy a communicator separately, and you will not have to install one inside the panel. But unfortunately, this means that you must replace the entire panel in the event that something goes wrong with the communicator. It also means that we may someday see all the 2GIG Edge Systems go offline at the same time due to a possible "LTE Sunset" that may happen someday in the future. That said, such an LTE Sunset wouldn't happen for a very long time.

Other features for the 2GIG Edge include its built-in WIFI, and its integrated Z-Wave Plus V2 700-Series Z-Wave Controller. That's right, this is the first system we know of to support Z-Wave 700-Series. That in itself is really exciting, as we expect this panel to be an unquestioned champ when it comes to automation. Alarm.com connectivity has also returned with the Edge, and you get all of the benefits of that platform once you get the system monitored with a proper service plan. This includes the ability to interface with smart home voice assistants like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Amazon Echo, Siri Shortcuts, and so much more!

We won't go too in-depth on every new feature right now, but you can expect facial recognition, optional automatic Bluetooth disarming, Alarm.com Camera streaming, one-touch arming, emergency panic buttons, disarm photos, over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates, and so much more to be available with the 2GIG Edge. This is truly a great system to look forward to, and we hope that waiting doesn't push you over the edge of insanity.

We have some other 2GIG Edge accessories you can check out on our site right now, though none are currently available for purchase. We will be expanding upon these product pages as we learn more. These include:

• 2GIG Edge Cable w/ AC1 Barrel Connection - SKU: 2GIG-EDG-CBL
• 2GIG Edge Backup Battery - SKU: 2GIG-EDG-BATT
• 2GIG Edge Remote Keypad - SKU: 2GIG-EDG-RK
• 2GIG Edge Remote Keypad Battery - SKU: 2GIG-EDG-RK-BATT

Please comment below with any thoughts or questions you have about the 2GIG Edge. Are you excited about this system? Let us know. And stay tuned to our blog for more security news and updates coming real soon!

We are happy to announce that the Honeywell Home PROA7 and the Resideo PROA7C are now available. You can consider these as entry level versions of the Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS and the Resideo PROA7PLUSC.

The best way to think of the PROA7 and PROA7C is that they are the PROA7PLUS without a Honeywell Home PROWIFIZW, no Bluetooth capabilities, and no front panel camera. It's the same as the PROA7PLUS, just with no WIFI, no Z-Wave, no optional automatic Bluetooth disarming, and no disarm photos. You can always add the PROWIFIZW Module later on to add WIFI and Z-Wave Plus, but Bluetooth and the front camera can never be added. Basically, you will always be working with a lesser version of the PROA7PLUS.

If you want to get a PROA7 or PROA7C monitored, then you will need to add a PROWIFIZW Module and/or one of the compatible LTE cellular communicators, which are the Honeywell Home PROLTE-A AT&T LTE Communicator and the Honeywell Home PROLTE-V Verizon LTE Communicator. Getting the system monitored will also allow you to use Total Connect 2.0 to control the system remotely, provided that access to the service is included with your monitoring plan.

Remember that since the ProSeries System does not yet support local end-user programming, you will not be able to enroll any sensors with the PROA7 or PROA7C until you get it monitored. The Honeywell Home PROSIX and Honeywell SiX Series Sensors return as compatible encrypted peripherals for the systems, and you can also add a Honeywell Home PROTAKEOVER Module for legacy RF sensor support.

Any one of several older manufacturer's sensors can be used with the PROTAKEOVER Module. These include Honeywell 5800 series, 2GIG 345 MHz (non-encrypted), Qolsys/Interlogix 319.5 MHz, DSC, and Bosch which both use a variation of 433 MHz. Up to 250 zones in total can be used with the PROA7 or PROA7C.

As you may have guessed, the only difference between the Honeywell Home PROA7 and the Resideo PROA7C is that the PROA7 says "Honeywell Home" across its front, while the PROA7C says "Resideo" across its front. Other than that, they really are the same panel. Which one do you like more? Let us know in the comments down below. And remember to reach out to us with any questions you might have. As always, we look forward to hearing from you!

Alarm Grid has been releasing some useful new FAQs and guides on using and setting up the 2GIG GC2e and 2GIG GC3e Security Systems. We wanted to let you know about this content so that you can start getting the most out of these panels. Both can make a great addition to a home or business!

Both the 2GIG GC2e and 2GIG GC3e support the Alarm.com interactive service platform. By activating the system on a compatible monitoring plan, you will be able to control your 2GIG Panel remotely through the Alarm.com website and mobile app. This is great for operating your system while you are on the go! You will need a compatible LTE cellular communicator for the system to activate it for monitoring service!

Another exciting feature is that both systems offer built-in Z-Wave Plus functionality, which allows you to build a robust and powerful smart automation network for automatic operation and control for various devices used around your home or business. You can also integrate the exclusive lineup of encrypted 2GIG eSeries Sensors with these systems for enhanced wireless security and protection.

The 2GIG GC3e is a bit more robust than the GC2e, as the GC3e offers additional features like built-in WIFI, Smart Area Partitioning, and a larger touchscreen. You also have the ability to set up more wireless zones on the GC3e, which can come in handy for a larger home or business. But really, both systems can adapt well to nearly any situation.

Here we have some recent FAQs we have written for the 2GIG GC2e:

• How Do I Install the Cell Module in a 2GIG GC2e?
• How Do I Power On the 2GIG GC2e?
• How Do I Pair a Z-Wave Device to the 2GIG GC2e?
• How Do I Program a Zone to a 2GIG GC2e?
• How Do I Add or Change User Codes on a 2GIG GC2e?
• How Do I Program a Key Fob Into a 2GIG GC2e?

And here are some on the 2GIG GC3e:

• How Do I Power On the 2GIG GC3e?
• How Do I Program a Zone to a 2GIG GC3e?
• How Do I Pair a Z-Wave Device to the 2GIG GC3e?
• How Do I Add or Change User Codes on a 2GIG GC3e?
• How Do I Program a Key Fob Into a 2GIG GC3e?
• How Do I Connect a 2GIG GC3e to WIFI?

If you want to learn more about the 2GIG GC2e or 2GIG GC3e, or if you have questions about alarm monitoring in general, please email us at support@alrmgrid.com. Our team would love to help you out so that you can make an informed buying decision. We check our email from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! A few months ago, we blogged about the upcoming encrypted systems from 2GIG. Well the first one is here, as you can now buy the 2GIG GC2e Wireless Encrypted Security System from the Alarm Grid website! We are certainly very excited about this new panel, and we're sure you are too.

The 2GIG GC2e is essentially an upgraded version of the older 2GIG Go!Control GC2. The original GC2 has served as an effective and reliable alarm system for many years, and users who are just now getting into the market now have a great new option available to them. The GC2e offers a user interface (UI) and overall design that original GC2 users will be familiar and comfortable with. This makes it super easy to transition over to the new GC2e System for your home or business.

The main highlight of the GC2e is the ability to support the upcoming lineup for encrypted sensors from 2GIG. These will be the first-ever encrypted wireless sensors from 2GIG, and users will appreciate the added protection that these devices provide. Encrypted sensors are virtually impossible to defeat or takeover wirelessly. This is very important in a world where savvy intruders are able to use advanced technology to hack and take control of non-encrypted sensors.

With a GC2e System and encrypted sensors, you can put these concerns to rest. Please note that the 2GIG Encrypted Sensors are not yet available for purchase. However, we expect them to be available very soon. In the meantime, you can still use the GC2e System with the existing 2GIG 345 MHz Sensors and the Honeywell 5800 Sensors. The GC2e is backwards compatible to support these devices. Just be aware that the system will only utilize encryption when it is paired with the upcoming encrypted 2GIG Sensors.

But the GC2e offers more upgrades than just support for encrypted sensors. It features an updated design that looks cleaner and more modern than the original GC2 System. Users will also appreciate the larger touchscreen, which now measures 5" across. By retaining the existing UI, existing GC2 users will know exactly what they start using the GC2e. If you ever owned the GC2 System in the past and are now looking to get back into the market, then the GC2e is a great choice.

The system also has some internal upgrades as well. The system now supports Z-Wave Plus technology with its 500-Series Chipset. This means that all Z-Wave Plus devices paired with the system will be able to utilize their maximum wireless range and battery life. You can also use classic Z-Wave devices with the system without issue. Just remember that you will only get the extended range and increased battery life with Z-Wave Plus devices.

Anyone who purchases the GC2e will want to make sure they get an Alarm.com Cellular Communicator for the system as well. This will provide the system with fast and reliable connectivity across a cellular network. The GC2e System actually supports the same existing cellular communicators used with the older GC2 System. We strongly recommend choosing an LTE cellular communicator for the system. Cellular service providers have stated that they plan to support their LTE networks well into the very distant future. With an LTE communicator, you can keep your GC2e monitored for many years to come.

We recommend using one of the following cellular communicators with the GC2e:

• 2GIG LTEA-A-GC2 (AT&T LTE)
• 2GIG LTEV1-A-GC2 (Verizon LTE)

A cellular communicator is also necessary for getting the system connected with Alarm.com. This is an interactive monitoring and automation platform that you can access from a web browser or remotely using the Alarm.com Mobile App. The service will allow you to arm and disarm your system, check current system status, and control your Z-Wave smart home devices from virtually anywhere in the world. Please be aware that you will also need a Gold or Platinum Level Plan from Alarm Grid to access ADC. More information can be found here.

As far as some basic specifications go, the system offers support for up to 60 wireless zones, a single hardwired zone, eight (8) remote control keyfobs, a total of four (4) keypads (2GIG TS1 and/or 2GIG PAD1-345), a wired siren output, and up to 64 user codes. The system is powered using a 1.7A 14VDC transformer that comes included. No wiring is included to connect the transformer to the panel. But you can get a Honeywell LT-Cable for this task. The system receives firmware updates over-the-air (OTA) from Alarm.com, or you can apply updates locally using a compatible updater tool.

We also know that many customers are eagerly awaiting the release of the 2GIG GC3e as well. This will be the successor to the current 2GIG GC3, and it will also provide support for the upcoming encrypted sensor lineup. Unfortunately, the 2GIG GC3e is not yet available for purchase. But we believe that it will be arriving before the end of summer. So please keep checking out blog for further updates.

If you have any questions about the 2GIG GC2e, you can send an email to support@alarmgrid.com. We will check your email at our earliest convenience and reply back as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you and answering all your questions about this exciting new system!