Home Security Blog

Hi DIYers! As you know, you can't have a security system without some sensors! Of course, with all the possible sensor types it can be overwhelming to decide which ones you really need for your system. While nearly every sensor type serves a purpose, these are the 5 we deem most crucial.

5. Glass Break Sensors

Glass break sensors are used to detect broken windows and other glass break events. These devices have built-in microphones, and they actively listen for the sound of breaking glass. Most glass break sensors utilize a dual-sound detection method. This means that the sensor must detect both the low-pitched thud of an object striking against the glass and the high-pitched shattering of the glass itself. This helps prevent false alarms. Glass break sensors are perfect for monitoring for forced entry into your home. You can even use a single glass break sensor to monitor multiple windows in the same room!

4. Environmental Sensors

Environmental sensors include devices like temperature sensors and flood sensors. These sensors monitor for unusual environmental conditions that likely indicate a problem. For example, a flood sensor will let your system know if there is a water leak that could lead to expensive water damage. Meanwhile, a temperature sensor will monitor for unusually high or low temperatures that indicate a broken HVAC system. There are also many environmental sensors that can perform dual functions and operate as both temperature and flood sensors.

3. Life-Safety Sensors

Life-safety sensors are used to monitor for life-threatening environmental conditions, such as a fire or an outbreak of carbon monoxide gas. These include devices like smoke and heat detectors and carbon monoxide sensors. There are also special combination CO and smoke detectors that can monitor for multiple types of life-safety conditions. Enrolling properly functioning life-safety sensors with your system can mean the difference between life and death. And for fires, you will be able to ensure a faster response if one occurs while you are away. These are a must-have for any system.

2. Motion Detection Sensors

Motion sensors are some of the most useful sensors you can add to your system. These devices alert the system upon detecting a change in infrared (IR) energy caused by movement. There are also some motion sensors that use microwave radar technology in addition to passive infrared (PIR). You can install motions inside your home as interior sensors to determine if anyone gains entry while you are away. They are perfect for detecting general activity and movement in areas where none should be present. There are even pet-immune motion sensors so that you won't need to worry about your pets setting them off. Just make sure you choose the installation area carefully.

1. Door & Window Contacts

Door and window contacts are the easiest to use and most effective sensors for any alarm system. They are used for letting your system know if someone opens up a door or window. These sensors usually consist of two parts, which are a sensor and a magnet. The sensor goes on the door or window frame, and the magnet goes on the moving part of the door or window. Opening the door or window will cause the magnet to become separated from the sensor. The sensor will detect this and alert the system. There are also recessed door and window sensors that allow for a more aesthetically- pleasing installation!

Remember, our goal at Alarm Grid is to set you up with the perfect security system for your needs. We also offer top-quality alarm monitoring services that are great for pairing with a new or existing alarm system. If you ever need help designing or using your security system, or if you want to learn more about our monitoring services, please reach out to us! We are best reached by email at support@alarmgrid.com. Or you may call us at (888) 818-7728 during our regular business hours of 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! Did you have a spooky day yesterday? We certainly hope so. Our office had a fun and festive Halloween celebration yesterday. As you know, we were all still very excited about our new office sign. Our Halloween party featured tasty treats, decorations, and of course, costumes.

We must admit that most of our office wasn't in the spirit and opted not to dress-up this year. Boo them. They receive shame. But we did get some creative costumes this year. Our lineup included:

• Cookie Monster
• A Super Cool Biker Lady
• The Grim Reaper
• A Witch (who cursed all of us btw)
• A Silly Ghost
• A Loyal & Dependable Scout
• A Kitty Kat
• T-Rex

If you couldn't tell, I was the Scout. Things got a little rowdy though as I almost got eaten.

We had a costume contest. It was neck and neck between the T-Rex and myself. Unfortunately, the T-Rex has the bigger neck (and he threatened to eat everyone), so he won the contest. To celebrate, the T-Rex was provided some spending money in the form of a gift card. We're not sure how he will use it, but at least nobody was eaten. Congratulations go out to the T-Rex.

There were some sore feelings, as the Cookie Monster believed he was the rightful winner.

Don't worry Cookie Monster, we have the leftover cookies for you as a consolation prize. They're soft & delicious.

It is also our understanding that the Silly Ghost stepped on the T-Rex's tail and caused severe injuries. Our team responded by naming the Silly Ghost the worst costume of the year. We hope he returns next year with something better.

We also graciously allowed the T-Rex to shoot a video of the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus. We hope you enjoy it and learn a lot.

In all seriousness, this was a really fun Halloween. Thanks to everyone at Alarm Grid who dressed up, and thank you, our customers, for reading about our festivities. While we like to have fun sometimes, we take our alarm monitoring services very seriously. You're always invited to email us at support@alarmgrid.com if you need any help or have any questions. Remember that our support hours are from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

We have received word from Resideo that some SkyBell Cameras may temporarily experience delays when being used with Total Connect 2.0 or through the SkyBell App. The issue is most likely the result of SkyBell servers being overloaded. Resideo is working with SkyBell to address this issue.

Earlier today, we mentioned a proactive warning issued from Alarm.com stating that doorbell cameras may experience delays when being used with their platform. We believe that this is due to the increased usage of these devices for the Halloween holiday. It is likely that a similar issue is affecting the general SkyBell servers. This is not something you should be overly concerned about, and the issue should be addressed soon.

If you are experiencing any major issues, or if you would like to learn more about these potential delays, please email us at support@alarmgrid.com. Remember that we're here to help!

Update: This issue has since been resolved.

Alarm.com has put out a proactive warning ahead of Halloween night (October 31st) stating that customers may notice minor delays between the hours of 5pm and 11pm ET. These delays should only affect non-critical, non-emergency signals and notifications, as well as doorbell cameras.

Alarm.com did not release an official reasoning for these likely delays, but we suspect that it will be the result of increased activity from the excellent Alarm.com SkyBell Video Doorbells due to Trick-Or-Treaters. And as we all know, SkyBell Cameras are the best video doorbells out there!

We think it's good for Alarm.com to give out this proactive warning just in case there are any delays. In the mean time, you can rest assured that any critical signals, including alarms, will still go through for Alarm.com. If you are an Alarm Grid customer seeking more information about the issue, then please email us at support@alarmgrid.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers, and Happy Halloween! We are celebrating the holiday with a new sign for our headquarters. We went with blue of course, and we think the end result looks great! A special thank you goes out to the workers who did an outstanding job of putting up the sign and helping us stand out.

Alarm Grid has come a long way in its 7+ years of existence. Originally, orders were being processed right out of the home for one of the owners. Now we have our own building with our own beautiful sign. We would like to thank each and every one of our customers who helped make this possible. Thank you for your continued support, and you can expect more big things from us moving forward.

As usual, if you want to learn more about our monitoring services or our products, you can always email us at support@alarmgrid.com. Remember that our support hours run from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We will check your email at our earliest convenience and reply back as soon as we can. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! We have an exciting new offering to tell you about today. The Alarm.com ADC-SVR122 Stream Video Recorder is now available in a 2TB storage option. This is in addition to the existing 500MB and 1TB storage options. You can buy the 2TB ADC-SVR122 from the Alarm Grid website now!

If you don't know about the Alarm.com Stream Video Recorder (SVR), it's a device that allows you to store digital recordings for Alarm.com Security Cameras. You need an SVR device if you want to establish a set recording schedule for your ADC Cameras. This includes a 24-hour continuous recording schedule.

Any footage stored on an Alarm.com SVR device can be accessed remotely through the Alarm.com website or mobile app. Additionally, you can also view stored video locally at the SVR itself using an HDMI monitor and a USB mouse. For more information on how the Alarm.com SVR works, please check this FAQ.

Just like the existing SVR-122 models, the new 2TB model supports up to eight (8) Alarm.com Cameras, HDMI live-streaming, and remote viewing for any stored clips. Remember that you need a monitoring plan with video surveillance and access to Alarm.com to use the SVR-122. For Alarm Grid Customers, this can be a Platinum Level Plan (Self or Full) or a Video-Only Plan.

If you have any questions about the ADC-SVR122 or any of our products or services, please reach out to us! The best way to contact us is to email support@alarmgrid.com. We will check your email at our earliest convenience and reply back as soon as possible. Remember that our support hours are from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! We are very happy to announce that we have some exceptional new products from Alarm.com. There is a new Z-Wave Plus smart water valve, an upgraded ethernet-to-WIFI bridge for Alarm.com PoE Cameras, and a digital doorbell adapter for use with SkyBell Video Doorbell Cameras.

The first new product we will be discussing today is the Alarm.com ADC-SWV100 Smart Water Valve. This smart water valve uses Z-Wave Plus technology to communicate with your security system or Z-Wave hub. It allows you to remotely shut-off your main water line from virtually anywhere. This can be very convenient if a flood or leak occurs while you are away. The device is perfect for pairing with flood sensors that you have enrolled with your alarm panel. You can even set up smart scenes to have the device shut-off the water automatically whenever a flood sensor detects a leak.

Although the ADC-SWV100 was built with Alarm.com in mind, the versatile device can really be used with any Z-Wave controller that supports smart water valves. This includes Honeywell Alarm Systems that use the Total Connect 2.0 platform. One important thing to note is that if you use this device with Alarm.com, then you will need to have your monitoring company enable the Water Management Add-On Package for your account. If you have monitoring service with Alarm Grid, then we will do this for no additional monthly charge.

Next up we have the Alarm.com ADC-W110 Ethernet-to-WIFI Bridge. This accessory lets you take a hardwired ethernet device and have it communicate wirelessly across a local WIFI network. The device is great for use with compatible Alarm.com Cameras that use power over ethernet, also known as PoE. By using the ADC-W110, you can eliminate the need to run an ethernet cable from the IP router to the camera.

What's super convenient is that both power and IP data are supplied from the ADC-W110. You just need to connect the PoE camera with the ADC-W110 using an ethernet cable. The ADC-W110 will then take care of the rest! This device is actually a newer version of the older ADC-W100, which as of late October 2019 is still available. Keep in mind that you will still need to connect the ADC-W110 with a wall outlet for power.

Lastly, we have the Alarm.com ADC-VACC-DB-A SkyBell Digital Doorbell Adapter. This adapter makes any SkyBell Doorbell Camera with a digital doorbell chime. Normally the SkyBell devices only work with mechanical doorbell chimes. We actually created an FAQ that will help you get started using the SkyBell Digital Doorbell Adapter with your digital doorbell chime. You can check it out right here.

If you have any questions about these new products, or if you would like to learn more about our monitoring services or Alarm.com, please reach out to us! The best way to contact us is to email support@alarmgrid.com. We will review your email at our earliest convenience and reply back as soon as possible. Remember that our support hours for responding to emails are from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Alarm.com has reported that their service is experiencing a technical issue that may be hindering the signaling ability of customer accounts. You may have trouble accessing the Alarm.com Mobile App or website during this time. The issue is currently being worked on and should be solved soon.

Alarm Grid will provide an update once we learn more.

Update 4:45 pm ET: We have learned that Alarm.com customer interfaces have stabilized. Command and signal processing has also improved. However, some customers may still experience intermittent delays during this time. The issue should be fully resolved shortly.

Update: The issue has since been resolved.

The phone system played an integral role in early alarm systems. Each system was connected directly to a dial up phone system. If an alarm was tripped, the system would call the central station and give information. That is when high-fidelity copper lines ruled the day. In that world, analog calls were crystal clear. But the world has moved to digital, and while everything is cheaper, some things have changed, which we’ll cover in a little bit.

For those hyper-concerned with the safety of their family or possessions, skimping on security is the last thing you should do. At one time, landlines were the best thing you could use to send signals from your alarm system to the central station. Nowadays, there are simply better ways to get that signal out. And it’s time to stop skimping on the monitoring and update your system to get with the modern age. It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, and the advantages to using new technology are out of this world.

Which is why you should...

Switch to Cellular & IP Alarm Monitoring

The advantages of switching are innumerable. In some ways it is how you breathe new life into a security system that has grown old. These new communication pathways will overtake your current system’s old, tired over-the-phone communication, and turn your system into the modern system that you want. And, most of the time, it will cost you very little.

In other words…

Save a ton of money. Most Systems Can be Retrofitted to Work with Cellular Alarms Easily

Most old systems can use a new communicator. These systems are simple units that tell you whether a zone is opened or closed. This simple function is no different in new systems. Generally the difference between an old system and a new system is in the slick design. But now, even old systems have gotten some great updates. For example, if you have an old VISTA-20P, you can bring your system up to date with a

• PROM replacement (about $50)
• a communicator (about $120)
• and if you’re really concerned about the way the keypad looks on your wall, you can get one of the new Tuxedo Touch keypads to make your system look new, modern, and sleek.

Regardless of how easy it is, there is really only one great reason to switch from a landline security system to a wireless (cellular+IP) security system: IP Monitoring & Cellular Monitoring provide better security than old landlines.

Thieves Can No Longer Just Cut Your Phone Lines

When phone lines were analog, all a thief had to do was cut your phone line. This would prevent your system from calling the central station. No wire, no signal. No signal, no one will know you were robbed.

While the advantage of the analog phone lines was the crystal clear communication from the panel to the central, the disadvantage of having exposed wire is obvious. Fortunately, cutting the line doesn’t work when your system is able to communicate wirelessly.

This is why we don’t recommend IP systems exclusively. IP is great! It’s the fastest communication pathway alarms have. But, generally, IP is still connected via an exposed wire. The solution to the problem of the exposed wire is cellular monitoring. And the fact that most modern systems allow you to connect your system to both IP and cellular communication paths at the same time means that you can get all the advantages of IP monitoring (at no extra cost) with the connectivity of cellular.

The wireless, over-the-air cellular communication path means that this attack vector is something you will never have to worry about again!

Phone Lines are No Longer Analog

Phone lines don’t really work anymore like they used to. Old phone lines were made of copper. Their analog signal was extremely high fidelity. Nowadays, things are different.

First, a lot of our customers have switched to Voice Over IP (VOIP) phones. These phones are notoriously poor quality. They work pretty well, but the quality is nothing like analog. While this might not be terrible for calls to friends or family, it poses a problem in sending signals to a central station.

Second, most phone systems have digital switches. What that means is that even if you never got rid of your old copper line phone, your phone likely still uses digital signals at some point. This poses the same issue for alarm companies as VOIP.

For us, this means that wires get crossed a lot. The result is that central stations occasionally receive bad signals, these VOIP accounts are prone to false alarms, and occasionally, the bad signal will cause signals to get crossed in such a way that signals are dispatched to the wrong account. Phone lines just don’t work like they used to.

Since signals are being sent over wireless communication pathways, this is one of those instances where embracing modern technology will save you a lot of headaches. Where VOIP fails, cellular and IP monitoring pick up the slack.

Because of these issues, we think that

Cellular Monitoring Is Simply Better Than Landline Monitoring, and IP Monitoring Creates a Great Backup for When it’s Needed.

Cellular monitoring provides amazing connectivity. Because it is a wireless connection, a thief can not cut any wires to disable it. The cellular modules connect directly to the nearest cellular tower.

And most modern systems also include monitoring for any system whose signal is blocked by someone using a device that disrupts cellular signals.

Up time for these systems is as close to perfect as it can be. While an IP signal is a great way to make sure your system is able to quickly send signals, cellular monitoring enhances monitoring over the internet by making sure that your system can communicate signals even during those times that your IP provider is down (and we all know that happens occasionally).

That’s why…

Cellular Monitoring is the most reliable monitoring you can buy. And with our dual path IP + cellular monitoring options, it’s made even more reliable.

Hi DIYers! We're here with the Alarm Grid video recap covering October 21st thru 25th. We have eight (8) new videos this time. These videos proudly feature the Alarm Grid boys Jarrett, Joe, and Jorge. We hope you're ready to learn more about security systems! Let's check out the videos!

Issues Disabling Auto-Stay Arming for a Vista-128BPT

Joe talks about issues regarding Auto-Stay Arming on a VISTA-128BPT running firmware version 10.0. This firmware version has an error where Auto-Stay Arming is not automatically disabled when arming from Total Connect 2.0. This can cause issues if you Arm Away from Total Connect 2.0 and you aren't around to fault an Entry/Exit Zone during the Exit Delay countdown. When this happens, Auto-Stay Arming will go into effect for any zone where the feature is enabled.

Connecting The Lyric Alarm System to Alexa

Jorge explains how you can connect the Resideo Lyric Security System with Amazon Alexa for spoken voice commands. In order to do this, the Lyric Alarm System must be paired with the Total Connect 2.0 platform. Any voice commands for the Lyric System sent through Alexa will pass through Total Connect 2.0 before being forwarded to the panel. You can use Alexa voice commands through TC2 to arm the system, check current status, and control smart home devices.

Why Your Vista-128BPT is Armed Stay After Choosing Arm Away from TC2

Joe explains why you might find that your VISTA-128BPT Security System has Armed Stay even though you have selected Arm Away on Total Connect 2.0. This is due to the error on Firmware Version 10.0, were the TC2 platform doesn't know to automatically ignore Auto-Stay Arming settings if they are enabled. You can overcome this issue by upgrading to Firmware Version 10.4, or by manually disabling Auto-Stay Arming for every zone on the VISTA-128BPT Alarm System.

The Honeywell Lyric Security System Will Allow for Different User Codes

Jorge explains how you can set up multiple user codes on a Honeywell Lyric Alarm Panel. You need to provide a valid code to perform various system functions such as arming and disarming. Additionally, the Master Code and Installer Code both have special privileges on the system as well. The Installer Code is particularly important, as it is needed for programming the system. However, you can only disarm using the Installer Code if it was the code used to arm originally.

Using More Than One SkyBell With Total Connect 2.0

Jarrett explains how you cannot use more than one (1) SkyBell device with a Total Connect 2.0 account. If you want to use a second SkyBell Video Doorbell, then you will need a second Total Connect 2.0 account. Alarm Grid customers can add one (1) SkyBell to any Total Connect 2.0 account, even if their plan does not technically include video surveillance. We offer a special Video-Only Plan, which is perfect if you already have an alarm monitoring plan, but you are needing a second account to add a second SkyBell device.

Why A Legacy IPCAM Won't Work With Total Connect 2.0

Jarrett explains an issue that you might encounter when trying to use a legacy Total Connect 2.0 IP Camera with the TC2 platform. The older legacy TC2 IP Cameras have default software that is not compatible with the new HTML5 version of TC2. Resideo pushed down an update to these cameras to make them compatible with the new HTML5 platform. But any legacy TC2 IP Cameras that weren't connected at the time were unable to receive the update. Those cameras can no longer be used with TC2.

How a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Behaves When the Internet Goes Down

Jorge explains what happens when a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus System loses its internet connection. When this happens, the system will remain connected with Alarm.com using its built-in LTE cellular communicator. All versions of the IQ Panel 2 Plus have an integrated cellular communicator for this exact purpose. You can choose from AT&T LTE or Verizon LTE. We recommend going with the service that works best in your area, regardless of which one you use for your personal phone.

Resetting A Qolsys IQ Panel 2 to Factory Defaults

Jorge covers the process for factory resetting a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus System. This is done using the Dealer Code, which is 2222 by default. By performing a factory reset and restoring the system to factory default settings, several things will happen. Any programming settings will be restored to their default. All programmed sensors will be deleted. All Z-Wave devices will be cleared. All user codes will be deleted, with the exception of default codes. If you changed the Master, Installer, or Dealer Codes, they will all be reset to their default.