Home Security Blog

Hi DIYers! We have a quick video recap today, with four (4) new videos this week. Three videos featuring Jorge were uploaded on Thursday, September 19th. Another featuring Joe was uploaded a day later. We hope these videos help you out. Let's take a look at the newest videos from Alarm Grid!

Finding the Installer Code on a VISTA-21iP

Jorge explains what to do if you do not know the Installer Code on a Honeywell VISTA System. You use the command [Installer Code] + [800] to enter programming. If you do not know the code, then you should first try the default code of 4112. If that doesn't work, then you might try to get in using the backdoor method. If the backdoor method fails, then you should try asking the previous monitoring company or system owner for the Installer Code.

Setting Up TC 2.0 on a Phone

Jorge shows you how to set up Total Connect 2.0 on a phone. The Total Connect 2.0 Mobile App is available for Android and iOS devices. You can get it for free from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Once you have the app, you can login using your Total Connect 2.0 account, just like you would from the website. If you don't have access to Total Connect 2.0, then you might want to check out one of our monitoring plans to get access. Remember, TC2 is for Honeywell Panels only.

Linking a Honeywell Lyric Alarm System to HomeKit

Jorge explains the process for linking a Honeywell Lyric with Apple HomeKit. This will let you use the system with the rest of your HomeKit network. You can also get notifications regarding system activity, and you can control your system using Siri voice commands from your iPhone. For best results, you will want to have a proper HomeKit Hub established. You will also want to continue to use Total Connect 2.0 alongside HomeKit, as TC2 will provide more detailed alerts for the Lyric System than HomeKit.

Programming the 5800COMBO to a VISTA Panel

Joe teaches you how to enroll a Honeywell 5800COMBO with a Honeywell VISTA Panel. In order to use this wireless 345 MHz sensor from the Honeywell 5800 Series, you must add a wireless receiver to the system. This combination sensor will provide the smoke & heat detection, carbon monoxide detection, and freeze detection. Each function will require its own wireless zone on the system. You can also program a additional zones for maintenance detection and end of product life detection.

Alarm Grid has learned that Interlogix will start shutting down its business in North America by the end of 2019. The company states that it will concentrate on growth in other fire and security businesses. Interlogix says that it will follow-through on any existing warranty obligations.

This is a surprising turn of events, considering Interlogix has very recently released new equipment, including the Interlogix Simon XTi-5i Security Panel. But on the other hand, it isn't too shocking when you consider that Interlogix likely couldn't compete with some of the other big names in the security industry. This includes Qolsys, who just announced that they would begin manufacturing their IQ Panel 2 Plus System in the United States.

If you have an existing Interlogix System, do not worry. Alarm Grid will continue to provide effective and reliable monitoring for you panel. There is no reason for monitoring platforms like Alarm.com to drop support for existing communicators. You should also have no problem activating a new communicator for an Interlogix Panel. If you move into a new home and find an Interlogix Panel on the wall, there is a great chance you will be able to use it with Alarm Grid!

Anyway, we will be sad to see Interlogix go. We wish them the best in whatever endeavors they decide to take on moving forward. But there are still some outstanding security companies like Qolsys, Resideo, and Nortek that are continuing to innovate and release impressive equipment. We expect great things on the horizon for the security industry moving forward.

One of our favorite alarm system manufacturers Qolsys has announced that they will begin manufacturing the IQ Panel 2 Plus in the United States. Thanks to a newly formed partnership with Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII), the security system will now be assembled in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin.

According to Qolsys, the panel will be assembled at the FII facility in the Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park in Mt. Pleasant, WI. Qolsys has stated that the move will help the company maintain high-quality and consistent manufacturing. It will also improve their delivery speeds and help them expand their overall global presence. The company will still continue to operate its existing facility in Juarez, Mexico. This is just another location for Qolsys to produce industry-leading products.

We believe that this is an excellent move for Qolsys, as the company will benefit greatly from the manufacturing, production, and supply chain expertise of FII. It is also great news to hear of a security system manufacturer bringing more jobs to the USA. As you may know, Qolsys is based out of San Jose, CA, and they have regularly provided some great innovations for the security industry. Their IQ Panel 2 Plus System has received widespread praise for features like PowerG support, automatic Bluetooth disarming, live-streaming for ADC Cameras, partitioning and more.

Alarm Grid congratulates Qolsys on the recent move, and we look forward to their continued success. If you have any questions about the IQ Panel 2 Plus or any Qolsys product, you can reach out to us by emailing support@alarmgrid.com. Remember that our technical support hours are from 9am to 8pm EST. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you find the perfect security system for your needs.

Hi DIYers! Today, we're taking a look at the new Interlogix Encrypted Sensors. There are three (3) sensors in this TX+ lineup. There is the Interlogix TX+DWS Door/Window Contact, the Interlogix TX+PIR Pet Immune Motion Sensor, and the Interlogix TX+2WAYFOB Key Fob. All are available now!

First, we would like to give some background on these Interlogix TX+ Sensors. The wireless communication range for these sensors is listed at 500 feet when used in open air. They operate at an encrypted 319.5 MHz frequency, similar to the Qolsys S-Line Sensors. You can technically use these Interlogix TX+ Sensors with any 319.5 MHz system. This includes the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus w/ 319.5 MHz Daughtercard and all of the Wireless Interlogix Panels.

However, these sensors will only utilize encrypted communication when paired with the Interlogix Simon XTi-5i System. If you don't know about this system, we actually started carrying it last month. Among its new features is the ability to support encrypted sensors. At the time, there weren't any encrypted sensors out for the system yet. Well now there are! When paired with any other compatible system, they will operate as non-encrypted wireless sensors.

The sensors themselves are straightforward and simple. The Interlogix TX+DWS Contact has a thin profile, and it will work great on nearly any door, window or cabinet. The Interlogix TX+PIR Motion Sensor offers a coverage area of 40 feet by 40 feet, as well as pet immunity for small animals weighing up to 80 pounds. Lastly, the Interlogix TX+2WAYFOB is a four (4) button key fob with buttons for arming, disarming, automation, and triggering an auxiliary panic.

We believe these sensors are a must-have for anyone with an Interlogix Simon XTi-5i System. Now you can take full advantage of the encrypted communication that the system offers! If you have any questions or if you want to learn more about these sensors, 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 soon as we can. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! We are happy to announce that we have some new wellness sensors available from Alarm.com. These are great for use with elderly or mobility challenged loved ones. There is an Alarm.com Bed Sensor and an Alarm.com Chair Sensor available on our website. Both operate at 319.5 MHz.

Having peace of mind in knowing that your elderly or mobility challenged loved one is alright can be very important. That is why Alarm.com created these new wellness sensors. They both work in a similar manner. The bed sensor will let you know when your loved one gets in and out of bed. The chair sensor will let you know when they sit down and get up from their usual chair. Both will activate upon sensing 50+ pounds of weight.

These wellness sensors are known as "occupancy sensors". We don't talk about these sensors fairly often, but they are relatively easy to understand. When your loved one is sitting down or in bed, the sensor will be in an "occupied" state. And when the bed or chair is empty, the sensor will enter a "vacant" state. Your system will announce whenever there is a change in status for the sensor.

But the real beauty in these sensors comes in their ability to be used with the Alarm.com platform. You can get text and/or email alerts regarding any sensor activity. It is also possible to configure notifications so that you only get alerts during certain times of day. This way you can set a schedule based around your loved one's usual activity.

The bed sensor is quite useful when paired with the "Sensor Left Open" notification. You might set up a notification to be sent if your loved one is out of bed for more than an hour. And you can also set a time frame so that notifications are only sent during periods when they are almost certainly in bed, say between midnight and 6am. That way, if your loved one gets out of bed in the middle of the night and suffers a fall and is unable to make it back, you will get an alert.

Even better is the new Alarm.com Wellness Platform that allows for even more detailed notifications. You might set up alerts to be sent if your loved one never gets out of bed in the morning, or if they have remained seated for an unusually long period of time. We hope to show-off the feature in greater detail sometime soon. For now, just be aware that it is available upon request for Alarm.com users. Remember, Alarm Grid customers need a Gold Plan or higher to use ADC.

At this time, we are only offering 319.5 MHz versions of the bed and chair sensors. You will need a compatible 319.5 MHz system to use them. Examples include the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus w/ 319.5 MHz Daughtercard and the Interlogix Simon Alarm Panels. For the IQ2, we recommend using Sensor Group 25 - Local Safety Sensor and an Occupancy Sensor Type. For an Interlogix Panel, you should use either Sensor Group 40 (chime) or 27 (no chime).

We expect other wireless frequencies to be available sometime in the near future. We will let you know once we have them available. If you have any questions about these new sensors or the new Alarm.com Wellness Platform, 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. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! Today, we wanted to talk about how you can use Lutron Caseta on Alarm.com. This is a great way to have your Alarm.com Security System and your smart lights on one convenient platform. Controlling the devices in your home has never been this simple, and getting started is easy!

As you may know, the Alarm.com integration for Lutron was made possible with the release of the PRO-model for the Lutron Caseta Smart Bridge. At this time, Alarm Grid offers the Lutron Caseta Smart Bridge PRO 2 for integrating Lutron Lights with Alarm.com. You might also know the Smart Bridge PRO 2 as the Lutron L-BDGPRO2-WH. Both names refer to the same device. With it, you can integrate all you Lutron accessories with Alarm.com.

The Lutron Caseta Smart Bridge PRO 2 serves as the central hub for your Lutron Smart Lighting setup. All your Lutron devices will communicate with this hub. This includes any Lamp Dimmer Modules, In-Wall Switches, In-Wall Dimmers, and Pico Remotes. Setup is extremely straightforward. Just connect the smart bridge to your IP router using an ethernet cable. Then pair your Lutron devices using the Lutron Mobile App. You can pair up to 50 Lutron devices.

Being able to control your Lutron Smart Lights with Alarm.com offers many advantages. For one, you can use the Alarm.com App for virtually all of your home automation control. This will allow you to control your lights from pretty much anywhere. You can also include all your Lutron Lighting devices into Alarm.com for automation operation. For example, you might have your lights turn on whenever you disarm your security system or unlock your Z-Wave door lock.

One other aspect we want to mention is the fact that both Alarm.com and Lutron are compatible with Sonos. If you didn't know, Sonos is highly respected in the smart audio community, and they have been making some outstanding sound systems and speakers throughout the years. Your can integrate your Sonos setup with Alarm.com to have music play automatically based on scenes. Lutron even offers a special audio Pico Remote specifically for use with Lutron!

Remember that you will need an alarm monitoring plan that includes access to Alarm.com to get started using the platform. Alarm Grid customers can choose from one of our Gold or Platinum Plans. More information is available on our monitoring page. From there, we will be happy to help you get started using Lutron Caseta on Alarm.com. If you have any questions, please email us at support@alarmgrid.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! It's time for our video recap again, this time covering September 9th thru 13th. We have five (5) new videos this time featuring Jarrett, Jorge, and myself. We have been getting some positive feedback regarding our videos lately, thank you so much! Let's check out the new ones!

Enrolling the 2GIG PAD1-345 Wireless Keypad to the 2GIG GC2

I show you how to enroll a 2GIG PAD1-345 with a 2GIG GC2 Security System. The 2GIG PAD1-345 is a relatively simple push-button keypad that is great for basic arming and disarming. You can keep it by a second entrance in your home or business so that you can arm and disarm as you come and go. It is also compatible with other 2GIG Systems. These include the 2GIG GC2e, the 2GIG GC3, and the 2GIG GC3e.

Using a WIFI Communicator with a Honeywell Alarm System

Jorge from Alarm Grid talks about using a WIFI communicator with a Honeywell System. This can be a great way to monitor your system if you have WIFI in your home or business. IP communication is known for being fast and relatively reliable for the most part. You just need to be wary of internet outages, as they will leave your system unmonitored. For that reason, you might want to get cellular backup for your system as well.

Using L7000 Alarm Panels Together

Team MVP Jorge explains how you cannot use two Honeywell L7000 Systems together. As a general rule, it is not possible to use multiple security systems together. You cannot pair one alarm control panel with another alarm control panel. This is true even if they are the same exact system. If you want a second controller for operating your alarm system, then you should get a keypad instead. A good keypad for the L7000 is the Honeywell 5828.

Self-Monitoring an Alarm.com Security System

Super Alarm Grid Hero Jarrett explains how you can self-monitor an Alarm.com Security System. The Alarm.com service is used with many security systems. This service will send you text and/or email notifications regarding any system activity. As a result, it is possible to use an Alarm.com System without it being connected with a central monitoring station. This practice is known as self-monitoring. Just remember, it will be up to you to contact the authorities if needed!

Defaulting a Resideo Lyric Controller

Wonder Boy Jarrett shows you how to default a Resideo Lyric Alarm System. Performing a factory default on a Lyric is normally only done if you are planning to get rid of the system, or as a last resort troubleshooting step. Doing this will reset the Installer Code back to 4112 if it was changed. All zones from the system will be cleared. It will reset the panel time. And all general system settings will be reset back to their default values.

Hi DIYers! Just last week, we announced some of the new system kits that we are now offering on our site. Well today, we have even more kits to announce. We have new system kits featuring the DSC PowerSeries NEO, the 2GIG GC3e, and the 345 MHz and 433 MHz Versions of the IQ Panel 2 Plus.

DSC PowerSeries NEO Kits

The DSC PowerSeries NEO is a hardwired alarm system with some powerful features. It is generally best used in commercial settings, as it isn't going to be as DIY-friendly as a wireless alarm system. But if you need a hardwired system, then a DSC PowerSeries NEO might be the way to go. We are offering kits around the 16-zone, 32-zone, 64-zone, and 128-zone DSC PowerSeries NEO Systems. You can choose between AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE for all of the kits.

DSC HS2016NK 3-1 AT&T LTE Kit

• 16-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LEAT N AT&T LTE & IP Communicator
• Three (3) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

DSC HS2016NK 3-1 Verizon LTE Kit

• 16-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LTVZ N Verizon LTE & IP Communicator
• Three (3) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 16-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LEAT N AT&T LTE & IP Communicator
• Ten (10) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 16-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LTVZ N Verizon LTE & IP Communicator
• Ten (10) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 32-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LEAT N AT&T LTE & IP Communicator
• Three (3) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 32-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LTVZ N Verizon LTE & IP Communicator
• Three (3) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 32-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LEAT N AT&T LTE & IP Communicator
• Ten (10) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 32-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LTVZ N Verizon LTE & IP Communicator
• Ten (10) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 64-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LEAT N AT&T LTE & IP Communicator
• Three (3) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 64-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LTVZ N Verizon LTE & IP Communicator
• Three (3) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 64-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LEAT N AT&T LTE & IP Communicator
• Ten (10) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 64-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LTVZ N Verizon LTE & IP Communicator
• Ten (10) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 128-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LEAT N AT&T LTE & IP Communicator
• Three (3) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 128-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LTVZ N Verizon LTE & IP Communicator
• Three (3) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 128-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LEAT N AT&T LTE & IP Communicator
• Ten (10) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

• 128-Zone DSC PowerSeries NEO
• DSC HS2LCDRF9 N NEO Keypad
• DSC TL880LTVZ N Verizon LTE & IP Communicator
• Ten (10) DSC PG9303 PowerG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus Kits

Last week, we announced several "encrypted" Qolsys Kits that were based around the IQ Panel 2 Plus and PowerG Sensors. Today, we have some non-encrypted kits for the 345 MHz and 433 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus models. Unlike the kits introduced last week, these kits use uni-directional "non-encrypted" sensors. We actually already had similar kits available for the 319.5 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus, but now the 345 MHz and 433 MHz versions are joining the fray!

An added bonus about these kits - we actually do include an encrypted PowerG Motion Sensor. It's only the door/window contacts that aren't encrypted. These kits are good if you don't necessarily care about encryption, and you want to save money versus buying the fully encrypted kits.

Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus 345 MHz AT&T LTE 3-1 System Kit

• 345 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus System w/ AT&T LTE
• Three (3) VERSA-2GIG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor

• 345 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus System w/ Verizon LTE
• Three (3) VERSA-2GIG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor

• 345 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus System w/ AT&T LTE
• Ten (10) VERSA-2GIG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor

• 345 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus System w/ Verizon LTE
• Ten (10) VERSA-2GIG Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor

• 433 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus System w/ AT&T LTE
• Three (3) VERSA-DSC Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor

Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus 433 MHz Verizon LTE 3-1 System Kit

• 433 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus System w/ Verizon LTE
• Three (3) VERSA-DSC Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor

• 433 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus System w/ AT&T LTE
• Ten (10) VERSA-DSC Door/Window Contacts
ꞏOne (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor

Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus 433 MHz Verizon LTE 10-1 System Kit

• 433 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus System w/ Verizon LTE
• Ten (10) VERSA-DSC Door/Window Contacts
• One (1) DSC PG9914 PowerG Motion Sensor

2GIG GC3e AT&T LTE Kits

Last up, we have some new 2GIG GC3e Kits. As we announced yesterday, the 2GIG GC3e AT&T LTE Communicator is finally here, and that means mores GC3e Kits! These are just like the Verizon Kits we announced last week, only with a different communicator.

• 2GIG GC3e System
• 2GIG LTEA-A-GC3 AT&T LTE Communicator
• Three (3) 2GIG DW10e Door/Window Sensors
• One (1) 2GIG PIR1e Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

2GIG GC3e AT&T LTE 10-1 Kit

• 2GIG GC3e System
• 2GIG LTEA-A-GC3 AT&T LTE Communicator
• Three (3) 2GIG DW10e Door/Window Sensors
• One (1) 2GIG PIR1e Motion Sensor
• Honeywell LT-Cable

Reach Out To Us!

If you have any questions about these kits, or if you need help deciding on the best one, please reach out to us. The best way to contact us is at support@alarmgrid.com. Or if you prefer to call, you can reach us at (888) 818-7728 during our usual business hours of 9am to 8pm EST M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! We are excited to inform you that the 2GIG LTEA-A-GC3 AT&T LTE Communicator is here! This cellular communicator works with both the original 2GIG GC3 and the new 2GIG GC3e. By installing and activating this communicator, you can use your 2GIG Security System with Alarm.com.

In order to use this communicator, your 2GIG GC3 or 2GIG GC3e System must be running Firmware Version 3.2.3 or higher. This update can be pushed down to your panel from Alarm.com by your monitoring company for a small fee. Alarm Grid customers can contact us to do this. You can also apply the update locally at the panel using a USB drive. Updating locally is completely free. More information on how to apply the update locally can be found here.

Once you have installed and activated the communicator, you will be able to control your system using Alarm.com. This includes both the Alarm.com website and the Alarm.com Mobile App for Android and iOS devices. By accessing Alarm.com, you can arm/disarm, check current system status, control Z-Wave devices, and more. Just remember that you will need a compatible monitoring plan, such as a Gold or Platinum Plan from Alarm Grid.

The important thing about this communicator is that it works across the AT&T LTE Network. Cellular service providers like AT&T intend to keep their LTE networks running well into the very distant future. They have invested huge amounts of money into these networks, and they intend to use them for the long-term. An LTE communicator like the 2GIG LTEA-A-GC3 AT&T LTE Communicator is an excellent investment, as it will keep your system monitored for many years to come. We also sell LTE communicators for other security systems here.

If you have any questions about the 2GIG LTEA-A-GC3 or any other cellular communicator, please reach out to us. The best way to contact us is to email support@alarmgrid.com. You should also email us if you are an Alarm Grid customer looking to have a firmware update pushed down to your panel. Remember that over-the-air (OTA) updates for these panels will incur a small fee. We pass this fee along to our customers with no mark-up. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! We have been talking about the IQ Panel 2 Plus a lot lately. First we revealed the new Firmware Version 2.4.0 upgrade. Then we took an in-depth look at the new firmware. Today, we're going to examine the new Control4 Integration available for the IQ2 on Firmware 2.4.0 or higher.

By using the Control4 Integration, you can control basic security functions for your Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus System from your Control4 Touchscreen. This includes arming and disarming from the C4 System. In other words, your Control4 System will become somewhat of a secondary keypad for your IQ Panel 2 Plus System. Meanwhile, you can still use your IQ2 as a primary Z-Wave Controller and have full functionality with Alarm.com. How cool!

The C4 Integration will work with any Qolsys IQ Panel 2 or IQ Panel 2 Plus that is running Firmware Version 2.4.0 or higher. To get started, you will want to download the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Driver to your Control4 System running OS Version 2.6.0 or higher. The driver can be found within the C4 Driver Database. From there, make sure your IQ Panel 2 and your Control4 System are on the same WIFI network.

Next, turn your attention to your IQ Panel 2 System. From the main screen, click the small grey bar at the top. Choose Settings > Advanced Settings > enter Dealer Code (default 2222) > Installation > Devices > WIFI Devices > 3rd Party Connections > enable Remote Device Access > OK. The panel will then reboot to apply the changes. Return back to the 3rd Party Connections Menu, and click on "Reveal Secure Token". Then apply the token at your C4 System to pair. Remember, you must use the Dealer Code (default 2222) to access this setting. It will not be displayed when using the Installer Code (default 1111).

As this integration is still very new, it is somewhat limited at the moment. Right now, we can only confirm that the integration allows for system arming/disarming from the C4 Panel. It's possible that new features and functions may be released in due time. Still, this is quite a nice integration for anyone with an IQ Panel 2 and a C4 Home Automation setup.

If you have any questions about this integration, please reach out to us. We offer free online and phone support for Alarm Grid monitored customers. The best way to reach us is by emailing support@alarmgrid.com. We will check your email as soon as we can and reply back promptly. If you prefer to call us, you can reach us at (888) 818-7728 during our usual business hours of 9am to 8pm EST M-F. We look forward to helping you with the new Qolsys Control4 Integration!