Alarm.com ADC-VC836 Posts

We have a quick bit of news today. Certain commercial-grade Alarm.com Security Cameras will receive an automatic firmware update in the coming weeks. Models receiving the update include the ADC-VC726, ADC-VC736, ADC-VC826, and ADC-VC836. No special action is needed to receive the update.

At this time, Alarm.com has not provided much information regarding the update. All we know is that the update is for Firmware Version V5.5.82.210318 and that it includes multiple stability enhancements. Only the aforementioned commercial-grade security cameras from Alarm.com are set to receive the update. These are all Power over Ethernet (PoE) cameras that only use hardwired ethernet for network connectivity, and they do not support WIFI connectivity. Although these are commercial-grade cameras designed for commercial or industrial use, they can certainly be used in residential settings as well.

Alarm.com has stated that these cameras will be automatically updated in the coming weeks. The update will occur as part of an automated overnight firmware upgrade process. Again, no special action is required to receive the update. Just make sure that your camera is powered on and connected to the network, and Alarm.com should take care of the reset.

Since this update is only for stability enhancements, it is very likely that you will not receive any direct notification that the update has been performed. However, you can easily check the installed firmware for your camera by accessing Alarm.com through a compatible web browser, logging into your account, clicking Video on the left-hand side, choosing Settings at the top, then choosing the first option of Video Device Info. From there, select the camera (Video Device) you want to view from the dropdown menu and note the Current Firmware Version. This can be seen in the following picture.

As we said, we don't know much about the firmware update that will be coming, and we only have "within the coming weeks" as a general timeframe. But still, feel free to leave your thoughts or start a discussion in the comments down below. We would love to hear what you think, And remember to stay tuned to the Alarm Grid Blog for more news coming soon!

We have a quick post for you today, as we just wanted to tell you about the new "Restrict Camera Access by Login" feature for Alarm.com. With this feature, you can prevent certain users from accessing security camera footage. The feature is available to all ADC users with added cameras.

As you likely know by now, the deep lineup of Alarm.com Security Cameras is quite impressive. But what if you want to make it so that certain users are unable to view security camera footage through Alarm.com, while still being able to access the Alarm.com platform for other tasks, such as arming/disarming and controlling automation devices? That is now possible thanks to the "Restrict Camera Access by Login" feature! You can easily set up the feature through the Alarm.com website using a compatible web browser.

Once the feature has been set up, access to live and recorded camera footage will be restricted for any designated users. It is also possible to restrict access on a camera by camera basis, so that a user can view one or more cameras, while access for one or more other cameras is restricted. The feature can really come in handy in a number of different situations. For example, if you have children or teens in your household, and you want them to be able to arm/disarm from the Alarm.com Mobile App, but you don't want them to view the feed for the camera in the master bedroom, then this is a great option. Another scenario could be that you have employees with access to the Alarm.com account for your business, and you don't want them to view the camera in your private office.

To get started, visit the Alarm.com website, and log in to your customer account. Make sure you are using login credentials with Admin access for the Alarm.com account. Once you are logged in, select Users on the left-hand side. Then choose Manage Logins on the upper bar. Then press the blue "Add A Login" button in the bottom-right corner. You will then follow the steps to create a new login. This will include providing a valid email address, a login name, and setting the language preference. Then press the blue Save button in the bottom-right.

From there, you will be taken to the Manage Login Permissions page. Under "Permission", click the box for Limited Device Access. Make sure to check any boxes for functions that you want the new login to have access to. For example, by checking the box for Remote Arming and choosing the name of the system from the selectable box, you are giving the login the ability to arm/disarm the system from the Alarm.com Mobile App or website. To restrict camera access, do not check the box next to Video Cameras. Alternatively, if you only want to restrict access to certain cameras, then you can check the box next to Video Cameras, and only choose cameras from the dropdown menu that you want to allow the user to view.

Additionally, if you ever want to change the restrictions (i.e. add/remove camera access), then you can simply access the Manage Logins page on the Alarm.com website, click on the underlined login name for the user whose permissions you want to adjust, make the appropriate changes, and press Save in the bottom-right corner. Please note that this feature can only be applied to a single-system login. Group logins cannot be given access to video devices on a per-device basis.

It's nice to see Alarm.com adding a new feature like this. Sure, it's something relatively small, but it's a nice touch that can really come in handy. It's also cool how you can customize access so that certain cameras remain visible, but other cameras, perhaps ones in more private areas (e.g. Master Bedroom, personal offices, etc.), are restricted for access.

If you have any interest in the feature, then we encourage you to test it out. Then after trying it out, leave a comment down below sharing your experience. We would love to hear what you have to say about this new feature. The comments section down below is also a good place to ask any questions you might have.

Or if you have yet to get started with video surveillance from Alarm.com, then we would love to help you out. We offer Alarm.com Video Surveillance on our Platinum Level Plans (Self or Full) and our Video-Only Plan. Don't forget to check out our monitoring page for information on all our available plans. You can also send an email to support@alarmgrid.com to get the ball rolling on new monitoring service a bit more quickly. We check emails during our usual business hours of 9am to 8pm ET M-F. As always, we look forward to hearing from you soon!

We recently came across an article from Bonka Bird Toys expressing their satisfaction with Alarm Grid and their new security system and security camera setup. Bonka Bird Toys is a local business, located right down the road from Alarm Grid. Thank you Bonka for your continued support!

Bonka Bird Toys has quite an intricate setup, centered around a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus Security System. It is a dual-path system, complete with encrypted PowerG Sensors, and four (4) IQ Remote Keypads. Bonka says that they opted to not mount their IQ Remote Keypads, and instead carry them around loose like small tablets, and keep them at their desks. They particularly love being able to check their security cameras right from their IQ Remote devices. Having an IQ Remote at each workstation is really convenient!

According to Bonka Bird Toys, their favorite part of their setup is their security cameras. They used two (2) types of commercial grade Alarm.com Security Cameras, including the Alarm.com ADC-VC736 and the Alarm.com ADC-VC836. They even added the Alarm.com ADC-CSVR126 Commercial Streaming Video Recorder to facilitate a continuous 24-hour recording schedule. In addition to their IQ Panel 2 Plus and their IQ Remote Keypads, Bonka also set up a dedicated monitor that shows their camera feeds. They placed it up in a prominent spot where they can check it any time. We think this is a fantastic example of what kind of setup you can achieve with a security system and Alarm.com Cameras!

Bonka Bird Toys also set up a complete automation network of Z-Wave Plus devices, including lights, door locks, and thermostats. They love being able to control these devices locally from their alarm panel and keypads, and remotely from the Alarm.com platform on their phones and computers. Bonka Bird Toys also states that it was really easy to install their equipment. It took them just a single afternoon to get everything ready and going, and they saved thousands of dollars by doing it themselves rather than hiring a professional installer. This is the same type of robust setup that you can achieve for your home or business. And you can easily install everything yourself to save money,

If you are looking for the best bird toys, birdcages, aviaries, and accessories, then be sure to check out the Bonka Bird Toys website. And if you have any questions about how you can get started with Alarm Grid monitoring service, then reach out to us by emailing our support team and security system planners at support@alarmgrid.com. We're here to check your emails from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Today, in this final part of our 2020 holiday buying guides, we will be checking out various accessories for the Honeywell Lyric, the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, and the 2GIG GC3e. Specifically, we will be looking at compatible cellular communicators, security cameras, keypads, and desk mounts.

Adding various accessories to your system can improve your overall experience and make your system easier to use. Most accessories are optional, though there some that are required for setting up new monitoring service. We'll be sure to discuss these factors along the way. The other very important thing to keep in mind is that compatibility is usually based on system. Check and make sure that any accessory you want works with your system.

Cellular Communicators

We'll start by looking at cellular communicators for our top alarm panels. All of our top security system picks have built-in WIFI for communicating right out of the box. But only the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus comes with a built-in cellular communication module. For the Lyric and the GC3e, you must add a cellular radio if you want one of these systems to use a cellular communication pathway. Keep in mind that this is optional for Total Connect 2.0 Systems like the Lyric, as TC2 allows system to be set up with IP-only service. But for Alarm.com Systems, having an active cellular communication set up is required. This means that you must buy a cellular communicator for a 2GIG GC3e to get it monitored. Keep in mind that using cellular communication on any system will require a monitoring plan that includes cellular service, such as an Alarm Grid Gold or Platinum Level Plan.

A good thing about the cellular communicators listed here is that they are all LTE communicators. The term LTE stands for "long-term evolution", and the associated networks and cell towers are expected to be kept running and in-service for a very long time. This will remain true even as 5G networks are rolled out, as LTE is positioned to serve as a valuable and reliable backup option to 5G. At this time (December 2020), 5G communicators for alarm systems do not yet exist. This makes LTE far and away the best option for cellular communication on alarm systems at this time.

You will notice that there are no cellular communicators listed here for the IQ Panel 2 Plus. This is because the IQ Panel 2 Plus comes with a cellular communicator that is pre-installed. It cannot be removed or replaced. This means that the entire panel must be replaced in the event that its cellular radio fails. You will also see that carrier options for AT&T and Verizon are listed here. You should simply go with whichever carrier provides better service in the area where the system will be used. You can also check coverage maps if you are unsure. Remember, this choice will have no impact on your monthly monitoring costs, and it has nothing to do with the carrier for your personal phone. And just to restate it one last time, this is required for the GC3e, and optional for the Lyric.

Here are our top picks for cellular communicators.

Model	Notes
2GIG LTEA-A-GC3	AT&T LTE Communicator for 2GIG GC3e. Requires system firmware version 3.2.3 or higher.
2GIG LTEV1-A-GC3	Verizon LTE Communicator for 2GIG GC3e. Requires system firmware 3.1.3 or higher.
Honeywell LYRICLTE-A	AT&T LTE Communicator for Honeywell Lyric. Requires system firmware version MR3 or higher.
Honeywell LYRICLTE-V	Verizon LTE Communicator for Honeywell Lyric. Requires system firmware version MR9 or higher.

Security Cameras

Next, we will be taking a look at various security camera options for your system. Broadly speaking, these devices can be split into two (2) categories. There are security cameras for Alarm.com and security cameras for Total Connect 2.0. If you are building around a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus or 2GIG GC3e, then you will want to get Alarm.com Security Cameras. But if you are building around the Honeywell Lyric, then you should get Total Connect 2.0 cameras. Remember that using any camera will require a monitoring plan that includes video surveillance, such as an Alarm Grid Platinum Level Plan. The only exception is for a SkyBell Video Doorbell, which we will be discussing later.

The cameras listed here are all IP cameras, meaning that they connect to the internet for remote access. You can use the Alarm.com Mobile App or the Total Connect 2.0 Mobile App to get a live look-in for your camera from pretty much anywhere in the world. Most cameras connect across wireless WIFI, but some use wired ethernet connectivity. For those using wired ethernet, you will often see them listed as Power over Ethernet, or PoE. This means that the camera can get both power and network connectivity from the same connection. Cameras that use WIFI will typically just have a plug-in transformer for power.

Let's start by exploring the Alarm.com Cameras. These are what you want if you are building around an IQ Panel 2 Plus, a 2GIG GC3e, or any other Alarm.com Security System.

Model	Notes
Alarm.com ADC-V522IR	Alarm.com Indoor 1080p camera. 113° Field of View. IR Night Vision range of 15 feet. Uses WIFI or ethernet connectivity, but does not support PoE.
Alarm.com ADC-V523	Alarm.com Indoor 1080p camera w/ High Dynamic Range. 117° Field of View. IR Night Vision Range of 15 feet. Uses WIFI or ethernet connectivity, but does not support PoE.
Alarm.com ADC-V622- WELL	Alarm.com Indoor Wellness Camera w/ 1080p recording. 180° Field of View. IR Night Vision Rang of 15 feet. Uses WIFI or ethernet connectivity. Supports PoE if ethernet is used. Doubles as Bluetooth speaker for two-way audio.
Alarm.com ADC-V723	Alarm.com Outdoor 1080p camera w/ High Dynamic Range. 117° Field of View. IR Night Vision Range of 40 feet. Uses WIFI connectivity. Does not support wired ethernet.
Alarm.com ADC-VC726	Alarm.com Commercial outdoor mini bullet 1080p camera. 86° Field of View. IR Night Vision Range of 95 feet. Uses wired ethernet connectivity. Supports PoE.
Alarm.com ADC-VC736	Alarm.com Commercial outdoor large bullet 1080p camera. 86° Field of View. IR Night Vision Range of 260 feet. Uses wired ethernet connectivity. Supports PoE.
Alarm.com ADC-VC826	Alarm.com Commercial outdoor dome 1080p camera. 108° Field of View. IR Night Vision Range of 95 feet. Uses wired ethernet connectivity. Supports PoE.
Alarm.com ADC-VC836	Alarm.com Commercial outdoor turret 1080p camera. 108° Field of View. IR Night Vision Range of 95 feet. Uses wired ethernet connectivity. Supports PoE.
Alarm.com ADC-VDB770	Alarm.com Video Doorbell 1080p Camera. 150° Vertical Field of View. 115° Horizontal Field of View. IR Night Vision Range of 15 feet. Uses WIFI connectivity. Does not support wired ethernet.
Alarm.com ADC-SVR122	Alarm.com Stream Video Recorder. Used to facilitate 24-hour continuous recording. Supports up to 2TB of storage w/ proper hard drives. Not an actual camera.
Alarm.com ADC-CSVR126	Alarm.com Commercial Stream Video Recorder. Used to facilitate 24-hour continuous recording. Supports up to 16TB of storage w/ proper hard drives. Not an actual camera.

Next, we will be looking at the Total Connect IP Cameras. There are only thee (3) models available, but they are the ones to use if you have a Honeywell Lyric set up with the Total Connect 2.0 platform.

Model	Notes
Honeywell IPCAM-WIC1	Total Connect 2.0 Indoor 720p Camera. 135° Field of View. IR Night Vision Range of 16.5 feet.
Honeywell IPCAM-WIC2	Total Connect 2.0 Indoor 1080p Camera. 110° Field of View. IR Night Vision Range of 33 Feet.
Honeywell IPCAM-WOC1	Total Connect 2.0 Outdoor 1080p Camera. 117° Field of View. IR Night Vision Range of 65 Feet. Does not record audio.

Lastly, we want to give special recognition to the SkyBell Doorbell Cameras. These camera replace your existing doorbell, and you can receive push notifications on your phone when someone rings your doorbell. They can also begin recording upon detecting movement, making them ideal for monitoring the front of your home. What's also unique about these cameras is they do not require true video monitoring service. Up to five (5) can be added on a TC2 account, while those with ADC can only use one (1), unless they upgrade to a true video monitoring plan. Make sure to use one designed for TC2 or ADC depending on the interactive platform you are using. Please note that only the TC2 version can be used with the native SkyBell App. You cannot use the SkyBell App with the ADC models.

Model	Notes
Honeywell SkyBell DBCAM-TRIM	SkyBell Slimline Video Doorbell Camera for use w/ Total Connect 2.0 and SkyBell App. Up to 1080p recording quality. Uses WIFI connectivity. Available in Satin Nickel or Oil Rubbed Bronze.
Alarm.com ADC-VDB101	SkyBell Round Video Doorbell Camera for use w/ Alarm.com. Up to 1080p recording quality. Uses WIFI connectivity. Available in Satin Nickel or Oil Rubbed Bronze.
Alarm.com ADC-VDB105	SkyBell Slimline Video Doorbell Camera for use w/ Alarm.com. Up to 720p recording quality. Uses WIFI connectivity. Available in Satin Nickel or Oil Rubbed Bronze.

Alarm Keypads

Our next topic concerns alarm keypads. These devices serve as a secondary on-site controller for your system. Some of these are very basic devices that are only useful for minimal system arming and disarming and showing status. Others offer complete touchscreen displays and allow you to perform a robust selection of security and automation commands. The important thing to pay attention to here is compatibility. Each keypad listed here will only work with the system that it is intended to be used with.

Some common locations for secondary alarm system keypads are near back doors or garage doors, as a user might want to arm and disarm from those locations as they are coming and going, without needing to go all the way to their primary alarm panel. They are also popular for use in master bedrooms, as having a keypad by your bedside can be a convenient way to call for help in the event that you hear someone breaking into your home.

Here are the available keypads for our top system picks.

Model	Notes
Honeywell LKP500	LCD Keypad for Honeywell Lyric. Used for basic arming and disarming. Provides two lines of character display, with 16 characters per line. 32 characters total. Supports chime. Honeywell LKP500-DK Desk Stand is also available.
2GIG PAD1-345	Push-button Keypad for 2GIG Systems, including the 2GIG GC3e. Used for basic arming and disarming. Can also be used to trigger a panic during an emergency. No display screen. No chime or voice.
2GIG SP1-GC3	Touchscreen Keypad for 2GIG GC3e. Supports full suite of security and arming functions. Pairs w/ GC3e across WIFI or using a local Access Point (AP). Offers chime and voice. Mimics screen of GC3e once paired.
Qolsys IQ Remote	Touchscreen Keypad for Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus. Supports full suite of security and automation functions. Pairs with IQ2+ across WIFI. Mimics screen of IQ2+ once paired.

Desk Mounts

Our final category is desk mounts for alarm panels. Using a desk mount allows you to position your panel upright on a sturdy desk or table, instead of wall-mounting or just laying it flat. These devices are often preferred by DIY users who don't want to drill holes in the wall. They are also great for renters who have restrictions on drilling holes.

Of our top security system picks, only the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus comes with a desk mount included. However, the included desk mount is relatively small and flimsy. There is actually a more robust desk mount for the IQ Panel 2 Plus, which is included on this list. Using a proper desk mount makes it possible to perform a complete system installation with nothing more than a screwdriver in many cases.

Here are desk mounts for our top security system picks.

Model	Notes
Honeywell LCP500-DK	Desk mount for Honeywell Lyric. Allows for positioning at 30° or 60°.
2GIG CP-DESK	Desk mount for 2GIG GC3e. Also compatible with other 2GIG Wireless Alarm Panels.
Qolsys IQ Stand	Desk mount for Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus. Sturdier option than the standard table stand that comes included with the system.

Reach out to us!

This concludes our final buying guide for the 2020 holiday season. Make sure to check out our earlier buying guides on alarm panels, security sensors, environmental sensors, smart home automation, and our special guide for the Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS Panel. If you have any questions regarding compatibility, or if you are interested in starting new alarm monitoring service and you need help planning your system, please email our team at support@alarmgrid.com. We will help you every step of the way, from ordering the right equipment, to activating your alarm monitoring service. Our team is available to help from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. As always, we look forward to hearing from you!

Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus owners will be glad to learn that there are some outstanding security cameras for the system. You can live-stream these cameras from the panel and access their live feeds from Alarm.com using the website or mobile app. Residential and commercial options are available!

All versions of the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus support Alarm.com Security Cameras. In order to use these cameras with the IQ Panel 2 Plus, you will need a video monitoring plan that includes video surveillance service for use with Alarm.com. An example of a compatible video monitoring plan is the Alarm Grid Platinum Level Plan (Self or Full). You can learn about our Self-Platinum and Central Station Platinum monitoring plans on our monitoring page.

Once you have the proper system and monitoring plan, you can start exploring the camera options. All of the Alarm.com Cameras listed here support Alarm.com Video Analytics and live-streaming from the IQ Panel 2 Plus System. Whether you are looking to protect your home or monitor your business, there are some truly fantastic options available. We have seven (7) cameras to check out today, so let's get started!

Alarm.com ADC-V523

We're starting off this list with the Alarm.com ADC-V523. This is an excellent residential camera that you can mount on a wall or ceiling or rest on a desk or table. It is highly regarded for its 1080p picture quality. its use of High Dynamic Range (HDR), and its 117° field of view. The camera also utilizes IR night vision with a range of 15 feet. This means that it can reliably record an intrusion that may occur in the middle of the night. It supports connectivity across a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WIFI network, or it can use hardwired ethernet. This is truly the go-to Qolsys Camera if you are just looking for a simple, yet effective camera to use indoors.

Alarm.com ADC-V622-WELL

The Alarm.com ADC-V622-WELL was designed with the Alarm.com Wellness Platform in mind. But it's such an effective and useful camera, that it can really be used nicely in any residential location. This indoor camera can technically be mounted, but its design makes it quite appealing to just rest and leave on a desk. Features for the ADC-V622 include live video & audio streaming, 1080p recording, two-way voice functionality, power over ethernet (PoE), a built-in Bluetooth speaker, IR night vision (15 feet), a built-in call button, and an incredible 180° viewing angle. It makes a great addition to any Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, and it will really blend-in nicely with your smart home.

Alarm.com ADC-V723

Residential Qolsys users looking for an outdoor camera can turn to the Alarm.com ADC-V723. This is a 1080p outdoor camera with an IP66 weather protection rating. It is very similar to the ADC-V523 we mentioned earlier. The difference is that this one is built to withstand the elements of an outdoor environment, including rain, wind, dust, heavy sunlight, and more. The camera retains the same 1080p recording capabilities and High Dynamic Range (HDR) of the ADC-V523. It also offers a further IR night range distance (~40 feet) to better capture activity that occurs in the middle of the night. Please note that you cannot use a wired ethernet connection with this IP camera. It must be set up with a 2.4 GHz or a 5 GHz WIFI connection.

Alarm.com ADC-VC726

The Alarm.com ADC-VC726 is where Alarm.com starts to bridge the gap between residential and commercial grade cameras. This is a mini bullet camera that measures 6.1" long and 2.76" wide. While you normally see these "bullet-style" cameras in commercial locations, this camera is so small that it can fit in very nicely outside a home. The camera was built for outdoor use with its IP67 protection rating, but it can certainly be used indoors as well. It offers 1080p recording, an 86° viewing angle, and an IR night vision range of ~95 feet. The camera must use a wired ethernet connection, and it supports PoE. It is extremely versatile and can really be used for almost any application.

Alarm.com ADC-VC736

Commercial Qolsys users typically consider the Alarm.com ADC-VC736 as the go-to outdoor camera option. This is the largest of the cameras listed here, and it really packs some power. It has 1080p recording capabilities, an IP67 weather protection rating, an IR night vision range of about 260 feet, and an 86° viewing angle. The camera measures in at 11.8" long and 4.1" tall, meaning that it's not exactly the most discreet camera out there. But if you need something large and powerful for monitoring the outside of your business, then the Alarm.com ADC-VC736 is a tremendous choice to use with your IQ Panel 2 Plus.

Alarm.com ADC-VC826

The Alarm.com ADC-VC826 Dome Camera is another model that blurs the line between residential and commercial. You normally associate dome cameras with commercial use, but the ADC-VC826 is small enough that you might not mind having it around your home. Its dimensions are just 4.4"D x 3.2"L, so you will have no problem fitting it in a tight space. And you can feel confident using this Qolsys-compatible camera outdoors with its IP67 protection rating. Other features include 1080p recording, a 108° viewing angle, an IR night vision range of ~95 feet, pan/tilt capabilities, and a vandal-resistant exterior. The camera must use a wired ethernet connection for network access, but it does support power over ethernet (PoE).

Alarm.com ADC-VC836

Business owners who want to take the turret camera route have the perfect option in the ADC-VC836. This is a camera that you can certainly trust to monitor your business and keep an eye out for any suspicious or unwanted activity. The camera is great for use with the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, as it offers 1080p recording, an IR night vision range of ~95 feet, a 0 to 75 degree tilt function, and power over ethernet (PoE). It is protected against environmental elements with its IP67 rating. You will also appreciate the camera's modest size at just 5"D x 3.8"L. And with its tamper resistant exterior, nobody is going to disable the ADC-VC836 and break into your business without you knowing about it!

Get Monitored!

Alarm Grid offers residential and commercial video monitoring services for the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus through Alarm.com. Any of the seven (7) above cameras will work great with your new IQ Panel 2 Plus System. Just choose the best one for your needs. Or if you want extra coverage, feel free to add multiple cameras. Every Alarm.com Video Monitoring Plan includes support for four (4) cameras by default, and expansion packs for additional camera support are available upon request. We recommend checking out this FAQ for more information on what an Alarm.com Video Plan includes.

Wanting to get started? Send us an email at support@alarmgrid.com, or call us at (888) 818-7728. We operate support hours from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to helping you monitor your Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus for your home or business!

Alarm.com users now have a new feature at their disposal, as a special full-screen two-camera mode has been added to the Live Video page on the Alarm.com customer website. By accessing your Alarm.com account through the website, you can take advantage of this all-new viewing experience.

As you can see from the picture above, we have already tested this new feature to great success. We tested the dual-camera full-screen viewing option using the Alarm.com ADC-V723 Outdoor Camera (the top picture) and the Alarm.com ADC-V522IR Indoor Camera (the bottom picture). Both of these Alarm.com Security Cameras support the robust and powerful Alarm.com Video Analytics package. Although we don't believe that ADC Video Analytics is a requirement for using full-screen two-camera mode, we still highly recommend getting ADC Cameras with Video Analytics support because its tremendous benefits.

The new two-camera mode allows both displayed cameras to be live-streamed in HD quality, without any sacrifice or compromise in terms of picture. This is the perfect feature if you are wanting to monitor two cameras in your home or business at the same time. Additionally, Alarm.com has retained its other viewing modes, including 2x2, 1+3, full-screen, and theater modes. And of course, you can still set a single camera to its own exclusive full-screen if desired. But it's nice to see Alarm.com giving its users additional viewing options.

Remember, you need to have an alarm monitoring plan with access to Alarm.com video services to take advantage of this new feature. Alarm Grid customers can choose between a Platinum Level Monitoring Plan (Self or Full) or our Video-Only Plan. If you have any questions about this feature, or if you want to learn more about our monitoring plans, please reach out to us by emailing support@alarmgrid.com. Remember that our support hours run from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! We have learned that Alarm.com has been pushing out automatic firmware updates for their security cameras. These updates are designed to make the cameras compatible with future enhancements that may be released at a later date. Alarm.com SVR Devices are also being updated.

According to Alarm.com, any non-doorbell camera or SVR device that is online with a strong connection will have the update pushed down automatically. Alarm.com states that 95% of all compatible cameras and accessories have already received the updates. Cameras that are offline or set up with a weak connection will not be able to receive the automatic update. Alarm.com says that they are still trying to get all compatible devices set up with the update.

In the near future, users may notice problems for any camera that has not yet received the update. Specifically, these cameras may stop showing the device name and timestamp on their on-screen displays. Additionally, any SVR devices that have not received the update may stop supporting video recording and video playback. These issues will persist until the device receives the update.

Users may also find that their cameras and/or accessories are displaying a trouble condition for out-of-date firmware. This trouble condition is to let any end users know that they should update the firmware for their cameras and/or accessories as soon as possible. Fortunately, these issues can be properly addressed by simply updating these devices to their latest firmware versions.

If you notice this trouble condition you can manually push down an update yourself by accessing your Alarm.com account through the website and choosing Video > Settings > Select Device > Video Device Info > Update Firmware. You may also contact us to have us push down the update for you. Remember that your camera will need to be online with adequate signal strength in order to receive the update. There is no charge for us to push down this update to your ADC devices.

If you have any questions about the new Alarm.com Firmware Update, or if you need us to push down an update for you, please email us at support@alarmgrid.com. Remember that our support hours are from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you and making sure that your Alarm.com devices are properly updated!

Hi DIYers! We are happy to announce that the Alarm Grid logo will now appear in the lower-left corner of downloaded Alarm.com video clips. This new feature applies to any Alarm Grid customer who uses Alarm.com Cameras for video surveillance. You should notice the logo effective immediately.

The Alarm Grid logo should appear in the bottom-left corner of any downloaded video clip from Alarm.com. This includes any video clip that you choose to share through email, text message or social media. Sharing the clip effectively downloads it. This will count towards your monthly limit of allowed clip downloads. The logo will be semi-transparent so that it is clearly visible, but does not obscure the video in any fashion.

We believe that this new addition will add a nice touch to Alarm.com video clips. It will also help to identify the source of the clip in the event that you ever need to present video evidence to the authorities. Other than this image, you should not notice any changes to your Alarm.com video clips or your Alarm.com service in general.

Please note that this image will not be present in the live video feed for Alarm.com Cameras. The logo will also not appear in clips you view directly from Alarm.com. It will only be present in downloaded video clips.

Below is an example of what the image should look like in a video clip:

If you do not have Alarm.com video surveillance included in your monitoring plan, you can check our monitoring page for more information. You will need a Platinum Plan to use Alarm.com Cameras. We also offer a standalone video surveillance plan if you want to use Alarm.com Security Cameras without regular monitoring service.

Please email us at support@alarmgrid.com if you have any questions about this new feature or the Alarm.com service in general. You may also call us at (888) 818-7728. Our regular office hours are 9am to 8pm EST M-F. We look forward to hearing from you.

Hi DIYers! Recently, we paired an Alarm.com Security Camera with our Alarm.com account so that we could try viewing it through a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus Alarm System. We gotta say, we're extremely pleased with the crystal clear recording capabilities, and we're sure that you will be too!

Streaming video directly to the panel from Alarm.com is a feature available for both the standard Qolsys IQ Panel 2 and the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus Systems. The system just needs to be running firmware version 2.2.1 or higher, and the user needs an alarm monitoring plan with video surveillance that is set up with Alarm.com. For Alarm Grid customers, these are our Platinum Level Plans.

Only select camera models are compatible with this feature. At the time of this writing, the following Alarm.com Security Cameras can be used with the IQ Panel 2 or IQ Panel 2 Plus for panel streaming:

• ADC-V521IR
• ADC-V522IR
• ADC-V622
• ADC-VDB101 or 102
• ADC-VDB105 or 106
• ADC-V722W (no audio)
• ADC-VC725 (no audio)
• ADC-VC726 (no audio)
• ADC-VC736 (no audio)
• ADC-VC825 (no audio)
• ADC-VC826 (no audio)
• ADC-VC836 (no audio)

Many of these cameras can support two-way audio as well. For our testing, we worked with the ADC-V522IR 1080P Indoor Security Camera. We were amazed with the quality of the video, both through Alarm.com and from the panel itself. The two-way audio functionality worked great as well.

If you don't believe it, just see for yourself. Here's a quick photo taken of our IQ Panel 2 System as it streams live video and audio. Yeah, our support room is a bit messy, but bear with us! The key point here is that the quality looks absolutely tremendous for an easy-to-use security camera. Just imagine putting one of these cameras in your home and streaming directly from Alarm.com and your IQ Panel 2 System!

We also took the opportunity to create some new FAQs to help users get started with this feature:

• How Do I Stream an Alarm.com Camera to My Qolsys IQ Panel 2?
• How Do I Use the 2-Way Voice Feature for My Alarm.com Camera on the Qolsys IQ Panel 2?

We have to give it to Qolsys for creating such a versatile alarm system with this outstanding feature. Now you can view your ADC Camera from Alarm.com when you're on the go, or from your alarm panel when you're at home!

You can get the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 or IQ Panel 2 Plus and many great Alarm.com Security Cameras from the Alarm Grid website. If you ever need any help deciding please reach out to us any time at support@alarmgrid.com. You can also call us during normal business hours, which are 9am to 8pm EST M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Update: When streaming cameras to the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 or Qolsys IQ Remote (keypad streaming introduced in FW Update 2.4.0), the stream will typically time out after three (3) minutes. At that point, the user may receive a "Video Device Not Responding" notification. They will need to refresh the screen to continue streaming. An Alarm.com Streaming Video Recorder (SVR) device can more reliably provide continuous local playback when connected with a stable network.