DSC PG9974P Posts

Qolsys recently released a Technical Service Bulletin outlining an issue with the IQ2 and IQ2+ panels and PowerG sensors. In some cases, panels that have just installed either firmware version, or panels running these versions that are rebooted, may lose touch with existing PowerG sensors.

The problem, according to Qolsys, is the encryption key. In some rare cases, either during the reboot after the firmware update, or upon rebooting once the firmware update has been applied, the panel's encryption key can be set back to default. Once this occurs, any PowerG devices in the field that have been programmed into the panel will no longer be able to communicate successfully with the panel.

When this situation occurs, a previously working PowerG device will show status on the panel, and on Alarm.com if monitored, of "Not Networked". It may also show an "!" next to the zone's status on the panel's Home Screen. If this condition is allowed to continue for the full supervisory window of the sensor (24-hours for non-life safety sensors, 4-hours for life safety sensors by default) then each affected sensor will go into supervisory failure at the panel and will show a status of Malfunction when viewed through Alarm.com.

If you see this issue on your Qolsys IQ Panel 2 or IQ Panel 2 plus system, you'll need to delete ALL PowerG sensors from the panel, and then re-learn them from scratch. By doing so, a new encryption key will be created and shared with each PowerG device. Once this has been done, all devices should begin working normally again. PowerG devices should be reprogrammed from the panel, not from Alarm.com. This way, full functionality can be verified once programming is complete. It would be best to be sure the panel does not reboot again until the next firmware update, which will resolve this issue. Only PowerG devices are affected by this anomaly, any legacy RF devices using the 319.5MHz, 345MHz, or 433MHz frequencies, and any Z-Wave devices should not be affected by this issue.

If you haven't updated to 2.5.3 or 2.5.4 yet, it is recommended that you update locally at the panel, rather than through Alarm.com. You can find information on updating via Patch Tag or MicroSD card on our Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus Firmware Update Page. Sadly, this won't necessarily prevent this issue from happening, but by being onsite at the time of the update, you'll be able to verify proper PowerG sensor functionality on each of your sensors as soon as the update has completed. According to Qolsys, firmware version 2.5.5 will be released in the near future, though an exact date has not been provided. This version will resolve the root cause of this encryption key issue. Any additional future updates will also include the necessary fix.

If you're interested in no-contract, low-cost monitoring, or if you're an Alarm Grid customer (present or future) with questions, you can reach us at support@alarmgrid.com. We're here to check emails M - F from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time. Thanks for reading, stay safe!

You have likely heard us talking about the benefits of PowerG Sensors at one point or another. Today, we figured we would break down the benefits of these sensors and explain why we like them so much. Let's take an in-depth look at PowerG Sensors and all of their wonderful benefits.

PowerG Sensors were originally designed for the hardwired DSC PowerSeries NEO Systems. By adding a compatible transceiver unit to your PowerSeries NEO, the system will be able to support PowerG Sensors. Johnson Controls, which you may know as the parent company of DSC, took the technology associated with PowerG Sensors, and brought it over to the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 System. This move was not a major surprise, as Johnson Controls also had partial ownership over Qolsys at the time, and Johnson Controls has since bought out Qolsys entirely.

The addition of PowerG support for the IQ2 marked the beginning of the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, which is how the system is still marketed and sold today. PowerG support is also available for the DSC Iotega, though that panel has largely flopped due to its lack of local end user programming. Today, the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus represents the most popular panel for supporting PowerG. All versions and variants of the IQ Panel 2 Plus support PowerG Sensors, and their exceptional performance makes them the go-to choice for IQ2+ users who want equipment with the best versatility and protection.

Starting with the range, PowerG Sensors can be used from up to 2,000 feet away from the IQ Panel 2 Plus when they are used in an open air environment. By open air environment, we are talking about a perfect setting with a direct line of sight, and no obstacles between the sensor and the alarm panel. Most homes and businesses do not provide the ideal, "open air" environment, as there are usually walls and metal appliances present. When you see us mention that 2,000 feet open air range, take that with a grain of salt, because in practice, the range is likely a bit less. But still, we can undoubtedly say that PowerG offers arguably the best wireless range in the security industry. Even if its nominal range isn't quite as far as its "open air range", it is still a very powerful signal that can help you overcome the range issues that other sensor lineups may experience. It is great for use in detached garages, barns, multi-building complexes, and even just large industrial buildings.

To make matters even better, there is also a PowerG Repeater, the PG9920. This device will effectively double the range of any PowerG Sensor and help you overcome range limitations caused by thick walls and other obstacles or signal disruptions. The repeater works by taking the signal sent out from any PowerG Sensor and sending it out a second time with just as much power and force as when it was first sent from the original sensor. By strategically placing the repeater, it's theoretically possible to double the useful wireless range of these sensors. That would mean that they can be used from up to 4,000 feet away from the IQ2+ in an open air environment. And if your building is particularly large, you may even have repeaters going away from the IQ Panel 2 Plus System in different directions, including up and down in building stories above or below.

But PowerG Sensors offer more than just an impressive wireless range. They are also known for their exceptional security. This is thanks to their military grade 128-bit AES encryption. To put this as simply as possible, the PowerG Sensor and the panel share a unique encryption key at the time of pairing. The sensor must provide this encryption key to the panel whenever it transmits a signal. Additionally, the panel must then provide a return response with the encryption key as verification in order for the command to go through. In the past, we have referred to this two-way communication process as a "digital handshake". Because of this encrypted pairing process, a PowerG Sensor actively knows whether or not it is currently paired with a panel. You may need to factory default a PowerG Sensor before you can pair it with a new system.

PowerG Sensors also take proactive measures against RF jamming. When a wireless sensor communicates with an alarm panel, it does so at a certain wireless radio frequency (RF). When we talk about RF jamming, we are referring to any malicious technique that prevents wireless signals from reaching their intended destination. This is accomplished by blocking the receiver with a stronger signal at the same wireless frequency as the device that is legitimately trying to communicate with it. When this is done on an alarm system, the system doesn't receive the incoming signals from faulted sensors, and no action is taken during a security breach or an unfavorable environmental condition. Early wireless sensors did not take this into account, and this made RF jamming an effective way to defeat an older wireless system.

The way that PowerG Sensors overcome RF jamming techniques is through a process called Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). This process involves splitting the RF bandwidth into multiple channels. Each independent channel represents a unique radio frequency for wireless communication to occur. The transmitter (the PowerG Sensor) and the receiver (the alarm panel) both agree on a set of channel hopping sequences that will take place. These sequences are encrypted and time-based for them to occur seamlessly. Since the transmitter and the receiver are both synchronized, they can switch between channels very rapidly. A potential intruder would never be able to re-tun an RF jamming device to keep up. In the case of the PowerG Sensors, the frequency hops occur between 912 MHz and 918 MHz. There are 50 different unique frequency channels that are used, and frequency switches occur 64 times per second. More information on FHSS is available here.

One other benefit of PowerG Sensors that we have never discussed previously is their Adaptive Transmission feature that helps them conserve battery life. This is why you will often see a PowerG Sensor with a very long expected battery life, sometimes more than ten (10) years). Adaptive Transmission involves two-way communication between the PowerG Sensor and the alarm panel. The alarm panel will tell the PowerG Sensor how well its signal is being received. The PowerG Sensor can then adapt its outgoing signal so that it reliably reaches the panel, without expending too much energy. The sensor and the panel regularly exchange this information so that the ideal amount of energy is always used in signal transmissions. This saves battery life in the long run.

We have also found that PowerG Sensors are extremely easy to enroll and they offer the reliable and effective performance that you should expect out of your security system. We wholeheartedly recommend them for use on the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, as well as any other compatible alarm system. It is expected that the upcoming Qolsys IQ Hub will also be able to utilize PowerG Sensors, so look forward to using PowerG Sensors on that panel once it is available.

For now, if you have any questions about PowerG Sensors or the systems that support them, or if you are interested in signing up for new alarm monitoring service, then please reach out to us by emailing support@alarmgrid.com. We'll be available to check your emails from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

We are sometimes asked by users with PowerG Systems if using PowerG Motion Detection Sensors is the best option. And the answer to that question is usually yes. There are some rare occasions where choosing a legacy RF motion detection sensor is preferable, but this is usually not the case.

PowerG Motion Sensors are known for their incredible wireless range (up to 2 km from certain system), 128-bit AES encryption and frequency hopping spread spectrum for wireless security, and ability to be easily programmed. They are known for being some of the best sensors in the entire industry. Compatible systems for PowerG Motion Sensors include all versions of the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, the DSC Iotega, and any DSC PowerSeries NEO with an added wireless transceiver.

As this time, the following PowerG Motion Detection Sensors are sold by Alarm Grid:

• DSC PG9902 Outdoor Curtain PIR Motion Sensor
• DSC PG9914 PIR Motion Sensor
• DSC PG9924 Curtain PIR Motion Sensor
• DSC PG9974P Mirror Optics PIR Motion Sensor
• DSC PG9984P Dual-Tech Motion Sensor
• DSC PG9994 Outdoor PIR Motion Sensor

Of these devices, the DSC PG9914 is by far the most popular. This is considered the "standard" PowerG Motion Sensor, while the others are used in more specific and unique situations. However, they all offer the great features of PowerG. Assuming that you are just looking for a standard motion sensor for indoor use, the DSC PG9914 is almost always the best option. If you are wondering if you should get a PowerG Motion Sensor, the answer is usually yes.

Keep in mind that if you have a DSC Iotega or a DSC PowerSeries NEO with an added transceiver that PowerG Motion Sensors are the only wireless motion sensors that you can use. The DSC PowerSeries NEO can use hardwired motion sensors, which opens up a whole new world of different possibilities. But for this discussion, we will assume that the user is only considering wireless motion sensors. We will also assume that the user is just looking for a standard motion sensor. We won't dive into the more unique motion sensors such as curtain motion sensors, outdoor motion sensors, or dual-tech motion sensors.

With all things considered the DSC PG9914 is almost always the best motion sensor to use with a PowerG System, assuming that the user is just looking for a basic motion sensor for indoor use. There are a couple of exceptions that may apply if the user has a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus. And we will discuss those exceptions in a moment. But for all intents and purposes, going with a PowerG Motion Sensor if your system supports PowerG Sensors is almost always recommended.

If you have a 319.5 MHz Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, then you may consider the Qolsys QS1231-840 IQ Motion-S. The advantage to this motion sensor is that it has a lower price point than the DSC PG9914. However, that is the only real advantage the IQ Motion-S offers. The DSC PG9914 offers a much further wireless range, and its 128-bit AES encryption is more secure than the rolling code "S-Line" offered from the IQ Motion-S. But if communication range and wireless security are not important to you, then you might want the IQ Motion-S instead. Of the PowerG Systems, it only works with the 319.5 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus.

For users of the 345 MHZ Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, the Honeywell 5800PIR-COM is sometimes preferred over the PG9914. The Honeywell 5800PIR-COM has a coverage range of 60 feet by 80 feet, which is much larger than the 39-foot coverage area of the PG9914. If coverage range is considered the most important factor, then the Honeywell 5800PIR-COM might be the best option. But keep in mind that the Honeywell 5800PIR-COM has a much shorter wireless communication range (200 feet nominal), and it offers no wireless encryption protection. Also consider that the Honeywell 5800PIR-COM offers no pet immunity, while the DSC PG9914 offers pet immunity for small animals weighing up to 85 pounds. Remember, the Honeywell 5800PIR-COM will only work with the 345 MHz version of the IQ Panel 2 Plus.

If you need extra help choosing a motion detector for your system or if you want to learn more about any of our products or monitoring services, please reach out to us by emailing support@alarmgrid.com. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Remember that our support hours run from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!