Honeywell 958 Posts

If you're setting up a new security system for use with Alarm.com, then you might be wondering which door and window sensors to use. The answer really comes down to which system you are using and how you intend on using your sensors. Plenty of contact sensor options are usually available!

Alarm sensors do not communicate directly with Alarm.com. Instead, sensors communicate with alarm panels. From there, the panel will use an alarm monitoring communicator to send signals to Alarm.com. This communicator must be activated and registered for Alarm.com service. Per Alarm.com requirements, cellular connectivity is required. This means that your system must use a cellular communicator or a dual-path communicator that is built for use with Alarm.com.

As far as choosing specific sensors, it comes down to determining whether or not they will work with the system you are intending to use with Alarm.com. Today, we're going to break down some of the most popular Alarm.com Security Systems and help you determine the best sensors to use. Remember that our security system kits already come with some compatible sensors to get started. It may only be that you just need to add a few more door and window sensors, or you might not need to add any extra ones at all!

We will give you three (3) scenarios for each system. These are:

1. Surface-Mounted Door/Window Sensors
2. Recessed Door/Window Sensors
3. Outdoor Door/Window Sensors

In most situations, surface-mounted sensors are what you want to go with. These are the standard regular sensors that you would use with virtually any door or window. They are super easy to install, and they are some of the most basic security devices you will encounter.

If appearance is important to you, and you want the sensor to remain hidden while the door or window is closed, then you may consider getting recessed sensors instead. Just remember that recessed sensors will require you rolling up your sleeves and drilling holes into your door/window and its frame. In addition to the added work, this may also have warranty ramifications with regard to the door or window.

And of course, if you plan on using the door/window sensor in an outdoor environment, then you will want to make sure the sensor is approved for outdoor use. Trying to use an indoor-only sensor in an outdoor environment will likely result in damage to the device due to exposure to rain, dust, etc. This also typically applies if you plan on using the sensor in an area that is not insulated, such as a shed, a gate or a barn.

Note: If you are totally new to door and window sensors and want to know more about how they operate, please check out this FAQ.

Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus (PowerG)

Arguably the most popular system to use with Alarm.com right now in 2020 is the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus. There are three (3) versions of the system, with each one supporting a different legacy sensor frequency (319.5 MHz, 345 MHz, 433 MHz). We will discuss the legacy sensor options in a minute. But one of the biggest reasons to purchase an IQ Panel 2 Plus is to use PowerG Sensors. All three versions of the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus support the PowerG Sensors. These sensors can communicate with the IQ Panel 2 Plus System from up to 2,000 feet away in open air, and they utilize 128-bit AES encryption and frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) for enhanced wireless security. For anyone with an IQ Panel 2 Plus, these are the sensors we would point to first.

• Surface-Mounted Sensor: DSC PG9303
• Recessed Sensor: DSC PG9307
• Outdoor Sensor: DSC PG9312

2GIG GC3e & 2GIG GC2e (eSeries)

Right now, we view the 2GIG GC3e and the 2GIG GC2e as the best alternatives for users who want to get started with Alarm.com, but don't want to use a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus. The most popular sensors to use with these systems are the encrypted 2GIG eSeries Sensors. They are built for the GC3e and GC2e Systems, and they utilize encryption for protection against wireless hacking or takeover attempts. Remember that these systems are both backwards compatible with 345 MHz sensors (more on those later). But if you're running a GC3e or a GC2e, then we're going to recommend the eSeries products.

• Surface-Mounted Sensor: 2GIG DW10e
• Recessed Sensor: 2GIG DW20e
• Outdoor Sensor: 2GIG DW30e

Original Qolsys IQ Panel 2, IQ Panel, Interlogix Simon Systems (Legacy 319.5 MHz)

Things become a little tricky when we get into the legacy sensor frequencies. There is usually a lot of inter-compatibility across manufacturers, so often the choice comes down to preference. We will list our favorites based on value and functionality. But understand that you have a lot of options available when it comes to 319.5 MHz sensors. This frequency is used with the original Qolsys IQ Panel 2, the original Qolsys IQ Panel, and all of the legacy Interlogix Simon Series Panels. Keep in mind that you can also use these sensors with the 319.5 MHz version of the IQ Panel 2 Plus as an alternative to PowerG. The 319.5 MHz frequency is also typically used with any wired Interlogix NetworX Panel that has a wireless receiver added.

• Surface-Mounted Sensor: VERSA-GE
• Recessed Sensor: Qolsys IQ Recessed Door-S
• Outdoor Sensor: ELK 319DG

2GIG GC3 & 2GIG GC2 (Legacy 345 MHz)

If you are working with a 2GIG GC3 or a 2GIG Go!Control GC2, then you will be enrolling legacy 345 MHz sensors with your system. This frequency was popularized by the Honeywell 5800 Sensors, and later the 2GIG 345 MHz Sensors. The GC2 and GC3 support both of these lineups, so you really have a lot of options to choose from. We're just going to list our particular favorites. Remember that you can also use these sensors with a 345 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus as an alternative to PowerG.

• Surface-Mounted Sensor: VERSA-2GIG
• Recessed Sensor: 2GIG GW20R
• Outdoor Sensor: 2GIG DW30-345

DSC Impassa & DSC PowerSeries (Legacy 433 MHz)

DSC popularized their own wireless frequency of 433 MHz. If you have a DSC Impassa, then these will be the sensors you are using. The 433 MHz sensors can also be used with a DSC PowerSeries Panel that has a wireless receiver added. Although we do not sell the original DSC PowerSeries Systems, we do offer the DSC RF5132-433 Wireless Receiver that will allow support for these sensors. And of course, you can also use these 433 MHz sensors with the 433 MHz version of the IQ Panel 2 Plus as an alternative to PowerG. Unfortunately, we don't have a good recommendation for a 433 MHz outdoor door and window sensor. so we'll just list the other two types instead.

• Surface-Mounted Sensor: VERSA-DSC
  
• Recessed Sensor: DSC EV-DW4917
  

Honeywell VISTA, DSC PowerSeries, DSC PowerSeries NEO, Interlogix/GE NetworX (Wired Sensors)

Many hardwired security systems can connect with Alarm.com using what is known as an Alarm.com System Enhancement Module (SEM). And since hardwired panels often use wired sensors, this makes hardwired door and window contacts technically compatible with Alarm.com as well! Honeywell VISTA Systems, DSC PowerSeries Systems, DSC PowerSeries NEO Systems, and Interlogix/GE NetworX Systems all have compatible SEM communicators available.

The great thing about hardwired contacts is that they are pretty much universal across all wired systems, provided that the system is not using polling loop sensors. We'll focus on standard non-polling loop sensors here, but these are all good options for most hardwired alarm panels. Also keep in mind that there are MANY options when it comes to wired contacts. Don't feel like you are restricted to the ones we happened to pick!

• Surface-Mounted Sensor: Honeywell PAL-T
  
• Recessed Sensor: Honeywell 951WG
• Outdoor Sensor: Honeywell 958

Get Started with Alarm Grid & Alarm.com

If you are interested in signing-up for Alarm.com service through Alarm Grid, make sure to check out our monitoring page. We support Alarm.com with our Gold and Platinum Level Plans (Self & Full) and our Cell-Only Plan. If you have any questions about our products or monitoring services, be sure to shoot us an email at support@alarmgrid.com. We operate support hours from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! Many of our customers have been using Chamberlain and LiftMaster MyQ Garage Door Controllers with Total Connect 2.0. These smart garage door controllers are perfect for use with the TC2 platform. They offer a great way to integrate your garage door into your smart home network.

The Chamberlain and LiftMaster MyQ integration is great for tying in remote control for your garage doors to your Total Connect 2.0 account. By using this integration, you can consolidate your garage door control into one single app, instead of two separate ones. However, there is a limitation. The integration does not allow you to add the MyQ garage doors into a TC2 Smart Scene for automated control based on security system actions. For instance, you cannot create a scene that will automatically disarm your Resideo System if your garage door is opened. But fortunately, we now have a solution for this problem.

When you integrate your MyQ Garage Door Controller in with Total Connect 2.0, you can control your garage door remotely through the platform. You can also receive text and/or email alerts when the garage door opens or closes. However, if you try to integrate your MyQ Controller with smart scenes, you will be unable to do so. But we recently came up with a solution for this issue that will work for the Lyric Controller and all LYNX Touch Systems. This solution will also provide your system with the ability to truly monitor the activity of your garage door.

The answer is to add a sensor to your garage door. You will want to use either a tilt sensor or a contact sensor with a wide spacing gap. The Honeywell 5822T is a wireless tilt sensor that can easily pair with a Lyric or LYNX Touch System. Another option is the Honeywell 958. This is a hardwired contact designed for overhead garage doors. You can either wire the Honeywell 958 back to the panel, or you can connect it to a wireless sensor that accepts a wired input, such as a 5816 or a SiXCT. Whether you go with the 5822T or the 958 is really up to you, as they are both perfect options for this job.

You should program the sensor into one of the designated wireless garage door zones. The designated garage door zones for an L5100, L5200, or L5210 are Zones 46 thru 48. For an L7000, they are Zones 45 thru 48. And for the Lyric, they are Zones 127 thru 130. You should give the Zone Descriptor a name that allows you to easily recognize it as your garage door.

Please note that each garage door zone is associated with a particular garage door slot. The table below outlines this:

From there, you should program a "virtual" Honeywell 5877 Relay Module into the system through the Automation Menu. The 5877 is a Honeywell Wireless Relay Module that provides remote control for garage doors. However, it is not compatible with MyQ Garage Door Controllers. With this trick, you don't actually need a 5877 Relay, but you will program your system as if you are using one.

What you want to do is start from the main screen of your panel. Choose Automation > down arrow > Garage Door Setup. From there, choose the garage door slot associated with the zone you set up with the tilt sensor or the contact sensor. Click on "Assign Device". Then go to the "Enter Serial Number" field. Since you aren't actually using a real 5877, you can just enter a fake serial number like "1111111". Click "Done" in the bottom-right corner when you have finished. This will make the system think that a 5877 Relay has been enrolled. You can then return to the main screen by repeatedly pressing the return arrow in the upper-right.

You can then create TC2 Smart Scenes to have the system respond automatically based on the status of the garage door. For example, you might have a smart scene to disarm your system automatically when you open your garage door. To do this, you will want to use the garage door slot that you set up on the system when creating the smart scene. The system will know to change the status of the garage door (opened or closed) based on the activity of the associated zone.

Now, you might be wondering why you need the "fake 5877" setup with the system. The reason for that is because you can't create smart scenes to Arm or Disarm your system based on zone faults. So even if you have sensor programmed for your garage door, you cannot use it as a trigger for arming or disarming your system. But you can use a garage door as a trigger. By making your system think that it has a true garage door programmed, you can use that as a trigger for smart scenes.

It must be mentioned that there are a couple of limitations to this setup. For one, you cannot use this work-around to have your garage door respond automatically based on system activity. This is because there is no real relay module to tell the garage door what to do. So if you want to have the garage door automatically open/close when you arm/disarm your system, it will not work. Second, this will not work with Honeywell VISTA Systems, as those systems do not support the 5877. As a result, you cannot program a "fake 5877" on a VISTA Panel. But other than these limitations, this is a pretty good work around. You also get the benefit of enabling your system to truly monitor your garage door for activity.

If you have any questions about this work-around, 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 respond as soon as possible. We look forward to helping you.