Honeywell Home Tuxedo Posts

We have recently become aware of a potential incompatibility issue between certain older First Alert panels and touchscreen keypads. Some older panel boards with newer chips have experienced this. Unfortunately, we do not have all the details, but we will share an example of one we ran into.

The First Alert Professional program was designed as a dealer program to allow smaller alarm dealers to have some of the same advantages as very large dealers. To accomplish this, they built Vista panels with slight variations and only sold them to dealers who were members of the program. The FA168CPS and FA148CP were two of the most popular panels in that line-up. These panels were, at their base, the same as a VISTA-20P and VISTA-15P respectively. In recent years, Honeywell, now known as Resideo, has ended the First Alert Professional Program.

The First Alert Professional program was very popular, so there are many of these panels still in use today. The thing that makes a panel First Alert vs. VISTA is a difference in the panel circuit board. The chips for a VISTA-20P and a FA168CPS, for example, are exactly the same. Because of this, it has become a popular custom to swap out the older version prom chip for a newer prom chip when an update is necessary.

For many years, this has been common practice and there have been no issues. Unfortunately, with newer technology in the keypads, and advancements in the industry, we are beginning to hear about some minor issues. So, upgrading the prom may not allow everything to function as expected.

There are two ways to tell if your panel is a First Alert version. First, the original prom will have a FA version at the bottom of the label.

Secondly, there is a label stuck underneath the phone line terminals on the terminal block.

We recently ran into a FA148CP board with a manufacture date of T070. The date code is located on a small white label near the top of the panel. The Letter T indicates that this panel was manufactured in 2013, and the 070 indicates that it was manufactured on the 70th day of that year. So this panel was manufactured in March 2013. This panel had a rev 9.12 chip, which was the current revision as of its manufacture date. While the prom was never changed, the customer still had a small issue with the new Honeywell Home Tuxedo he added.

This particular customer intended to use night stay arming mode. Night Stay allows you to arm certain motion detectors, while bypassing others automatically. While the Tuxedo supports this mode when setup properly in the panel, this particular customer's Night Stay option was grayed out on the Tuxedo keypad. This seems to only occur with the newer versions of the Tuxedo. Those being the Honeywell Home Tuxedo and the Resideo Tuxedo. This issue does not seem to appear with the old Tuxedo Touch WIFI. It could possibly affect the Honeywell 6290W touchscreen as well, but there are no reports of that as of this writing.

In talks with Resideo, they informed us that they had noticed similar behavior with a previous customer when using an older revision First Alert panel board with a newer chip installed. They indicated that when this is the issue, the only fix is to replace the panel board. While we are trying to get more details on this issue, we wanted to make our readers aware of the information that we do know. Please feel free to let us know in the comments if you have seen any oddities with a First Alert panel and a touchscreen keypad.

Alarm Grid has long steered customers away from Schlage locks due to support issues. In our experience, we have spent time troubleshooting myriad issues between these locks and a number of different Z-Wave controllers. Now, Resideo and Honeywell Home have announced confirmed issues as well.

On April 6, 2022, Resideo and Honeywell Home released a Technical Notification to let users know that recent testing discovered a compatibility issue between Schlage lock models BE468, CAM716, and BE469ZP with the newest Honeywell Home TUXEDO and Resideo TUXEDOC keypads. Also incompatible are the ProSeries panels. The ProSeries lineup includes the Honeywell Home PROA7 and PROA7PLUS and the Resideo PROA7C and PROA7PLUSC. The PLUS versions of these panels offer Z-Wave Plus functionality right out of the box, however the NON-PLUS versions require the addition of the PROWIFIZW in order to offer Z-Wave support.

It should be noted that this alert doesn't include other Resideo or Honeywell Z-Wave controller products such as the Lyric, or the L5100-ZWAVE paired with any of the LynxTouch panels. To the best of our knowledge, these products are still compatible with all of the Schlage locks, though we at Alarm Grid still recommend using a Yale or a Kwikset lock instead of a Schlage, even with one of these controllers. Now that the Honeywell Lyric has been discontinued, and the only LynxTouch panel still available is the L5210, Total Connect 2.0 adherents may be hard pressed to find a panel to support a pre-existing Schlage lock.

It is also important to note that not all Schlage locks that were tested were found to be incompatible. The Schlage J-Series, including the JBE109 and JFE109 locks are compatible and both have been added to the compatibility list for the TUXEDO and ProSeries products. You can read the full MyWebTech Technical Notification #71, which includes compatibility documents for both the TUXEDO keypads, and the ProSeries panels.

Have you tried to use a Schlage Lock with a Honeywell, Honeywell Home, or Resideo Z-Wave controller? Were you successful, or no? Leave a note in the comments below with any thoughts or questions about this announcement. We always look forward to hearing from our readers.

Update 12/02/21:

We have confirmed with Resideo and at least one customer that the issues regarding the syncing of Automation between all versions of the Tuxedo Keypads, and the VAM have been resolved and that remote control of Z-Wave devices has returned to normal. Users should now be able to remotely control Z-Wave Automation Devices during any Total Connect 2.0 session. Any Alarm Grid customer that notices issues like this in the future, please report it to support@alarmgrid.com.

Update 11/26/21:

On Tuesday of this week, Resideo announced an update meant to fix this issue. Apparently, it fixed the portion of the issue where all Automation Syncs were failing, but did not address the issue with being unable to control Z-Wave Devices remotely.

There is something of a workaround for this portion of the issue at this time. During the TC2 session where a successful Automation Sync occurs, you can control Z-Wave devices remotely. Once you end that TC2 session and begin another one, you will lose that ability. So, for now, if you need to control a Z-Wave device remotely, perform a sync, and once you see in the Activity Log that the Automation Sync was successful, you will be able to control Z-Wave devices until the current TC2 session ends. Stay tuned and we will provide further updates as this issue is resolved.

Original Post:

In the last couple of weeks, Alarm Grid has noticed several customers with VAM and Tuxedo Keypads (all versions) having trouble syncing Z-Wave devices with Total Connect 2.0. This prevents newly added Z-Wave devices from showing up in TC2, though local control at the device is still available.

This issue doesn't seem to affect Total Connect 2.0 accounts associated with AiO (All-in-One) panels such as the Lyric Controller and the Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS. Accounts with these panel types should be working fine. It is unknown exactly what the problem is, and there is currently no workaround available. We've been in touch with Resideo and Honeywell Home and they are aware of the problem, but there is no Estimated Time of Resolution (ETR) for a fix.

You can continue to add and remove Z-Wave devices locally at the VAM or Tuxedo. But any changes that are made locally at the Z-Wave controller will not be synced to Total Connect 2.0. This means that any device deleted locally will continue to show up in TC2, and any device added locally will not show up in Total Connect 2.0 until this issue is resolved and a successful automation sync occurs.

Any device that currently shows up in Total Connect 2.0, and still exists in the Tuxedo or VAM CANNOT be controlled remotely through TC2. When an attempt to perform an Automation Sync occurs, there is no Automation Sync Failed, or Automation Sync Successful message displayed in TC2 Activity. Status changes from the Z-Wave device to TC2 seem to be coming through fine. It's only the sync process and remote control that seem to be having issues.

Alarm Grid is working with Resideo and Honeywell Home, and as soon as this issue is resolved, we'll post about it here. We posted information earlier this year about the Tuxedo Keypads and VAM Automation Controllers not updating the weather properly. We don't know if this current issue is related to the previous one, but we hope that it will be resolved soon. Stay tuned to our blog for updates.

You might be checking your calendar because it's Friday, and this is a video recap, and we usually save those for Mondays. Well we had four (4) videos from earlier this month that we never managed to recap, so we figured why not now? The topics today are VISTA Panels and the Tuxedo Keypad.

Honeywell VISTA System: Factory Defaulting

I show you how to Factory Default a Honeywell VISTA Security System. This process is very simple. You just get into programming with the command [Installer Code] + [8] + [00], with the default Installer Code being 4112. You can press [*97] to perform the default. The panel will beep three (3) times to confirm. You should also press [*96] to default the panel account and Computer Station ID (CSID). You can then press [*99] to exit programming. You can perform the default on an Alphanumeric Keypad, a Fixed English Keypad, or a Tuxedo Touchscreen Keypad in its Console Mode.

Honeywell Home Tuxedo: Local Scenes Using Sunrise & Sunset

I explain how you can create local smart scenes on a Honeywell Home Tuxedo Keypad to be set with time-based triggers for the local sunrise or sunset time. In the upper-right corner of the main Tuxedo screen, there is a weather display. If you click on this, then you can set the ZIP Code for the keypad. The Tuxedo will use this ZIP Code and its WIFI connection to get the daily sunrise and sunset time for any scenes set to trigger that way. If the Tuxedo loses its internet connection, it will just use the last recorded sunrise time and sunset time.

Honeywell Home Tuxedo: Setting Up Web Server & Remote Access

I show you how to set up web server access so that you can control the Tuxedo Keypad from a web browser. After setting up the feature by entering a username and password into the designated section of the Tuxedo, you can enter the Tuxedo IP Address into the web browser of an IP-connected device to access a login screen. The device used must be on the same network as the Tuxedo Keypad. Provide the username and password that you set up at the Tuxedo. This will open an interface resembling the old style Tuxedo Touch, and you can use that you control the Tuxedo and the connected VISTA.

Honeywell Home Tuxedo: Web Interface Cannot Include/Exclude Z Wave Devices

I explain that you cannot include or exclude Z-Wave devices when accessing the Tuxedo Keypad from a web browser, also known as the Tuxedo Web Interface or Tuxedo Virtual Interface. Although you can perform almost all of the same commands from the virtual Tuxedo Web Interface as you can from the Tuxedo Keypad itself, you cannot add or remove Z-Wave devices. This is because the necessary menu option for adding and removing Z-Wave devices is not present inside the Tuxedo Virtual Interface. You can only add and remove Z-Wave devices by interacting with the actual Tuxedo Keypad itself.

Update February 2024: We Won! For now, at least. LOL. It has been confirmed by Resideo and now a customer, that the weather is now working. This is on the older style Tuxedo Touch WIFI keypads. We have been fighting this fight to keep the weather going on these keypads. It took a while for Resideo to resolve this, and we appreciate everyone's input and patience. So go and enjoy it while you can.

Update November 2023: After daylight savings time ended on 11/5/2023, we received multiple reports of the weather no longer updating. We have reported this to Resideo and they are looking into the issue. We will continue to provide the most accurate up to date information we have. We appreciate your patience in this matter.

Update Christmas 2022: It appears the weather stopped updating on Tuxedo keypads once again around Christmas, 2022. However, it appears that as of January 3, 2023, it is back up and working again. This feature has been hit or miss for a while now, and officially, it's not supposed to be working on the legacy Tux keypads. The last official word from Resideo was in September, 2021, where they said the older style Tux keypads would no longer support weather and only the newer Tuxedo keypads would. You can read that notice here.

Newer style Tuxedo Keypad:

Older Style Tuxedo Touch WIFI:

Update April 2022: Per Resideo, though this feature seems to be working again, it is not officially fixed until we receive a new Technical Bulletin from them saying that it is. For now, if your keypad is not displaying the weather, refresh the weather on the forecast page. Do this by pressing the refresh button in the lower-left corner of the forecast screen.

Update December 2021: In late December, Resideo announced that the weather display feature had been fixed and is now available on Tuxedo Touch WIFI, VAM, and original Tuxedo Touch keypads. Hopefully, this will be the end of the Weather Feature Saga, once and for all!

There is an issue affecting all versions of the Honeywell and Resideo Tuxedo Keypads and VISTA Automation Modules (VAMs). This is a server issue causing the displayed weather forecast to not update. Resideo has not provided an ETA for a fix. Alarm Grid will update when more info is made available.

Update: Alarm Grid has learned that the issue is only affecting old style Tuxedo Touch Keypads, including the Tuxedo Touch WIFI and the original Tuxedo Touch with ethernet connectivity, as well as Honeywell VAM devices when accessed through a web browser. The issue is NOT affecting newer Honeywell Home Tuxedo and Resideo Tuxedo Keypads, as was initially reported. Keep in mind that these new-style Tuxedo Keypads may only update weather once per day, so the displayed last update time might still seem off. But if you click the refresh button in the bottom-left corner of the weather display screen, then it will still update. As the issue is relatively minor and only affecting old style devices, it's possible that Resideo may put off applying a fix for a while. Again, we promise to provide an update if any new information is made available. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the issue.

You may have noticed recently that some new products from Resideo (formerly Honeywell) are being offered in both Resideo and Honeywell Home variants. Today, we want to clear up any confusion and explain that these are the same products, only with different labeling across the front.

To be clear, there have been three (3) instances of this varied labeling thus far, and it's likely that Resideo will continue this practice for additional products in the future. So far, the products that have been offered in both "Resideo" and "Honeywell Home" variants have included the following:

• Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS & Resideo PROA7PLUSC - Exactly the same!
• Honeywell Home PROA7 & Resideo PROA7C - Exactly the same!
• Honeywell Home TUXEDOW & Resideo TUXEDOWC - Exactly the same!

If you have a keen eye, then you'll likely notice that the "Honeywell Home" variants have the base SKU, while the "Resideo" variants have the base SKU, plus the letter C at the end. The C stands for "Commercial", as Resideo is marketing the "Resideo" variants for commercial use, while the "Honeywell Home" variant is being marketed for residential use. This situation occurred because certain alarm dealers who install in predominantly commercial locations couldn't (or in some cases, refused to) sell a product with the word "Home" on the front. In turn, Resideo made the call to accommodate these dealers.

In each of the three (3) aforementioned cases, Resideo has basically released the same product twice, with one variant being sold under the "Honeywell Home" banner for residential use, and the other being sold under the "Resideo" banner for commercial use. The only difference between variants is that one will say "Honeywell Home" across the front, and the other will say "Resideo" across the front. That's the only difference! All other aspects, such as product features, functions, compatibility, and overall use and performance is completely identical. We promise you, there is no gimmick or surprise here. Whether you get a Honeywell Home variant or a Resideo variant, it really won't matter. They're the same!

In fact, the "Residential" vs. "Commercial" wording is nothing more than a cosmetic difference. If you are buying the product for use in a home, but you like the name "Resideo" more than "Honeywell Home", then feel free to get the Resideo variant. It may be marketed for commercial use, but you can absolutely use it in a residential location. Again, the only difference is the wording. Conversely, you will have no trouble using a "Honeywell Home" variant in a commercial business or industrial location. If you prefer the "Honeywell Home" wording, then get that variant for your office or business. Just because it's marketed for residential use does not mean that you cannot use it in a commercial location!

If you're like many users, then you are likely going to wonder why Resideo would even bother doing this. Again, it's really just marketing and their response to a certain subset of commercial dealers. Resideo has the right to use Honeywell Home branding, and they will continue doing so for name recognition. But they found out that commercial and industrial locations don't want to use products labeled "Honeywell Home" because they look out of place. As a result, Resideo is offering the "Resideo"-labeled alternative to accommodate these users. You might think it's a bit silly - and maybe it is. But it's nothing more than a marketing decision. So go ahead and laugh, then decide whether you want your brand-new security system or touchscreen keypad to read "Honeywell Home" or "Resideo". Either way, you're getting a great product.

And that's really the best news here. All three (3) of these products are awesome. Resideo has really been putting out some sleek and fresh-looking security equipment lately. The three (3) products in question are known for their 7-inch touchscreen controllers and their modern designs that look tremendous in pretty much any home or office. And even if the reasoning is a bit frivolous, the end result is that you have more options to choose from. If you don't want "Home" displayed on your new office security system, then you can opt for the "Resideo" option. Alternatively, if you think "Resideo" sounds goofy and makes you cringe, then you can go with "Honeywell Home" instead. There's no judgment here!

What do you think of this "Resideo" vs. "Honeywell Home" situation? Do you think it's a bit silly, or do you think it's a smart decision by Resideo? Also, which name do you like more? And lastly, have you gotten to try out the new Tuxedo Keypad or the ProSeries 7-Inch Panels yet? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. We used the Honeywell Home variants for our personal office testing, but we're sure the Resideo ones are just as nice. Maybe we'll have both variants hanging around the Alarm Grid office someday. But for now, we hope that this cleared up any confusion or misunderstandings, and we'll be back with more news soon.

If you are a Honeywell VISTA System user, then you have likely heard about the Honeywell Home Tuxedo Keypad. The Tuxedo serves as a touchscreen keypad controller, and also as a Z-Wave Plus hub. But one limitation for the unit is that it cannot be configured as a secondary Z-Wave controller.

Setting up a hub as a secondary Z-Wave controller involves pairing it with a separate Z-Wave hub, which will serve as the primary. When you do this, all Z-Wave devices paired with the primary controller will be automatically pushed over to the secondary, as long as they are compatible. These devices will also remain on the primary controller, meaning that you can operate them from both hubs.

If you decide to use this type of setup, it is advised that you clear all Z-Wave devices enrolled with the secondary controller, and instead enroll them with the primary controller beforehand. Then perform the process of setting up the secondary controller to the primary. This will ensure that all of the Z-Wave devices you want to use are available on both controllers.

Remember, Z-Wave devices paired with the secondary controller will not be pushed over to the primary. When you get a new Z-Wave device, you must enroll it at the primary Z-Wave controller, not the secondary. In most cases, Honeywell Z-Wave Hubs are used as secondary controllers, and Z-Wave devices paired directly with the primary controller are then shared with the Honeywell Z-Wave Controller. One of the most common primary Z-Wave hubs to use for this type of setup is Samsung SmartThings. Other popular third party Z-Wave hubs should work just as well.

Being able to set up a Z-Wave hub as a secondary controller, is technically one of the more advanced Z-Wave functions that you would ever try to perform on a smart home automation network. But while it is quite advanced, it is also very standard. It is somewhat unusual to encounter a Z-Wave automation controller with no primary and secondary configuration options. But that's exactly the case with the Honeywell Home Tuxedo. You can't set it as a secondary Z-Wave controller, which is a big letdown for anyone who wants to use the device in conjunction with a different Z-Wave hub, such as Samsung SmartThings.

According to Resideo, the ability to set the Tuxedo as a secondary Z-Wave controller will come from a future firmware update. At this time, we do not have any estimate for when such a firmware update would be made available. If you want to learn more about firmware updates for a Tuxedo Keypad, please refer to this FAQ.

However, we can speculate that once the feature is available, you will be able to configure Tuxedo primary/secondary options by starting from the main keypad screen, and choosing the Devices option, followed by the Z-Wave Setup button at the bottom of the screen, and then selecting More in the lower-right corner. If you do that now, you will notice that the "Learn Mode" option currently does not exist.

Remember to stay tuned to our blog for future updates on the Honeywell Home Tuxedo. We will be sure to let you know about any new features made available for the keypad. If you have any questions about the Tuxedo or Z-Wave home automation, please feel free to email us at support@alarmgrid.com. We check our email from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you have been keeping up with Z-Wave home automation lately, then you have likely at least heard about the S2 Security Protocol. The security suite offers an advanced level of protection to keep smart home devices safe. Today, we're checking out the S2 Protocol to learn more about it.

Before we get into the specifics of Security 2 (S2), it is important to understand which Z-Wave setups will support it. In order to achieve a proper S2 setup, the Z-Wave controller and the paired device itself must both support the S2 Protocol. If either end is not S2-compatible, then the protocol will not be used. If you pair a non-S2 device with a controller that supports S2, then the device will simply pair using the S0 Protocol instead. Likewise if you have a hub that does not support S2, then none of the devices on the network will use S2, including those that technically are capable of supporting the protocol. Not to worry, if you do have an S2-compatible controller, then it is certainly possible to have a mixture of S2 and S0 devices on the same Z-Wave network.

The S2 Security Protocol is optional for 500-Series Z-Wave Plus devices and hubs. In other words, some 500-Series Z-Wave Plus smart home devices and controllers will support S2, while others will not. You need to check the specifications for the exact device and hub that you are working with to see if it is supported. In some cases, it may be possible to perform an over-the-air (OTA) update for a 500-Series accessory or controller so that it can support the S2 protocol, even if it did not previously. An example of this is when you upgrade the Z-Wave firmware on the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus to Version 6.81.03. That is the first Z-Wave firmware version for the system that supports S2. Older versions do not. The panel firmware should be on version 2.5.3 or higher when using S2.

But for 700-Series Z-Wave Plus V2 equipment, support for S2 is required. In order for a device or hub to be certified as 700-Series by the Z-Wave Alliance, it must support the S2 Protocol. Therefore, if you see equipment listed as 700-Series, then you will know for certain that the technology is supported. As of October 2020, we have not seen many Z-Wave Plus V2 controllers or devices available. One 700-Series device that is available now is the 2GIG STZ-1 Thermostat. We hope that more 700-Series equipment will be hitting the market soon.

Looking at what S2 actually entails, you should understand that it isn't just one aspect or factor that makes the protocol what it is. There are many different components coming together to create a single protocol that is extremely secure. But perhaps the single most crucial aspect of S2 is that it is readily built into the Z-Wave framework for use by software developers. This makes it very easy for a developer to implement the technology into any given Z-Wave Plus device. Prior to the introduction of S2, there was no security built into the Z-Wave framework. The only option for a developer was to implement their own security protocol, and this was completely optional. Many develops would elect not to provide any security and just leave automation devices vulnerable. But when a device is listed as S2, you can be absolutely certain that it is meeting an advanced standard of security and protection.

Just like many other secure protocols, S2 makes use of an asymmetric key exchange, which at the simplest level involves a public key and a private key. Any command can be encrypted using the public key, but only the specific private key can unlock it. This ever-crucial private key is protected using Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) technology. Thanks to this advanced method, the task of deciphering the key is all but impossible. Additionally, different devices on the same network can be separated into different groups. Each device group can be assigned its own set of encryption keys. Often, devices that require greater security, such as door locks, are included with more secure groups that also require authentication during the network inclusion process. Meanwhile, the support of a highly secure TLS 1.1 Tunnel for all Z-Wave Over IP (Z/IP) traffic removes almost any possibility of cloud vulnerability. For the record, the S2 Protocol is rated at 128-bit AES in terms of overall security level.

One other big factor for the S2 Protocol is that it makes use of a single-frame transmission, which is a massive improvement over the three-frame transmission used by the S0 Protocol. Simply put, single-frame transmission is significantly more efficient than three-frame transmission. The improvement in efficiency allows for extended battery life, enhanced reliability, and a huge cut-down on latency. This means that a device using S2 technology will require less maintenance, including fewer battery changes. It will provide more consistent performance, and experience shorter operation delays. This alone makes S2 vital for anyone looking to achieve the most efficient automation network possible.

Understanding this technology in advanced detail may seem a bit daunting. But you just need to know that S2 makes Z-Wave home automation more secure, faster, and more efficient than ever before. If you have any further questions about S2, or if you want some tips for getting started with home automation, please email us at support@alarmgrid.com. We check our email from 9am to 8pm Eastern Time M-F. Also remember to check our monitoring page if you are interested in learning more about the monitoring services we offer. We look forward to hearing from you!

We're back again with another video recap! Our video team put up five (5) new videos this past week. Most of them feature yours truly, but Jarrett managed to make an appearance as well. We hope that you find them helpful for using your security system. Let's check out the new videos!

Interlinking Honeywell SiXCOMBO Devices

I explain how you can "interlink" Honeywell SiXCOMBO devices using the "One-Go-All-Go" feature. One-Go-All-Go means that when one SiXCOMBO device on the Honeywell Lyric System is triggered and activates its 85 dB sounder, all other SiXCOMBO devices on the Lyric that have the One-Go-All-Go feature enabled will also activate their own 85 dB sounders. Honeywell SiXSMOKE devices can also be included in the One-Go-All-Go network. Although One-Go-All-Go won't result in any increased volume, it will spread the sound out to multiple locations to ensure that building occupants are notified during emergencies.

Using the SiXCOMBO for Only Smoke or Only Heat Detection

I explain how you can use the Honeywell SiXCOMBO for only smoke detection or only heat detection. The Honeywell SiXCOMBO is a combination sensor that serves as a smoke detector, heat detector, and carbon monoxide detector, all in one convenient life-safety device. Each of the three (3) aforementioned functions is considered to be a different "service" for the SiXCOMBO. You can toggle each individual service ON or OFF as desired. Remember that each enabled service will require its own zone on the Lyric System. With this functionality, you can set up the SiXCOMBO for only smoke, or only heat.

Pairing a 2GIG SP1 with the 2GIG GC3e

Jarrett shows you how to pair the 2GIG SP1 Touchscreen Keypad with the 2GIG GC3e Security System. The 2GIG SP1 can be used for security functions like arming, disarming, and bypassing sensors, as well as automation functions like controlling programmed Z-Wave devices. Once the SP1 has been successfully paired, it will mimic the GC3e screen almost identically. Although the SP1 is assigned to a specific smart area partition, you can actually use it to control any system partition, as long as smart areas are enabled on the system (Question 69 in Panel Programming), and you have a valid code.

Solving S2 Protocol Issues with the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus

I show you various things you should check to ensure that the S2 Security Protocol works properly on a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus. The S2 Security Protocol is used with compatible Z-Wave Plus devices, and it provides stronger protection than the older S0 Security Protocol. Support for the S2 Protocol was introduced in Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Z-Wave Firmware Version 6.81.03. Additionally, it is advised that you upgrade the system firmware to at least 2.5.3, as that version provided various Z-Wave fixes for the system. You can upgrade the system firmware and the Z-Wave firmware in either order.

Updating the Honeywell Home Tuxedo Firmware

I explain how the Honeywell Home Tuxedo Keypad receives automatic firmware updates over-the-air (OTA) from the Resideo AlarmNet Servers. To have a firmware update pushed down successfully, you must have the Tuxedo connected to WIFI, and its Enable Remote Upgrade feature must be turned ON. You must also have the connected VISTA System in a state where updates can be sent down. Once these conditions are met and a new update is available, it will be sent to the Tuxedo so that it can be automatically applied. The Tuxedo will reboot about (15) seconds after the update is received.

Alarm Grid is thrilled to offer the brand-new Resideo Tuxedo Keypad! This sleek and modern keypad serves as a touchscreen controller for your Honeywell VISTA, while also providing Z-Wave Plus home automation capabilities. This will truly bring out the full potential of your VISTA Panel!

The new Resideo Tuxedo represents the third generation in the Honeywell Tuxedo Touch Series. The original Honeywell Tuxedo Touch, the Honeywell Tuxedo Touch WIFI, and the Honeywell VAM have all been discontinued to make room for the new Resideo Tuxedo. While we are a little sad to see these classic products be sent off to the "product graveyard", we are extremely excited about this brand-new keypad and what it brings to the party.

If you are familiar with the Honeywell 6290W Touchscreen Keypad that came out last September, then you will be pleased to learn that the new Resideo Tuxedo offers the exact same look and user interface (UI). In fact, the only difference between the two is the fact that the Tuxedo offers Z-Wave Plus functionality, while the 6290W is just a keypad for controlling the VISTA. With the Tuxedo, you get all of the same security functions from the 6290W (e.g. arming, disarming, bypassing zones), as well as awesome new home automation controls.

The great thing about a touchscreen keypad like the Resideo Tuxedo is that it can make your system much less intimidating and easier to control. This can be especially important for new users who are not used to working with a security system, especially one that uses a classic numeric keypad that requires specific knowledge to operate. The Tuxedo is easy to navigate, and the full-color menus can give a new user confidence in controlling their system. Most experienced users also appreciate touchscreen keypads just due to their overall ease of use.

You certainly have a great deal of automation devices that you can pair with the Resideo Tuxedo. Nearly any Z-Wave device can integrate with the keypad. You can add Z-Wave lights so that it looks like you're home while on vacation. A Z-Wave door lock can be helpful for letting your friend inside without getting up from the couch. And a Z-Wave thermostat can help you save a ton of money in energy costs, while still keeping your home comfortable. The unit supports up to 232 Z-Wave devices, so you're highly unlikely to run out of room. We recommend using exclusively Z-Wave Plus devices to build the strongest network possible.

WIFI connectivity returns to the new Resideo Tuxedo. The keypad uses its WIFI connectivity for communicating with Total Connect 2.0. You can access TC2 to control your programmed automation devices remotely from a mobile app or web browser. The WIFI connection is also how firmware updates are applied to the Tuxedo Keypad. You can alternatively use a wired ethernet connection instead of wireless WIFI, but come on, who's gonna do that? Just be aware that the Tuxedo is not an AlarmNet Communicator. You will still need a separate alarm communicator for your VISTA System and a monitoring plan to access Total Connect 2.0.

And there are many other features and specifications that we love about the new Tuxedo. This keypad and automation controller boasts a 7-inch screen with a 480 x 640 resolution. The thin-film-transitor (TFT) LCD screen is backlit, so you will have no trouble using it at night. Other features include voice and chime, a weather display, the ability to live-stream security cameras, Console Mode, a digital picture frame, and more!

You can buy the new Resideo Tuxedo Keypad from Alarm Grid right now. We are sure that you will love using this robust and powerful keypad in your home or office. It really has a nice modern look that can fit in nicely with any decor. This is truly a great way to improve upon a VISTA System. If you have any questions about the Tuxedo, or if you want to learn more about alarm monitoring, contact us via email at support@alarmgrid.com. We check our email during our business hours of 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!