Alarm.com Posts

Alarm Grid is excited to announce that we are making several new features available for monitored customers with access to Alarm.com for central station service. These include an In-App Panic, Alarm Cancel/Verify buttons, Subscriber ON/OFF Testing, and Zone Syncing with the central station.

The new features will be available to any Alarm Grid monitored customer with central station service whose monitoring plan includes access to the Alarm.com platform. In order to use most of these features, you will need to download the Alarm.com Mobile App, which is available for free from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. This app is great for operating your Alarm.com Security System from virtually anywhere.

By making these features available, we are hoping to improve accessibility and make it easier to control your system and communicate with the central station using the Alarm.com Mobile App. These features will be complementary as part of your Alarm Grid monitoring plan, and they will not result in any changes to your current monthly bill. Our team plans to automatically enable the features for all of Alarm.com customers with central station service.

We have been working very closely with our central station partner Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS) in recent weeks to get the features ready for our customers. As always, CMS has been excellent to work with, and we are confident that we will be able to make a seamless transition for the rollout. We expect to have the features implemented and ready for use sometime during the first week of October.

Let's now take a look at the new Alarm.com features and how you can use them to get the very most out of your security system.

In-App Panic Function

The Alarm.com In-App Panic Function will allow you to send a distress signal to the central station in the event of an emergency. By opening up the Alarm.com Mobile App, you will be able to trigger a Panic and let the central station know that you need help right away. The type of Panic(s) functions that are available will depend on the alarm panel you are using. These can include Audible Police, Silent Police, Fire, and Auxiliary Panics.

When using this feature, Panic Functions are classified as either Silent or Audible. This is based on the panel you are using. An Audible Panic will also be sent to the alarm panel so that a warning message can be displayed on the screen and any programmed sounders and sirens can be activated. Conversely, Silent Panic will result in no message being displayed on the panel, and the system will not produce any sounds.

The table below shows the different types of Panic functions and whether they are Silent or Audible for various Alarm.com Systems. Note how some panels will support both Silent and Audible options for a Police Panic. You will be able to choose the type of Panic to trigger within the Alarm.com App. Remember that Panic availability is determined by the panel you are using and is independent of panel programming. Alarm.com Panels without any true Panic button capabilities will only have a Silent Police Panic available.

To use an Alarm.com In-App Panic, open the Alarm.com App, and expand the Panic option found within the Security System card. This option will have orange text and an exclamation mark (!) inside of a triangle icon. You can then press and hold the desired Panic function button for three (3) full seconds to trigger the Panic. Once triggered, you will have a three (3) second countdown during which you can cancel the Panic signal. After this time has elapsed, the notification will be sent to the central station right away so that help can arrive as soon as possible. Keep in mind that help will be sent to the location of the security system when the In-App Panic function is used.

Cancel & Verify Alarm Buttons

The Alarm.com Cancel Alarm and Verify Alarm buttons are designed to promote a more streamlined process when communicating with the central station during an alarm event. Not only can the Cancel/Verify feature help ensure a quicker response during an emergency, it can also help prevent false alarms and unnecessary dispatch in situations where no help is needed. The feature is optional, and a central station operator will still respond to an alarm normally if no input is made. But it can be very helpful when used properly.

In order for the buttons to be appear, two (2) conditions must be met. The first condition is that a programmed zone on the system has indicated an alarm condition. The second condition is that Alarm.com has received the alarm signal from the panel. Once both events have occurred, the green Cancel Alarm and the red Verify Alarm buttons will both appear at the top of the Alarm.com Mobile App. The buttons will only appear if the user is logged into an Alarm.com profile with Master-Level authority. You will know to check the app because of the text, email, and/or push notification you received about the alarm, based on your notification settings.

You have two (2) minutes to activate either the Cancel Alarm or Verify Alarm function after the buttons have appeared. The two minute timer comes from an estimate of how long it normally takes a central station operator to receive an incoming alarm, process it, and request emergency dispatch to the location. Remember that this is only an estimate. In some cases, a fast-acting central station operator might be able to perform pre-dispatch phone calls and request help before this time period has expired.

Activating the Cancel Alarm or Verify Alarm function is very simple. Just press and hold the corresponding button for thee (3) full seconds. The green Cancel Alarm button is on the left, and it informs the central station that the alarm occurred by accident and to not send any help. The red Verify Alarm button is on the right, and it tells that central station that the alarm is legitimate and to request dispatch immediately. Make sure you are very careful when using this feature to avoid making the wrong input.

Keep in mind that the central station and/or the local authorities might still call you to check in, even after receiving a Cancel or Verify message. The feature is simply used to quickly and efficiently transmit a signal to the central station to let the operator know what action they should take. It is also important to note that if multiple users from different logins try to make a selection, then only the first selection to go through successfully will be seen. Any other user who attempts to make a selection will get a message stating that another Master user has already responded.

Note: Alarm Grid's Central Station Partner Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS) will not process Alarm.com In-App Cancel Commands for Fire and Medical Alarms. CMS will follow the usual operating procedure for the account, even if an In-App Cancel Command is sent for a Fire or Medical Alarm Event.

Subscriber ON/OFF Test

The Subscriber ON/OFF Test feature allows a user to conveniently place their system on Test Mode with the central station through the Alarm.com Mobile App. When the system is in Test Mode, a central station operator will know to not request emergency dispatch to the location in the event of any incoming alarms. By using the Subscriber ON/OFF Test feature, your system will be placed on Test Mode for a set duration of time (1, 2, 4, or 8 Hours). Once you are finished, you can manually end the test or just wait for the timer to expire.

This false alarm prevention method serves as an alternative to calling the central station directly or using the MyAlarms.com feature to put your system on Test Mode. It is very important to always put your system on Test Mode prior to performing any action that may trigger any signal on your system that may normally result in an emergency dispatch . This includes testing any life-safety sensor, such as a smoke detector or carbon monoxide sensor, or testing the panic function on a key fob.

When you activate Test Mode using the Alarm.com App, a signal will be logged to the central station that will inform operators that the system is on Test. If an alarm occurs on your system, then an operator will still see the alarm. But they will also see the notification stating that your system is in Test Mode, and they will know not to contact you or request dispatch. Once the time period you have specified expires, or the mode is exited manually, then the Test Mode notification will disappear, and the central station operators will know to respond to any incoming system alarms in the usual manner.

In order to access this feature, open the Alarm.com Mobile App, and login to your account. Click the Menu Icon (three horizontal bars), and then select Monitoring Settings. Choose the option System Test Mode. You will be able to choose a Test Mode duration of 1, 2, 4, or 8 Hours. Your selection will be indicated with a checkmark. You can then press the blue Start Test Mode button to begin. A grey Stop Test Mode button will then appear if you want to exit Test Mode before the duration expires.

Zone Sync Function

Okay, this last feature is more for us than it is for you. But we still wanted to let you know about the Zone Sync function, as it changes the way that we will set up your Alarm.com Security System with the central monitoring station. Basically, it allows the Alarm.com servers to handle the process of transferring the zone description and other information from the security system to the central station during account creation and/or whenever the system's zones are updated. This information includes zone numbers and names that you have provided for zones on your Alarm.com account.

Traditionally, the process of transferring information from a security system to the Alarm.com servers had to be completed manually by a monitoring company. And really, that is still the case. The only difference now is that we can have Alarm.com automatically update the central station with the zones and their respective names, rather than having to type or write them out ourselves. An end user is still encouraged to contact us whenever they update any of the zones on their system so that a Zone Sync can be performed and we can be sure the new or edited zones get the proper dispatch instructions. We advise using the email mentioned at the end of this post for this purpose.

Get Started With Alarm.com

As we mentioned earlier, we plan to enable these features for all our Alarm.com customers with central station service sometime during the first week of October. These features will be enabled automatically, and no action is needed on your part if you are monitored with Alarm Grid for access to Alarm.com. You do have the option to opt out of any of these features if you want, but there is very little reason to do so. Remember, these new features are all complementary, and they will not increase your existing monthly bill.

If you are not yet monitored, and you are looking to start service with Alarm.com, then we are happy to help you get started. Your new service will include access to these new features. Any new customer wanting to start service, as well as any existing customer wanting to opt out of one or more of these features, should email us at support@alarmgrid.com. We will check your email during our regular business hours of 9am to 8pm ET M-F and reply back as soon as we can. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you use Alarm.com!

There will soon be yet another update available for the Alarm.com Mobile App. This time, both the iOS and Android mobile app versions are receiving updates. According to Alarm.com, the new mobile app versions should be made available for free download sometime within the next week.

Alarm.com Mobile App Version 4.16 for iOS will add smart lighting control as a new Siri Shortcut option. This will allow a user to more easily set up their lights so that they can be controlled using Siri Voice Commands. We have found Alarm.com Siri Shortcuts to be very useful for easily controlling one's security system through spoken voice commands. For more info on using Siri Shortcuts with Alarm.com, please check out this prior blog post.

Alarm.com Mobile App Version 4.15 for Android will provide video doorbell support to the Shortcuts feature for the app. This will allow the user to access the live video feed for their Alarm.com Doorbell Camera with a long press of the app launcher icon. This is believed to be similar to the doorbell shortcut for the iOS version that was released in the prior update. In addition, Android users will also gain the ability to set an "Override Do Not Disturb" option to ensure that they do not miss critical alerts from Alarm.com. This option will be available from within the Alarm.com Notifications Page.

As usual, both the new iOS and Android App Versions will also include general stability fixes and improvements to help ensure seamless performance. These new app versions are expected to be made available sometime next week, so keep an eye out for them in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Alarm Grid will provide further updates if we learn anything else. If you have any questions regarding Alarm.com Mobile App Version 4.16 for iOS or Alarm.com Mobile App Version 4.15 for Android, or if you are interested in starting monitoring service for accessing Alarm.com, please do not hesitate 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!

Alarm.com has won a 2020 New Product of the Year Award from Security Today for their Wellness Camera, also known as the Alarm.com ADC-V622-WELL. The Alarm.com Wellcam won the award in the Fire & Life-Safety category. We congratulate Alarm.com and their Wellcam for their continued success.

With social distancing guidelines still in effect due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Alarm.com Wellcam has proven to be highly effective in helping many doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff communicate with patients, while still maintaining a safe distance. The product was actually first unveiled at ISC 2018 a couple of years ago, but it's good to see it really shine during an era of social distancing.

Alarm.com Vice President of Products Steve Chazin said of the award, "The need to stay connected with family and loved ones is greater now than ever before. Wellcam extends the power of modern security systems to help protect and connect people wherever they live. We're thrilled that Security Today deems Wellcam a New Product of the Year. This recognition underscores just how critical innovations like Wellcam are in helping all of us look after one another, regardless of whether we're feet or miles apart."

The Alarm.com Wellcam is loaded with excellent features that help it to thrive both as a wellness camera and as a security camera in general. The device offers 1080p recording capabilities, a 180° viewing angle, 6 MP zoom, and IR night vision of up to 15 feet. This helps ensure that the camera captures detailed video of any activity that occurs in the room. The camera also has a call-button on top that a patient or monitored individual can use to call for help, if needed. A built-in microphone and Bluetooth speaker allows the individual to engage in a two-way voice call with the monitoring party through Alarm.com. The speaker can also be used for entertainment purpose, including streaming music and podcasts.

Alarm.com originally designed the Wellcam for use with the Alarm.com Wellness Platform. But the capabilities of the device have really been put to the test with the ongoing pandemic. Needless to say, the Alarm.com Wellcam has passed with flying colors. Like all Alarm.com Cameras, the Wellcam is designed exclusively for use with the Alarm.com platform. You can get started using the camera by getting an Alarm Grid Platinum Plan or an Alarm Grid Video Monitoring Plan. More information about our monitoring plans can be found in this post.

If you have any questions about the Alarm.com Wellcam, or any other products or services relating to Alarm.com, please don't hesitate to reach out to us! The best way to contact us is to email support@alarmgrid.com. We check our email from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Stolen packages are a concern for many individuals. But you can take a stand and prevent thieves from taking your stuff. All you need is a doorbell camera, a Z-Wave door lock, and a monitored security system with Alarm Grid. We'll help you protect your packages from pesky porch pirates!

It doesn't take a genius to figure out how a package gets stolen. The delivery person rings the doorbell and finds that nobody is home. They leave the package out in the open. Then a no-good package thief comes along, swoops up the goods, and you're then left wondering whether or not the delivery got lost in the mail. Countless packages fall victim to this very setup every single day. And if you don't have any evidence, then it can be next to impossible to catch the guilty party.

But there's an easy method to prevent this from happening to you. First, swap out your regular doorbell with a smart video doorbell camera. We recommend using one of the SkyBell Video Doorbell devices for this job. You can choose between a Total Connect 2.0 model and an Alarm.com model depending on which service you use with your system. Remember, you do not need special video monitoring service to get started with a SkyBell Video Doorbell. Total Connect 2.0 will allow a user to pair up to five (5) SkyBell devices per Alarm.com account, while Alarm.com provides support for one (1) SkyBell without true video monitoring service.

Next, configure your SkyBell device to work with your interactive service platform of either Total Connect 2.0 or Alarm.com. You can get push notifications on your phone whenever someone rings your SkyBell device. With the push of a button, you can pull up a live feed of the person at your door and communicate with them using two-way audio. When you see that it's the delivery person, greet them with a pleasant "Hello", and explain that you aren't home at the moment. Then invite them to step inside to drop off the package.

But how will the delivery person get inside? And how will they avoid setting off your security system? Easy. With a Z-Wave door lock, you can unlock the door, and you can disarm your alarm system using either the TC2 or ADC app on your phone. You might even consider making a smart scene to have your door automatically unlock as soon as your system is disarmed. Alarm Grid offers a wide selection of door locks to choose from. We recommend Z-Wave door locks, as they are super easy to program, and they can interface with nearly every modern wireless security system.

Once everything is in order, instruct the delivery person to go inside and leave the package near the door. If you're feeling extra groovy, you might invite them to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. It's hot out there, and your delivery driver would really appreciate the kind gesture. We'll leave that up to you though. If you don't want them walking through your house, then leaving a small snack or a tip by the front door will also show that you care.

Once the driver is gone, re-lock your door and re-arm your system. And just like that, you know that your package is nice and safe, and the porch pirate's plan has been foiled. It may also be a good idea to track any packages you order and know when you can expect them. Also make sure to take a good look at the delivery person when you let them inside. While fraudulent delivery drivers are very uncommon, they're not unheard of. If you're in doubt, instruct the driver to leave the package behind your house or behind some bushes so that you can retrieve it later. This is better than leaving the package wide open in front of your front door.

Of course, this setup will require monitoring service for accessing Total Connect 2.0 or Alarm.com. If your system isn't monitored, or if you don't have a security system, then Alarm Grid has you covered! We offer a wide selection of DIY security systems, including the Honeywell Lyric, the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, the 2GIG GC3e, and much more. We also offer monitoring plans for all budgets. This type of setup won't require anything fancy, and it's nothing that will break the bank. In the long run, it's worth it for your peace of mind!

If you want to learn more about Alarm Grid monitoring service, or if you have questions about protecting your deliveries, send an email to support@alarmgrid.com. We'll be happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have. Remember that our hours for checking email are from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Our friends at Alarm.com have a big reason to celebrate and party, as the virtual basketball team they sponsor has won the 2020 NBA 2K League Championship. Alarm Grid congratulates Alarm.com and Wizards District Gaming for their tremendous success on the virtual basketball court.

Wizards District Gaming, which is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment and serves the affiliate of the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA), has won the 2020 NBA 2K League Championship series over Warriors Gaming Squad. The Wizards won Game 4 in a best of 5 series to take home the title. The score of the final game was 70-55 in favor of Wizards District Gaming. By winning the championship, Wizards District Gaming has pocketed $420,000 in prize money. We're sure they will use these funds to fuel future gaming success.

Alarm.com has served as the primary sponsor of Wizards District Gaming throughout the 2020 NBA 2K League Season. The Alarm.com logo was proudly featured on the uniforms for the in-game ballers, as well as the real-life gamers controlling them. Those watching the matches would also notice the Alarm.com emblem decorating the virtual arena. Wizards District Gaming even used the Alarm.com Smart Home in Northern Virginia as their "War Room" for making draft pick selections earlier this year in February.

Director of eSports for Monumental Sports & Entertainment Andrew McNeill said of the victory, "Bringing the trophy back for the fans who have shown us such loyalty and support is so rewarding... We owe such a debt to them, so many of whom have been with us since the beginning, as well as those who contributed to the explosive growth in viewership that we saw this season. With our tremendous partners in streaming and linear broadcasts, we were able to reach audiences in unprecedented ways this year."

Our own team at Alarm Grid offers congratulations to Wizards District Gaming and Alarm.com for their championship. You can also become a member of the Alarm Grid team by signing up for monitoring! We offer a variety of monitoring plans that include access to Alarm.com. Check out our monitoring page for more details. And if you're interested, send an email to support@alarmgrid.com to get started. We check email from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. The Alarm Grid team looks forward to hearing from you soon!

We have learned that Alarm.com is planning to release new updates for their Android and iOS mobile apps. The new updates will make it easier to access your Alarm.com Video Doorbell Camera from your phone. General stability fixes and improvements will also be included in the updates.

The new Alarm.com Mobile App versions are Android Version 4.14.2 and iOS Version 4.15. These new versions include doorbell camera support to the Home Screen Quick Actions Option. This option is configurable through the App Settings Menu. When properly configured, you will be able to access the live feed for your video doorbell with a single, long press of the Alarm.com App icon.

As we have learned from prior experiences, Alarm.com usually has a bit of a delay between announcing their new app updates and them actually being available in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Don't fret if you don't see them right away. In fact, we don't expect them to appear until the start of September at the earliest. Our best estimate is that they will be made available in the first or second week of September, but it really depends on how quickly Alarm.com gets the bell rolling.

All Alarm.com users are encouraged to download the latest versions when available, as they should also include general stability fixes and improvements to provide a better user experience overall. Keep an eye out for them in the next couple of weeks. If you have any questions about the Alarm.com Mobile App, or if you are interested in starting monitoring service for access to Alarm.com, reach out to us by emailing support@alarmgrid.com. We check our email from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Alarm Grid is back with another video recap! This time, we have six (6) new videos to share. We spent a lot of time this week focusing on the 2GIG GC3e, but we also covered some other security equipment as well. We hope you enjoy this latest batch of videos. Let's check them out!

Properly Opening Up a 2GIG GC3e

I show you how to open up the 2GIG GC3e Security Panel. Before opening the system, you must loosen the set screw at the bottom. If the panel is wall-mounted, you can press the panel against the wall and lift upward. Otherwise, lay the panel face-down, and pop off the back plate using your finger or a screwdriver. Opening up the GC3e Panel is often done to access the system's terminal block and backup battery.

Powering On the 2GIG GC3e

I show you how to power on the 2GIG GC3e Alarm System. The system uses a 14VDC, 1.7A transformer for primary power. If primary power is lost, then a backup battery will keep the system running. When powering on the 2GIG GC3e, we recommend connecting the backup battery first, followed by the transformer. Alarm wiring is not included with the 2GIG GC3e, so you must supply your own. We recommend using a Honeywell LT-Cable for this purpose.

Deleting a Defective Z-Wave Device from the GC3 or GC3e

I show you how to delete a defective Z-Wave device from a 2GIG GC3 or 2GIG GC3e. Some reasons why a Z-Wave device might be displayed as failed include the device being powered down or out of wireless range. Deleting a defective Z-Wave device is usually a good option if the device is lost or destroyed so that a traditional exclusion process cannot be performed. Any failed Z-Wave device will have an error icon next to it in the Smart Home Devices Menu.

Setting Up a Cellular Communicator for a 2GIG GC3e

I show you how to add a cellular communicator to a 2GIG GC3e Security System. Doing this will allow you to activate the 2GIG GC3e System for monitoring service. And if the monitoring plan includes access to Alarm.com, then you will also be able to control the system remotely through that platform. The 2GIG GC3e has a side slot for you to easily install a cellular radio. Remember to power down the system completely before installing the cellular communicator.

Powering the TG-1 Express Using the On-Board Terminals

I show you how you can power the Telguard TG-1 Express using its on-board power terminals. The Telguard TG-1 Express is used to take over the phone dialer for a panel so that it can communicate across a cellular network. Normally, the TG-1 uses a single RJ31X connection for power and communication with the panel. But if the existing power wires from the RJ31X cable are cut, then you can instead make the auxiliary power connections at the TG-1 on-board terminals.

Properly Closing the Qolsys IQ Panel 2

I show you how to properly close the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Security System. To properly close the system, you want to align the top tabs first. Then you should lock the bottom two (2) tabs into place. Lastly, make sure the top four (4) tabs remain closed, and click them into place if they are not. The panel will make a strange noise every half-hour if it is not closed properly. The main reason to open the IQ2 is to replace its backup battery every few years.

Last year, we checked out the Alarm.com Alexa Skill that allows you to set up your Alarm.com Security System for use with Alexa Voice Commands. Today, we're taking a closer look at the features offered from the integration. This includes all of the system commands you can make through Alexa.

With the Alarm.com Amazon Alexa Skill, you can use Alexa Voice Commands to control your system, check its current status, and perform home automation functions. Getting started is as easy as enabling the Alarm.com Alexa Skill within the Skills & Games section of the Alexa App. You can easily find the skill by searching "Alarm.com". From there, all you need to do is click the button to enable the skill and provide your Alarm.com account information.

Make sure to choose the Alarm.com Skill, not the Alarm.com Smart Home Skill. The standard Alarm.com Skill supports a much more robust selection of commands than the Alarm.com Smart Home Skill. You can see the standard Alarm.com Skill in the picture below.

There are some important things to keep in mind regarding the Alarm.com Skill and Alexa Voice Commands. For one, you cannot use Alexa to Arm Away. Only Stay Arming is possible through Alexa Voice Commands. Second, certain "Secure" commands, such as disarming or opening a garage door, will require you to provide a PIN code as part of the process. This is done for security purposes, and it prevents unauthorized users from controlling your system through Alexa Verbal Commands. Please note that Secure Commands must be enabled when setting up the Alarm.com Skill. You will create a 4-digit PIN as part of the process.

Once you have the Alarm.com Alexa Skill set up, there are many commands available. We will go through a list of some of the possibilities. Keep in mind that commands are initiated by saying "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to...", as that lets Alexa know to send the command through Alarm.com. Also remember that Secure Commands using a 4-digit code are only available if you enable Secure Commands within the Alexa App. When providing the 4-digit code, it is advised that you speak out each digit, rather than making shortcuts. For example, if your PIN is 1-2-3-4, then say "One-Two-Three-Four", rather than "Twelve Thirty-Four".

• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to Arm Stay."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to Arm Stay Partition One."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to Arm Stay with no Entry Delay." - Remember to Disarm through Alarm.com later to prevent a false alarm.
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to Disarm with [PIN Code]."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to Disarm Partition One with [PIN Code]."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com what is the state of my system?"
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com is my panel Disarmed?"
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to switch ON the hallway light."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to turn the hallway light all the way up."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to turn ON all the lights."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com switch OFF the bedroom light."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com turn OFF all the lights."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to set the bedroom light to 70 percent."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to lower the hallway light to 25."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to lock the front door."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to lock all the doors."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to unlock the front door with [PIN Code]."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to unlock the doors with [PIN Code]."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to open the garage door with [PIN Code]."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to close the garage door."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com if the garage door is open."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to make it warmer." - This increases the temperature by 2 degrees Fahrenheit.
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to make it cooler." - This decreases the temperature by 2 degrees Fahrenheit.
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com what the thermostat temperature is."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to set the temperature to 70."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to record a clip on the bedroom camera."
• "Alexa, ask Alarm.com to run the Scene Movie Night."

We know that's a very extensive list, but we wanted to show you just how much can be done through Amazon Alexa Voice Commands. If you have any questions about the Alarm.com Alexa Skill, or if you are interested in signing-up for monitoring service to gain access to Alarm.com, then please email us at support@alarmgrid.com. We check our email from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Big changes are coming to the Z-Wave Alliance. The organization has established a new Standards Development Organization (SDO) structure to further improve upon the home automation technology. Qolsys and Alarm.com have both been named as founding members of the new Z-Wave SDO structure.

For anyone unfamiliar with the Z-Wave Alliance, it is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and promoting Z-Wave technology. The newly formed SDO structure provides members with special opportunities to participate in the development of the popular home automation protocol. This includes new technical workgroups and committees with an emphasis on operational, technical, and marketing needs.

What excites Alarm Grid about the announcement is the inclusion of Qolsys and Alarm.com as founding members of the SDO structure. This is great news, as we expect both of these companies to contribute greatly in making Z-Wave technology even more accessible to users of security systems. This is great news for anyone who builds around their home or business alarm system for home automation functionality.

Alarm.com Chief Product Officer Dan Kerzner said of the news, "Alarm.com has used Z-Wave for more than a decade to help expand our platform so that millions of people can control and manage an ever-growing range of devices that work together to protect and automate their home or business... Along with the other founding members, we remain committed to shaping this evolving and impactful technology.”

In addition to Alarm.com and Qolsys, five (5) other companies have been named as founding members for the Z-Wave Alliance SDO structure. Alarm Grid has been eagerly awaiting the release of the next generation of Z-Wave devices, also known as the 700-Series. The current generation of Z-Wave, known as the 500-Series, or Z-Wave Plus, has proven to be a huge success in the field of home automation. We expect the Z-Wave Alliance to continue their triumphs moving forward, and this new organizational structure should only help.

Alarm Grid has always been major supporters of the Z-Wave Alliance and their work in promoting Z-Wave technology and educating automation professionals and end users alike. The group maintains an extensive list of Z-Wave-certified products, which includes technical information and specifications. If you ever want to learn more about the various Z-Wave products out there, we strongly recommend checking out their certified product database. You will likely need to find everything you know about your current Z-Wave home automation products, as well as any Z-Wave products that you may be considering in the future.

If you have any questions about how you can get started with Z-Wave technology and home automation, then please reach out to us! The ability to use Z-Wave devices like lights, locks, and thermostats is a fantastic perk of owning a security system. We offer many monitoring plans that will allow you to control your Z-Wave devices from anywhere, simply by using a mobile app or web browser. To learn more, send an email to support@alarmgrid.com. We check our email from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Alarm.com has announced that a firmware update will be coming for their slimline version of the SkyBell Doorbell Camera. This refers to the SkyBell ADC-VDB105 and the SkyBell ADC-VDB106 for use with Alarm.com. The update will be pushed down automatically to the devices in the coming weeks.

According to Alarm.com, Firmware Upgrade Version 3062 will fix an issue that caused the ADC-VDB105 and ADC-VDB106 to reboot periodically. The update also improves upon the motion detection function for these cameras. Alarm.com refers to the improved motion detection as "Motion Detection 2.0".

Any camera that has its motion sensitivity set to anything other than the default value of Medium will automatically opt into Motion Detection 2.0 upon the completion of the update. Cameras with the default motion sensitivity setting of Medium will continue using Motion Detection 1.0.

Motion Detection 2.0 offers many advantages over the previous version. The enhanced motion detection uses a fixed lower portion of the screen, and it takes object size into account. Additionally, the sensitivity slider can increase and decrease the size of the fixed detection area and the minimum object size needed to activate the camera. You can also disable PIR detection entirely by choosing "Extremely High" sensitivity.

Once the update is complete, a user will be able to switch between the old and new versions of motion detection via the Alarm.com customer website. After logging into Alarm.com, choose Video > Video Device Settings > Select Device > Video Device Info > Motion Detection.

In order to receive the automatic update, simply have your slimline ADC-VDB105 or ADC-VDB106 powered on and connected with the Alarm.com servers. Alarm.com will be pushing the upgrade down to these devices during an overnight update process. Devices that are not online to receive the upgrade can be updated manually at a later date.

Please note that this update only applies to the slimline models. The "round" ADC-VDB101 and ADC-VDB102 are not receiving an update. Also keep in mind that this is for the Alarm.com versions of the SkyBell only. This does not apply to the standard SkyBell Doorbell Cameras that are used with Total Connect 2.0 and the native SkyBell App.

If you have any questions about this upcoming update, please email us at support@alarmgrid.com. And remember to check out our monitoring page to learn more about our monitoring services. We check our email during our regular business hours of 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!