Alarm.com Posts

Alarm.com now offers a new burglary deterrence feature available from some of its cameras. Alarm Triggered Warning Sounds, once configured, will cause selected cameras to emit a siren when an alarm is triggered. This feature can be activated based on sensors, partitions, or the entire panel.

One crucial note about this feature is that it is only compatible with non-doorbell Alarm.com cameras that support the two-way audio feature. A full list of compatible cameras, with links, is available in our FAQ that walks you through setting up this new deterrence feature.

The requirements for this feature are fairly simple:

• A security service package with Panel/InApp panics enabled by your alarm dealer.
• A video service package with the Audio for Non-doorbell Cameras add-on enabled by your alarm dealer.
• At least one camera compatible with the MTWS feature.
• An IQ4 Panel (IQ Panel 4, IQ4 Hub, or IQ4 NS). You can't do this with a video-only account.

See? Easy peasy! If you have an Alarm.com camera that supports two-way audio, and it's not a doorbell camera, then it likely supports this feature. On general principle, be sure your camera is updated to the latest firmware. For most cameras, the minimum firmware to support this feature is Firmware Version 0.6.7.852+. The exception is the ADC-V515, which requires Firmware Version 0.0.5.476+.

This feature is easy to set up. Just use the Smart Rules Builder through either the customer website or the Alarm.com app available from Google or Apple. Once you log into your account it takes about two minutes to create the rule needed to utilize this feature.

The Alarm Triggered Warning Sounds (ATWS) feature works hand-in-hand with the Manually Triggered Warning Sounds (MTWS) feature. If you have any MTWS capable cameras, then you know you will be able to configure the ATWS feature and vice versa. Manually Triggered Warning Sounds are not automated. Instead, a user must manually trigger the sound while logged into either the app or the website. You can check out how to use MTWS here.

When you manually trigger a warning sound from one or more cameras, the sound duration is 30 seconds, unless you manually turn the warning sound off sooner. When the warning sound is alarm triggered, the duration is five (5) minutes, or until the alarm is canceled by a user disarming the system where the alarm occurred.

Scenario 1: Manual Trigger

You're away from your home or business. You receive an alert that motion has been detected by one of your cameras. You log into the app and, pulling up the live view for your camera see a person or animal in an area of your property where they don't belong. While you're viewing the live video, and assuming this is a compatible camera, you can choose to trigger a warning sound that will hopefully scare the person or animal away. In this scenario the Manually Triggered Warning Sound can be used to great effect.

Scenario 2: Alarm Trigger

You're at home, and your system is armed in the Home mode. While you're asleep an intruder attempts to enter your home by breaking a first floor window. They may have triggered an alert from one of your outdoor cameras, but you slept through it. The window they're attempting to enter through has a glass break detector associated with it and this detector is active when the system is armed in Home mode. The intruder breaks the window, but the alarm goes off. This causes not only the alarm panel, but also your outdoor cameras to begin sounding a siren. The would-be intruder hears the sirens and leaves, preventing an actual break in.

One limitation of all-in-one panels is that they aren't high-current siren friendly. That's not to say that you can't add one of these sirens, but it takes some work and it can get expensive. Not to mention, where do you put the equipment for it? By allowing the cameras that offer siren sounds to use those sirens in an alarm situation you're adding extra sirens to the system at no additional cost, assuming you planned to have compatible cameras anyway. In my opinion, this is a great new feature. It's also an example of how Alarm.com continues to add value to their products without requiring additional investment.

Alarm.com will soon add a Discover tab to both the customer app and website. This page will educate you, the customer, about the features and capabilities of your system. It will also show recommendations for new features you can set up, or that you can add after discussing with your dealer.

Below, the Discover Tab is shown as seen in the Customer App:

Alarm.com continues to innovate constantly. They'll soon be rolling out another innovation in the form of the Discover tab. This will show up as a new menu selection in both the customer app and website. Within the Discover tab, you will see short-form content that empowers you to take full advantage of all the features currently available with your system.

Below, the Discover Tab is shown as seen in the Customer Website:

In addition, the content provided will introduce new features and recommendations for you based on your current system configuration. This will highlight new or additional features you may want to take advantage of. If a feature is currently available with your existing plan, you will see a "Setup" button at the bottom of the section where you can configure the feature. Some cards provide information only. Those cards won't have a "Setup" option.

There will be four (4) categories of information provided in the Discover Tab. They are:

• New: This section will contain information about new products and features that are available in Alarm.com. Any featured item with a "Setup" button is available to you currently, without adding any equipment or changing your monitoring plan.
• Recommended: This section will contain ten (10) recommended products and features that you're currently not using. If a card has a "Learn More" button, clicking it will take you to the knowledge base, where you can learn more about the feature. These options may require a plan or equipment update.
• Features: Here, you can view general products and features available to use with Alarm.com.
• Expand My System: This section will highlight products and features that you can add to enhance your system and better secure your home or business. These options will usually require you to add products or update your plan.

We don't have a firm date on when the Discover option will be rolled out. Presumably, it will require an app update, so that's one way to be on the lookout for it. So far, my Alarm.com app is showing that it's up to date, so I'll be on the lookout for an update in the near future. If you try out this new educational resource, drop a comment below and let us know what you think. As always, we look forward to hearing from you!

Starting on April 23, 2024 an improvement is being implemented to the arming process for the Qolsys IQ Panel 4 and IQ Pro. This change increases customer awareness of when their sensors are being bypassed during remote arming. Previously, it was often unclear when zones were being bypassed.

The behavior changes slightly, depending on which panel version the user has. For IQ Panel 4 systems below firmware 4.5.0, and for IQ Pro systems below firmware 4.3.0n, the "Force Bypass" checkbox will be hidden both on the customer app and website to signal when the Auto Bypass feature will be applied to any open sensors and trouble conditions.

For IQ4 Panels on firmware 4.5.0 or higher, and IQ Pro panels on firmware 4.3.0n or higher, when the Auto Bypass feature is enabled, the Force Bypass checkbox will be hidden on the user app and website. This is to communicate to the user that Auto Bypass is enabled in the panel. Anything that would prevent arming is already going to be bypassed.

If Auto Bypass is disabled at the panel on these versions, the Force Bypass checkbox, which has now been renamed to "Bypass all open sensors/trouble conditions" will appear and will be checked by default. If the user deselects the checkbox and there are sensor open or trouble conditions that would prevent arming, the system will fail to arm.

Be sure your Alarm.com app is on version 5.3.1 or higher. This will allow you to take full advantage of this enhancement to the Alarm.com remote arming feature. To check whether or not your system has the auto-bypass feature enabled, you can tap the gray bar at the top of the main screen, then Settings > Advanced Settings > Enter Installer or Dealer Code (1111 or 2222 by default) > Installation > Security and Arming. You can search from the top of the screen, just type in "Auto" and you should be taken directly to this setting. The "Auto Bypass" feature is enabled, by default.

ISC West is the premiere trade show in our industry. It happens in Las Vegas each spring and all the manufacturers of security products show up. Of course, we're interested in Qolsys, Alarm.com, Resideo, AlarmNet, and 2GIG, but there are many more! They'll display all their best new gadgets.

This year Alarm.com showed up to ISC West loaded for bear! They rolled out several new offerings in the form of both products and services. Many, but not all of these devices were targeting commercial applications. We'll list the big new items below:

Alarm.com

Outdoor Floodlight Camera and VizBlinder:

The Outdoor Floodlight Camera is a new product. As the name implies, it mounts outside in darker areas where an intruder may attempt to enter or gain entry to an area where they shouldn't be.

The new Outdoor Floodlight Camera features 4MP video and Two-Way voice options. It has 3,000 Lumen floodlights, allowing you to customize your lighting options. It's suitable for homes and small- to medium-sized businesses. Additionally, because it uses video analytics, the floodlight can automatically respond to threats when unwanted visitors or vehicles are detected. It can activate red and blue warning lights and also play warning sounds from a powerful siren.

VizBlinder will incorporate new hardware as part of the new feature. It allows the central station operator to fill a room with a vision obscuring white haze. This is done after the operator has accessed the available Alarm.com cameras and determined that an intruder is present. If cameras that support Two-Way audio are in use the operator will be able to engage with the intruder prior to activating VizBlinder. If I were an intruder, and the room suddenly began filling with an unknown white fog, I would skedaddle!

Remote Video Monitoring Console:

The Remote Video Monitoring Console (RVM) is a system that allows central station operators to offer "round-the-clock concierge video monitoring and proactive defense services to customers with Alarm.com Video Analytics cameras." Operators will receive immediate alerts when a vehicle or person enters an area that is restricted. Through the RVM, the operator can review the situation and, if necessary, intervene through the RVM using hardware located on the protected site. This includes using the two-way voice feature of some cameras to talk to the unexpected visitor.

Because both the cameras and the RVM Console are provided by Alarm.com, this is truly a seamless end-to-end integration. The fact that Alarm.com makes the cameras, video analytics, and the central station hardware, there is no special interface equipment required. The Remote Video Monitoring Console is what allows the central station operator to deploy VizBlinder, which we outlined in the previous section.

Sunflower Labs Autonomous Security Drone:

Alarm.com has partnered with Sunflower Labs to offer an autonomous outdoor security drone. Sensor activity on the alarm system and Video Analytics trigger the drone to deploy and investigate suspicious events. It can cover 10 acres in 90 seconds, making it perfect for larger commercial and residential properties. The drone provides "eyes in the sky" for property owners and central station operators alike, and puts intruders on notice that they're being watched. Presumably, central station operators can also deploy the drone based on information they glean through the RVM Console.

Shooter Detection Systems

Adding to their commercial offerings, Alarm.com introduces the Shooter Detection Systems (SDS) Indoor Gunshot Sensor. In the event of an active shooter situation, this system allows for a faster and more accurate response while also providing valuable information to both police and medical first responders.

The SDS sensor uses dual-authentication technology identifying both the acoustic and the infrared signature of a gunshot. It has an accuracy rating of less than 1 false alert per 5 million hours of use. Gunshot detection signals are automatically forwarded to Alarm.com and the appropriate central station is alerted within seconds. With the information provided by the system, the operator can inform the authorities exactly where the incident was reported.

Resideo

First Alert® VX5 Indoor Camera

Adding to their recently released First Alert® VX1 video doorbell and First Alert® VX3 outdoor camera Resideo introduces the new First Alert® VX5 Indoor Camera at ISC West. Like most of these products, the VX5 is not yet available, so information about it is scarce, but we know it will offer these features:

Advanced Event Detection
• Privacy Mode
• Integration with ProSeries Security Panel
• Compact, Versatile Design
• 2MP resolution and day and night vision with WDR
• Two-way audio
• Easy to Use App – TC 2.0 - for full control of the connected home or office

2GIG

E+ Extended Range Sensors

2GIG brings their new E+ Extended Range 900 MHz sensors to ISC West. This is an exciting addition to their portfolio. This product line will capitalize on the extended range capabilities of the 900 MHz wireless frequency. The E+ lineup will offer up to 1.2 Mile (2km) transmitting range. These sensors are bi-directional and fully encrypted with extended battery life as compared to regular 2GIG 345 MHz sensors. As with most products rolled out at ISC West, these are not yet available, but a data sheet for each is linked below. We will link to the products once they become available for sale.

Available sensors, so far:

• 2GIG GB1E-900 - Glassbreak Detector
• 2GIG DW10E-900 - Door/Window Sensor
• 2GIG PIR1E-900 - PIR Motion Detector
• 2GIG DW30E-900 - Outdoor Door/Window Sensor
• 2GIG SMKT-900 - Smoke Detector

Qolsys

We saved Qolsys for last because they didn't really roll anything out especially for ISC West. Qolsys finished 2023 strong with the release of their PowerG Everywhere 900 MHz automation devices and the Qolsys IQ4 NS no screen security panel.

PowerG Everywhere combines the excellent transmitting range we've come to expect from PowerG with the battery-savings and simplicity of use we get from Z-Wave. The resulting product is a battery sipping tour de force. So far, they offer the following PowerG Automation products which are compatible with the IQ Panel 4, IQ4 Hub, and IQ4 NS running firmware 4.4.0+ and the IQ Pro with firmware 4.3.0n+:

• IQ Lock-PG
• IQ Dimmer-PG
• IQ Switch-PG
• IQ Socket-PG
• IQ Smart Plug-PG
• IQ Outdoor Plug-PG

The IQ4 NS is a budget-friendly panel based on the IQ Panel 4. It's nearly identical to the IQ4 Hub, in fact, with one exception. It does not include a touchscreen interface. Instead, programming is performed using the IQ Installer App, available as a free download from the iOS and Google app stores. You can read all about the IQ4 NS and PowerG Everywhere in our blog posts here and here respectively.

Recently, we told you about T-Mobile customers who, in the past received MMS notifications with video thumbnails, but now receive SMS notifications with a link. Alarm.com will soon unveil a Push Notification Migration Tool to encourage and help users to switch from SMS to push notifications.

You may be asking, what's the difference between SMS, MMS, and push notifications? SMS or Short Message Service is a text message delivered to your phone through your phone carrier. Changes undertaken by the cell phone carrier can affect how and when you receive SMS notifications, or whether you receive them. These changes are outside the control of Alarm.com.

MMS is Multi-Media Service. An MMS message is sent for video notifications when a thumbnail preview is part of the notification setup. Changes to the way T-Mobile, and now Sprint which was acquired by T-Mobile a few years ago, handle MMS delivery caused the recent change in the way video notifications were delivered to those customers. Again, this is something that is outside the control of Alarm.com.

A push notification is generated by an app. The Alarm.com app can generate a push notification for any notification that may be generated through your alarm system that is connected to Alarm.com. Here are a few examples of why Alarm.com believes Push Notifications are superior to SMS or MMS:

Alarm.com will soon unveil a Push Notification Migration Tool to steer customers toward using push notifications. You can check on the status of the tool rollout here. Not everyone will see the migration tool prompt. Being offered the prompt is based on the login used to access the Alarm.com app. At first, only a very specific group of customers will be targeted. That is customers with exactly one (1) SMS contact and one (1) push device on a network known to have had problems with SMS or MMS recently. This includes T-Mobile, Sprint, and Rogers (Canada) customers.

The full requirements are:

• The login must be the primary login.
• The login must not be linked to other systems.
• There must be exactly one enabled SMS/MMS contact address on the account and no other disabled SMS contact addresses.
• At least one enabled notification rule with an SMS recipient.
• There must only be one active push device on the account, and it must be the one the customer is using. Push notification rules need not already exist for that active push device.

When the tool is rolled out, customers who fit the parameters mentioned above will see a message like this:

As you can see, this is strictly a voluntary change. Users have the option to Migrate now, be reminded later, or never have the prompt come up again. If you use the migration tool and switch to push notifications, your SMS/MMS notifications will no longer be active. However, the SMS contact information will be retained in the address book.

At some point, the switch to push notifications may become mandatory, at least for some cellular customers. If it does, it will likely be due to changes undertaken by the cellular carrier that make the delivery of notifications less than optimal. If that occurs, we'll be sure to let you know about it here in our blog.

FortrezZ is discontinuing another of its Z-Wave products due to its inability to source some required components. For this reason, Alarm.com no longer recommends its installation. Installed units will continue to work, and Alarm.com will continue to offer troubleshooting support for them.

This may be the result of the supply chain issues experienced a few years ago. FortrezZ was forced to discontinue the MIMOlite some time ago, and now we're seeing the discontinuation of their Water Valve. Products already purchased and/or installed are not affected by this news.

If you already have a FortrezZ Water Valve (WV-01) but haven't installed it yet, no worries. It should still install and operate as expected. If you have any problems related to integrating the water valve with Alarm.com, you can still get assistance from tech support. If you are an Alarm Grid monitoring customer, we offer free technical support as well.

If you were thinking of purchasing a FortrezZ Water Valve, but missed the opportunity, you have other options available. We offer the Alarm.com Z-Wave Plus Smart Water Valve and Meter, and the Alarm.com Z-Wave Plus Smart Water Valve. The Alarm.com smart water valves use Z-Wave Plus and can be used with any Alarm.com compatible panel that supports Z-Wave or Z-Wave Plus.

Left, Alarm.com Z-Wave Plus Smart Water Valve with Meter. Right, Alarm.com Z-Wave Plus Smart Water Valve:

In addition to the Alarm.com options, we also offer the Qolsys IQ Water Valve. It's available in two (2) separate kits. The PowerG Kit offers the IQ Water Valve with two (2) DSC PG9985 Flood Sensors. The S-Line Kit offers the water valve with three (3) Qolsys IQ Flood-S 319.5 MHz S-Line Flood Sensors. If purchasing one of these kits, be sure to take into account what panel the kit is meant to work with. All Qolsys IQ Panel 4 versions can support PowerG while only some can support 319.5 MHz S-Line sensors.

Below left, IQ Water Valve w/ Qolsys S-Line Flood Sensors. Right, IQ Water Valve w/ PowerG Flood Sensors:

A smart water valve is most advantageous when used in conjunction with flood sensors. If a water leak is detected by a sensor, it can alert the alarm system. Then, the system can use that information to run a rule or scene to automatically shut off the water main to the home or business. Having this type of protection can save on homeowner's insurance premiums, and can prevent widespread damage and loss to your home or business.

Specifications for Alarm.com ADC-SWM150:

• Device Type: Z-Wave Plus Smart Water Valve and Meter
• Power: 100-240VAC
• Operating Temperature: 14°F to 185°F
• Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor Use Only
• Valve Size: 1"
• Valve Threads: Male NPT
• Valve Portability: NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 Standards
• Control Unit Dimensions: 2.75"L x 4.0"W x 1.25"D
• Meter and Valve Dimensions: 11"L x 5.75"W x 3.75"D
• Actuator and Valve Dimensions: 2.0"L x 4.5"W x 3.75"D
• Maximum Compatible Pipe Size: 1.25"
• Power Supply Cable Length: 19.7 Feet
• Package Contents: Control Unit, Valve & Meter, Enclosure, Power Adapter, Manual Shut-Off Handle, Cable Ties (x5), Wall Bracket, Wall Anchors (x2), Screws (x2)

Specifications for Alarm.com ADC-SWV100:

• Power: 100 - 240 VAC (50/60 Hz)
• Operating Temperature: 14°F to 185°F (-10°C to 85°C)
• Communication: Z-Wave Plus
• Indoor/Outdoor: For indoor use only
• Valve Specifications:
  • Size: 1"
  • Threads: Female NPT
  • Potability: Conforms to NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 standards for potability
• Control Unit Dimensions: 2.75 x 4.0 x 1.25” (6.99 x 10.2 x 3.18 cm)
• Actuator and Valve Dimensions: 2.0 x 4.5 x 3.75” (5.08 x 11.43 x 9.53 cm)
• Maximum Compatible Pipe Size: 1.25" (3.175 cm)
• Power Supply Cable Length: 19.7’ (6 m)
• Plumbing Certifications:
  • ICC-ES-PMG (compliance with NSF 61 and NSF 372)
  • Massachusetts Accepted Plumbing Products Registry

Specifications for Qolsys IQ Water Valve:

• Product Type: Smart Water Valve
• Kit Contents: Qolsys IQ Smart Water Valve, Qolsys IQ Flood-S Sensor
• Communication: Z-Wave Plus V2 700-Series
• Range: Approx. 130 Feet Indoors or 450 Feet Outdoors
• Application: Quarter-Turn Ball Valve Pipes from 1/2" to 1-1/4"
• Maximum Force: 8 N.m
• Ingress Protection: IP66 (Waterproof & Dustproof)
• Power Supply: Plug-in Transformer - AC (110V 60Hz / 220V 50Hz), DC (12V/1A) - Barrel jack
• Weight: 603g (21.2 oz)
• Size: 5.83" x 3.78" x 5.24" (148mm x 96mm x 133mm)
• Operating Temperature: 14°F to 121°F (-10℃ to 49.4℃)

Specifications for DSC PG9985 Flood Sensor:

• Device Type: Wireless Flood Sensor
• Operating Frequency: PowerG 915 MHz
• Wireless Range: ~2,000 Feet Open Air
• Water Detection Probe: Attached w/ 6-Foot Cord
• Batteries: Single CR123A (~8 Year Life)
• Mounting Hardware: Double-Sided Foam Tape (Included)
• Dimensions: 3.1875" x 1.25" x 1.0" (81mm x 34mm x 25mm)
• Operating Temperature: 14°F to 122°F (-10℃ to 50℃)
• Weight: 53g (1.9oz)

Specifications for Qolsys IQ Flood-S Flood Sensor:

• Device Type: Wireless Flood Sensor
• Operating Frequency: 319.5 MHz
• Wireless Range: ~600 Nominal Feet
• Water Detection Probe: Attached w/ 6-Foot Cord
• Signal Outputs: Tamper & Tamper Restore, Alarm & Alarm Restore, Low-Battery
• Supervisory Interval: 70 Minutes
• Batteries: Two (2) Lithium CR2032 Coin Batteries
• Mounting Hardware: Double-Sided Foam Tape (Included)
• Dimensions: 2.5"L x 1"W x 0.5"D (64mm x 25mm x 13mm)
• Operating Temperature: 14°F to 122°F (-10℃ to 50℃)

In addition to the options listed above, there is also the Honeywell/Resideo 5821 that can be used in conjunction with the FP280 flood probe. This sensor will work with any of the Qolsys IQ4 panels that support 345 MHz RF devices. A panel with one or more of these sensors can be used to automate any of the water valves listed in this post.

What are your thoughts on the discontinuation of another FortrezZ Z-Wave device? Have you encountered similar issues with other products? Drop us a comment and let us hear from you. If you have a specific support question, you can send us an email to support@alarmgrid.com. We're here providing support Monday - Friday from 9:00 am until at least 6:00 pm Eastern Time each day. We list holiday hours and closings in our blog.

UPDATE 3:00 PM EST 02/22/24:

The nationwide AT&T outage has been resolved and all affected users, including alarm communicators, have been restored to normal operation. AT&T is still investigating the cause of the outage, and no concrete information is yet available. If a forensic analysis is made public, we will comment on it in a separate post.

Both AlarmNet and Alarm.com show that service for customers with AT&T communicators has been fully restored. If you have an AT&T communicator that still seems to be offline, attempt to power cycle the device.

Always put a monitored system on test with the monitoring station before performing any kind of maintenance.

For most stand-alone communicators, you can do this by unplugging the battery and the primary power supply, waiting about 30 seconds, and then powering back on by plugging the battery, and then the power supply back in. If your communicator gets its power from a VISTA alarm panel, like the LTEM-XA, then power cycle the entire system. Power down by unplugging the panel's battery and transformer. Power up by plugging in the transformer first, and then the battery.

For older All-in-One systems, like the LynxTouch panels, you'll need to power cycle the entire system. Do this by opening the panel and unplugging the battery, then unplugging the transformer. When powering back up, plug the battery in first, then the transformer.

The PROA7 and PROA7PLUS panels have a reboot option through the Tools Menu. From the Home Screen, tap Menu (≡) > scroll down, tap Tools > Enter Installer Code (4112 by default) > scroll down and tap Reboot.

If you have a Qolsys touchscreen system, be sure to go through the panel's menu to reboot, rather than removing the battery and DC power. Not following the proper power-down or reboot procedure can damage the panel. Tap the gray bar at the top of the screen, then tap Settings > Advanced Settings > Enter Installer or Dealer Code (1111 or 2222 respectively, by default) > Panel Reboot (↻).

ORIGINAL POST:

A nationwide outage, beginning this morning at approximately 3:30 AM, is affecting both mobile phones and alarm communicators. The outage seems to be limited to AT&T, though there were early reports of issues with T-Mobile also. According to T-Mobile, their service is working normally now.

AlarmNet has posted this notice on the AlarmNet360 page:

Alarm.com has posted this notice:

It is important to note that this is a carrier outage, not an AlarmNet, Total Connect 2.0, or Alarm.com outage, meaning this is not something Resideo or Alarm.com can resolve. As new information becomes available, we will update it here. As an AT&T Subscriber in the Louisville, KY area, I can report that I have no cellular service at this time. AT&T recommends that their wireless users take advantage of WIFI calling wherever possible, until this issue is resolved.

This outage does potentially affect your ability to remotely control your system, to receive notifications from your system, and your system's ability to report alarm and other signals to a central station, but only if you have an AT&T communicator tied to the system or have an AT&T Mobile Device and no access to WIFI. To our knowledge, Verizon communicators are unaffected.

If your system reports a trouble condition related to the cellular outage, you can silence any audible alert by acknowledging the trouble condition. For users with touchscreen panels, this will usually involve touching the notification message and then acknowledging it on the next screen.

For VISTA users, a disarm command should be entered. This is accomplished by entering a valid 4-digit user code, and then pressing the 1 or OFF key. Once the outage has been restored, you will need to perform a disarm command again to clear the trouble condition from the display.

Most wired DSC panels indicate a trouble condition by displaying a triangle with an exclamation point inside. Pressing [*] [2] and then viewing the number or numbers displayed will explain what the condition is. A four usually (4) indicates a Comm Failure. You can see information about how to view DSC trouble conditions here. DSC Impassa users can see the Install Guide here. Information about trouble codes is on page 72. You can see a DSC PowerSeries troubleshooting guide here.

Shooter Detection Systems and its parent company Alarm.com are currently promoting the #TakeAction initiative to advocate for gun safety. In the United States, people are increasingly afraid to go to work, school, church, and even the grocery store.

Shooter Detection Systems (SDS) sensors offer a combination of acoustic listening with infrared (IR) detection. When a shot is fired within a sensor's detection range, the combination of the sound and the infrared signature caused by the muzzle flash cause a signal to be sent. All processing takes place at the sensor, so you don't have to worry that an SDS sensor is "listening in" on your conversation.

They boast a 99.9% accuracy rating with less than 1 false alert in 5 million hours of use. Shooter Detection Systems holds 9 technology patents (so far). Having a system like this in place means that if Heaven forbid, an active shooter situation unfolds, no humans have to call for help, putting themselves and those around them in further danger.

CES is the Consumer Electronic Showcase. It's a trade show, and when it comes to consumer electronics it's THE trade show. At CES-24, Alarm.com and Shooter Detection Systems unveiled an initiative they call #TakeAction. It is designed to help individuals take control of their personal safety by advocating for the installation of an SDS or similar system.

At this site, Shooter Detection Systems offers letter and email templates that will assist individuals in writing to request proactive gun safety measures. There are templates for students to their school administrators, for parents to their child's school, and for employees to write to their employers.

There are also templates for letters or emails from consumers to local businesses. These businesses may include malls, movie theatres, concert venues, churches, or any other place where crowds may gather.

Finally, there are templates available for individuals to write to their representatives in Congress. This letter or email seeks to make members of Congress aware of the type of protection provided by Shooter Detection Systems, and encourages them to promote public gun safety in any way possible. From Congress, this may take the form of safety and security grant funding.

As mentioned above, Alarm.com is the parent company of Shooter Detection Systems. They acquired SDS in late 2020 and there are plans to offer indoor gunshot detection as part of the Alarm.com for Business platform. We don't yet know what will be required to use this service, but as information becomes available, we'll provide it in future posts. Stay tuned!

Alarm Grid and Alarm.com customers in Ameren, IL can sign up for the Peak Time Savings Program. Once enrolled, you will receive a $50 e-gift card. For each subsequent year you remain enrolled, you will receive a $25 e-gift card. This is another way your smart thermostat can pay for itself.

We've written about the Give Back, Get Back program numerous times in the past. Many different utility companies offer a similar incentive program, and each company has its name for the program. Some offer rebates, others may offer bill credits. The incentive amounts also vary. The information included here is specific to the Ameren, IL program.

To qualify for this incentive, you just need the following:

• Be a residential electric customer in Ameren, IL, with service in your name.
• Use an internet-connected, qualifying smart thermostat.
• Sign up for the program, which allows the Ameren, IL electric company to make small adjustments to your thermostat remotely, during peak usage times.
• You must not already be participating in a demand response program.

The times when your thermostat is likely to be adjusted are during the hottest days of summer when power demands are at their greatest. This can cause strain on the electrical grid. By signing up for the Peak Time Savings Program, you agree that the electric company can make small adjustments of four (4) degrees or less during these times. These adjustments will last for no more than four (4) hours.

The most likely hours during which an adjustment may occur are between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. CT, but adjustments could occur anywhere from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. CT. You retain control of your thermostat and can opt out of an adjustment event at any time. In some cases, the thermostat may briefly be adjusted down (cooler) before being adjusted up (conservation) to maintain comfort during the adjustment period.

The thermostats that are compatible through Alarm.com are:

• Trane ComfortLink Control
• RCS Z-Wave Communicating Thermostat
• GoControl Z-wave Thermostat
• Alarm.com Smart Thermostat
• 2GIG Z-Wave Plus™ Battery Powered Thermostat
• Trane Z-Wave Thermostat
• Linear Thermostat
• Smart Thermostat HD (ADC T40K-HD)
• ADC T3000
• ADC T2000

You can sign up for the program by going to this page, and then clicking the link "Enroll Your Smart Thermostat." Once you are accepted, you should receive an email within 60 days of being accepted. The $50 e-gift card will be delivered to your email, so be sure when you sign up, you enter the correct email information.

If you remain enrolled in the program, on the anniversary of your enrollment, you will receive a $25 e-gift card via email for your continued participation. This will occur each subsequent year you remain enrolled. Currently, there is no end date, so this incentive will continue until you are notified otherwise.

It's the middle of winter, but summer will be here before you know it. If you've been on the fence about purchasing a smart thermostat, this may be the perfect time to commit. Signing up for a program like this may seem like a small step, but as they say, the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step and every step brings you closer to your goal. In this case, the goal is energy conservation, and every little step helps.

Alarm.com recently announced that due to some network changes undertaken by T-Mobile, those customers who currently receive MMS (Multi-Media Messaging Service) notifications with video clips and thumbnails, will soon begin receiving SMS (Short Message Service) messages with links instead.

This only affects Alarm.com customers who use T-Mobile for their mobile phone service. Currently, the change is set to go into effect on January 31, 2024. Those customers who use both Alarm.com and T-Mobile who are on iOS devices with the latest software may not notice a change, as those devices will automatically open the links to offer a preview. However, for customers on Android devices, or iOS devices that are not updated this change will likely be readily apparent.

Alarm.com supports Push Notifications through the Alarm.com app, and they encourage the enabling of Push Notifications for all Alarm.com customers who use smart devices to receive notifications. They are taking steps to minimize the use of MMS messaging regardless of carrier. Those steps are as follows:

• T-Mobile Customers: As already mentioned, with the changes at T-Mobile, those customers will begin receiving SMS, instead of MMS, messages at the end of January. In these messages, they will receive links to thumbnails and clips, rather than the clip or thumbnail being embedded in the message. Users on updated iOS devices may not notice this change as these devices will open the links automatically. For users with other devices, such as Android phones, the change will be more noticeable.
• UI Updates. Over the next several months, Alarm.com plans to roll out expanded messaging options within their user interfaces to make Push Notifications the more attractive option for customers. They plan to release new tools that will make the use of Push Notifications even easier to set up and use.

As we mentioned before, Alarm.com strongly recommends that customers use Push Notifications instead of SMS or MMS messaging. There are several advantages to this, including:

1. In Push Notifications, users are redirected to live or saved clips, depending on whether the clip has been uploaded yet. This allows them to access their content quickly.
2. Users can pause notifications directly from Push Notifications.
3. Push Notifications offer unique doorbell sound effects.
4. As iOS and Android devices continue to evolve, Alarm.com will continue to enhance the features of Push Notifications.

Alarm.com customers who use T-Mobile phone service need not do anything. These changes will take effect automatically at the end of January, 2024. You can read about the different types of customer notifications here. For help setting up Push Notifications, you can read this article.

If you're both an Alarm.com and a T-Mobile customer, we'd love to hear your thoughts on these changes. Give us your opinion on the new format. Do you use Push Notifications, with SMS or MMS as a backup? Does this change your feelings about either Alarm.com or T-Mobile? Start a conversation in the comments below.