Industry News and Discussions Posts

As you have likely heard, mainland China is currently dealing with the Coronavirus crisis. This disease has resulted in inventory shortages and manufacturing delays throughout the security industry. Certain products sold by Alarm Grid may be currently unavailable or delayed as a result.

Many of the products sold by Alarm Grid are backordered as China deals with this epidemic. This is completely out of our control, and there is very little we can do to combat the issue. If an item you have ordered is unavailable, we will do our best to recommend a suitable replacement or provide you with an estimate on when the product should be available. We apologize for any inconvenience that may result from this issue. We ask for your understanding and patience during this time. If you would like to know the status of a specific product or if you have any questions about any of the products on our site, please email us at support@alarmgrid.com. Remember that our support hours run from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Alarm Grid has learned that the alarm permit policy in Colorado Springs, CO also applies to self-monitored users. This is in addition to those who receive central station monitoring service. All Alarm Grid monitored customers in Colorado Springs, CO are required to have a permit.

Many jurisdictions charge fees for operating an alarm system within their limits. However, these rules usually only apply to systems that are connected with a central monitoring station. It is very unusual to see a city mandate a fee for a self-monitored system. But Colorado Springs is one of the few examples.

If you aren't familiar with self-monitoring, it refers to the practice of having a secured system that is monitored, but not connected with a central station. When the system goes into alarm, it sends a signal out to a monitoring platform, such as AlarmNet or Alarm.com. That platform then forwards the signal to the end user via text and/or email. It is then up to the user to request help, if needed.

Monitoring permits in Colorado Springs, CO are renewed annually at the cost of $24 for residences and businesses, and $12 for senior residents. You can learn more about alarm permits in Colorado Springs, CO by checking the Colorado Springs Police Department website here.

At Alarm Grid, we are not fond of alarm permits. They make it more difficult for individuals to protect themselves, their businesses, and, most importantly, their families. However, they are something that we have no control over. As a law-abiding company, we play by the rules, and we inform any customer in a jurisdiction that requires alarm permits to obtain one.

If you are a new or existing Alarm Grid customer wondering if alarm permits are required in your area, then you should contact us at support@alarmgrid.com. We are also happy to discuss our monitoring plans if you want to learn more about our services. We operate support hours from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Resideo has discovered that certain Honeywell LTE-XV and Honeywell LTE-L3V Communicators have a firmware issue that makes them unable to appear in AlarmNet360. The affected communicators can still process signals and report to the central station. But these affected units must be replaced.

The Honeywell LTE-XV is a Verizon LTE Communicator for Honeywell VISTA Systems, while the Honeywell LTE-L3V is a Verizon LTE Communicator for Honeywell L3000 Systems. Only certain LTE-XV and LTE-L3V units are affected. The affected units will have a date code ranging from C305 to C365 or from D001 to D023. Modules outside of those listed dates are unaffected.

If you need to locate the date code for your LTE-XV or LTE-L3V, then it is very easy to find. You can locate the code on the inside of the module itself on the lower-left corner of the MAC sticker. Remember, date codes from C305 to C365 and from D001 to D023 may be affected. These date codes are associated with manufacture dates from November 2019 through January 2020.

Additionally, not all units within the aforementioned date codes are affected. If the communicator has a blue dot on the module or on the product packaging, then it is not affected. The images below show units with blue dots on the packaging, meaning they are not affected by the issue.

Keep in mind that these blue dots will also appear on the communicators themselves. Any communicator with a blue dot is unaffected and does not need to be replaced. Remember, this issue only affects LTE-XV and LTE-L3V units. Other AlarmNet Communicators are not affected.

If you have a Honeywell LTE-XV or Honeywell LTE-L3V without a blue dot on the packaging or on the module itself, check for the listed date code to see if your module is affected. More information on this issue can be found in this document provided from Resideo.

If you believe that you have an affected communicator, or if you need help locating the date code for the module, please contact us at support@alarmgrid.com. We operate support hours from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Alarm.com was given the opportunity at the 2020 CMS President's Forum to present some of their upcoming features that will soon be made available. The discussion was led by Alarm.com Product Manager Jennie Lee. We are sure that Alarm.com users will love these features that are coming soon!

These upcoming features are designed to prevent Alarm.com users from needing to contact the central monitoring station and instead manage their own security systems more effectively. This is helpful to Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS) in improving response times, and it also provides a more engaging end user experience. Needless to say, we are very excited about what Alarm.com is bringing to the table!

First, Alarm.com is offering an in-app panic feature that makes it possible to trigger a panic alarm right from the Alarm.com Mobile App. This is great if you ever need to discreetly call for help in the event of an emergency. End users can also use the Alarm.com Mobile App to cancel an alarm or verify that an alarm is legitimate. These features must be enabled by your alarm monitoring company. Alarm Grid customers can contact us at support@alarmgrid.com to get started. But please remember that if you are ever experiencing a confirmed burglary or fire while you at the monitored premises to instead call 911 immediately.

Another upcoming feature that Jennie Lee mentioned is the ability for end users to view their central station event logs directly from the Alarm.com Mobile App. End users will be able to see prior alarm events, as well as any emergency dispatches that may have been ordered. By implementing this feature, Alarm.com is hoping to make things more convenient for end users and prevent them from having to contact the central station directly for simple tasks. This feature should also prove to be very useful for system testing purposes.

Jennie Lee also discussed the upcoming in-app test mode feature that will soon be made available for the Alarm.com Mobile App. End users will be able to access the Alarm.com Mobile App to put their systems on test mode when needed. When the system is in test mode using this service, alarm notifications will still be forwarded to the central station. However, any central station operators will know not to dispatch, and no false alarms will occur. An end user can set the time for their system to remain in test mode, and the system will automatically exit test mode once the set time has expired.

Alarm.com is also going to be putting out some useful tools for alarm technicians that should help to improve the customer experience. Technicians will be able to perform zone syncs on Alarm.com customer accounts. This is needed whenever changes are made to system zones and whenever sensors are added, edited, or removed. Another feature that will be made available to technicians is the ability to quickly and conveniently put a system into test mode on behalf of the end user. Technicians will also soon be able to initiate a Walk Test on an end user's behalf for testing specific sensors and zones. The technicians at Alarm Grid will surely appreciate these great new features!

Lastly, Criticom Monitoring Services President Tony Wilson mentioned that CMS will soon have the ability to see images directly from the DSC PG9934P and DSC PG9944 PowerG Image Sensors. These image sensors are widely used with security systems that support PowerG, including the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus. Currently, images produced by these devices are visible from Alarm.com, but they aren't made available to Criticom. But that will soon change, as Alarm.com will be able to automatically forward the produced images to the central monitoring station. The PowerG Image Sensors are only able to capture images during alarm events, so as to maintain privacy for the end user. When the system goes into alarm, the image sensor will produce an image every half-second for five (5) seconds straight, for a total of ten (10) images. The first of these images will be sent immediately to Alarm.com and CMS, while the other nine (9) will be made available to the central station operator as a stop-motion video shortly thereafter.

Overall, our team is very impressed with what Alarm.com will soon be putting out. We think that these upcoming features will really help improve the lives of end users, and they will also make the jobs of our support technicians much easier. If you are interested in starting service with Alarm Grid for access to Alarm.com, you can check out our monitoring page for more information. Also remember that you can email us at support@alarmgrid.com to get started. We maintain support hours from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

On Day 2 of the 2020 Criticom Monitoring Services President's Forum, CMS President Tony Wilson began by leading a talk about the importance of preventing unwanted phone calls to CMS. Unwanted spam phone calls delay response times and prevent efficient operation for a monitoring station.

Anyone with a personal phone most likely deals with unwanted incoming spam phone calls, also referred to as "robo calls". This is unfortunately something that Criticom has to manage as well. Unwanted spam calls to a central station represent a true life-safety issue. These incoming calls prevent central station operators from addressing serious alarms and life-threatening emergencies as quickly as possible. Fortunately, CMS has taken steps to address this issue.

According to CMS President Tony Wilson, Criticom has had success using an app called RoboKiller to prevent incoming spam calls. This app prevents roughly 90% of unwanted spam calls from coming through. This has helped Criticom improve its response times and address alarm events more efficiently. It was also stressed that alarm dealers like Alarm Grid should do their part to prevent spam calls and improve efficiency. This is something that Alarm Grid has been working on for quite some time.

Criticom President Tony Wilson also stressed the importance of getting end users set up with the MyAlarms.com portal. If you aren't familiar with MyAlarms.com, it is a free service offered from Criticom. Any Alarm Grid customer with central station monitoring service can use the platform to conveniently add and update contacts and put their system on test mode when needed. This is all done without needing to contact CMS via a phone call. This keeps the phone lines free, and it improves response times for their operators who need to quickly address incoming alarms.

Another feature that was discussed was the ability for CMS to send text messages directly to end users through short code 60281. End users can get text messages directly from CMS regarding any alarms or system trouble conditions. This prevents CMS agents from having to make direct phone calls, thereby improving response times. Alarm Grid briefly discussed this feature in a post from last year. Although we haven't implemented this feature quite yet, it is something that we are working on adding very soon. Last year, Criticom Monitoring Services sent out nearly 150,000 SMS text messages across their entire customer base.

Overall, it's great to see Criticom Monitoring Services doing their part to improve response times and help keep end users safe. If you are interested in getting started with central station monitoring service, check out our monitoring page to learn how you can do so through Alarm Grid. You are also welcome to email us at support@alarmgrid.com if you have any questions. We operate support hours from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

We're here at the second day of the 2020 Criticom Monitoring Services President's Forum. Morning presentation sessions are expected to kick-off at 9am ET. We will hear more from CMS President Tony Wilson, and Alarm.com is expected to present as well. We are anticipating a busy day!

Stay tuned to our blog as we provide you with updates on what we learn from the 2020 CMS President's Forum. There should be some in-depth presentations from industry insiders and experts that we know you will want to hear about. Alarm Grid will be your guide for the rest of the event!

The 2020 Criticom Monitoring Services President's Forum really kicked off with a special presentation from CMS President Tony Wilson. We were pleased to receive information on the current state of Criticom, and we also learned about how the company is improving its monitoring centers.

It is important to remember that Criticom Monitoring Services provides monitoring services for a wide variety of alarm monitoring companies, not just Alarm Grid. Criticom works with a huge selection of alarm dealers to help keep homes and businesses monitored and protected. The past year was huge for Criticom, and it's great to see them growing and thriving as a company.

In the past year, Criticom Monitoring Services added 21,367 new customers across all their partnered alarm dealers, and they converted three (3) existing central station companies into Criticom accounts. Of all Criticom partnered dealers in 2019, 31.8% grew in terms of total customers, while about another 30% stayed roughly the same in size. We are proud to say that Alarm Grid successfully grew its total customer base in 2019. In total, Criticom added 134,394 new customers in 2019. As of 2019, the average Criticom customer has been monitored for 6.56 years.

This past year, Criticom central station operators responded to 5,513,144 alarms. Of these, 2,367,050 were considered to be "high priority". The average response time for these high priority alarms was 29 seconds. Criticom also received 1,481,096 inbound calls. The average response time for inbound calls for Criticom was just 16 seconds. These fast response times are important, as they help ensure that you receive the prompt help that you need when an alarm occurs on your security system. We expect Criticom to continue to improve these response times moving forward.

Criticom also made major improvements to their three (3) monitoring facilities in Cypress, CA, Longwood, FL, and Manasquan, NJ. The company added a Potter Fire Alarm System to their Cypress, CA facility in an effort to promote safety. The Longwood, FL facility was remodeled, as the company spent more than $150,000 in improving its overall aesthetics. And the Manasquan, NJ location was outfitted with a new access control system to keep its employees protected and secured. Additionally, Criticom put $540,000 into improving their Compass software, which is used by dealers like Alarm Grid to create and maintain customer accounts. In total, Criticom spent more than $1.2 Million in improving and maintaining their monitoring centers and software.

Looking ahead to the rest of 2020, it is expected that Criticom will continue to invest into their growing infrastructure. The Longwood, FL facility will be outfitted with AT&T Fiber Internet Service, which is expected to cost the company $1 Million. The company also plans to invest $600,000 into a new and improved PBX phone system. Lastly, another $600,000 will be invested into improving and maintaining their Compass software. It's clear that Criticom is making the investments it needs to serve its growing customer base that expects the very best alarm monitoring service available. At Alarm Grid, we are absolutely delighted to see Criticom continuing to do what's right for its partnered dealers and the end users who depend on them.

We expect some more insightful presentations and discussions from Criticom as their 2020 President's Forum Conference continues. Stay tuned to our blog for more. And if you aren't yet signed up with Alarm Grid for monitoring service, make sure to check out our monitoring page, and contact us at support@alarmgrid.com for more information. We operate support hours from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Our monitoring partner Criticom Monitoring Services is putting on their 2020 President's Forum. Alarm Grid has a small team out to attend the conference and get important insider knowledge from some of the leading experts who help keep your homes and businesses safe and protected.

If you aren't familiar with Criticom Monitoring Services, they are the exclusive central monitoring station partner of Alarm Grid for accounts in the US. If you are in the US and you have central station monitoring service with Alarm Grid, when your system goes into alarm, then it is Criticom who responds to the incoming alarm signal and alerts the local authorities for emergency dispatch, if necessary.

Criticom operates three (3) 24/7 monitoring centers across the country in California, Florida, and New Jersey. Each monitoring center has many highly trained experts present who are constantly ready to respond to any alarms that may occur on your system. In the event that one monitoring center goes offline for any reason, the other two will be there to pick up the slack and ensure that all incoming alarms are properly dealt with and addressed as soon as possible. This excellent redundancy in making sure that monitored homes and businesses always stay protected is a big reason why Alarm Grid has selected Criticom as one of its central station partners.

Right now, the CMS President's Forum Conference is just getting started. Criticom experts are currently having meet and greets with other security industry representatives. We expect the in-depth presentations and discussions to begin sometime later this afternoon. Stay tuned to our blog for updates from what is sure to be an informative and engaging conference

If you have a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, a DSC PowerSeries NEO, or a DSC Iotega, then you have likely worked with PowerG Sensors. These sensors are highly regarded for their impeccable security and great range. But if you really want to go overkill, you can also add a PowerG Repeater.

The DSC PG9920, more commonly known as the PowerG Repeater, effectively doubles the communication range for PowerG Sensors. The way that this works is that the PowerG Repeater will take the signal sent out from a PowerG Sensor and send it out a second time. The repeated signal will then make its way to the panel for regular operation.

Wireless repeaters have been used in the security industry mostly since wireless sensors became the new norm for alarm systems. Up until recently, wireless sensors for security systems typically had pretty lackluster range. It wasn't uncommon to see a wireless sensor with a communication range of under 200 feet. For those older wireless sensors, wireless repeaters are frequently used, as that is often the only way that they will work reliably in larger homes and businesses.

But PowerG Sensors are a completely different animal. When used with the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, these sensors offer a wireless range of up to 2,000 feet in open air. And if you use a PowerG Sensor on a DSC PowerSeries NEO with an added transceiver, then you can expect a wireless range of 2 km in open air. You read that correctly - 2 kilometers!

Granted, these are open air communication ranges. You will need to consider obstacles like thick walls and large metal obstacles that can reduce wireless range. However, we have had many customers use PowerG Sensors in places like warehouses, strip malls, industrial complexes, and other large locations without experiencing any communication issues. And this is all without the use of a repeater!

With that in mind, the odds of you needing a repeater for your PowerG Security System are pretty slim, unless you're really pushing the limits of wireless communication. Most users are not expecting their systems to work beyond the confines of a home or a small business. But if you do put a PG9920 Repeater to use, then you can expect some truly astounding wireless range. For an IQ Panel 2 Plus, PowerG Sensors can communicate from up to 4,000 feet away in open air once a repeater gets involved. And on a DSC PowerSeries NEO, this range is up to 4 KILOMETERS in open air!

The most common situations where PowerG Repeaters are used are in locations like manufacturing facilities and other major industrial complexes where large metal objects, heavy machinery, and thick walls disrupt the communication range so severely that using a PowerG Repeater is the only way for the sensor signals to make their way back to the panel. But understand that these are very uncommon situations. Most likely, you probably do not need a PowerG Repeater.

If you are setting up a system with PowerG Sensors, then we will typically recommend that you try to do so without using a repeater. You probably don't need one. If you then find that your sensors are experiencing communication issues, then you could try supplementing them with a PowerG Repeater. It is advised that you place it strategically to give the sensors the most benefit. Remember, any PowerG signals detected by the repeater will be sent out a second time so that they can ultimately reach the panel.

Please note that you cannot use multiple PowerG Repeaters to repeat a signal from a PowerG Sensor multiple times. A PowerG Sensor can only have its signal repeated once. Theoretically, you could have two (2) different PowerG Repeaters going out in different directions from the panel to repeat sensor signals coming from both pathways, but that's probably not going to be something you need to do. But if you really have a massive complex with a PowerG Alarm System in the center, it is theoretically possible.

You can get the DSC PG9920 PowerG Repeater from Alarm Grid. But like we said, you probably don't need it. If you have any other questions about the PowerG Repeater or any of the other products on our website, please contact us at support@alarmgrid.com. We operate support hours from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Alarm Grid is now offering Honeywell LYNX Touch LTE upgrade kits that each include a brand-new LTE communicator and a Honeywell LYNXTOUCH-MSD Updater Tool for updating the system to the latest firmware version. It has never been easier to upgrade a Honeywell LYNX Touch System to use LTE!

The two (2) new Alarm Grid LTE upgrade kits for the LYNX Touch Panels are the Honeywell LTEUPGKT-L57A (AT&T LTE) and the Honeywell LTEUPGKT-L57V (Verizon LTE). These kits are recommended for anyone with an L5200, L5210, or L7000 that needs a firmware update to support a new LTE communicator. The AT&T LTE version requires firmware update 9.00.201 or higher, while the Verizon LTE version needs update 9.00.209 or higher. If your system is already on a high enough firmware version, then you should just simply buy the standalone communicator module. Also keep in mind that these kits cannot be used with the older L5100 and L5000 LYNX Touch Panels. Those two panels cannot be used with any LTE communicator in any circumstance.

If you aren't sure what firmware version your LYNX Touch Panel is running, you can check by choosing the following options from the main screen: Security > More > Tools > enter your Master Code > Test. You will then access the system's Test Menu, where the firmware version will be displayed at the top of the screen. As you can see in the photo, this L7000 is on a high enough firmware version to support both the AT&T LTE Communicator and the Verizon LTE Communicator.

Any alarm system using cellular communication should be set up with an LTE communicator. And if you have a system that is using a 3G or CDMA communicator, then it is imperative that you upgrade to LTE as soon as possible. Although Alarm Grid will continue to support non-LTE communicators for as long as possible, these communicators will stop working once their associated cellular networks are shut down. This is expected to occur sometime in 2022. The clock is ticking, and you will need to upgrade to LTE if you want to continue using the same system.

Additionally, an LTE communicator will provide better reliability and overall performance than a non-LTE communicator. This is because LTE cellular networks offer faster speeds and improved dependability when compared with older 3G and CDMA networks. By using an LTE communicator, you will receive a quicker emergency response if an alarm occurs on your system. You may also notice that your system responds more quickly to remote commands sent from Total Connect 2.0. This simple change is a great way to improve your alarm system and help it work more effectively.

Some users have expressed concern with LTE communicators, stating that they too will eventually need to be replaced in favor of eventual 5G cellular communicators. We want to address those concerns and say that this will most likely not be an issue until decades in the future. Cellular service providers have repeatedly stated that they plan to maintain and support the infrastructure for their LTE networks for a very, very long time. Even as 5G networks are inevitably introduced and 5G communicators for security systems become a thing, your LTE communicator will still work fine. This is truly a long-term solution that you can count on.

With the impending shut down of 3G and CDMA networks, Resideo stopped allowing activations for those communicators in June of last year. Any new cellular activation must be done with an LTE communicator. You also have the option of activating a LYNX Touch System on IP only by using a Honeywell L5100-WIFI Communicator. This can be a good option if you want to save money in monitoring expenses, as most alarm companies charge less for IP only service. But you should be aware that an internet outage will take your panel offline if you don't have cellular backup. A new L5100-WIFI module will require Firmware Version 8.00.183 on a Honeywell LYNX Touch Panel.

You might also be wondering whether you should get the Honeywell LTEUPGKT-L57A for AT&T LTE service or the Honeywell LTEUPGKT-L57V for Verizon LTE service. The answer is that it depends on the network coverage in your area. You should go with whichever network provides more reliable service in your area, regardless of what provider you use for a personal phone. You should check coverage maps and decide based on the available information. And if you live in a rural area without adequate coverage from either network, then we will be happy to discuss cellular antenna and cellular amplifier options that can boost your system's cellular signals to reliable levels.

Whether you use LTE cellular, IP only, or dual-path connectivity with both IP and cellular, activating an AlarmNet Communicator with your LYNX Touch System will make it compatible with Total Connect 2.0. This is an interactive security and automation platform that you can use to control your system remotely from a web browser or mobile app. The service can be used to arm/disarm, check system status, and perform automation functions from pretty much anywhere in the world.

Remember that any communicator will require monitoring service in order to be activated. If you are shopping around for a monitoring plan, make sure to check out Alarm Grid. Our Gold and Platinum Level Plans (Self or Full) can be used with a LYNX Touch System that is set up for cellular service. Our lower-level Bronze and Silver Plans are good if you decide to use the system for IP only, without cellular backup. More information on all our plans can be found on our monitoring page.

If you have any questions about our new Honeywell LTEUPGKT-L57A and Honeywell LTEUPGKT-L57V Upgrade Kits, or any of the other products on our website, then we encourage you to reach out to us. The best way to contact us is to email support@alarmgrid.com. This is also a great email to contact if you are considering starting service with Alarm Grid. Remember that our support hours run from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!