Industry News and Discussions Posts

Hi DIYers! Today, we're taking a look back at what Honeywell and Total Connect 2.0 accomplished throughout 2018. Obviously, there's the big story of the Resideo spin-off. While this is certainly very exciting news, we'd like to focus more on what new features were added to TC2 this year.

Without further ado, here are some of the most exciting new features released for TC2 in 2018:

Support for Honeywell Home Smart Thermostats - Being able to control Honeywell Home Thermostats like the Lyric Round was a huge addition to TC2. This helped to further cement TC2 as the one-stop hub for all things smart home automation. Honeywell also released one of the premier Z-Wave thermostats this year, the Honeywell T6 Z-Wave

Support for HD Security Cameras - Honeywell added support for its HD security cameras to be controlled from Total Connect 2.0 this year. These cameras, which were previously referred to as the the "Lyric HD Cameras", include the Honeywell IPCAM-WIC1, the Honeywell IPCAM-WIC2 and the Honeywell IPCAM-OC1.

Amazon Alexa Support - The announcement of the TC2 Alexa Skill was huge. Now Honeywell users could control their security system through Alexa voice commands! Later on, the skill was updated to include scene control as well! Perhaps next Honeywell will allow users to control individual Z-Wave devices?

VISTA Partition Support - The ability to control individual partitions on a Honeywell VISTA System was a much-anticipated feature. Honeywell delivered in making it finally possible for homes and businesses to arm or disarm specific systems directly from a TC2 account. Using a Honeywell VISTA has never been easier!

Chamberlain and LiftMaster MyQ Garage Door Support - End users certainly appreciated the ability to finally control their state-of-the-art garage doors directly from their TC2 accounts. This feature has proven to be a huge success for Alarm Grid customers with a Silver Plan or higher.

Multi-Language Support - Total Connect 2.0 opened its doors to a greater number of users by offering support for several new languages. Some of the new languages that became supported included French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Refresh Status Button - This was a great move by Honeywell, as it allowed end users to troubleshoot many of their own issues. With the press of a button, a user can send a refresh signal to the TC2 account to clear various messages that may be stuck in the TC2 display. DIYers rejoice!

Bulk User Addition Support - Honeywell made it possible to sync users in multiple locations and to add multiple users at once with update 2.5.2. Setting up TC2 for multiple locations became more straightforward than ever!

We have certainly had a lot of great news to discuss with Honeywell and TC2 this past year! Now we look forward to 2019 to see what the company brings. Please join Alarm Grid for this exciting ride as the security industry continues to grow and evolve!

Hi DIYers! We have learned that Alarm.com is adding a feature that will let you place an image of Santa Claus directly into a security camera screenshot! Now, as we all know, you can't actually capture a real picture of Santa - he's magic! But you can at least pretend with this fun feature!

Alarm.com is making this feature for any Alarm Grid customer on a Platinum Level Plan who uses the Alarm.com interactive service platform. The feature will only be available from December 21st thru the 26th. This will give you a chance to test the feature before Christmas Day. But once Christmas is over, the feature will disappear. You'll have to catch Santa next year instead!

The feature will be supported by the following Alarm.com Security Camera models only:

• ADC-V520
• ADC-V520IR
• ADC-V521IR
• ADC-V522IR
• ADC-V622
• ADC-V722W

To get started, simply pull up the Alarm.com App or website. Navigate to the Cameras Section, and select the video feed for a compatible camera. Then press the Santa icon:

You can then choose which Santa image to add to the screenshot:

You can even move or resize Santa to fit your home's setting. Finally, download the image or share it via text or email. Then you can show all your friends and family that Santa paid you a visit! If you have any questions about this feature, reach out to us at support@alarmgrid.com or call us at (888) 818-7728 from 9am to 8pm EST M-F.

Hi DIYers! When many people think of a professional Honeywell Security System, they usually think of a top-of-the-line security system installed by a professional. Well the truth is you can install the system yourself. Thanks to Honeywell Home Security Systems, do it yourself is possible!

You don't have to be a professional to install your own Honeywell Home Security System. In fact, with the right setup, you won't even need any tools! Okay, maybe you'll need a screwdriver to connect some wires. But that is not asking a lot. By following some simple instructions, you can install your own complete and professional set up on your own. The same equipment that the professionals use is all available on the Alarm Grid site!

Why would you want to install your own security equipment? Well for one, a professional installer can charge hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a simple installation. It can also be somewhat unsettling to allow a stranger into your house, especially to work with something as sensitive and personal as your home security system. The truth is you - that's right, you - can install your own home alarm system just as well as a pro. And you can save money and learn about your system in the process. It doesn't get any better!

The panel that we recommend using for a DIY Honeywell Security System is the Honeywell Lyric Alarm System. This is the latest and most advanced security panel available from Honeywell. All of the sensors and equipment can be easily programmed with the system. The menus are easy to navigate and the process is extremely intuitive once you know what you're doing. The Lyric allows sensors to auto enroll with the system. This means you won't have to memorize or enter any long and confusing codes, and you will confirm for sure that the sensors have been recognized by the panel. Before you know it, you'll have your entire home set up and protected in a jiffy!

We recommend using Honeywell SiX Series Sensors with the Honeywell Lyric Controller. These are all wireless sensors with a 200 foot nominal range. They feature 128-bit AES encryption for added protection and security when you need it most. Since these are wireless sensors, no wires need to be run. This makes the installation process super easy, even for beginners. When mounting the sensors, you don't even need to drill holes. Instead, you can just use double-sided foam tape. Slap the tape on the back of the sensor, plop the sensor on the wall, and boom, you're good to go! Some of the best Honeywell SiX Series Sensors for a home installation include Honeywell SiXMINICT Door Sensors, Honeywell SiXPIR Motion Sensors, Honeywell SiXGB Glass Break Sensors and Honeywell SiXSMOKE Smoke Detectors.

As for the panel, you can mount it to the wall if you want. But for a DIY user, an easy option that requires no tools is to use a desk mount. The Lyric has a great desk mount just for this purpose. Simply slide the desk mount on the panel, and rest it on a table or desk for quick and easy access. There's no need to mount the panel to the wall, and you won't need to drill any holes. For connecting to the transformer, Honeywell offers the fantastic LT-Cable that eliminates the need to strip any wires. Simply screw the spaded ends to the transformer, connect the other end to the lyric, plug-in the barrel connector, and the setup is complete!

With a user-friendly and convent Honeywell Home Security Systems, do it yourself is the name of the game! Why hire a professional installer when you can truly do it yourself? Not only can you achieve a great DIY installation, you can do it right! From there, you can customize your system to suit your home. The Honeywell Lyric Alarm Control Panel is fully loaded, and it has everything you need to get started. A built-in WIFI card allows you to connect with the Honeywell AlarmNet Servers for use with the Total Connect 2.0 service. An integrated Z-Wave controller allows your set up smart home automation devices with ease. And iOS users will love the fact that the Lyric is compatible with the Apple HomeKit service for use with HomeKit smart scenes and automations. This HomeKit security system is perfect for those who want to expand upon their HomeKit setup.

Once you have the Honeywell Lyric Security System, you just need an alarm monitoring plan to get started with professional and reliable home security. Alarm Grid can connect your home with three reliable central stations that operate 24/7. Our monitoring partner is Criticom Monitoring Services, which operates three central stations across the country in Florida, New Jersey and California. If one station is ever unavailable, the calls will be routed to a different central station for the ultimate reliability. This way, you and your family are always protected.

Don't wait to get started! Email us at support@alarmgrid.com, or call us at (888) 818-7728 from 9am to 8pm EST M-F to receive monitoring service for your DIY Honeywell Home Security System!

Hi DIYers! We are happy to announce that the Honeywell 5800MINI Wireless Door and Window Sensor is now available in brown. This serves as a more aesthetically pleasing option for users with homes that feature brown decor. Please note the classic white option is still available as well.

The Honeywell 5800MINI is one of the most popular alarm sensors on the market today. It is known for its small size and overall ease of use. These features make the 5800MINI one of the most versatile and useful door and window sensors available. The sensor can effectively monitor nearly any door or window and let the system know when the structure has been opened.

The two components of the 5800MINI are the sensor itself and its included magnet. Both components come in a matching white or brown color. The sensor is mounted on the door or window frame, while the magnet is mounted on the moving portion of the actual door or window. For best results, the magnet should be mounted no further than one-half inch of the sensor, though a maximum spacing gap of a full inch is supported. The magnet will ideally be in direct contact with the sensor when the door or window is closed. This is why door and window sensors are often referred to as "contacts". When the door or window is opened, the magnet will separate from the sensor. This will release a reed switch inside the 5800MINI. The sensor will then send an alert to the panel to let it know that the door or window has been opened.

What's great about the 5800MINI is its small size. The sensor measures 2.2"H x 1.0"W x 0.25"D. This makes it one of the smallest and thinnest door and window contacts available, allowing it to be used in nearly any type of application. The sensor also features an LED light that shows its current status. This light is useful for helping users with any necessary troubleshooting. The sensor is powered using a single 3V lithium CR2032 coin battery, and it has an average battery life of three to five years. The maximum wireless signal range of the 200 nominal feet. But this range can be extended to a maximum of 400 nominal feet with the use of a Honeywell 5800RP Wireless Repeater. The 5800MINI operates at 345 MHz, making it readily compatible with the Honeywell Lyric Alarm System, any Honeywell LYNX Touch and any 2GIG System. It can also be used with a Honeywell VISTA System if a wireless receiver is added, as well as the 345 MHz Version of the IQ Panel 2 Plus.

Both the white and brown versions of the Honeywell 5800MINI are available from Alarm Grid. Get some now, and improve the capabilities of your security system. Also remember to take a look at the alarm monitoring plans we have available.

If you have been following the functionality problems between SkyBell and Total Connect 2.0, we now have an update. Honeywell (now Resideo) has stated they have fixed the issues on their end. SkyBell Smart Doorbells will now work with Total Connect 2.0 without issue. No action is needed.

All connected SkyBell devices will now successfully send any newly saved recordings to an associated Total Connect 2.0 account. Users will not need to take any action on their end to see proper functionality. All saved recordings can be viewed from the TC2 website or the mobile app.

If you are still experiencing any problems, please contact us for further assistance. You may email us at support@alarmgrid.com. You may also call us (888) 818-7728 during normal business hours, which are 9am to 8pm EST M-F. Please note that we will be closed tomorrow, Thursday November 22nd, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Hi DIYers! We recently received news that the integration between the Honeywell Lyric Controller and Apple HomeKit won the inaugural IoT integration award for Physical Security - Intrusion from CE PRO. This award highlights the brilliance of the integration between the Lyric and HomeKit.

The Internet of Things (IoT) Awards showcases various IoT-related products that serve residential and commercial markets. The 2018 edition represented the inaugural IoT awards. The entries were judged based on innovation and technological advancement, their ability to integrate with other products, end-user benefits, integrator benefits and overall value. With this award, the tech community has recognized the compatibility between the Lyric and HomeKit for being incredibly valuable to the security and intrusion industry.

There are many factors to love about the integration between the Honeywell Lyric Alarm System and the Apple HomeKit Platform. Countless iOS users have taken advantage of the Apple HomeKit service and the smart features if offers. By using HomeKit, a user can control their Lyric System using voice commands that are sent through Siri. This can be done from virtually anywhere, as long as the user has access to their iOS device. The user can also have their Lyric System respond automatically with various HomeKit smart scenes that have been created. This offers much convenience for the user in creating a robust and functional smart home. Users can also check the current status for their Lyric System and its security sensors through HomeKit as well. We recommended checking this FAQ on the differences between Total Connect 2.0 and HomeKit for more information on what HomeKit can offer. Even as a HomeKit Security system, it is recommended that the user still keeps the Total Connect 2.0 service.

The Honeywell Lyric Controller is available for purchase on the Alarm Grid website right now. We also offer a certified refurbished version of the system that will provide the same great HomeKit compatibility as a new system at a lower cost. You can get your Lyric started with HomeKit as soon as you have it activated with an alarm monitoring plan from Alarm Grid. Monitoring service is required to activate the HomeKit functionality on the Lyric Controller. More information about pairing the Lyric System with Apple HomeKit can be found in this helpful FAQ. Our team looks forward to working with you!

Hi DIYers! We have exciting news today, as Honeywell has completed the spin-off of its security divisions into a brand-new company, Resideo. Although Resideo has a license agreement to use the Honeywell Home brandname for the next 40 years, we expect the name to soon transition to Resideo.

As for customers, we do not expect any major changes. Anyone who logs into Total Connect 2.0 will need to accept a new End User License Agreement (EULA). It is fairly standard, and it includes basically everything a user would expect to agree to when using a service like TC2. If you do not accept the agreement, then you will be unable to use the TC2 service. However, please feel free to read through the EULA when you have an opportunity. From what we can tell, it is no different from the EULA that customers agreed to when using TC2 from Honeywell.

As for now, all of the Honeywell equipment will retain its current name. But this could change in the coming months. Honeywell actually went through a similar situation back in 2000 when it purchased Pittway and its subsidiary of Ademco. Shortly after this, all of the Ademco equipment was rebranded as Honeywell. This included the Ademco VISTA Series, which became the Honeywell VISTA Series that is still being sold today. So it's very possible that the Honeywell Panels and Honeywell Sensors could soon be sold under the Resideo banner. We expect more information to be made available in the near future.

If you have any questions about this spin-off, please send us an email at support@alarmgrid.com. You may also call us at 888-818-7728 during normal business hours, which are from 9am to 8pm EST M-F.

Hi DIYers! We have great news for 2GIG GC3 owners. Nortek, the owners of 2GIG, has officially announced that the 2GIG GC3 now has partitioning support available. The update comes via the Firmware Version 3.2 release. This release makes the GC3 our first wireless panel with partitioning.

If you aren't familiar with partitioning, it refers to the practice of sectioning off an alarm system into different groups that are called partitions. This allows zones within the designated partition to be armed or disarmed while the system zones outside that partition remain unaffected. For example, if a specific system partition is disarmed, then all of the zones within that partition will become disarmed. But the rest of the system will remain armed. Partitioning features are somewhat similar to bypassing zones, but it does not require each zone to be individually bypassed.

In the case of the 2GIG GC3, the partitions are referred to as "Smart Areas". Every Smart Area can be individually and set up for its own alerts and notifications. Any zone within a Smart Area be individually bypassed if needed. The system will support a maximum number of four different Smart Areas. Each Smart Area can be assigned its own set of access codes. This is excellent for restricting access to certain Smart Areas. The Smart Areas option for controlling this feature is easily accessible from the main screen of the 2GIG GC3 System.

Other features for 2GIG GC3 Firmware Version 3.2.0 include the support for up to eight wireless keypads (SP1, SP2 and PAD1-345), better support for Z-Wave smart home devices, fixes with the French and Spanish language options, updates to broadband network programming (Q33, Q34 and Q35) and general networking improvements.

To apply the update, download the current firmware file on this page. Extract the downloaded file, and save the firmware file to the root directory of a USB drive. Then plug the USB drive into the top of the 2GIG GC3. The system will ask you to confirm the update and provide either the Master Code or the Installer Code (default 1561). The system will then reboot and perform the update.

Additionally, Firmware Version 3.2.0 has received approval from Alarm.com, and the update can pushed down over-the-air (OTA) by an Alarm.com dealer. Please note that performing an OTA update will include added fees that may be passed on to the user. However, updating through a USB drive will not feature any added costs.

Update: This feature is also built-in standard on the newer 2GIG GC3e System.

Hey DIYers! So you have central station monitoring from Alarm Grid. Great! Now you can receive automatic dispatch to your home or business during a break-in, fire or medical crisis. You and the people around you are now truly more protected! But can emergency services find the building?

First, it can be helpful to consider how exactly central station alarm monitoring works. Every alarm system consists of multiple sensors and a centralized control panel. Each sensor is assigned to its own individual zone on the alarm system. When a security breach (e.g. an opened door or a broken window) or a life-safety event (e.g. a fire or an outbreak of carbon monoxide gas) occurs, a sensor will be activated. The sensor will send an alert to the control panel. Based on the programming settings for that zone, the system can be instructed to send out a remote signal that will ultimately reach a central monitoring station. The central station operates 24/7/365, and a highly trained operator will be immediately notified of any distress signal that comes through. The operator will have access to the user's account information, and they will contact the local emergency authorities in the user's area. The local authorities will then send out the appropriate emergency responders based on the type of alarm that occurs.

A sometimes-overlooked aspect of central station monitoring is that human responders must be able to successfully locate the home or business where the crisis is taking place. In order to receive a fast emergency response, you will want to make it as easy as possible for the police, fire department or medical technicians to find your property. Sometimes it can be very clear where the trouble is occurring (e.g. a large fire, an obvious break-in), but more often than not, this is actually not the case. While emergency responders are highly trained in locating the correct property, you can still help them out by making your home or business easy to find.

Alarm Grid understand this concern, and we ask customers to provide us with as much information as possible. This allows us to offer the best possible home and business alarm monitoring services every single time. Any information that we receive will be forwarded to our central station monitoring partner, Criticom Monitoring Station (CMS). By doing this, any operator at CMS will be able to relay the most accurate information to the local emergency personnel.

Many of our customers wonder how they can make their home or business easy for others to find. Obviously, we take down basic information like an address. But this isn't always enough for an emergency responder to quickly locate the property. One way we help is by asking our customers to provide us with the nearest major cross-streets. This can be very helpful for pointing responders in the proper direction. At the very least, this is the basic information we require.

But many of our customers go beyond these basic guidelines. This comes in the form of "special instructions" that we can provide to CMS. These special instructions can be anything that would help someone locate the property. For example, the special instructions might say "the yellow house on the corner" or "take a left upon entering the neighborhood". It is also crucial that any customer provides us with the gate code for their residence if they live in a gated community. Although special instructions are optional, they can be extremely valuable when emergency personnel are trying to find your home or business Remember, during a real emergency, every second counts!

One of our customers, Brett, recently shared a great idea with us. Brett installed large, easy-to-read numbers that illuminate at night on his mailbox. This way, any emergency response team that arrives at his residence will be able to quickly verify his house number. We think this is an excellent idea, and we encourage all of our customers to follow Brett's lead by making their homes easier to locate.

If you are new to alarm monitoring, or if you would like to update the special instructions on your CMS account, please do not hesitate to reach out to us! You can always email us at support@alarmgrid.com, or you can call us at 888-818-7728 from 9am to 8pm EST M-F.

We would also like to offer special thanks to Brett for allowing us to use his picture in this post. Thank you Brett, we are very proud to help keep you and Shadow the Cat safe!

UPDATE: The information presented below is outdated. The L5200 can now be updated using the LYNXTOUCH-MSD Firmware Updater Tool. Please read this blog for more information.

Alarm Grid has recently learned that the Honeywell 3GL, the longtime cellular communicator for the LYNX Touch Panels, has officially been discontinued. This leaves the Honeywell L5200 with no available cellular communicator. However, the newer LYNX Touch Systems still have cellular options.

The Honeywell 3GL was a cellular communicator that connected with the AT&T 3G Network. It was previously sold as the Honeywell 4GL. But Honeywell smartly changed the name, as it misled many people into believing it was a 4G communicator. The 3GL was compatible with the L5200, L5210 and L7000 Alarm Systems.

As for the L5210 and L7000, there are still cellular communicators available, specifically the LTE-L57A and LTE-L57V. Please note that the L5210 and L7000 must be running Firmware Version 9.00.209 or higher to support LTE-L57A, and Firmware Version 9.00.201 to support the LTE-L57V. More information on this is available here.

With the discontinuation of this module, the Honeywell L5200 now has no available cellular communicator option. Users of the L5200 who want to receive cellular monitoring should strongly consider upgrading to a newer system, such as a Honeywell Lyric Controller. This is Honeywell's newest wireless security system, and it has multiple cellular options available.

Please note that this news does not affect L5200 Systems that are already using an active 3GL Communicator. Any communicator that has already been activated will continue to function as normal. Additionally, if a user is able to find an existing 3GL or GSMVLP5-4G from somewhere else, then we can still activate it for cellular monitoring service with their L5200 System.

One alternative option for L5200 users without a cellular communicator is to go the WIFI-route instead. The system will support the L5100-WIFI module, which will allow the system to connect with a local WIFI network. Although WIFI is not as reliable as cellular service, it can be a good option if a user simply does not want to upgrade their panel. This is also a great option for Honeywell L5100 users, as that system also has no cellular radio in current production.

Finally, the ILP5 is still available for purchase, and it provides hardwired ethernet capabilities for any LYNX Touch Panel. But please note that a LYNX Touch cannot support both the ILP5 and a cellular communicator since they use the same port. Once a Honeywell LYNX Touch System is using IP or cellular communication, it will be capable of being used with the Total Connect 2.0 service.

The following table outlines all of the communicators available for the Honeywell LYNX Touch Systems and their compatibilities with each of these panels:

If you have any question about this news, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for further assistance. You may email us at support@alarmgrid.com, or you may call us at 888-818-7728 from 9am to 8pm EST M-F. We look forward to hearing from you.