Product Announcements Posts

Update 04/08/24 5:08 pm: According to a contact at Resideo, the available stock of IPCAM-WOC2 cameras without this issue is being held back to use as replacements for any affected units that have already been sold. Stock is limited, and once it is depleted, the camera will likely be discontinued permanently.

As an alternative, Resideo recommends the First Alert CAMWE-WO, also known as the VX3 HD Camera. This is an outdoor, 1080p camera with Wide Dynamic Range (WDR). With its intelligent event detection, the CAMWE-WO can distinguish between vehicles, animals, and people.

Original Post: If you have purchased a new Resideo IPCAM-WOC2 recently, but have not yet tried to register it, there is a good chance it will not register. A manufacturing issue has been identified, and a fix is in the works. However, you will need to warranty replace the existing camera if affected

Resideo released this notice today regarding the issue. The notice is a bit confusing. It states that because of this issue they have decided to stop selling the IPCAM-WOC2, but it also states that a resolution has been identified and that new product is available in their warehouse and that affected units can be returned for exchange or refund.

What we know currently:

• Installed, registered, and working units are not affected. There is no reason to believe they will have future issues related to this announcement.
• Units that have been purchased but not registered may have the issue. If you attempt to register an IPCAM-WOC2 and it fails, return it to the vendor you purchased it from for an exchange or refund.
• Currently, you can't purchase a new IPCAM-WOC2. Presumably, current stock of working units is being used for warranty replacement.

We've reached out to Resideo to try and get clarification on a few of our questions. When we hear back, we'll update this blog post. In the meantime, if you have purchased an IPCAM-WOC2 and you haven't tried to register it yet, it is recommended that you do so now. If you encounter an issue, contact the distributor or dealer you purchased the unit from and proceed from there.

If you are an Alarm Grid monitored customer, or you purchased an IPCAM-WOC2 from Alarm Grid recently, you can contact us regarding a warranty replacement. Send an email to support@alarmgrid.com. If the email you use to contact support is different from the email you used when ordering your product, please provide us with the ordering email. That is the easiest way for us to look up and confirm your recent order.

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:

Benefit	Description
Push Notifications are Actionable	Because Push Notifications are received via the internet, they are actionable. They can bring you directly into the Alarm.com app, and in some cases, allow you to send a command directly from the Push Notification. (i.e. locking a door based on a notification about the door being left unlocked.)
The notification source is clear.	Push notifications come directly from the app, with the app logo and name displayed clearly. This removes any uncertainty about the source of the message.
Push notifications allow for Critical Alerts.	When properly configured, both iOS and Android devices can receive critical alerts while the device is in Do Not Disturb mode. Examples of Critical Alerts include Fire Alarm, Burglary Alarm, Carbon Monoxide Alarm, and several other event types.
Video push notifications are superior.	Push notifications can be set for plain text or thumbnail images for certain events (i.e. video). A link within a push notification takes you to a specific place within the app. For example, if the notification is for camera motion, the link will redirect to the camera's live view. If the notification is that a clip has been uploaded, the link will take you right to the saved clip.
Push notifications are independent of your cell carrier.	Text notifications are dependent on the cell carrier and can be affected by low signal or other carrier issues. Push notifications only require a network connection, whether cellular or WIFI.
Push notifications can be sent to all devices.	Push notifications can be sent to phones, tablets, and even smart watches.

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.

Intruducing the Qolsys IQ Heat 135 / 200. It offers a selection for the fixed alarm temperature limit of either 135°F or 200°F (57.2°C or 93.3°C). In addition, it has a rate-of-rise feature that activates an alarm if the temperature rises more than 12°F - 15°F (6.7°C - 8.3°C) per minute.

Qolsys is streamlining their products by combining the features of the Qolsys IQ Heat 135, and the Qolsys IQ Heat 200 into a single device. Using an internal jumper, the user can choose a fixed temperature alarm threshold of either 135°F (57.2°C) or 200°F (93.3°C). Based on this jumper setting, a temperature above the selected threshold will cause an alarm.

In addition to the fixed-temperature alarm threshold, the IQ Heat 135 / 200 also has a built-in rate-of-rise detector. If the ambient temperature rises from between 12°F - 15°F (6.7°C - 8.3°C) per minute, an alarm will occur.

Once either alarm threshold has been met, the IQ Heat 135 / 200 will use its transmitter to send an alarm signal to a compatible system. This includes any of the Qolsys IQ Panel 2, IQ Panel 2 Plus, IQ Panel 4, IQ4 Hub, IQ Hub, and IQ4 NS panels with a 319.5 MHz receiver built in. It can likely also be used with Interlogix/GE panels that support this frequency, such as the Simon panels, though we have not tested to confirm this.

The jumper used to set the fixed-temperature threshold has three (3) pins. If the jumper is across the LOW and center pin, the detector is set for 135°F (57.2°C) if the jumper is across the center and HI pin the detector is set for 200°F (93.3°C). If the jumper is removed completely, or lost, then the detector defaults to the high, or 200°F (93.3°C) setting.

The Qolsys IQ Heat 135 / 200 uses a single Panasonic CR123A 3V battery, and the expected battery life is about ten (10) years. Besides how often the detector transmits a signal, the biggest factor in battery life is ambient temperature. When the detector is mounted to the ceiling, the ceiling temperature should never exceed 100°F (37.8°C) under normal conditions. Just know that extreme temperatures, high or low, will likely affect the life expectancy of the battery.

The detector is fully supervised for RF check-in and transmits a signal to the system every 62 - 68 minutes. If the alarm panel doesn't hear from the sensor for a specified period, it will indicate a trouble condition on the zone associated with the IQ Heat. In addition to RF supervision, the detector is also supervised for tamper. If the heat detector is pulled away from the wall or ceiling, it will generate a tamper transmission to the alarm panel.

Specifications

• Device Type: Wireless Heat Detector
• Operating Frequency: 319.5MHz (crystal-controlled)
• Supervision Interval: 62 - 68 minutes
• Fixed Temperature Detection: Selectable 135°F (57°C) or 200°F (93°C)
• Rate of Rise Rating: 12° to 15°F (6.7° to 8.3°C) per minute
• Mounting Location: Ceiling or Wall
• Ceiling Mounting Specification: At least 4 in. (10cm) away from any walls
• Wall Mounting Height: Top of detector within 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) of the ceiling
• Standby Current: Less than 0.9μA
• Operating Temperature: 32°F to 150°F (0 to 65.6°C)
• Operating Relative Humidity: 0 to 95% noncondensing
• Batteries: One (1) Panasonic CR123A 3V (included)
• Expected Battery Life: 10 years (depends on how often the detector transmits signals, but is more dependent on the temperature of the installation environment. Warmer temps (within range) = longer life)
• Dimensions: 2.29" Diameter x 1.28" High (58.25mm Diameter x 32.4m High
• UL Max Ambient Ceiling Temp: 100°F/150°F (37.8°C/65.6°C)
• Maximum UL Spacing: 50ft (15.2M) x 50ft (15.2M)
• Agency Listings: UL 521 Heat Detectors for Fire Protective Signaling Systems, UL985 Household Fire Warning System Units, CAN/ULC-S530 Heat Actuated Fire Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems, CSFM Category 7270 - FCC: 15.109 Class B, 15.231, Industry Canada: ICES-003, RSS-210

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.

If you're shopping for electronic security, Z-Wave, or other low-voltage equipment, and you find a product that you love, that Alarm Grid doesn't currently offer, submit this form so we can list it. Send us an email to support@alarmgrid.com to let us know, and we'll expedite the listing.

We may not be able to source every product you run across, but if we can, we'll gladly list lifestyle and security-related products on our site. If you're designing a system and you need the product within a specific time frame, send us an email to let us know and we'll get the item listed as quickly as possible.

On our New Product Form, we ask for certain information. Below, we'll list each piece of information and a brief explanation of what we're looking for in each:

Product Title (Required):

This is like a Make and Model, or Manufacturer and Model Number. Provide as much identifying information as you can, particularly if different models are very similar and you require a specific one. We may add more than one model, but we want to add the one you're looking for first.

Product SKU (Required):

An SKU stands for Stock Keeping Unit. It helps both manufacturers and retailers keep track of product stock and also helps to make sure that when you inquire about apples, we don't give you oranges instead. For us, it is very important, but may not always be apparent when you're shopping for a product.

Below is an image taken from the Alarm Grid storefront on Amazon.com. As you can see from the listing, there is no SKU specifically called out. But, we happen to know that the SKU for this product is PROLTE-A. So, if you're attempting to provide us with information on a product, and you can't find an SKU, list the model number again (as the SKU is required on the form). We'll do our best to find the correct product with the information provided and may reach out via email to make sure we have the correct item.

Help Us Source It (Optional):

Where were you shopping when you saw this item? Was there a particular website? Provide as much information as you can on where this product can be found.

Approximate Sales Price (Optional):

What is the price you've seen for this product elsewhere? You may think we only ask this so we can charge as much as possible for the product, but that's not the case. Alarm Grid is not a wholesale distributor, and as such, other wholesalers and dealers may have a price for an item that we can't match (and we don't price match).

If we find that's the case, we'll be honest with you about it. We may still list the product on our site, but we won't hold you up if you're waiting for us to list it, only to find that our price is higher than you expect.

Please Describe the Item's Function In a Paragraph (Optional):

Yes, there's homework, though we're not asking for a full book report. Just give us a brief description of what this item is used for. You can even tell us what you want to use it for. This helps us in a couple of ways. It gives us a good understanding of why the product is useful, and it also allows us to be sure that the item will do what you want it to do. If not, we may be able to recommend a different item that will work better.

Please Describe Why You Believe Alarm Grid Should Sell This Product (Optional):

This can be as simple as "Because it's new and you don't offer it yet." Just give your thoughts about the product.

What Is Your Name? (Optional):

This is not a required field, but if you do send us an email to expedite the addition of the recommended product to our site, it will help us tie that email to this request.

Email (Optional):

Once again, this is not required but will help us if we have questions about the product. Particularly, if you're not able to provide an accurate SKU. If we can't properly source the product, and we don't have an email to contact you, then we may have to abandon the attempt to offer it on our site.

So, that's how you can request that a new product be added to the Alarm Grid website. We can sometimes get a product listed on the same day, depending on what time we receive the request and an email asking us to expedite the listing. Just don't forget to follow up on high-priority requests with an email letting us know you're waiting for the product to be available.

02/14/24 1:09 PM UPDATE: Per Resideo, these two issues are unrelated. However, the second issue, involving AT&T communicators appears to have been resolved.

02/13/24 4:15 PM UPDATE: Resideo has an update on the AlarmNet360 site currently:

"A small percentage of ProSeries and LTEMP LTE AT&T communicators may experience signaling issues that could result in a communication failure message being generated to the monitoring Central Station.

This issue is being worked with AT&T for immediate resolution.

We appreciate your patience while we work to quickly resolve this issue."

It is not clear whether this is a separate issue, or is related to the Pro Series issue originally reported in this post. When we get that information, we will either update here or in a new post with details of the new issue. Keep watching this space for updates.

02/13/24 Original Post:

Recently, Resideo identified an issue with select PROA7 and PROA7PLUS panels: screens become dark/unresponsive, losing connection to AlarmNet. A hard reboot is required for a reset. Resideo plans a firmware upgrade to address this, which will be applied automatically to all Pro Series panels.

This alert applies to all Resideo and Honeywell Home Pro Series panels. This includes the PROA7, PROA7C, PROA7PLUS, and PROA7PLUSC. While they say the number of affected panels is very small, we don't yet have an actual number or a date code range to confirm those details.

In response to this issue, Resideo has a firmware update, 03.1872.18.0 which they will begin pushing to all registered Pro Series panels this week. The update will also be available to dealers to push manually beginning on 02/13/24. This is a critical update and will be pushed over WIFI, if available, or Cell if WIFI is unavailable. It is important to note that only registered panels can receive this firmware update. Registered means that there is an account associated with the panel.

An affected panel will be dark, with no status LEDs illuminated. Along with these visible symptoms, the panel will stop communicating with the AlarmNet servers. This will eventually generate a report to the monitoring station of E359, which indicates the panel failed a regularly scheduled check-in.

If you have a Pro Series panel and believe your panel is affected, we recommend you power cycle it as soon as possible. Remove the set screw in the bottom of the panel and pull the front and back of the panel apart. Doing this will automatically remove the primary DC power.

Next, find the panel's battery and unplug it from the main board. Leave it disconnected for about 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Now carefully put the panel back together. Doing so will reconnect the primary power and the panel should begin to boot up. Replace the set screw, if installed and allow the panel to boot. This should return the panel to normal operation and allow it to receive the firmware update.

Panels that receive the firmware update will reboot as a part of the update process. This will generate a signal to the monitoring station of E-339-Exp. Module Power On / Reset, or possibly E-305-System reset, or possibly both.

If we receive further details on this issue, we'll post them here, so stay tuned. Updates will be posted near the top of this page and will be highlighted with a bold date and wording to indicate new information. We have yet to receive an official MWT Technical Bulletin on this issue, but I believe one is likely coming soon. Hopefully, it will contain the details that are, so far, notably missing.

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.

It's that time of year again! The time when you might spot Santa Claus on your Alarm.com video feed as he prepares to deliver Christmas gifts. Of course, the true magic occurs on Christmas Eve, but Santa could drop by at any time between December 4 and December 31. So, be on the lookout!

Alarm.com is always enhancing and expanding its video offerings. For the past few years, its technology has become so advanced that it can capture Santa Clause as he goes about his pre and post-holiday preparation.

Any time between December 4 and December 31, 2023, you may catch a glimpse of the jolly old elf as he scurries about, scoping out the surroundings and getting all of the logistics prepared for the big night. Delivering toys to all the children of the world in a single night requires meticulous preparation!

The only way you can see Santa is if you capture a still image from your video feed. Santa is much too quick to be seen on the video feed itself. Just log into your Alarm.com account, pull up the feed of one of your Alarm.com cameras, and click the Santa icon. You'll see the various Santa poses captured within the feed. Click the one you like best, and then share the image with your family and friends.

In dark settings, Santa will appear in black and white, in lighted areas you'll see him in color. Just be sure you have the latest version of the Alarm.com app installed on your iOS or Android device so that you can take advantage of this rare opportunity. For iOS users, the latest version is 5.2.1. For Android users, the version you see will vary depending on your device. Just check the Google Play store and be sure there are no available updates. Your phone must be on Android 7.0 or higher to support the Alarm.com app.

Of course, only those with a video subscription, and cameras installed will be able to capture Santa Clause in action. For Alarm Grid customers, this will be those on one of our Platinum Plans (Self or Full) or a Video Monitoring Account. If you've been considering adding an Alarm.com video camera to your system now may be the perfect time!

If you don't happen to have Alarm.com video service, but you do use Alarm.com monitoring for your security system, you have another option for tracking Santa as he visits your home. You can set up a Santa Alert for your system. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Designate a sensor. Log into your Alarm.com security account. Tap the Sensors card and choose a sensor that is easy for you to open and close. Change the name of that sensor to something fun. If you have a chimney, you can call it Chimney Sensor. If not, you can name it Santa Sensor, or a similar fun name.


2. Create a notification. If you don't already have a zone open/close notification set up for the sensor you chose, tap the Notifications menu option, then click the "+ New Notification" icon. Looking at the Standard Notification options, you should see "Sensor Activity." Click on this option.
   
   
   
   
3. Complete the notification setup. When you click on the "Sensor Activity" option, you'll be taken to a configuration screen. First, name your notification. Check the box next to the sensor you renamed in Step 1. Configure all the required parameters to ensure you receive a notification when this sensor is opened. Remember, a notification will be sent every time this sensor is opened or faulted, so you probably want to wait until you're ready for Santa to visit, before you set this up. Otherwise, if this is a sensor you use often, you may be inundated with notifications until you set things back to normal. Presumably, you'll do this on Christmas Eve. Be sure you have at least one recipient for this notification enabled. When you've completed the configuration, click "Save."
   
   
   
4. Create the event. When it's time for Santa's visit, open the sensor you renamed in Step 1. You should receive a notification on your designated device that shows the Chimney Sensor, Santa Sensor, or whatever fun name you gave your sensor has been opened. In the morning, you can show your family proof that Santa Claus visited during the night.


5. Revert to normal. Once you have your proof, you can reverse the above steps and put your system back to normal. There is no need to delete the notification. You can simply toggle it off, then it will be ready again next year, in case you want to use it again.