Product Announcements Posts

The Alarm.com App can now be used directly from a car's touchscreen display via Android Auto™. Most cars made in 2018 or later can support the Android Auto™ feature. For some cars, a wired USB connection may be required, while others can take advantage of the feature wirelessly via Bluetooth.

Both Android Auto™ and Apple Carplay™ are meant to help you use your phone more safely while driving. By moving certain controls from the phone to the vehicle's touchscreen, you can take care of necessary phone interactions without having to actually look at the phone. In many cases, voice commands can be used, rather than having to look at and touch the screen. This promotes safety by reducing distracted driving.

Alarm.com can now take advantage of this safety-enhancing feature and work with Android Auto™. At this time, the Alarm.com App does not interface directly with Apple Carplay™ We currently have no word on when, or even if, it ever will. Whether your vehicle requires a USB connection or can interface via Bluetooth will vary per vehicle year and model.

It's simple to get started with this integration. All you need is a commercial or residential Alarm.com account, a compatible Android phone, and either a vehicle or an after-market stereo system that supports Android Auto™. Just login to the Alarm.com app, and connect the Android phone using Android Auto™. If this is your first time connecting to Android Auto™ you may need to check the phone's display for a permission message.

From there, you will be able to run the Home and Away scenes from the car's touchscreen. You can also see the status of your garage doors, open or close them, and receive important system notifications. These notifications may include pending alarms, alarms, arming reminders, and geo-fence-related events.

There are three (3) types of notifications you may receive when using Alarm.com with Android Auto™. They are Alarm.com notifications, Head Unit notifications, and Notification Center notifications:

Alarm.com Notifications:

This type of notification will include pending alarms, alarms, arming reminders, and location-based notifications such as garage door left open, sensor left open, and panel left disarmed among others.

Head Unit Notifications:

Head Unit notifications will appear on the touchscreen, even if the user is not logged into the Alarm.com Android Auto™ interface. This notification will likely appear as a banner at the top of the display. It will show the notification, along with an action and a dismissal icon.

For example, the notification may show that the garage door has been left open with an icon allowing you to close it, or an X to dismiss the notification. Head Unit Notifications will only provide the primary action as an option for dealing with the notifications. If you view the same notification in the Notification Center, there could be a primary and a secondary action option.

Notification Center Notifications:

Notification Center notifications provide slightly more information. In this screen, you may see up to two (2) different action options with text to explain what each available action is. For example, if the notification is that the system was left disarmed, you may have the option to arm it either Away or Stay. Whereas, on the same Head Unit notification, you will only be given the option to arm Stay (the primary action).

To get to the Notification Center, click the notification icon on the lower right side of the car's touchscreen. Use the arrows, or flick to scroll through the available notifications. Some notifications will not have any type of action associated with them. Others may have one (1) or two (2) different options to choose from.

The table below shows the different types of notifications and the primary action associated with that notification if there is one. Only the arming reminder notification offers a secondary action:

Alarm.com constantly strives to find new ways to improve its product. This latest integration aims to keep you safe both at home and on the road. We're standing by to see what new feature they come up with next. I'm sure we won't have to wait long!

Alarm Grid is now proud to offer the Alarm.com ADC-VDB750 Wired Video Doorbell. This doorbell supports video analytics and two-way audio. It also offers an improved operating temperature range over older doorbells. No power module is required with mechanical chimes, for a simple installation.

The ADC-VDB750 will be replacing the silver SkyBell ADC-VDB105X Slimline II, which has been discontinued. As of this writing, the above-referenced Skybell is still available in Bronze and Satin Nickel from Alarm Grid. The operating temperature range of -58°F - 122°F (-50°C - +50°C) means that users in more extreme climates can now have access to the safety and peace of mind a video doorbell provides.

Also improved is the ADC-VDB750's field of view. With a 165° horizontal and 145° vertical field of view, users will be able to see more of the area surrounding the door. You can now capture all of the activity in the area surrounding the entry to your home. Package thieves, beware!

Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? Sure, sometimes, but not when it comes to the field of view on this video doorbell. With Alarm.com's unparalleled video analytics, the ADC-VDB750 offers People Detection. With this powerful analytics engine you can be sure that when you receive a notification that someone's at the door, it will actually be a person. Not the neighbor's basketball, or your friendly neighborhood squirrel.

The ADC-VDB750 can use either AC or DC power. It can accept 16VAC to 24VAC at 10VA minimum and 40VA maximum (16VAC, 10VA is recommended), or 15VDC to 24VDC at 6W minimum to 20W maximum. If an AC power supply is being used for the existing doorbell, be sure it has the proper specifications to support the ADC-VDB750. A DC power supply can also be used, we offer the Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-PSU-DC which provides 16VDC at 20W. If you aren't replacing an existing doorbell, this might be the easiest way to go. Any DC power supply used will need to provide at least 15VDC at 8W. Be sure to remove power from the doorbell by turning off the breaker, in the case of an AC transformer, or unplugging the DC power supply, before beginning a doorbell swap.

If the existing doorbell uses a mechanical chime, you can replace that doorbell with the ADC-VDB750 and you won't have to use any type of power module. If you're replacing an older Alarm.com video doorbell that used a power module with the mechanical chime, you can remove it. If you will be replacing an older doorbell that uses a digital chime, you will need to install the ADC-VDBA-PM-750 power module.

This power module differs from the power module for the ADC-VDB770 because it only has two (2) wires instead of four (4). The two (2) wires for this power module will connect in parallel to the same terminals the doorbell wires are already connected to on the chime. For example, digital chimes commonly have screws with markings of FRONT, TRANS, and REAR. If your installation has wires connected to FRONT and TRANS, the wires for the power module will connect to these same two terminals, right on top of the existing wires. This connection does not observe polarity.

If you are replacing a Slimline I or Slimline II (Skybell) doorbell, you can use a backplate adapter for ease of installation. Power down and remove the old doorbell, but leave its mounting plate in place. Make sure that all wires are well connected to the screws on the plate and that the bottom set screw is backed out far enough that its threads don't stick up above the plastic. Attach the Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-750-BPA (sold separately) to the back of the new ADC-VDB750, then attach this entire unit to the existing Slimline doorbell mounting plate. Tighten the set screw and return power to the unit.

There is a wedge mount kit available for the ADC-VDB750. This kit contains a 5° downward angled wedge and a 15° left or right-angled wedge. Using these wedge mounts allows you to dial in and improve your doorbell's downward and/or left/right viewing angle for the perfect line of sight. The wedge mount kit, Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-750-WMK, is sold separately. Please note, if you are replacing a Slimline I or Slimline II Skybell Doorbell, and you wish to use the wedge mount kit, you will need to remove the Slimline doorbell backplate and use the one that comes with the ADC-VDB750 instead.

Finally, if you will be replacing an older and larger video doorbell with the new ADC-VDB750, and there's an area you need to cover such as a larger wiring hole, or an area where older, non-matching paint may show, you can use the Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-WPU. This is basically a trim plate that you can install behind the new doorbell's mounting bracket. This trim plate is larger than the mounting bracket and will cover any unsightly old paint or other marks from previous installations.

So, say hello to the Alarm.com ADC-VDB750. The latest, but surely not the last, entry in Alarm.com's impressive list of video doorbell offerings. It joins the Alarm.com ADC-VDB770 wired video doorbell and the Alarm.com ADC-VDB780B and ADC-W115C bundle, which includes the wireless doorbell camera with rechargeable battery, and a wireless chime module. When it comes to video doorbell cameras, Alarm.com has got you covered.

Alarm.com announces the addition of Tuscon Electric Power, Modesto Irrigation District, and American Municipal Power (AMP) to the Give Back, Get Back Demand Conservation Program. Customers with a qualifying smart thermostat, like the Alarm.com T2000 Thermostat, can earn incentives for participating in the program.

In different areas, these incentive programs are called different things. Demand Conservation, Give Back, Get Back, and others. Basically, they all boil down to one thing. During peak usage times, usually, in the summer months, when demand is at its highest, you give the utility company permission to make minor adjustments to your temperature settings, which allows them to lessen the demand on the power grid during peak usage.

If you sign up for the program, you have the ability to opt out of a single event, and you can opt out of the program completely at any time. However, if you do opt out, you will give up any further incentives that may be available through the program.

Tuscon Electric Power customers can earn a $50 Mastercard e-gift card for each eligible thermostat (up to two (2) total) for enrolling in the Smart Rewards program and earn another $40 Mastercard e-gift card for each year of participation. That's $90 for one thermostat or $180 for two. Between these incentives and the savings provided by a smart thermostat, this is an upgrade that will pay for itself in no time!

Modesto Irrigation District customers will receive a $50 bill credit when they enroll in the MID Power Smart program. Then, receive a $20 bill credit for each year that you remain in the program. If you're adding a new Energy Star® smart thermostat to your home, you can also apply for up to a $50 rebate toward the purchase of the thermostat. The rebate is limited to two (2) qualifying thermostats per household. Visit their website for full details.

American Municipal Power (AMP) operates in several states, including Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, and Delaware. According to Alarm.com, customers receive $55 when enrolling in the program with AMP. However, according to the AMP website, participants who sign up will be entered into a drawing for a $250 gift card at the end of each peaking season. So, do your research if you are an AMP customer looking to sign up. You can check out the program at AMP here. When in doubt, give them a call and get the details.

Not a customer of one of the utility companies listed above? Never fear! There are many, many companies that have been participating in some variation of this program for years. Not an Alarm.com customer? That's ok too. Most utility companies have a list of smart thermostats that are compatible with their version of the demand conservation program. Find your utility company's site and search "smart thermostat." You'll likely come up with the information specific to your area. If not, give them a call. There's a reason these companies are willing to pay incentives for participation in this program. It's good for everyone involved.

Google is ending support for conversational actions via their Google Home and Google Assistant platforms as of June 13, 2023. This will end Alarm.com users' ability to control their Alarm.com home automation devices using voice through the Google Assistant feature and Google Home devices.

It seems like yesterday, but it's been a couple of years since we brought you instructions on how to set up Alarm.com automation to be controlled using your voice via Google Home. Now that Google is deprecating its conversational actions feature, this integration is going away. This is a shame because we had many customers, and employees, who enjoyed this capability.

This is not something that is within Alarm.com's control. Google giveth, and Google taketh away. As of this writing, it doesn't appear that any new functionality will be replacing what is being removed. If you enjoy controlling devices using voice commands, and assuming you have an Android phone, your best bet for voice control moving forward is to use Amazon Alexa. Apple users also have the option to use Siri Shortcuts to achieve voice control.

We've had no word from Resideo as to how this change may affect the Total Connect 2.0 integration with Google Assistant and Google Home, so we reached out to technical support to ask them. According to their development team, "The sunset of Conversational Actions has no impact to our integration".

What do you think of this latest Smart Home functionality being deprecated by Google? Are you planning to move to Amazon Alexa or Apple Siri for voice-activated home automation? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We're always happy to hear from our readers.

Resideo has released Technical Notification #90 due to an issue in manufacturing. In this case, tamper switches on the 5800MINI were installed incorrectly. There is a sales hold on these units to allow a correction of this issue. Only white units are affected, this did not affect brown units.

The 5800MINI is a popular option. It has a small footprint and a convenient blue LED that indicates proper magnet alignment. Recently we have noticed that these units have been back ordered and are currently unavailable. This is most likely the cause.

The 5800MINI, like most wireless sensors, uses an internal tamper button to detect any unauthorized opening of the sensor. This button varies depending on the sensor, but in most cases on the cover, you typically will have a protruding plastic piece that is intended to press down on the tamper switch to close it when the cover is properly installed.

The defective units had this tamper button installed upside down. So when the cover is installed, the plastic piece built into the cover is not making contact with the actual tamper button. They have identified the faulty units to have been manufactured between February 13, 2023 and April 17, 2023. This would mean the date codes on these defective units will show 2307 through 2316. The date code consists of a 2-digit year, and 2-digit week of the year. The date codes can be found on a label on the box that the 5800MINI comes in.

If you recently installed an affected unit, you will likely already know, because the sensor will have indicated a tamper trouble that will not clear, even with the cover properly installed. Holding down the tamper with your finger and then disarming will allow you to clear it, though.

Commercial panels like the Vista-128BPT, have a feature that allows them to ignore zone tampers. This is enabled in programming field *24. If this feature is enabled on your commercial panel, you may not be aware of a tamper issue, as enabling this feature tells the panel to ignore all 5800 and polling loop zone tampers.

If you are currently installing one of these faulty sensors, and need a workaround until your warranty replacement arrives, there is an option. The 5800MINI, reports its tamper on loop 4. On Vista-15p, Vista-20p, and Vista-21ip panels, if you have an available unused wireless zone, you can program the serial number from the 5800MINI using loop 4 and use a non-response zone type, such as zone type 23 (no alarm response). For Lynx, Lyric, and PROA7PLUS panels, you can select "Other" as Device Type and "No Response" as the Response Type. Then the tamper will be ignored.

If you no longer have the box to visually identify the defective 5800MINI units by date code, compare yours with the pictures below. In the first picture, the IC chip is mostly covered with the serial number label, but the tamper button should be on the side closer to this chip. It is not. It is closer to the edge of the sensor.

If properly installed, the tamper should look like the second picture shown below. The IC chip is clearly shown in this image. It's a black square with a white dot in the middle. The black tamper button is on the side closest to this chip.

If you encounter one of these faulty devices, please contact the distributor or retailer where you purchased it. They can inform you of their method for resolving this issue. Alarm Grid customers can begin this process by emailing a picture of their faulty device's tamper switch and including the order number, if available. If you don't have the order number, please provide the email address associated with the order. Alarm Grid customers with defective devices will be sent a warranty replacement when the new ones are available. We can also offer you the workaround mentioned above, until the new product is available.

Resideo is offering the 5815 2-zone door and window sensor as a temporary replacement until 5800MINIs become available. For now, it will be at the same price as the 5800MINI. At alarmgrid.com we have made this adjustment to the pricing of the 5815. The 5815 has been lowered to a price of $24.99 until this issue is resolved. Please stay tuned for any updates on this issue, as we receive them.

Alarm.com has made some nice feature enhancements for video customers. They will now have support for some 3rd party cameras. They've bumped up the maximum number of supported cameras to 64. They have introduced clip limit Auto-Restart. And perimeter guard is now available for ADC-VDB770 customers.

Alarm.com offers a wide range of video products. These include many different cameras and video doorbells. They continuously work on strengthening their video portfolio. Alarm.com, besides continuing to release new products, also focuses on improving current offerings. This announcement is proof of their dedication to their video customers.

Alarm.com has announced it will now support some 3rd-party camera setups. This enhancement is available for business accounts only. They will now make it possible to integrate hardwired cameras that use ONVIF Profile S and VAPIX communication protocols, to allow for operation with the Pro Series CSVR (ADC-CSVR2000P, ADC-CSVR2008P, or ADC-CSVR2016P). Businesses with those current video setups do not need to replace their entire camera lineup in order to begin using the features of alarm.com. This allows customers to begin taking advantage of things such as live view, 24/7 recording, and the SVR timeline, all accessible via Alarm.com website or mobile app (available for iPhone and Android devices).

Alarm.com will also allow twenty-five (25) live video feeds on a single Live View tab. Now you can live stream on more cameras, all at once. Making it easier to monitor or follow desired activity.

They have also bumped up the total number of cameras per location. Previously, it was 40 cameras max. Alarm.com will now allow a maximum of 64 cameras before requiring a second "location" to be set up. This enhancement is available for residential and commercial video services. Alarm Grid video customers still receive a max of eight (8) cameras per video package, but will no longer require the addition of a second location on their account for cameras 41-64.

Alarm.com still imposes a clip limit per service package. So, it is still important to set up your recording rules so that your cameras are only capturing the desired activity. For Alarm Grid Video customers, if you are surpassing your monthly limit every month, please contact us to discuss your options. For those customers who run into a "high" activity month from time to time, Alarm.com will auto-restart your recording rules on the first day of the following month. Previously, customers would have to log in on the first of the month to manually restart their recording rules. This update will only apply to cloud-saved clips. Clips will always continue to record on SVRs and onboard recording cameras.

Also, for customers with an ADC-VDB770, Alarm.com will now offer the Perimeter Guard feature. Perimeter Guard uses video analytics to detect people and then react with attention-grabbing audio alerts (for supported cameras) and blinking LED lights. The purpose is to alert unwanted guests and deter malicious activity. This has been available for some time on certain cameras, but will now be available on the ADC-VBD770 video doorbell. This feature is configured using the Customer Website or Customer app as part of the Video Analytics rules. There you choose your audio alert and LED options, for when the detection occurs.

Alarm.com has also updated their latest WIFI cameras to include manually-triggered warning sounds. Use this on-demand feature to deter potential intruders when you spot them in real-time. It can also be used after receiving a notification about unwanted activity. Access the desired camera from the customer website only, to manually activate warning sounds. This will sound an alert for thirty (30) seconds or until you manually turn it off. This feature is now available on ADC-V523, ADC-V523X, ADC-V724, ADC-V724X, ADC-VC727P, and ADC-VC728PF (LED only) cameras. This option is not offered on the mobile app at the time of this writing.

To round up our list of features and enhancements, there are improvements that will be coming to the Alarm.com mobile app. These are not yet available but will include bottom navigation for easier accessibility. The purpose is to provide a faster, more streamlined, and more intuitive experience for all. An all-new activity feed with video clips and grouped events will also be added. Alarm.com will also include more modern, easy-to-use controls that better utilize the entire mobile screen, with refreshed action sheets. They will also provide additional performance and visual enhancements to improve the overall app experience. This provides us with some cool stuff to look forward to.

Check out some of the new enhancements and let us know how you are enjoying them. Please feel free to comment below and share your experience.

Alarm.com has added a new product to its video doorbell lineup and Alarm Grid is proud to offer it. It is the ADC-VDB780B wireless video doorbell. This is the first video doorbell we've offered that is wire-free. It's powered by a rechargeable battery and does not require an existing wired chime.

The ADC-VDB780B wireless video doorbell uses the Alarm.com ADC-W115C as its chime. Because at least one (1) wireless chime is required, the doorbell is only being sold as a bundle. Alarm.com ADC-VDB780B-W115C-BNDL is the SKU for the battery-operated doorbell with one (1) wireless chime. The ADC-W115C plugs into any standard interior wall outlet.

Alarm.com is well known for its lineup of video cameras, including its video doorbells. But, the ADC-VDB780B doorbell is a game changer. Its wire-free setup does not limit you to installing only where existing, working, doorbell wiring exists.

Doorbell wiring is usually thin and solid core wiring. What happens to solid core wiring after bending it too many times? SNAP! It breaks. Having experienced this myself, I was left dead in the water unless I wanted to hire someone to re-run the doorbell wire.

But that is no longer the case. If your doorbell wire has broken or become damaged and you do not want to invest in fixing it. Or, if you have a side or a rear door where no doorbell was ever installed in the first place, and you would like a doorbell camera in that location, this new battery-operated doorbell from Alarm.com could be your new best friend.

The ADC-VDB780B wireless doorbell comes with a bracket that locks the doorbell into place. The doorbell has a battery that is expected to last up to six (6) months on a single charge. When it does need charging, just unlatch the bottom of the doorbell mount, remove the doorbell, then pull down and separate the battery pack from the main unit. Then, you can charge the battery with the included micro USB cable. The actual plug-in wall charger is not included. You will need to provide your own 5V/1.5A USB charger. This is similar to what you probably use to charge your phones and/or tablets. A fully drained battery takes around seven (7) hours to fully charge.

The operating temperature for the ADC-VDB780B is -4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C). If the doorbell's temperature gets too low, or too high, it will shut down in order to prevent damage to the unit. You can set up low and/or high temperature notifications through the Alarm.com app or website. Colder temperatures are known to have a negative impact on lithium-ion batteries, so users in colder climates may notice that they need to charge the battery more often than advertised. A rapid drop in temperature may cause the battery to discharge more rapidly, and the battery indicator to provide incorrect information. Users in colder climates should plan on charging the battery more often.

The included ADC-W115C smart chime gets plugged into a standard, unswitched interior wall outlet near the doorbell. The chime is not rated for outdoor use. It connects to the local WIFI router and can provide an access point for the video doorbell. It can be customized with the desired chime sound through the Alarm.com app or website. At least one (1) ADC-W115C must be configured for each ADC-VDB780B, but from there, you can add as many of the wireless chimes as you like to the account. Once a wireless chime is added, and the "Send button press notifications to Alarm.com Smart Chime" option is enabled for the video doorbell all wireless chimes associated with the account will sound when that doorbell's button is pressed.

This bundle utilizes a 2.4GHz WIFI network. A router with an internet connection and 2.4GHz capability is required. This bundle also features HD video quality, two-way audio, a wide viewing angle, and a Li-ion rechargeable battery. The ADC-VDB780B video doorbell is also equipped with video analytics and night vision.

We expect many who were limited in installing a video doorbell only where they had a current working doorbell, to be excited about this new product. In fact, even one of our own, upon seeing this release, said "Oh wow. That’s what I want. Battery powered!!"

The maker of the 2GIG GC3 and GC3e recommends that all users with a panel approaching 3 years of age replace the backup battery. Initially, the expected battery life was between three and five years. With the recent notice Nice, 2GIG's parent company is now suggesting a battery replacement ahead of schedule.

Apparently, swelling has been observed in some of these panels' lithium-polymer batteries. The manufacturer notes that some minor swelling is normal, but based on the notice it sounds like some batteries may be swelling beyond what is normal.

Once you open up the GC3/GC3 panel to access the battery, Nice is also warning not to puncture the battery upon removal. Do not use any type of sharp object to remove the battery. Puncturing the battery could allow dangerous chemicals to spill from the casing. Once the battery is removed, please follow local guidelines with regard to the proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries.

It is also recommended in this notice to do a firmware upgrade of your 2GIG GC3 or GC3e alarm panel at the time you replace the battery. The latest revision for these panels is 3.2.6.6770.

Reading through the firmware release notes, it does mention that the latest firmware update includes the addition of battery testing, and conditioning, as well as a status indicator for battery replacement. So, we will double down on the advice to update your panel's firmware. This revision also includes compliance with UL 985 edition 6. This standard requires that the panel recognize batteries that can no longer provide battery backup for at least 5 minutes worth of alarm signaling. When the panel recognizes that the battery lacks this capacity, it will alert the user of a low battery and the battery should be replaced at that time.

The 2GIG GC3 and GC3e use the same firmware beginning with revision 3.2.3. If you already have revision 3.2.1 or higher, then you can find all updates on the GC3e firmware update page. Older revisions may require a stepped approach to upgrading and cannot be updated all-at-once. You can find the older firmware versions on the GC3 firmware update page.

You must update to the base build of each revision, and then you can skip to the latest build of that revision. The base of each version is 3.0.x then 3.1.x, then 3.2.x. If you have an earlier revision and attempt to update directly to 3.2.1, your panel will very likely be damaged and will have to be replaced. Updating over the air using Alarm.com can help with this process, as their server should only allow you to update in the proper order.

GC3/GC3e firmware updates can be sent by your alarm dealer. When the update can be sent using WIFI at the panel, there is usually no charge, though different dealers may have different policies on this. An upgrade that has to be sent using cellular data will incur a fee, which will likely be passed onto the user by the dealer. Alarm Grid always passes these fees along with no markup. We recommend that you update using the USB port at the top of the panel. We have written detailed instructions on updating the firmware using the USB port to make this process easier to accomplish.

If your panel is approaching or past the 3-year mark, it is best to be proactive and purchase your new GC3/GC3e battery today. Then make sure to install the latest firmware, as recommended.

A New Rules Builder feature has been added for customers who have a monitoring plan with Alarm.com. It was designed to simplify the process of automating actions for scenes and rules. The feature can easily be accessed using either the customer website or the iOS or Android app.

A benefit of modern-day alarm systems is the ability to add smart devices to them. This allows for control directly from your alarm panel, remote app, computer, or by using your voice (when connected to Google Home or Alexa). Rules allow you to automate many of these actions rather than having to manually activate your devices over and over.

Previously, there was only an option to create event triggered rules, which is still a thing on the customer website, but Alarm.com has also made this new rules builder available. Alarm.com can be accessed via an app on a mobile device or a web browser on a computer. The Alarm.com mobile app is available on iOS and Android app stores. On a computer, navigate to alarm.com to log into the website.

If you always want the connected lights to come on when you enter a room that has a motion detector, you can set up a rule for that to occur any time the motion detector is activated. In an attempt to make building these types of rules easier, Alarm.com created the New Rules Builder to assist.

For example, to set up a light to turn on when motion is activated:

After logging in and selecting Automation, select +ADD NEW RULE then New Rules Builder.

Select "when." When is the trigger or what initiates the automation rule to run. In this case, when motion is detected in the Living Room. Next, you select "then." Then is the action(s) that the rule will perform after it is triggered. In our example, we want the Office Hallway light to turn on. Next, decide if the rule will run at all times or only during specific time windows. Finally, don't forget to "Save" your work.

The creation of rules can automate many repetitive functions to save time and make life easier. Rules can also go a long way toward going green and becoming more energy efficient. They provide convenience and can save you precious time and money.

Try out the new rules builder and let us know what cool things you are doing with it, and what you think of the feature.

Resideo announced today that the final Lynx product still being manufactured is discontinued, effective immediately. Some components required to produce the LynxTouch L5210 panel are obsolete, so the decision has been made to move on. Rest in peace LynxTouch. You were a good product.

I was never meant to be an alarm technician. I went to school for networking, and I had a job doing technical support for an ISP. Then the Dot-com Bubble burst in 2000 and suddenly there was a surplus of qualified candidates for every networking job. The ISP I worked for went out of business, so I knew that there were at least forty other people looking for the same networking jobs I was.

I saw an advertisement for a technical support specialist at Ademco. I studied up on the company, and what it offered. The largest manufacturer of alarm products in North America. Not bad! The main reason I applied was that I knew none of the other people who were also in the process of losing their jobs, would. I figured I could continue looking for networking jobs if I managed to get hired. I went into it actively not wanting the job. I literally said, "I'll probably get this job because I don't want it."

I had an interview and got a tour. They were interested in me because of my networking background. They were about to begin supporting a touchscreen keypad that had an internet connection and most of their alarm technicians were not good with software, computers, or networking. I left the interview thinking, "I probably won't get this job because now I want it."

But I did get the job, and for the first few months, I thought I would fail. I had no electronics background and no alarm panel background. They trained me on downloading software first. For the first week, I bet I didn't say two words all day long during training. At night I went home saying, "What do they mean 'control panel'?!" What everyone else in the world called a download, they called an upload, and vice versa. Eventually, I made it to alarm panel training.

At that time, in early 2001, the Lynx panel lineup was their only wireless all-in-one panel. Its competition was the Simon panel lineup from ITI/Interlogix/GE. Both manufacturers' panels spoke, and both spoke with a female voice. For a person who didn't have any experience with wiring or resistors, it was like an oasis in a desert of hardwired panels. The Lynx could be a bear to program because it didn't have an actual alpha display, but nearly every Lynx panel in use was exclusively using wireless sensors.

I really liked the early Lynx panels. My reasons were selfish. The thing that made it difficult for others wasn't a problem for me. The menu prompts, particularly in zone and output programming, made perfect sense. The feature that made other panels difficult for me, various wiring scenarios, was almost completely absent from the Lynx. Working with Lynx panels gave me the confidence to stick with alarms until I could master the rest of the product line. Also, because a Lynx panel would allow you to record a custom voice descriptor for a zone, you could use it to play some pretty good pranks on fellow technicians.

That was twenty-one years ago. I was so intent on trying to master this technology I didn't have time to look for a networking job. Anyway, I had found a home in this industry. Interlogix shut down its North American alarm operations at the end of 2019. So, the Lynx has outlived its old nemesis the Simon panel. Earlier this year, Resideo announced that it would discontinue the Lynx 3000 and LynxTouch L7000 panels. The L5210 was the final remaining Lynx system, and now it too is discontinued. Forgive me if I get a little misty-eyed and nostalgic. After all, I'm saying goodbye to an old friend.