Can I Add an LTE-XV to a VISTA-21iP?

Yes, you can add an LTE-XV to a VISTA-21iP. This will allow the Honeywell VISTA-21iP System to communicate across the Verizon LTE Cellular Network for monitoring services. Any signal that is sent out will pass through the Honeywell AlarmNet Servers before reaching their intended destination.

The Honeywell VISTA-21iP is basically the same system as a Honeywell VISTA-20P, only with an integrated Honeywell 7847i IP Communicator. This module allows the system to use a hardwired ethernet connection to connect with the Honeywell AlarmNet servers. However, both the VISTA-21iP and the 20P will need an added cellular communicator to support cellular connectivity. The LTE-XV is just one example of a compatible cellular communicator. However, it is arguably the best cellular communicator for the system. This is because the Verizon LTE Network is very fast and reliable. Additionally, Verizon has stated that they plan to support their LTE network for many years to come. This is not the case for older cellular networks, which are likely to be shutdown in the coming years. Alternatively, the Honeywell LTE-XA Cellular Communicator connects to the AT&T LTE Network if AT&T service works better in the area. It will provide the same functionality as the LTE-XV.

There are several reasons to choose cellular communication for your Honeywell VISTA System. Cellular connectivity is known for being quite fast and extremely reliable, especially when compared with a POTS (plain old telephone service) connection. In order to use cellular, a cellular communicator, like the Honeywell LTE-XV, must be added to the system. The user will also need an alarm monitoring plan that includes cellular service. For Alarm Grid customers, these are the Gold-level plans and higher.

Cellular connectivity will also allow the panel to work with the Total Connect 2.0 service. This is a great platform that offers many convenient features for an end user. Through Total Connect 2.0, a user can arm and disarm their system, control Z -Wave smart home devices, check the current status of sensors and more. The service can be accessed through a web browser or remotely using the free TC2 Mobile App on Android or iOS devices.

Because the Vista-21iP has a built-in Internet communicator, you must first disable it before an external communicator can be added. This means that you can not use the internal IP communicator simultaneously with an external cellular communicator. There is a built-in cellular communicator available for the Vista-21iP called the Vista-GSM4G. However, this communicator only comes in an AT&T 4G configuration. There is currently no built-in LTE option for this panel.