Can I Arm or Disarm a VISTA 20P Monitored Over Phone Line Remotely?

No, you cannot remotely arm or disarm a VISTA 20P monitored over phone line*. A Honeywell VISTA 20P can only be armed or disarmed remotely if it has access to Total Connect 2.0. A Honeywell System cannot access TC2 using a phone line alone. An IP or cellular connection is needed for TC2.

Total Connect 2.0 is the interactive service platform that is used with Honeywell Alarm Systems. By accessing Total Connect, a user can arm and disarm their system, check the current status of security sensors, control Z-Wave smart home devices, view the live feed of security cameras and more. The service can be accessed using a web browser or by using the Total Connect 2.0 Mobile App. The mobile app is available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Total Connect 2.0 represents the only way to arm or disarm a Honeywell VISTA 20P remotely.

However, a VISTA 20P cannot access Total Connect 2.0 without some type of upgrade. A VISTA 20P will only support a phone line connection out of the box, and either internet or cellular connectivity is required to use Total Connect 2.0. There are several different communicators for the VISTA 20P that will provide internet and/or cellular connectivity. A great module for this application is the Honeywell iGSMV4G. This will provide the VISTA 20P System with a dual-path connection that provides the fast speeds of an IP connection, along with the reliability of cellular monitoring. Please note that a PROM chip upgrade may be required to use the Honeywell iGSMV4G. Alarm Grid sells a bundled kit that includes both the iGSMV4G and the needed PROM chip.

Upgrading to internet and/or cellular from POTS (plain old telephone service) provides greater benefits than just simply allowing the VISTA 20P System to use Total Connect 2.0. A POTS connection is just slow and unreliable and generally, and we do not recommend using this type of communication with a modern alarm system. By upgrading to a different communication path, the system will receive more reliable monitoring service and faster communication speeds.

*Please Note: Honeywell produced a module called the 4286VIP (Voice Interactive Phone). With this module, a user could call into their system via phone line and use their phone handset like a keypad. This would allow the user to arm/disarm and retrieve current panel status. These modules do not work well with modern VoIP (Voice over IP) phone lines, and therefore Alarm Grid does not recommended them for use.