Can I Monitor My VISTA 20P Remotely w/o Paying Or Using Total Connect?

No, you cannot monitor your VISTA 20P without paying or using Total Connect. The Total Connect 2.0 service is the only way for a user to access a Honeywell VISTA System using AES encryption. In order to access the service, a user must pay a fee to an alarm monitoring company.

Total Connect 2.0 is an interactive service that allow a user to control their Honeywell Alarm System remotely. The best way to access the service remotely is by using the Total Connect 2.0 Mobile App on an Android or iOS device. This way, the service can be accessed from virtually anywhere in the world. The Total Connect 2.0 Mobile App is available for free download from both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Total Connect is the only possible way to securely control a Honeywell VISTA System from a remote location. By accessing the service, a user can arm and disarm their system, check the current status of their security sensors, operate any programmed Z-Wave smart home devices and view the live feed of any programmed Total Connect Security Cameras. Overall, this is a great service for any user of a Honeywell System.

But to use Total Connect 2.0, a user must have an alarm monitoring plan that includes access to the service. The user's alarm monitoring company will pay a fee to Honeywell's AlarmNet division to provide the user with access to the service. The monitoring company will then typically pass this fee on to the customer as a part of their alarm monitoring plan. AlarmNet is the division of Honeywell that hosts the Total Connect service. For more information on the differences between AlarmNet and Total Connect, please review this helpful FAQ.

For Alarm Grid customers, every plan except for the standard Bronze plan includes access to Total Connect 2.0. However, the Self-Bronze plan will not provide the ability to control Z-Wave smart home devices from Total Connect. A user will need a Silver, Gold or Platinum level plan to do this. Also note that a Platinum plan is required if a user wants to use security cameras with Total Connect. And also remember that a Honeywell VISTA 20P will need a cellular or IP connection to access Total Connect. The VISTA 20P System will need to have a compatible cellular communicator or IP communicator for this purpose.

Please note that a Honeywell VISTA System can be insecurely monitored by using a Honeywell VAM or Tuxedo Touch Keypad. With this setup, a user can receive text or email notifications from their system without using or paying for access to Total Connect. We do not recommend doing this, as it requires port forwarding through the firewall, and it opens up the network to a possible hacking attack. However, if a user does choose to do this, they can read this FAQ for the VAM, and this FAQ for the Tuxedo Touch.