Can I Set Up WIFI as Primary & GSM as backup on a DSC Impassa?

No, you cannot set up WIFI as primary and GSM as backup on a DSC Impassa. This system has no way of achieving WIFI connectivity or accessing a WIFI network. But this is okay, as it can use cellular connectivity. Cellular monitoring is superior or on par with WIFI in nearly every aspect.

If no cellular module is added to a DSC Impassa System, then it will be forced to rely on a telephone line for monitoring. This known as a POTS (plain old telephone service) connection. POTS is a largely outdated and archaic technology that provides an unreliable connection and slow speeds. Furthermore, there is no way for a POTS connection to be used with an interactive service like Alarm.com. With that in mind, we will strongly discourage any user from setting up a POTS connection with their system.

Many users believe that not being able to use WIFI with an alarm system is a major concern. But this is not true. Cellular service for alarm systems is considered to be superior to WIFI. Not only is cellular service much more reliable than WIFI, the speeds from a modern cellular connection are nearly as fast. Cellular connections cannot be easily tampered with, and cellular service will not be lost due to a typical power outage. So with that in mind, not being able to access WIFI on a DSC Impassa is not a big deal.

By using a cellular connection, a DSC Impassa System can connect with Alarm.com. This is an interactive service platform that a user can access to control their alarm system. Alarm.com allows a user to arm and disarm their system, check the current status of sensors, control Z-Wave devices and more. By using the Alarm.com Mobile App on an Android or iOS device, these actions can be performed from almost anywhere.

There are a few things a DSC Impassa System will need in order to receive cellular service. The system will need to be running firmware version 1.3 or higher*, and a compatible cellular communicator will need to be installed in the panel. The user will also need an alarm monitoring plan that includes cellular service. For Alarm Grid, these are the Gold and Platinum level plans. Please see our alarm monitoring page for more information. Please note that the only LTE cellular communicator for the DSC Impassa that is listed on the Alarm Grid website is the DSC TL8055LTVZ, and that module is displayed as discontinued. For more information on installing a DSC Impassa Cellular Module, please check out this FAQ.

By using a cellular connection, a DSC Impassa System can connect with Alarm.com. This is an interactive service platform that a user can access to control their alarm system. Alarm.com allows a user to arm and disarm their system, check the current status of sensors, control Z-Wave devices and more. By using the Alarm.com Mobile App on an Android or iOS device, these actions can be performed from almost anywhere.

One thing to note about the DSC Impassa System though is that it generally isn't worth the trouble of getting it set up. The impassa is a relatively older and outdated system, and there are plenty of superior options available. When upgrading from the Impassa in particular, we usually recommend the 433 MHz Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus or the Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS with added PROTAKEOVER Module. The reason why we recommend those two systems for replacing a DSC Impassa is because they both support the same 433 MHz wireless sensors that a DSC Impassa would use. If you are trying to decide between the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus and the Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS, then arguably the biggest consideration to make is in the fact that the IQ2+ uses Alarm.com as its interactive platform (same as the Impassa), while the PROA7PLUS uses Total Connect 2.0 instead. For a more in-depth look at these two systems, please read this FAQ.

*NOTE: DSC Impassa panels on versions older than 1.3 can not be updated in the field. These panels will need to be replaced with a compatible revision.