Can I Use a 2GIG Edge w/o Monitoring?

Yes, you can use a 2GIG Edge without monitoring. However, you will give up the ability to control the system through Alarm.com. This will make it impossible to operate the system remotely, and you also won't be able to use security cameras or smart home voice assistants with the 2GIG Edge.

Alarm Grid strongly recommends getting alarm monitoring service for your 2GIG Edge System. Alarm monitoring opens up many possibilities for your system. If your monitoring service includes central station reporting, then you can receive automatic emergency help during an intrusion, fire, or medical crisis, as long as emergency central station dispatch is permitted in your jurisdiction. If your monitoring service includes access to Alarm.com, then you can receive text and/or email alerts and notifications regarding system activity. These are the main benefits to getting the 2GIG Edge monitored, and you forgo these benefits if you decide not to get the system monitored.

Alarm.com provides other benefits in addition to sending you text and/email alerts based on system activity. Alarm.com also makes it possible to control your system from anywhere in the world using a compatible web browser or the Alarm.com Mobile App. You can also control paired Z-Wave devices from the same remote interface. Without Alarm.com, you can still control programmed Z-Wave devices locally from the 2GIG Edge Panel or from an added 2GIG Edge Remote Keypad, but you won't be able to control these devices remotely when you are off-site and away from the system. Alarm.com automation control will also allow you to utilize Alarm.com Smart Scenes so that your programmed automation devices activate automatically based on a schedule and/or with predetermined system events. This opens up many more possibilities as compared to just programming local smart scenes alone.

Additionally, Alarm.com also makes it possible to integrate your 2GIG Edge System with certain smart home voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa and Alarm.com Siri Shortcuts. These integrations are not possible without alarm monitoring service and access to Alarm.com. Lastly, you will have no way of integrating Alarm.com Security Cameras with your 2GIG Edge without an alarm monitoring plan that includes access to Alarm.com for video surveillance. The 2GIG Edge even allows you to view the live camera feed from the panel or 2GIG Edge Remote Keypad, but only if the system is monitored, and the monitoring package includes video surveillance. For Alarm Grid customers video surveillance is included in the Platinum Plans (Self or Full) and in the Standalone Video Plan.

The 2GIG Edge comes ready for alarm monitoring service right out of the box. Inside the panel is a WIFI card and an LTE cellular communicator (AT&T or Verizon). Per Alarm.com mandates, you must have the cellular communication path activated to get the system monitored. This will require a monitoring plan that includes cellular communication, such as an Alarm Grid Gold Plan. Without alarm monitoring service, you can still arm your 2GIG Edge System, and it can still go into alarm if it detects activity. When the system goes into alarm, its internal siren (and any other added siren) will activate to alert anyone on-site. However, without monitoring there will be no way to receive off-site alerts regarding an alarm if the system is unmonitored. This makes the system almost useless without alarm monitoring service, unless you happen to be on-site and with the panel when the alarm occurs. To get the very most out of your system, monitoring service is strongly advised. Technically speaking though, it is possible to use the system without alarm monitoring.

Remember that you will not be able to stream Alarm.com Cameras from the 2GIG Edge Panel or any of its 2GIG Edge Remote Keypads if the system is not set up for monitoring service. Only cameras that are paired with the system's Alarm.com account and have the "View at Panel" feature enabled can be streamed from the 2GIG Edge and its 2GIG Edge Remote Keypad devices. For more information on how to stream cameras from the 2GIG Edge and its 2GIG Edge Remote Keypads, please refer to this FAQ guide.