Can I Use the 2GIG GC3 w/o Paying for a Subscription?

Yes, you can use the 2GIG GC3 without paying for a subscription. However, this will severely limit the functionality of the GC3 System. The panel will be unable to connect with the Alarm.com service, and it will have no way of sending out any communication signals in the event of an alarm.

Nearly everyone with an alarm system is going to want some type of paid monitoring plan. This is the service that allows an alarm system send outbound communication signals. This is necessary for alerting a central station and/or the end user when an alarm event occurs. In the case of the 2GIG GC3, all signals are sent through the Alarm.com servers before being routed to their intended destination.

But if the end user does not have an alarm monitoring plan, then their GC3 System cannot connect with the Alarm.com service. This means that the system will have no way of communicating with a central station or sending remote alerts to the end user regarding any system events. The system will also be unable to support any remote operation of Z-Wave smart home devices. However, local Z-Wave control through the panel will still remain possible.

A GC3 System without monitoring service is good for local operation only. If an alarm occurs, the system will still emit a siren to alert those on-site to the situation. The panel will also display any sensors that are faulted, and it can still produce chimes and voice annunciations whenever these sensors are activated. The problem lies in the fact that if a user is off-site, they will have absolutely no way of knowing about the alarm or receiving any automatic dispatch in the event of an emergency. Any user who wants to get the most out of their GC3 System will absolutely want some type of paid monitoring subscription with a company like Alarm Grid.