Can I use Total Connect with a cellular communicator?

Yes cellular communications do support the Total Connect 2.0 interactive service. Total Connect is an app that allows end users to setup customizable text and email alerts; as well as remotely control the system. The most popular communication setup is a dual path setup with internet as primary and cellular as secondary (backup). However there are cases where internet is not available for one reason or another. Although they are a bit slower than most internet speeds, cellular communicators do support all the the features of Total Connect.

The simplest way to get Total Connect over cellular communication is setting up a Honeywell 3GL or GSMVLP5-4G with a LYNX Touch L5200 or L7000. The 3GL is the newer model and is more cost effective. These are the easiest systems to install, program and use on a day to day basis. They also support firmware upgrades, home automation (L5100-ZWave) integration and WIFI (L5100-WIFI) communications. We offer kits cellular kits that include a variety of door/window contacts as well.

Those looking to add Total Connect to an existing VISTA P-Series wired alarm system can simply install an external cellular communicator. The Honeywell GSMV4G is an external cell communicator that ties into your control panel's ECP bus. This unit requires a 4 wire connection to the panel (terminals 4 through 7) and has it's own battery backup. This will work with any P-Series VISTA panel including the VISTA-20P, VISTA-15P, VISTA-128BPT and VISTA-256BPT.

In order to support Total Connect 2.0 the panel must be revision 9.12 or higher. For those with a VISTA-15P or 20P, there are PROM chip upgrades that can be swapped in to upgrade the firmware on these systems. We offer a GSMV4G-TC2 Total Connect kit which includes the GSMV4G and a PROM chip upgrade. The kit comes with both a VISTA-15P PROM and 20P PROM so this kit will work with either system. These are the only two panels that support PROM upgrades.

The VISTA-21iP has internal communications that include an internet communicator from the factory. If you have this panel you can add the VISTA-GSM4G as a primary or secondary comm path. This VISTA-21iP must be revision 3.13 or higher to support Total Connect 2.0.