Can the Honeywell VISTA-50P Support LTE Communication?

Yes, the Honeywell VISTA-50P can support LTE communication. Using the LTEM-PA or LTEM-PV and a PRODCM, the VISTA-50P can fairly easily be upgraded to use an LTE communicator. The Telguard TG-1 Express can also be used with the VISTA-50P. However, the VISTA-50P still does not support TC2.

The Honeywell VISTA-50P is an older hardwired polling loop panel that supports V-Plex Polling Loop Sensors. The system was commonly installed in commercial locations where longer wire runs were needed, making polling loop sensors a necessity. However, the panel is quite limited by today's standards. Most users with a Honeywell VISTA-50P will want to upgrade to a newer system, whether that be a hardwired panel or a wireless all-in-one alarm system.

You can get a Honeywell VISTA-50P System set up with an LTE communicator for alarm monitoring service. By installing the PRODCM into either an LTEM-PA or LTEM-PV, whichever carrier has the better signal in the area being monitored. You can easily replace a phone line connection on the VISTA-50P. The PRODCM is a dialer capture module. It provides a dial-tone to the panel. When the VISTA-50P needs to report a signal, it will dial out as it usually would if a phone line were being used. The PRODCM will capture the signal, provide an acknowledgement to the 50P, and then transmit the signal using WIFI, Ethernet, or the LTE Cat-M1 network connection, depending on what's available to the LTEM-P Series device. To the VISTA-50P, it simply thinks it successfully dialed using a phone line.

One very important thing to understand about the Honeywell VISTA-50P is that it can never be set up to work with Total Connect 2.0. This is an interactive monitoring and automation platform that you can use to control your system remotely using a mobile app on your phone. It is a great service, and we strongly recommend it for anyone with a compatible panel. There are many other Honeywell Panels that support TC2, and they are all fairly easy for setting up with LTE connectivity.

Another viable option to use with the VISTA-50P is the Telguard TG-1 Express. The TG-1 Express is also a dialer capture device. It will connect with the tip and ring connections on the VISTA-50P Panel. Just like in the scenario above, when the panel needs to send out a signal, it will act as though it is dialing out using POTS (plain old telephone service) communication. But what is actually happening is that the TG-1 Express is taking that telephone line signal and converting it to a cellular signal for reliable cellular communication. At this time, you can only choose an AT&T LTE Telguard TG-1 Express the Verizon LTE Telguard TG-1 Express is currently unavailable. It is important to understand that the VISTA-50P cannot be used with the Telguard HomeControl Flex App, even if it is set up with a Telguard TG-1 Express Communicator.

If you have an existing VISTA-50P System and you are looking to upgrade, then there are a few options available. If you are wanting to bring over any existing V-Plex Polling Loop Sensors, then the VISTA TURBO Panels like the VISTA-128BPT and the VISTA-250BPT are both great options. We have a great FAQ on upgrading a VISTA TURBO Panel to use LTE communication, which you can check out here.

If you want to stick with a hardwired system, but you don't necessarily need support for polling loop sensors, then you may consider a panel in the VISTA P-Series. A great option is the Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE, which supports a convenient plug-in LTE communicator. More information on upgrading a Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE to use LTE communication can be found in this FAQ.

Lastly, you may want to skip a hardwired system entirely and make the jump to a wireless panel. There are wired to wireless converters that you can use to bring over hardwired sensors and use them with a wireless system. But it is very important to note that you CANNOT use hardwired polling loop sensors with a wired to wireless converter. But if you have standard, non-polling loop wired sensors, then you can usually bring those over. Using a Honeywell Home PROSIXC2W with a Honeywell Home PROA7 or Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS is a popular option. Another consideration is using the 319.5 MHz Qolsys IQ Panel 4 with a Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F Wired to Wireless Converter. Or even better, use the DSC PG9WLSHW8 PowerG Wired to Wireless converter with any of the Qolsys IQ Panel 4 versions.