Honeywell 5800MINI vs Honeywell SiXCT

The Honeywell 5800 MINI and the Honeywell SiXCT are two surface-mount contacts from Honeywell. They provide similar functionality, and they operate in roughly the same manner. That said, their communication methods differ, and they are designed for use with different security systems.

Both the 5800MINI and the SiXCT are surface-mount contacts that will be seen on the outside of a door or window. They can both be installed with screws or with double-sided foam tape. Both contacts include a sensor and magnet. The sensor is installed on the frame of the door or window. The magnet is installed on the door or window itself, within about a half inch of the sensor. Whenever the door or window is opened, the magnet will become separated from the sensor. This will cause a reed switch inside the sensor to activate. When this reed switch activates, the sensor will send a signal to the security panel to let the system know that the door or window has been opened. The system will then perform the programmed Response Type for that zone. Both devices also include LED lights that are helpful during enrollment and for checking the current sensor status. With all of that in mind, the two sensors are actually very similar devices.

However, the similarities end there. The 5800MINI and the SiXCT actually communicate with security systems very differently. The 5800MINI is part of the Honeywell 5800 Series of wireless sensors. It communicates at a wireless frequency of 345 MHz, making it an extremely versatile sensor. The 5800MINI will function with any Honeywell Lyric Controller, LYNX Touch Panel, 2GIG GC2, 2GIG GC3, and any Honeywell VISTA that includes a wireless receiver. The sensor measures in at 1"W x 2.2"H x 0.25"D. This makes it very compact, and it allows for a very discreet installation. Unfortunately, the 5800MINI does not utilize any type of encryption.

On the other hand, the SiXCT communicates using a 2.4 GHz frequency. It is designed exclusively for use with the Honeywell Lyric Controller, and it will not function with any other type of security system. It measures in at 1.61"W x 3.13"H x 1"D. It is considerably larger than the 5800MINI, making it somewhat of a less discreet sensor. However, the primary selling point of the SiXCT is that it includes 128-bit AES encryption. This makes the device virtually impossible for others to hack or spoof. If a user wants a smaller sensor with this capability, they may want to consider the Honeywell SiXMINICT instead.