How Do I Add a Driveway Notification Using Total Connect 2.0?

You can add a driveway notification using Total Connect 2.0 by installing a sensor to detect driveway activity, enrolling that sensor with your panel, and setting up a notification for that zone in TC2. You can do this for almost any Honeywell Panel that is monitored and set up with TC2.

If you build a sensor fault notification in TC2, then you can be alerted via text and/or email that an activity has occurred. The key here is getting a sensor to respond to vehicles coming and going from your driveway, while also not being easily triggered by other random outside occurrences. Many users may benefit from being alerted to someone pulling into their driveway, or when a vehicle leaves their driveway. The trickiest part about this is selecting and implementing a sensor for driveway activity detection. There are multiple options that are possible for this task, with some of the more popular solutions being outdoor motion sensors or outdoor beam sensors. But once you have installed and programmed a reliable sensor for detecting driveway activity, the rest of process is fairly routine.

In order for everything to work properly, your Honeywell or Resideo Alarm Panel must be actively monitored with a plan that includes TC2 service. If you are using a Honeywell VISTA System, and you plan to use a wireless sensor for this job, then your system will need an added wireless receiver to support the sensor. However, there are also various hardwired sensors that can be used for this job. A wired sensor won't require any additional hardware to integrate with a VISTA System, provided that there is at least one open and available on-board zone. Conversely, if you are trying to set up a wired sensor for use with a wireless Honeywell Panel, then a compatible wired to wireless converter will be needed. The Honeywell 5800C2W is arguably the most popular wired to wireless converter for use with wireless Honeywell Alarm Panels. Most wireless Honeywell Panels can readily support the 5800C2W with no additional hardware. One exception is the Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS and its variants. That system requires a PROTAKEOVER Module to support a 5800C2W, but the more popular wired to wireless converter for that system is the PROSIXC2W, which can be used on a PROA7PLUS without a PROTAKEOVER Module.

Regardless of the setup you use, the sensor used for monitoring the driveway should be programmed with Zone Type 23 - No Response. The actual name for this Response Type may differ, depending on the panel being used. For a Honeywell VISTA P-Series Panel or a Honeywell LYNX Plus L3000, this Zone Type will result in the panel displaying a fault, but no alarm will ever occur, and the user will not be prevented from arming the system. For the Lyric, LYNX Touch, or ProSeries, the Response Type of No Response will have the panel NEVER display the zone fault, but it can still be properly configured for Total Connect 2.0 notifications. In addition to the fact that this Response Type will never cause a system alarm, another advantage is the fact that the zone can be bypassed so that you do not receive notifications during a certain period.

Complete the following steps to add a driveway notification to Total Connect 2.0:

1. Install a sensor. The first thing you will need to do is install a sensor. This needs to be a sensor that activates due to a vehicle pulling into your driveway, while not being activated due to other activity. There is not a definitive solution here, but rather many possible options, with some working better than others. Some of the most popular sensors used for driveway notifications are the Honeywell Intellibeam Sensors. That lineup includes the Honeywell IB100D, which is sold on the Alarm Grid website and great for driveway notifications. Just note that the IB100D is a wired sensor, and you will need to run a wire from the sensor to either a wired panel or a wired to wireless converter. This setup, while effective, may be somewhat impractical for a DIY installer. Another, more DIY- friendly solution may be to use an outdoor motion detection sensor. You can position the outdoor motion sensor so that it responds to movement occurring on the driveway, and you can decrease its sensitivity so that it only responds to vehicles pulling in and out. Effective walk testing here is key so that you get the sensor working exactly how you would like. Of course, you should refer to the installation manual for the sensor and follow the necessary steps to get it functioning properly.

2. Program the sensor. In addition to being installed, the sensor must also be programmed with the alarm system. You can technically do this before installing the sensor, so really, Steps 1 & 2 can be completed in either order. The process for learning in the sensor will depend upon the system you are using. The key thing to remember here is that you use a Response Type of No Response. Many Honeywell Panels have this option as Zone Type 23. Also keep in mind that if you are using a wireless sensor, then its programmed Loop Number may vary depending upon the sensor and the intended application. Again, the actual process will vary greatly depending upon the panel.

• PROA7PLUS: For the ProSeries Panels, the system must be on a high enough firmware version to support local end-user programming. Otherwise, the programming will need to be performed by the alarm dealer. End-user programming was originally unavailable on the ProSeries Panels, and as of May 2021, it is still only available as part of beta testing. But it is expected that end-user programming for the ProSeries Panels will be released to the general public in the not-so-distant future. Once your system has local programming, you can access auto-enrollment mode for learning in a new sensor. Begin from the main system screen, and press the three (3) horizontal bars menu button at the bottom. Choose Tools, and provide the system's Installer Code (default 4112). From there, choose Programming, then Peripherals, and then the Add (+) button in the top-right. Fault the sensor you installed in Step 1 or plan to install later if you are performing the steps out of order. As long as the sensor is properly powered and within wireless range, then it should auto-enroll. The important programming information to keep in mind is that the Device Type should be set as "Other", and the Response Type should be set as "No Response". All other programming fields can be configured based on your needs. Remember to save by pressing the button in the top-right when finished.
• Lyric: Refer to this FAQ for programming. The Device Type should be set as "Other", and the Response Type should be "No Response". All other fields can be set as desired.
• LYNX Touch: This FAQ will show you how to program the system. Set the Device Type as "Other", the Response Type as "No Response", and all other fields set based upon your use.
• LYNX Plus L3000: This FAQ will help you access programming. You access programming with the command [Installer Code] + [8] + [00], with the default Installer Code being 4112. Zone programming is field *56. You can press [*] to move forward after making an entry, or [#] to move backwards if you make a mistake. The important thing to remember is to set the Zone Type as 23 - No Response. When finished, enter a 00 at the A (Zone Number) prompt and then use [*99] to exit programming.
• VISTA P-Series: If you are adding a wireless sensor, then a wireless receiver must be set up with the panel. You should only program the system with an Alphanumeric Keypad, not a Fixed English Keypad. To enter programming, use the command [Installer Code] + [8] + [00], with the default Installer Code being 4112, and the entire command being [4112800]. Zone programming is available in programming field *56. While in the sub-menu of zone programming, press [*] to move to the next entry, or [#] to go back if you make an error. The Zone Type for the zone should be 23 - No Alarm Response. You can safely exit programming with command [*99] once you have exited zone programming by entering 00 at the "Enter Zone No." prompt.
• VISTA TURBO Series: Just like with the P-Series, the system must have an added wireless receiver to support wireless sensors. Only use an Alphanumeric Keypad for programming, not a Fixed English Keypad. To enter programming, use the command [Installer Code] + [8] + [000]. The default Installer Code on a VISTA TURBO is 4140, so the entire command to enter programming on one of these systems with the default IC is [41408000]. You can access zone programming with the command [#] + [93], followed by [1] at the "Zone Programming?" screen. After you have entered zone programming, remember to press [*] to move forward after making an entry, or [#] to move backwards. This FAQ will show you how to enable a receiver in device programming, and this FAQ provides a walkthrough for programming a wireless zone. Remember that you will use Zone Type 23 for the setup.

3. Build the notification. With the sensor installed and programmed, you can create the notification. This helpful FAQ covers the process. You must make one or more user profiles and add phone numbers for text message alerts and/or email addresses for email alerts. All users who should receive the notification should be assembled into a Notification Group. With the Notification Group built, you can then create the notification. The trigger for the notification being sent will be the sensor being faulted due to driveway activity. You can also set the notification so that it only occurs at certain times of the day. For instance, you might not want to be notified due to driveway activity in the middle of the night, so you can set the schedule accordingly. Just consider the needs for the notification, and build it based upon those needs.

4. Test the notification. You should absolutely test the notification once you are done. Ensure that notifications are currently scheduled to be sent out during the time you are testing, depending upon how you built the notification. Also make sure that you have access to the phone or email address that is going to be notified. It may be helpful to have a friend assist you in the testing process. You or a friend can try driving a vehicle into the driveway, while the other person checks their phone or email to see if the notification comes through. This should normally happen within a couple of minutes. If the notification never comes through, then you should try checking the sensor's programming, the notification settings on TC2, and the sensor itself to ensure proper operation.