How Do I Update the Firmware On a DSC PowerSeries NEO?

You can update the firmware on a DSC PowerSeries NEO by having a firmware update pushed down from Alarm.com. The panel must have a compatible Alarm.com Communicator installed. The user must have a monitoring plan that includes access to alarm.com. Alarm Dealers can access DLS Software.

DSC may occasionally release a firmware update for their PowerSeries NEO Security Systems. The most common way to receive a firmware update is to have it pushed down from Alarm.com. This will require that the system has a compatible Alarm.com Communicator installed. Compatible Alarm.com Communicators for the DSC PowerSeries NEO include the DSC TL880LEAT N AT&T LTE & IP Communicator and the DSC TL880LTVZ N Verizon LTE & IP Communicator. The communicator will need to be activated for Alarm.com service. Alarm Grid offers monitoring plans that include access to Alarm.com. Check our monitoring page for more information about our plans.

The aforementioned communicators work on DSC HS2016NK, HS2032NK, HS2064NK, and HS2128NK Systems running Firmware Version V1.1 or higher. As such, no firmware update should be needed to install a communicator and activate it for use with Alarm.com. But if you do need an alternative method for updating the panel, there is a software available from DSC called DLS. It is used to perform a flash upgrade for the NEO System. This DLS software is available for DSC dealers only. Alarm Grid does not offer access to the DLS software. You would need to speak to a DSC dealer with access to the DLS software to upgrade the panel in this very rare and unusual situation.

However, the vast majority of DSC PowerSeries NEO Firmware Updates are performed by pushing the firmware down from Alarm.com. Your Alarm.com dealer must be the one to push down the update. You must contact your alarm monitoring company and ask them to perform this task. Alarm Grid customers can email us at support@alarmgrid.com and ask us to push the update down. If you are monitored by a different company, you must speak with them. Please note that pushing down the update is free if an IP connection is used. But there may be a small service fee for pushing down the update across a cellular connection. Ask your alarm monitoring company about any service fees you may incur.

For this FAQ, we will assume that the user is having the update pushed down from Alarm.com. Complete the following steps to upgrade the firmware for a DSC PowerSeries NEO Security System:

1. Get access to Alarm.com. You must get the DSC PowerSeries NEO Connected with Alarm.com. This entire process is outlined in this FAQ about upgrading a DSC PowerSeries NEO System to use cellular LTE communication. Continue to the next step once the DSC PowerSeries NEO System is connected with Alarm.com.

2. Push down the update. Have your alarm monitoring company push down the update from Alarm.com. This can be done across IP or cellular. Remember, there may be a small charge for upgrading across cellular. If you are monitored through Alarm Grid, you can email us at support@alarmgrid.com to ask us to push down the update. Our support hours are from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. Note that it may take a few moments for the updating process to finish.

3. Confirm the update. Check the firmware version on your local NEO System Keypad. The system should now be on the latest firmware.