How Do I Upgrade a Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE to Use LTE?

You can upgrade a Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE to use LTE by adding an LTE communicator and activating it for monitoring service. The VISTA-21iPLTE supports an exclusive plug-in LTE communicator called the Honeywell LTE-21V, which makes it easy to connect the system to a cellular network.

The Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE is a hardwired alarm panel that serves as the successor to the Honeywell VISTA-21iP. Just like its predecessor, the Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE includes a built-in IP communicator for connecting with the AlarmNet Servers. But if you want to upgrade the system to use cellular, then you will need to add a cellular communicator to the system.

Luckily, the VISTA-21iPLTE supports the Honeywell LTE-21V, which is a convenient plug-in cellular communicator. The good thing about this communicator is that you will not need to disable the system's internal IP communicator to use it. By adding the Honeywell LTE-21V to the VISTA-21iPLTE, the system can utilize dual-path connectivity with both internet and cellular. If you have an existing VISTA-21iP Panel or any other VISTA P-Series System besides the VISTA-21iPLTE, then we recommend checking out this FAQ instead.

One of the best aspects of activating a Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE System for monitoring service and connecting it with the AlarmNet360 Servers is that you will also be able to control the panel remotely through Total Connect 2.0. If you aren't familiar with Total Connect 2.0, it is an interactive monitoring and automation platform that can be accessed using a web browser or through a mobile app on your smartphone. It makes it very easy to control your security system while you are away. By accessing TC2, you can arm and disarm your system, check its current status, control Z-Wave devices (Z-Wave controller required), and so much more. Check and make sure that the monitoring plan you choose includes access to Total Connect 2.0.

Like any alarm system, upgrading your Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE to use cellular communication is very important. While you can certainly use the system for IP-only monitoring, you should understand that an internet outage will take your panel offline if you don't have a cellular backup. Internet outages are relatively common. Even if you have generally reliable internet, likely you will still experience an occasional outage. But unlike internet connectivity, cellular service rarely goes down or becomes unavailable. As long as you have an adequate cellular signal, you can count on your system to maintain a nearly constant cellular connection. This is why so many users take the extra step of getting their systems connected for cellular alarm monitoring service.

In June 2019, Resideo (formerly Honeywell) stopped allowing activations for 3G and CDMA cellular communicators. As a result, only LTE communicators can be activated for alarm monitoring service. The Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE was released after this had already happened. With that in mind, it is impossible to activate a Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE System using a 3G or CDMA communicator. But, fortunately, LTE connectivity represents an ideal solution for alarm system monitoring.

Not only is LTE very reliable it is also extraordinarily fast. In terms of speed, LTE is nearly as fast as IP. This makes it perfect for sending quick signals to the AlarmNet Servers. And since the VISTA-21iPLTE already includes a built-in IP communicator, you can continue to use internet connectivity with the system after you upgrade to LTE. The cellular communication path will just represent a valuable backup option in case your internet ever goes out.

Some users are concerned about LTE communication, as they are fearful that it will eventually be replaced in favor of more advanced technology. Specifically, most people point to 5G cellular communication as the eventual successor to LTE. The good news is that cellular service providers, including AT&T and Verizon, have stated on multiple occasions that they plan on supporting their LTE networks well into the distant future. These companies have invested tremendous resources and capital into setting up and maintaining their LTE networks. They aren't planning on terminating or dropping support for these networks any time soon.

LTE stands for "Long-Term Evolution", indicating that it is truly going to be around for the long run. Even as 5G networks become a reality, LTE networks will remain in service, and they will still be widely used in many applications. This includes for use with security systems that use LTE communicators. By upgrading your VISTA-21iPLTE to use LTE, you can expect your system to remain reliably monitored through cellular communication for many years to come.

The only cellular communicator option for a Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE is the Honeywell LTE-21V. This is a Verizon LTE Communicator designed exclusively for use with the Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE Security System. We recommend checking coverage maps and making sure that the Verizon LTE Network provides adequate service in your area. If not, then you can most likely boost cellular signals using a cellular antenna or a cellular amplifier.

It should be noted that the Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE can technically support the LTE communicators that were built with the other Honeywell VISTA Series Panels in mind. These include the Honeywell LTE-IA, LTE-IV, LTE-XA, LTE-XV, LTEM-PA, LTEM-PV, LTEM-XV, and LTEM-XA. To use one of those communicators, you will first need to disable the internal IP communicator for the VISTA-21iPLTE System. This is done by moving the appropriate jumper to the OFF position. You can review this FAQ for more information.

Although the previously linked FAQ was written with the VISTA-21iP in mind, it also applies to the VISTA-21iPLTE. However, using one of the aforementioned LTE communicators instead of the LTE-21V on a VISTA-21iPLTE System is strongly discouraged. The LTE-21V daughter board is easy to install, and it doesn't require you to disable the system's internal IP communicator.

One last important thing to consider is that using cellular communication with a VISTA-21iPLTE System will require you to get a cellular monitoring plan. Cellular monitoring service is typically more expensive than IP-only monitoring service. This is to cover the costs associated with paying the cellular service provider and maintaining their cellular network. If keeping costs as low as possible is very important to you, then you can use the VISTA-21iPLTE for IP-only monitoring and skip adding a new communicator entirely. But remember, cellular communication is much more reliable than IP communication.

If you want the ultimate reliability for your VISTA-21iPLTE System, then adding a cellular communicator is a necessity. Another thing to consider is that most cellular alarm monitoring plans will also include IP connectivity at no extra cost. And because the VISTA-21iPLTE has a built-in IP communicator that you can continue to use, you can take advantage of that along with your cellular monitoring plan. This is known as dual-path monitoring, and Alarm Grid strongly recommends taking advantage of it.

Some examples of good cellular monitoring plans for use with a VISTA-21iPLTE include the Gold and Platinum Level Plans from Alarm Grid (Self or Full) and the Alarm Grid Cell-Only Plan. All Alarm Grid monitoring plans are no-contract, and they do not have any extra or hidden fees. It is advised that you shop around for different monitoring plans and choose the best one for your needs.

This FAQ assumes that you are setting up an LTE-21V with your Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE System for cellular. Complete the following steps to upgrade a Honeywell VISTA-21iPLTE to LTE:

1. Power down the panel. Adding a cellular communicator to a VISTA-21iPLTE is considered to be a hardware change. You must power down the panel completely whenever making a hardware change. You can power down a VISTA-21iPLTE by disconnecting its backup battery and unplugging its transformer. There should be no lights on the panel board, and any connected keypads should go blank once the system has powered down. That is unless the keypads have a backup power supply set up. A keypad with a backup power supply will display "Open CKT", "OC", or "ECP Error" after the system has powered down.

2. Install the communicator. The Honeywell LTE-21V plugs directly into the main system board. It is very easy to install. We recommend reviewing the Honeywell Home LTE-21V Install Guide for more information on this process. You can power the panel back on after you complete the installation. Plug the transformer back in before reconnecting the backup battery. We also recommend writing down the MAC and CRC for the panel, and the AID and CRC number for the communicator during the installation. These codes uniquely identify the communicator module. They are needed when activating the system. The MAC and CRC can typically be found on a white sticker on the alarm panel itself. The AID and CRC will be found on a sticker on the LTE-21V. They may also be found on the product packaging. Keep these codes somewhere safe, as you may need to access them again in the future.

3. Activate the communicator. Contact the alarm monitoring company you are working with and have them activate the communicator. If you are activating service with Alarm Grid, then you will schedule an activation slot to activate the communicator. An Alarm Grid technical support expert will then contact you at the scheduled time to complete the activation. Make sure that you have the communicator installed and ready to go before your activation appointment. Also remember to have all the identifying information for the panel and communicator handy, as the activator will ask you for this information. If you are activating your monitoring service with a different monitoring company other than Alarm Grid, follow their instructions to complete the activation.

4. Check cellular signals. At the end of your activation, have your monitoring company check the cellular signals for your system. You want to make sure that the signals are strong enough for reliable and consistent monitoring service. Your monitoring company will be able to determine this. If they report that the cellular signals are weak, then it is likely that the system is being used far away from the nearest cell tower. You can usually remedy this situation by adding a cellular antenna or a cellular amplifier.