Is a 5800COMBO / 5800CMBOV Compatible with IQ Panel 4?

The Qolsys IQ Panel 4 345 MHz panels (AT&T LTE Version and Verizon LTE Version) do not support using the Honeywell 5800COMBO or 5800CMBOV. Because of the way serial numbers and loops are used on the sensor, it does not work. It has been tested by Qolsys, and they do not list it as compatible.

Please note that what we say about compatibility with regard to the Qolsys IQ Panel 4 345 MHz versions is also true of the Qolsys IQ4 Hub 345 MHz (AT&T LTE Version or Verizon LTE Version) panels. The Honeywell 5800COMBO and 5800CMBOV are not compatible with any version of the IQ4 Hub panels.

This question has come up many times in tech support. We've spent time testing the compatibility and we've also worked with Qolsys on testing it. It just doesn't work properly and we do not recommend using the 5800COMBO or 5800CMBOV with any of the Qolsys panels that support 345 MHz sensors. At one time, we had this sensor listed as compatible, but we've corrected that. If you see the 5800COMBO or 5800CMBOV listed as compatible with any of the Qolsys panels on our site, please let us know at support@alarmgrid.com.

Qolsys provides an RF Compatibility List that they periodically update. The latest version, linked in the previous sentence, was updated on 06/15/24 and is updated per firmware version 4.4.2+. These are RF devices that Qolsys has tested, and that they know to work as advertised. An RF device that is not on the list may program into the panel, but that doesn't guarantee it will work as expected. Using any device that is not listed as compatible comes with a certain amount of risk. At the very least, you should test the device's behavior in every possible scenario to verify it behaves as expected. Better yet, just use devices that are known to work properly.

It's no mystery why the 5800COMBO or 5800CMBOV is an attractive sensor. It offers smoke, heat, low temperature, and carbon monoxide protection in a single device. That translates into fewer devices mounted on your ceiling or walls and fewer trips up a ladder to periodically replace batteries. The batteries in the 5800COMBO or 5800CMBOV typically last about five (5) years. It takes four (4) CR123A Lithium batteries. When replacing batteries, only Panasonic CR123A batteries are recommended.

The thing that makes this sensor so attractive, it's multi-detection capabilities, is the very thing that makes it incompatible with the Qolsys IQ Panel 4. The Qolsys panel just doesn't know how to process a device with two (2) sequential serial numbers and multiple loop inputs. And since the 5800COMBO / 5800CMBOV is a life-safety device, it's not worth taking a risk and trying to make it work.