Will A Qolsys IQ Panel 4 Work Without A Phone Line?

Yes, the Qolsys IQ Panel 4 can be used without a phone line. The IQ Panel 4 is a truly modern system. It does not offer the option to use a phone line for monitoring or remote control. Instead, it has a built-in cellular communicator coupled with a WIFI communicator for dual-path reporting.

The Qolsys IQ Panel 4 may be the most perfect alarm system currently available. It has an AT&T or Verizon cellular communicator built in. In Canada, they use a Telus communicator. In addition to the cellular communicator there is also a dual-band capable WIFI communicator. For automation, the panel has a Z-Wave Plus V2 700-Series controller built-in.

If that's not enough, all panels support PowerG 900 MHz sensors and automation devices and most panels support one additional legacy RF protocol. The options include Honeywell and 2GIG 345 MHz sensors (unencrypted and one-way sensors only), Qolsys and Interlogix 319.5 MHz sensors, including Qolsys' S-Line encrypted sensors, or DSC 433 MHz sensors. There are a couple of PowerG-only options. One has an AT&T LTE cellular communicator and the other has a Verizon LTE cellular communicator.

Copper phone lines are something of a relic. Most homes and businesses have done away with antiquated phone service and have moved into the digital age. However, for alarm panels that are capable of sending signals via a copper phone line, these digital services pose a problem. The way a digital phone signal is processed can cause issues for an alarm panel that is attempting to send a signal to a central station receiver. This can garble the signal and result in a "failed to communicate" condition at the panel, and in no actionable information being received by the central station operator.

But with the Qolsys IQ Panel 4 you have an LTE cellular communicator that, once activated with an Alarm.com account, is ready to securely and quickly transmit your signals to you, to a monitoring station, or both. With the added benefit of WIFI, your system will be able to communicate each signal to you using the fastest path available. When an IQ Panel 4 has WIFI in addition to cellular it sends every signal using both paths. The Alarm.com server takes the first instance of each signal and processes it, discarding the "losing" signal. So, each signal is processed using the fastest available path in the moment.

Although using the WIFI communicator in the panel is optional, the cellular path is required. That means Alarm Grid customers will need to choose a Gold Plan (Self or Full) or higher. Our Gold Plans include cellular communication and the ability to interact with your panel remotely using the Alarm.com app or website. We also offer a Platinum Plan that includes everything available in the Gold Plan with the addition of video support. Finally, we offer a Cellular Alarm Monitoring Plan, that includes cellular communication for traditional Central Station-Only monitoring. Any plan that supports cellular communication also includes WIFI communication at no extra cost.