Honeywell GSMX4G

AlarmNet Cellular Alarm Monitoring Communicator

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The Honeywell GSMX4G is an AlarmNet cellular alarm monitoring communicator that is just like the original Honeywell GSMX in every way exc...

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Description

The Honeywell GSMX4G is an AlarmNet cellular alarm monitoring communicator that is just like the original Honeywell GSMX in every way except for one very important upgrade. While the GSMX is a 2G cellular alarm communicator, the GSMX4G is capable of 4G cellular alarm communications. Previously, the only AlarmNet cellular alarm communicator that was capable of 4G cellular alarm communications was the Honeywell GSMVLP5-4G which is only compatible with the L5100 LYNX Touch wireless alarm control panel. Now that Honeywell has released the GSMX4G and the GSMV4G, you can upgrade a VISTA Series alarm control panel with a 4G cellular alarm communicator.

Ever since digital cellular alarm communicators were first developed as an answer to the FCC AMPS sunset clause, only 2G cellular communicators were available. The AMPS sunset clause, which took effect on February 18th, 2008, marked the official end of analog cellular services. Since that time, all cellular alarm communicators have used digital cellular GSM technology to reliably and effectively transmit alarm data from an alarm control panel to a central station without the need for a phone line. However, cell phone technology has advanced a tremendous amount since 2008. The days of simply placing calls and sending text messages are over. Today’s cell phones are used to send pictures, stream videos and even make video conferences. All of these great technological advances require large amount of data and that data must be sent quickly for a good user experience. The old 2G cellular technology is not fast enough to support today’s data needs. Therefore, all of the major cellular carriers have been working on new cellular technology that will be able to handle the increased data and increased speeds. While cellular alarm communicators don’t necessarily need the same speeds as a cell phone, and certainly don’t send as much data, they do need to keep pace with the cellular networks that they operate on. Cellular carriers are realizing that they need to abandon the older 2G cellular networks to free up space needed for all the 4G cellular traffic. Unfortunately, if the 2G networks die out, the 2G cellular alarm communicators that use the 2G networks are also going to die out. Just as all alarm users that had analog cellular alarm communicators were required to upgrade to digital cellular alarm communicators, everyone that now has a 2G cellular alarm communicator will need to upgrade to a 3G or 4G cellular alarm communicator. In fact, AT&T, which is the cellular carrier used by all AlarmNet cellular communicators, has announced that they will officially expire the 2G network by December 31st, 2016. By purchasing an Alarmnet GSMX4G today, you are preparing for the future.

The Honeywell GSMX4G cellular alarm communicator is typically used with a VISTA Series alarm control panel but it can also be used with a Honeywell L3000 LYNX Plus wireless alarm control panel. Unlike the GSMV4G which requires a power supply, the GSMX4G was designed with a very low current draw so that it can be powered from a Honeywell control panel’s ECP terminals. The GSMX4G even has a plastic threaded adapter so you can screw it into the top of a VISTA Series alarm cabinet. Simply remove one of the knockouts from the top right of your alarm cabinet and screw the GSMX4G into place.

Of course, as the Honeywell GSMX4G is one of the most advanced AlarmNet cellular alarm communicators available today, it is fully compatible with AlarmNet’s advanced Total Connect 2.0 service.

Brand: Honeywell

Excellent points that I had not considered - thanks!
So I always prefer the iGSMV4G if you can get ethernet to it or you can always setup a WIFI to ethernet adapter. Mainly for speeds because internet connections are generally much faster than cellular, even if its 4G. This comes into play in terms of latency for commands on the Total Connect app. That is where you will notice it. Also, if you ever wanted to downgrade your monitoring plan you will be more flexible with the available internet connection. With that said, the standalone cellular options are totally fine. If you do not plan on downgrading service and prefer the reliability that cellular connections as a general rule you can certainly stick with cell only modules. I would actually prefer the newly released LTE-XV if you go this route: https://www.alarmgrid.com/products/honeywell-lte-xv
I don't have a good ethernet connection at the alarm box location. Is there any reason I should not get the GSMX4G (cell only, $127) vs. the GSMV4G (also cell only, separate power, $162). And if I get the GSMV4G, should I go ahead and get the iGSMV4G (dual path, since the price isn't that much different at $175)? TIA for any pointers.
Well the cellular and IP communicators do not use the phone line so they will offer a better solution than connecting a VOIP line. I recommend the iGSMV4G so they are flexible to use IP or cellular or dual path. We have a kit that comes with a prom chip upgrade for VISTA-15P and VISTA-20P panels as well: https://www.alarmgrid.com/products/honeywell-igsmv4g-tc2
I have several clients with older vista panels. Is there ANY communicators available to avoid the voip problems without replacing these panels.
We will ship the latest firmware on the iGSMV4G if you purchase it from us. The antenna is not required. That is only if you have marginal cellular signal. There is an internal antenna that will work fine in areas with decent cell reception.
WA20PSIA v10.23 2014 REV10.23
My panel is at 10.23. From research, it looks like the iGSMV4G's firmware should be at v2.12.5 or higher...mainly because of a glitch that would require the unit to be power cycled because it freezes from time to time. Is the antenna (GSM-ANT3DB) required?
You will need the VISTA-20P to be revision 9.12 or higher to support Total Connect 2.0. You can get the kit which includes the communicator and PROM upgrade chips: https://www.alarmgrid.com/products/honeywell-igsmv4g-tc2. The panel can be firmware updated with that PROM chip. Confirm the rev by following Sterling's instructions.
What is the WA number on your VISTA-20P panel's PROM chip (should be located in the center of the green circuit board)?
Thanks Frank. What are some things to look for when buying the iGSMV4G? i.e. firmware level, antenna etc. Is the firmware on these easily upgraded if needed?
You can only use a single alarmnet communicator. I recommend picking up the iGSMV4G: https://www.alarmgrid.com/products/honeywell-igsmv4g. That is the only way to accomplish a dual path (internet and cellular) setup on a VISTA-20P..
I have an Ademco 20P panel, and have both the GSMX4G cellular and 7847i IP communicator. Can both of these be used? Thanks.
The GSMX4G is a standalone cellular communicator. You could use it with a VISTA-21iP but you'd need to change the jumper on the board to shut down the internal IP communicator so that it would look for and use the external GSMX4G. The advantage of using the VISTA-GSM4G is that it is the snap-on cellular module designed for a 21iP so that you can use the internal IP communicator backed up by a cellular path for dual path monitoring which would be faster and more reliable than the cellular only option using the GSMX4G.
WIll this work with the Vista 21iP panel? What's the functional difference between this and and adding a VISTA-GSM4G module to my existing panel? My 21iP is a newer model that supports the GSM4G module. I was surprised to see that the GSMX4G is cheaper than the simpler VISTA-GSM4G.
Robert, If you go to alarmgrid.com/monitoring you can choose the monitoring option you want, and sign up from the web page. You'll be taken to a calendar where you can choose a day and time for activation. When the day and time arrive, we will call you and go through the activation process with you. Bear in mind, that certain features are available only on specific versions of panels. For example, Self Monitoring via Total Connect 2.0 requires a Vista-20P or Vista-15P version 9.12 or higher in conjunction with the GSMX4G.
How do we hook this up with AlarmGrid monitoring?
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