Home Security Blog

On April 1, 2023, Montgomery County, Maryland will begin enforcing an Enhanced Call Verification (ECV) statute for all burglary alarm activations. Enhanced Call Verification (ECV) requires that 2 different phone numbers be called before police are dispatched.

If you reside in Montgomery County, Maryland's jurisdiction, then this new ordinance applies to you. If you are unsure, you can always reach out to their Non-Emergency phone number and provide your address. They will be able to confirm whether this ordinance applies to you.

If you live within this jurisdiction, please ensure that you have at least two (2) phone numbers on file for the monitoring station. This will satisfy the requirements of the ordinance. Failure to have more than one (1) phone number on file, which the monitoring station can attempt to contact prior to calling the police, will result in a DENIED dispatch request. It is also imperative that if you are contacted that you can provide the proper False Alarm Passcode. This verifies that you are a valid user. Providing anything other than the correct False Alarm Passcode will result in the monitoring operator contacting the authorities. Even if you are attempting to prevent a dispatch.

This new ordinance will apply to all central station-monitored burglary alarms within the jurisdiction. This includes door and window alarms, glass break alarms, and motion detector alarms that may require a police dispatch. If the alarm is the result of a panic, duress, holdup, or robbery alarm, then the process is different.

In the instance of a panic, duress, holdup, or robbery alarm, the monitoring station operator must attempt to verify the alarm signal, but only AFTER requesting police dispatch. In these time-critical moments, they will dispatch before calling the premises' phone numbers that have been provided by the end user.

If CMS gets a "verified" user response on the first number they call, then they are not required to call a second number. The ECV requirement only applies when a burglary alarm is received by the monitoring station, and upon calling the first number on file there is no answer. Remember too, that when contacted, if the user provides the proper false alarm passcode, they can cancel the dispatch in the case of an accidental activation or a false alarm.

ECV is only applicable for burglary alarm activations. This does not apply to Fire or Life Safety device alarm activations. All of these alarms will still be handled in the manner requested by the end user. Typically, life-safety alarms are set up to call the premises number first, if there is no answer, or if the person who answers can't provide verification, then dispatch, and finally call the remainder of the call list number(s) until either someone is reached, or the authorities arrive on site and contact the monitoring station.

For monitoring in the U.S., Alarm Grid uses Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS). They operate in various locations across the United States and can monitor any location within. If you ever need to get in touch with CMS, you can call our main number 1-888-818-7728, and choose option 9. This is useful if you ever need to verify (but not change) your call list phone numbers, report a false alarm, put your system on test, take it off test, or verify alarm signals received. CMS operators are available 24/7. If you need to make changes to your premises phone numbers or call list, change or update your false alarm passcode or duress code, either call our main number 1-888-818-7728 and choose option 2 for the support team or, better yet, email us at support@alarmgrid.com.

Excerpt from the ordinance, provided by Montgomery County Police Department:

"Per the below, Section 5 sub, section 5.1

Section 5. Procedures To Request Police Response

5.1 Before requesting a police response to an alarm signal, an alarm business shall first attempt to verify the Alarm signal is valid by placing a telephone call to the Alarm Site and/or Alarm user. If the first attempt is unable to make contact with a verified Alarm User and ascertain if the Alarm Signal is valid, a second attempt shall be made. The second attempt shall require, at a minimum, a telephone call be made to a telephone number which is different from the telephone number utilized in the first attempt.

In the case of a panic, duress, holdup or robbery activation; the alarm business must attempt to verify the alarm signal only after requesting police dispatch. In cases where a crime-in-progress has been verified by real-time audio/video surveillance of an Alarm Site by the Alarm Monitoring Company, a second call is not required, when there are devices that permit either the direct, live listening in or viewing of an Alarm Site or portions thereof."

We would also like to remind our customers who have central station monitoring, that you can access your information without contacting us or CMS. Customers can do this using the MyAlarms.com portal from Criticom. With MyAlarms.com, customers can view their premises numbers, their call list numbers, put their systems in test mode, view their account information, and view their signal history. To do this, a user must create an account with MyAlarms.com. To get started, follow this process to set up your MyAlarms.com account.

Alarm Grid recently ran into an issue upgrading a customer's 2GIG GC2 with a new 2GIG LTEV1-A-GC2 communicator. The panel simply would not recognize the new radio. To compound the problem, we were unable to find anything online that would indicate that a firmware update was the solution.

After speaking with 2GIG technical support we found that recently, within the past couple of months, all newly manufactured 2GIG LTE communicators that are compatible with the 2GIG GC2 and the 2GIG GC2e require the newest available panel firmware in order to support the radio. For the 2GIG GC2 that means firmware version 1.19.4+ and for the 2GIG GC2e that means 1.24+.

The packaging on these new communicators, both the 2GIG LTEV1-A-GC2 and the 2GIG LTEA-A-GC2 will have information on the firmware update requirement if the communicator is new enough. It should be on the outside packaging, as well as the inside. However, if you don't pay attention to the packaging and discard it, there is no way to look at the communicator itself and tell which firmware it requires. So, if you have a 2GIG GC2 or 2GIG GC2e and you're updating to an LTE communicator, pay attention to the packaging, or at least hold onto it.

If you're in a position to be upgrading your GC2 or GC2e to LTE, you may have an existing communicator that is no longer working. If that's the case, and you need a firmware upgrade before the new LTE communicator will work, don't worry, Alarm Grid has you covered. We host the firmware files for both the 2GIG GC2 and the 2GIG GC2e on our site. There are two ways you can update. You can use the 2GIG UPCBL2 updater cable and a Windows computer, or you can use the 2GIG UPDV EZ Updater Tool.

• How to update the panel using the EZ Updater Tool
• Video instructions for using the 2GIG UPCBL2 updater cable

If you don't want to purchase the EZ Updater Tool, and you don't have a Windows computer to use with the updater cable, Alarm Grid offers a loaner program for the EZ Updater Tool. Contact us at support@alarmgrid.com to inquire about the specifics of the loaner program. If you purchase the EZ Updater Tool, there is a good chance you will need to update it before you can use it. Doing so will require the use of a Windows computer.

This situation is a good reminder to always pay attention to all information you receive with new alarm equipment, including what's written on the packaging itself. You never know when you may have to return a piece of equipment, so keeping the packaging, at least until everything is set up and working, is a good idea.

Nice has released a fairly large update for the 2GIG Edge security panel. It includes an increase in the volume of the siren, an option to remove the entry delay, and makes the WIFI more stable. This firmware was released in January 2023 and you can find it on our 2GIG Edge Firmware page.

The 2GIG Edge Alarm System has a 7-inch LCD touchscreen. There are 100 wireless zones available on the 2GIG Edge and four (4) Smart Area Partitions. The 2GIG Edge System has an integrated WIFI card and a built-in LTE cellular communicator for connectivity with Alarm.com. The panel is available in either an AT&T or a Verizon version.

Alarm.com requires any system connecting with its servers to have an active cellular communication path enabled. This means that you will need a monitoring plan that includes cellular connectivity if you want to get the 2GIG Edge monitored. For Alarm Grid customers, this is a Gold or Platinum plan (Self or Full). Some plans to consider include the Gold and Platinum Level Plans from Alarm Grid. For those who may not want the ability to remotely interact with their system using an app or webpage, we also offer our Cellular Alarm Monitoring plan.

The EDGE is provided by a company called NICE, North America. Nice is the parent company for 2GIG. They used to go by the name Nortek Controls, but since Nice, North America's purchase of Nortek Controls they have stopped using that name. Nice refers to this update as firmware version 1.2, but B.3.1.2.007 is what it will show on the panel's System Info Screen.

This latest update covers quite a few improvements. One voice-of-the-customer comment has been, "Wow, this thing isn't very loud." The 1.2 revision update addresses that complaint. Please feel free to comment below with your thoughts on how the siren behaves after performing this update. Also added in this update is the ability to remove the entry delay when arming. This is beneficial when you know at the time of arming that no one else will be entering the home, and you want to remove the entry delay for immediate activation of an alarm when an entry/exit zone is opened.

This 1.2 update also includes improvements with text descriptions, Alarm.com panel backups, WIFI stability, image management, added shortcuts for Z-Wave devices, and improvements with the 2GIG Edge Remote Keypad. Please see the release notes for a full list of all new features and improvements.

If you have a 2GIG Edge, then there are a couple of ways that you can get your panel updated. One is remote over-the-air (OTA) updates. You'll need to request the update from your alarm dealer. If your panel has a WIFI connection, the update will be completely free. If your panel connects to Alarm.com via cellular only, then a small fee will be incurred when updating OTA. Alarm Grid passes this fee on to our customers with no markup.

If you're an Alarm Grid monitoring customer, you can request the upgrade by emailing support@alarmgrid.com. We'll verify the cost, if any, and get your consent. Then we will push the update to your panel. Any associated costs will be passed along to you on your next monthly monitoring bill. Remember, there will only be a fee if your panel connects to Alarm.com via cellular only. The cost for this type of update varies, depending on the size of the file to be downloaded. It could be as little as fifty cents, or as much as a few dollars.

The other way that your panel can be updated is via USB. There is a USB port on the top of the 2GIG Edge. You can download the firmware update files from Alarm Grid's firmware update page which is linked above. This is a free download. Use a standard USB drive with at least 1 GB capacity, and not more than 16 GB capacity. Be sure the drive is formatted using FAT32, and that it has only one (1) partition. The file you download should be saved to the root directory of the USB drive. Full instructions for updating via USB can be found here.

We did it! We made it to the end of another year. Your friends at Alarm Grid would like to express our huge thanks to all of you. As 2022 comes to an end, we appreciate all the relationships we have built. Our hope is that 2023 allows us to build even more.

Unfortunately, during the holidays the bad guys are lurking. So please be sure you are arming your alarm and benefitting from the protection it provides. Also, with the increase in at-home cooking, please make sure that you are regularly testing your smoke detectors. These, along with heat detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, must work when we need them. Regular testing will provide that assurance.

Alarm Grid will be closed all day on Friday, December 30, 2022, for our New Year's observance. This will allow us to spend time with our families as 2022 comes to an end. During this time, we will not be answering phones, responding to emails, or shipping out orders. We will return to our normal schedule on Monday, January 2, 2023 at 9:00 am.

While our support staff will be away, our monitoring station operates 24/7/365, so for those customers who have chosen full central station monitoring, your system will be continuously monitored by trained operators. They are always ready to answer the call and dispatch when needed if your alarm calls.

If you need to contact the monitoring station, either to report a false alarm or to put your system on test, you can call Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS) at (888) 818-7728 and choose Option [9]. This is the process for Alarm Grid customers who reside within the United States. Once an operator answers, you'll need to supply your name, address, and your false alarm password.

For our Canadian customers, our monitoring partner in Canada is Rapid Response. They can be reached at (800) 932-3822. Remember, when you call either monitoring station you will be asked for your name and address, and to verify your false alarm password or false alarm phrase. Providing the wrong information, or providing the Duress password, will result in a police dispatch.

If you have a support question or need to make adjustments to your account, the monitoring station won't be able to assist you with that. In those cases, please send an email to support@alarmgrid.com. Please include a detailed explanation of your request and any supporting details. We will get back to you when we return to the office on Monday. When we return, there will almost certainly be a bit of a backlog, so please be patient while we catch up. We will get back to you at our earliest opportunity.

If you are looking to sign up for new service, buy a new system, or expand your existing system, please visit alarmgrid.com. Our self-service website is always there for you. When looking to add new components, select the drop-down to "Enhance Your System" and search for the type of device you are looking for. One feature many overlook is the "Browse By" option along the right side of the page. On Monday, we will be tackling all the orders placed while we were away.

We hope that everyone stays safe, as we all say goodbye to 2022 and welcome in 2023! We look forward to working with you in 2023!

In working with our customers, Alarm Grid has seen some issues when adding a new IQ Remote. When the IQ Remote pairs to an IQ Panel 2 or IQ Panel 2+, it automatically downloads an update, which is normal. The issue arises when the patch it receives from the panel is from an older firmware version.

The IQ Remote is a great addition to any Qolsys system. It provides a similar user experience to the main alarm panel. The IQ Remote can be conveniently placed around the home to provide additional access and control for your alarm system. The IQ2 will support up to three (3) IQ Remotes.

Upon initial power-up, the remote will request to connect to WIFI. You must add it to the same network that the IQ2 is using. Next, you will need to pair the two devices.

The IQ Remote requires firmware revision 2.1.0 or higher on the IQ2 control panel. Failure to update the firmware to 2.1.0+ on the IQ2 before pairing the IQ remote with the panel will damage the keypad and require that it be replaced.

Reports have indicated that when setting up a new keypad the IQ Remote first must be connected to WIFI. Next, it will automatically get a firmware patch from the IQ Panel 2. If the IQ2 firmware has not been updated to the latest version, the patch that is sent to the IQ Remote will be older than what it already has. This seems to put the IQ Remote into an unrecoverable state.

According to reports, the IQ Remote will reboot, then tell you that it is turning on WIFI. This never happens. If you attempt to hit pair, it will indicate that you must first connect to WIFI. Unfortunately, there is no way to turn it on manually at this point. Even a factory reset, in our experience, did not allow the IQ Remote to provide an option to connect to WIFI.

Qolsys has indicated that this is a firmware issue, but is not able to tell us which firmware or why it is a recent development concerning the new IQ Remotes. Only that it occurs when the firmware on the remote from the factory is newer than the firmware provided by the IQ Panel 2/2+ upon initial setup. We post the IQ Panel 2+ firmware so that it is available to anyone who may need it, regardless of their monitoring situation.

In each of our cases, nothing would ever allow the IQ Remote to reconnect to WIFI once this problem occurred. Even updating the IQ2 made no difference. The only resolution we found was to replace the IQ Remote and ensure the IQ2 was fully updated before adding another new IQ Remote.

We have not seen this issue with an IQ Panel 4, nor have we attempted to test it (for obvious reasons). We would still recommend a firmware update, if available, before adding an IQ Remote to the IQ Panel 4. If you have encountered this issue, particularly if you have found any other resolution, please comment below. If we get any new information, we will update this blog.

The maker of the 2GIG GC3 and GC3e recommends that all users with a panel approaching 3 years of age replace the backup battery. Initially, the expected battery life was between three and five years. With the recent notice Nice, 2GIG's parent company is now suggesting a battery replacement ahead of schedule.

Apparently, swelling has been observed in some of these panels' lithium-polymer batteries. The manufacturer notes that some minor swelling is normal, but based on the notice it sounds like some batteries may be swelling beyond what is normal.

Once you open up the GC3/GC3 panel to access the battery, Nice is also warning not to puncture the battery upon removal. Do not use any type of sharp object to remove the battery. Puncturing the battery could allow dangerous chemicals to spill from the casing. Once the battery is removed, please follow local guidelines with regard to the proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries.

It is also recommended in this notice to do a firmware upgrade of your 2GIG GC3 or GC3e alarm panel at the time you replace the battery. The latest revision for these panels is 3.2.6.6770.

Reading through the firmware release notes, it does mention that the latest firmware update includes the addition of battery testing, and conditioning, as well as a status indicator for battery replacement. So, we will double down on the advice to update your panel's firmware. This revision also includes compliance with UL 985 edition 6. This standard requires that the panel recognize batteries that can no longer provide battery backup for at least 5 minutes worth of alarm signaling. When the panel recognizes that the battery lacks this capacity, it will alert the user of a low battery and the battery should be replaced at that time.

The 2GIG GC3 and GC3e use the same firmware beginning with revision 3.2.3. If you already have revision 3.2.1 or higher, then you can find all updates on the GC3e firmware update page. Older revisions may require a stepped approach to upgrading and cannot be updated all-at-once. You can find the older firmware versions on the GC3 firmware update page.

You must update to the base build of each revision, and then you can skip to the latest build of that revision. The base of each version is 3.0.x then 3.1.x, then 3.2.x. If you have an earlier revision and attempt to update directly to 3.2.1, your panel will very likely be damaged and will have to be replaced. Updating over the air using Alarm.com can help with this process, as their server should only allow you to update in the proper order.

GC3/GC3e firmware updates can be sent by your alarm dealer. When the update can be sent using WIFI at the panel, there is usually no charge, though different dealers may have different policies on this. An upgrade that has to be sent using cellular data will incur a fee, which will likely be passed onto the user by the dealer. Alarm Grid always passes these fees along with no markup. We recommend that you update using the USB port at the top of the panel. We have written detailed instructions on updating the firmware using the USB port to make this process easier to accomplish.

If your panel is approaching or past the 3-year mark, it is best to be proactive and purchase your new GC3/GC3e battery today. Then make sure to install the latest firmware, as recommended.

A New Rules Builder feature has been added for customers who have a monitoring plan with Alarm.com. It was designed to simplify the process of automating actions for scenes and rules. The feature can easily be accessed using either the customer website or the iOS or Android app.

A benefit of modern-day alarm systems is the ability to add smart devices to them. This allows for control directly from your alarm panel, remote app, computer, or by using your voice (when connected to Google Home or Alexa). Rules allow you to automate many of these actions rather than having to manually activate your devices over and over.

Previously, there was only an option to create event triggered rules, which is still a thing on the customer website, but Alarm.com has also made this new rules builder available. Alarm.com can be accessed via an app on a mobile device or a web browser on a computer. The Alarm.com mobile app is available on iOS and Android app stores. On a computer, navigate to alarm.com to log into the website.

If you always want the connected lights to come on when you enter a room that has a motion detector, you can set up a rule for that to occur any time the motion detector is activated. In an attempt to make building these types of rules easier, Alarm.com created the New Rules Builder to assist.

For example, to set up a light to turn on when motion is activated:

After logging in and selecting Automation, select +ADD NEW RULE then New Rules Builder.

Select "when." When is the trigger or what initiates the automation rule to run. In this case, when motion is detected in the Living Room. Next, you select "then." Then is the action(s) that the rule will perform after it is triggered. In our example, we want the Office Hallway light to turn on. Next, decide if the rule will run at all times or only during specific time windows. Finally, don't forget to "Save" your work.

The creation of rules can automate many repetitive functions to save time and make life easier. Rules can also go a long way toward going green and becoming more energy efficient. They provide convenience and can save you precious time and money.

Try out the new rules builder and let us know what cool things you are doing with it, and what you think of the feature.

Update: As of approximately 5:00 pm, the primary internet service has been restored, and service has returned to normal. Thank you for your patience!

Original Post: Due to an outage with the primary internet service for our main call center in Kentucky, Alarm Grid is experiencing a decreased capacity for answering incoming calls. There is currently no ETR on when the primary service will be restored.

In the meantime, if you are an Alarm Grid customer and you need assistance from our support team, you can send your request to support@alarmgrid.com. We will get to your issue as quickly as possible, and if the issue requires a phone call, we can reach out to you.

If you're attempting to plan a new system or have sales questions, you can also send an email to the above address and one of our planners will get in touch with you. They may respond via email or phone if you provide a number in your inquiry. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Hey everyone! Today is "Black Friday," and we have some great deals for you! We have a smattering of stuff we're putting on sale from today until Monday. And below is the list! Don't miss these deals, because they go away as soon as Monday is in the books.

Every order over $50 is getting 5% off!!!!!

All you have to do is fill your cart up, and the discount should be applied.

Garage Door Z-Wave Controllers are $32 off right now (44% off)

Ok, 44% might seem like an arbitrary number to mark something down. But it's not. It's basically as cheap as we're able to put these garage door sensors before we make absolutely nothing on them. We have lots of them, and we want to get rid of them. If you have a LYNXTouch, and you want to add garage door control to your alarm system, there has never been a better time than now!

Buy the 5877GDPK today!

All ProSiX Heat & Smokes are Marked Down $5

Truth, we should have offered you smokes and heats before you cooked that turkey yesterday. That is one of the highest fire-risk days of the year. But you're going to cook a turkey next year too. And not just that, but what about the rest of the days of the year. Protect everything that's precious to you with Alarm Grid's fire safety devices. We just really want all our customers to add smokes and heats to their systems. It costs nothing extra to add them, and if something happens, you'll be happy you did.

Get Pro-SiX Heat Detectors

Get Pro-SiX Smoke Detectors

$50 off Our Most Popular Security System Kit!

Our price on this kit is unbelievable! The ProA7 is our premier security system. It is the best that Resideo has to offer, and the most popular alarm system that we sell. We are selling our base level kit for $50 less than we normally sell it. If you're planning to upgrade an old system or get a new system, there has never been a better deal than this. $382.99 is for this weekend only. We hope that any of you that are thinking of buying a system in the near future take advantage of this deal before it goes away on Monday!

Buy Your 3 Sensor, 1 Motion Kit Today!

3 Months of Free Alarm Monitoring

This offer is for new customers only. We think you'll love our service. We want you to try it for 3 months free. Alarm Grid's service is unlike any other in the industry. For one, you can leave any time you want because we have no contracts. But if you couple that truth with the fact that we have the best service in the industry, you'll hopefully find that leaving isn't really something you ever intend to do. If you're feeling skeptical, that's ok, take 3 months free, try the service, and test our tech team relentlessly while you're with us.

We can't wait to have you on board. Sign up for monitoring today!

The year 2022 is quickly drawing to a close, with about 30 shopping days left until Christmas. But before we jump ahead to the next holiday, we wanted to take a moment to reflect and give thanks in honor of Thanksgiving. It's one of our favorite holidays, with a simple goal of togetherness.

If you'll be traveling this Thanksgiving, be sure to lock your doors and arm your alarm system. Your system can't do its job until you do your part. If you have smoke detectors connected to your system you should definitely test them regularly. Whether your system is armed or disarmed, smoke detectors are always active when properly configured.

So that our dedicated support and planner staff can celebrate with their families, Alarm Grid will be closed all day on Thursday, November 24, 2022, for Thanksgiving. We'll be back bright and early on Friday, November 25 at 9:00 am. Of course, our monitoring station operates 24/7/365, so for those customers who have chosen full central station monitoring, your system will be continuously monitored by trained operators who stand ready to respond to any alarm you may have.

If you need to contact the monitoring station, either to report a false alarm or to put your system on test, you can call Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS) at (888) 818-7728 and choose Option [9]. This is the process for Alarm Grid customers who reside within the United States. Once an operator answers, you'll need to supply your name, address, and false alarm password.

For our Canadian customers, our monitoring partner in Canada is Rapid Response. They can be reached at (800) 932-3822. Remember, when you call either monitoring station you will be asked for your name and address, and to verify your false alarm password or phrase. Providing the wrong information, or providing the Duress password, will result in a police dispatch.

If you have a support question or need to make adjustments to your account, the monitoring station won't be able to assist you with that. In that case, send an email to support@alarmgrid.com with your request and we'll get back to you as soon as possible when we return to the office on Friday. There can be a bit of a backlog, so please be patient while we catch up.

2022 has been a year for reacquiring a solid footing in the post-COVID-shutdown era. We've dealt with supply chain issues, sudden discontinuation of some products, and name or model number changes in others while manufacturers struggle to meet the demands of their customers, and by extension, our customers. The waters are choppy, and we're navigating them to the best of our ability. We appreciate you staying in the boat with us. We will arrive at the dock together, safely.