Product Highlight: LTE Cellular Communicators for Interlogix Simon XT, XTi & XTi-5 Systems

Posted September 20, 2018 at 09:00 am By Michael Goris

Hi DIYers! Today, we're taking a look at the LTE cellular communicators for the Interlogix Simon XT, Simon XTi and Simon XTi-5 Alarm Systems. These cellular communicators are used for getting a new or existing Simon Security System connected with the Alarm.com interactive service.

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When it comes to LTE cellular communicators for the Simon XT, XTi and XTi-5, users have three options to choose from. These are the following options:

The decision between AT&T, Verizon or Telus should depend on which cellular service tends to work best at the location of the system. This has nothing to do with a user's personal cellular service provider. For example, even if a user has a Verizon Phone, they can still get an AT&T communicator for their alarm system.

But regardless of which cellular network is used, there's no denying the benefits of connecting to an LTE network. LTE stands for "long-term evolution", and it represents some of the fastest and most reliable cellular networks that are being used today. Cellular service providers have promised that they will continue to support their LTE networks for many years into the distant future. So by choosing an LTE communicator, a user is essentially future-proofing their alarm system.

Adding a cellular communicator is perhaps the most important upgrade that a user can make for their Simon XT, XTi or XTi-5 System. Without a cellular communicator, these systems can only use telephone service for alarm monitoring. But this practice is almost always discouraged due to the slow communication speeds and unreliable service associated with phone line monitoring. For the Simon XT, XTi and XTi-5, cellular is almost always the way to go.

With cellular monitoring on a Simon XT, XTi or XTi-5, the user will enjoy fast and reliable communication. They will also be able to rest easy in knowing that their system will still remain monitored even when the power goes out. This can be very important for providing a user with proper peace of mind. And a cellular communicator will allow the system to connect with the Alarm.com interactive service.

A user can access the Alarm.com service at any time to arm and disarm their system, control Z-Wave smart home devices, check the current status of security sensors and more. The service can be accessed through a web browser or remotely using the Alarm.com Mobile App on iOS and Android devices. And since these cellular modules double as Z-Wave controllers, adding an LTE communicator will instantly make the Simon Systems Z-Wave ready for use with Alarm.com.

The LTE cellular communicators are compatible with all versions of the Simon XTi and Simon XTi-5 Systems. But the Simon XT System will need to be running firmware version 1.3 or higher. A user can check the current firmware version on their Simon XT by scrolling down on the main menu screen until the firmware version is displayed. It is important to keep this in mind when adding a cellular communicator to a Simon XT.

But not everyone who needs a cellular communicator necessarily has a brand-new Simon XT, XTi or XTi-5 System. A user will often purchase a cellular communicator to takeover their existing Simon Panel from a different alarm company. Many alarm companies use proprietary communicators, and they will not work with other companies. By removing the old communicator and replacing it with a new one that is unregistered, the system can be successfully taken over and used with a new monitoring company. We have already had many users do exactly this to receive alarm monitoring services from Alarm Grid, without having to replace their old Simon Panel.

The Interlogix Simon LTE Cellular Communicators are available from the Alarm Grid website right now. Get one so that you can receive top-quality cellular monitoring service for your Simon XT, XTi or XTi-5 System!