June 2025 Archives

No more hunting through your Alarm.com app activity screen, trying to piece together the reason for an alarm on your system. Alarm Recap, a new feature from Alarm.com, summarizes all events occurring just before, during, and after an alarm. Giving you a complete recap with a single glance.

To see this new feature, you must have an Alarm.com account and iOS app version 5.9.7+ or Android app 5.7.6+. This feature has been slowly rolling out over the past couple of weeks, so if you're on the latest version and don't see it yet, don't worry, it's coming. The alarm recap becomes available on the app Home screen ten (10) minutes after the alarm's conclusion (i.e. post disarm).

Each recap covers activity and video from five (5) minutes before the alarm, events that occur during the alarm, and events up to three (3) minutes after the alarm. While most alarm types trigger a recap, in-app property panic alarms and water monitoring events are not included.

Alarm Recap: What You'll See

• The Sensor/Event that triggered the alarm.
• Relevant video footage (i.e., People, Vehicle, Animal, etc.)
• Recent activity leading up to, and during, the alarm.
• The user that disarmed after the alarm.
• Monitoring station events.
• Tamper or Malfunction Events.

Alarm Recap: Who Can View

All logins with the ability to view Activity have access to the alarm recap. This includes users with Master, Full Control, Read-Only, and Custom logins with the attribute for Activity enabled. Additionally, Master, Full Control, and Custom logins that can arm/disarm remotely can also provide feedback on Alarm Recap. This feedback is used to make improvements to Alarm.com features.

Alarm Recap: How To View

When you log into the app, the alarm recap is available from the Home Dashboard screen. You can also reach it by choosing Activity from the menu options at the bottom of the screen. From the activity screen tap the alarm event row, then tap Alarm Recap.

Alarm Recap: Other Details

If you have a partitioned system, the alarm recap will include each partition that reported an alarm. For commercial accounts with multiple locations, the alarm recap can be viewed from the individual business system's location rather than from the Enterprise Group level.

If multiple alarms occur in a 24 hour period, only the most recent alarm will be shown in the alarm recap. Information for prior alarms can be viewed from the Activity screen. The alarm recap is only available after the alarm has been cleared (the system disarmed). You won't see it during an active alarm.

The Alarm Recap feature is a game-changer when it comes to understanding what's happening with your security system. No more guessing or scrolling endlessly through activity logs!

This new feature gives you a clear, concise summary of alarm events, delivering crucial information like triggering sensors, relevant video, and who disarmed the system, all in one easy-to-digest view. It’s designed to save you time and give you peace of mind by providing immediate clarity when an alarm occurs.

Get the Full Picture with Video

To truly unlock the power of Alarm Recap and see exactly what triggered an alarm, we highly recommend adding Alarm.com's video monitoring to your system. Without video, you'll still get a great summary of events, but with it, you'll literally see the complete picture, allowing you to quickly verify incidents and take appropriate action.

Alarm.com has a tremendous suite of video cameras and peripherals. If you have a scenario, they likely have a camera that will work perfectly in it. Alarm Grid offers video monitoring with security in our Platinum Plans (Self or Full). We also offer stand-alone video monitoring, though you won't get an Alarm Recap with a video-only plan.

Qolsys IQ4 software version 4.6.1 is set to drop on June 9, and it's a BIG update. From support for PowerG+, including the new PowerG+/Z-Wave touchscreen door lock, to the all-new water tile, we're going to discuss what you can expect from this huge software update. Come, let's get into it!

The plan is for this software to be posted on June 9, 2025. That could change, but I would be surprised if it does. That doesn't mean that you'll be able to go to Menu > Settings > Advanced Settings > Installer or Dealer Code (1111, 2222 respectively, by default) > Upgrade Software > Upgrade Using Network and the panel will go out there and find 4.6.1 and install it.

When a new version is released, particularly a large one like this, it's usually only available by entering a Patch Tag at the panel, or by pushing it over-the-air through Alarm.com. This kind of slow rollout allows the update to be further vetted, making sure there are no previously unnoticed issues that need to be corrected. After the software has been out for a little while, it will be available for a blind upgrade, as described in the previous paragraph.

New Features in 4.6.1

Support for PowerG+ Devices and Features:

The following new PowerG+ sensors will be supported. This link has product images and links. The links below are for the specification sheets:

• PGP9303 - Vanishing Door/Window Sensor
• PGP9945E - Door/Window Sensor with Aux Input
• PGP9914 - Indoor PIR
• PGP9922 - Glass Break Sensor
• PGP9920 - Repeater
• PGP9934P - Indoor Cam PIR
• PGP9976 - Smoke Detector
• PGP9986 - Water Tile
• PGPIOX - PowerG+ Input/Output Module (PGM)
• PowerG+ 3-Way Switch and Dimmer

In addition to the list of newly supported devices, there are also features associated with PowerG+ that will only be supported in 4.6.1+. One such feature is Dealer Lockdown, which allows an alarm dealer to lock a PowerG+ sensor to their unique dealer code. This prevents another dealer from simply taking and reusing that sensor with a different panel. While this offers a significant level of control for traditional security companies, it doesn't really affect Alarm Grid customers.

Another addition for PowerG+ devices is battery level reporting to Alarm.com. This feature allows alarm dealers to view the battery status of all PowerG+ sensors on a system at a glance. This insight enables dealers to efficiently schedule service calls, replacing multiple low batteries in a single visit rather than making separate trips for each individual alert. This is a powerful operational benefit for traditional alarm companies, streamlining their maintenance processes.

Alarm Grid customers probably won't notice this feature, unless they're working with tech support on an issue for a PowerG sensor. Customers can always view battery status for compatible PowerG devices through the panel by going to "System Tests > PowerG Test" in the "Advanced Settings" menu. You can access this option using the Installer Code/Dealer Code/Master Code (1111, 2222, 1234, respectively, by default).

And finally, support for a maintenance warning for the new PGP9976 Smoke Detector is added in Software 4.6.1. Photoelectric smoke detectors have a sensing chamber with a photo sensor. Generally speaking, when smoke enters the chamber, it causes light to refract, hitting the photo sensor and causing an alarm. Over time, dust, dirt, cobwebs, and other debris can get into the sensing chamber, causing false alarms. The smoke detector can sense when this is happening and notify the panel, letting you know you need to clean the sensing chamber.

Additional New Features (Not Associated with PowerG+):

• Video Events to Panel: Analytic video event thumbnails, and annunciation of these events, can now be displayed on, and announced by, the IQ Panel 4 and IQ4 Hub. This means, based on your settings, you can receive an audible/visual notification with an image thumbnail directly on the panel. You'll be able to tell immediately if it's a person, a package drop-off, an animal, etc. based on the type of camera and the analytics rule configuration.
• Ambient Temperature Display: Now, the Dealer, Installer, or Admin user can select up to two (2) compatible PowerG/PowerG+ devices to show their ambient temperature on the Panel UI and Weather Clock.
• Silent Disarming: Now, when the system is armed Stay, users will see a "Silent Disarming" option on the panel UI. So, when you come home after working the night shift, you can enter and disarm without disturbing those who are still asleep.
• Mute Life-Safety Trouble Sounds: An option has been added to allow life-safety trouble sounds to be muted while the panel is in NightTime mode. Once the panel returns to regular operation, the trouble sounds will be annunciated.
• Support for Dark Mode on IQ Remote PG: Configurable per remote touchscreen. Hopefully, the option to have the panel and touchscreens follow Sunset/Sunrise and switch automatically will be in a future release.
• Adjust the order of Devices in the Lighting Screen: Users with a long list of automated lighting devices can now drag the most commonly used devices to the top of the list. This prevents having to scroll and search for them each time you want to control them manually.
• User Bypass Attribute: When creating a user code via the panel user interface, you can now select whether or not this user is allowed to bypass zones in order to arm. This feature requires that "Secure Arming" be enabled. Secure arming disables quick arming and requires a user code for every arming.
• Ecobee Thermostat Support: Ecobee thermostats that work with Alarm.com can now also be seen/controlled through the IQ panel UI.

This isn't everything included in this build, but it highlights what I believe are some of the more exciting additions. When the release notes become available, we'll post them to the site and update this post. There are a few bug fixes, and minor updates as well. The shade icon has been updated. The user interface for dimming lights has been improved. The Z-Wave firmware for the panel is updated from V7.15 to V7.18, improving performance for large networks.

This will be the base build for the new Qolsys IQ Panel 5 lineup, which will debut some time later in the year. Following the format set forth by the IQ4 lineup, there will be a Qolsys IQ5NS, IQ5 Hub, and IQ Panel 5, adhering to the "Good, Better, Best" philosophy. We'll have more on these new panels as information seeps out.