Security Camera Accessories Posts

Alarm.com announced last week that it would begin offering a MicroSD card for use with its cameras that is made by Western Digital. Prior to that time, they offered a card manufactured by Micron. The WD Purple MicroSD card offers a lower price point and higher endurance performance.

The Alarm.com ADC-USD-256GB-WD MicroSD card is designed by Western Digital specifically for the mainstream video market. It offers an excellent balance of price, endurance, capacity, and longevity. This card is being offered by Alarm.com, but it can be used in any video camera that supports the use of a MicroSD card, either for backup, in the event the camera loses its network connection, or for primary recording, such as with the Alarm.com Onboard Recording and Smart View feature.

Alarm.com cameras only support card capacities up to 256GB, which is, I'm sure, why they've chosen to sell only cards with the 256GB capacity. Western Digital actually makes the WD Purple MicroSD cards in capacities from 32 GB to 1TB, as you can see from their Data Sheet. Currently, Alarm Grid is only offering the 256GB capacity cards that are offered through Alarm.com.

The WD Purple MicroSD cards use advanced 96-Layer 3D NAND technology. What this means is that there are 96 layers of NAND Flash memory medium stacked together, forming a 3D shape, sort of like a 96 story skyscraper, but very tiny. There are vertical channels between the layers, allowing communication between them. This architecture allows for less power consumption, greater storage capacity, greater endurance, and the ability to operate in temperatures ranging from -13℉ - +185℉ (-25℃ - +85℃). It also makes them humidity resistant, so they're great for working both indoors and outdoors.

Another feature of these MicroSD cards that makes them perfect for video surveillance use is the Card Health Monitoring feature. With compatible cameras, the camera can send a notification when it's time to replace the card. We're unsure if the Alarm.com cameras support this feature, but we have a request into them to check, and will update this post with the answer.

Update: Per Alarm.com CORE Technical Support, the Alarm.com cameras do not support the Card Health Monitoring feature at this time, but may begin supporting it in the future.

What are you thoughts on this subject? Do you have a camera that supports a higher capacity MicroSD card that you would like to see us offer for sale? Leave a comment below, and if there's interest, we can check into offering these cards in other capacities. Until then, have a great week, and we'll see you soon. Stay safe!

It has been a busy time for new products. We saw some new IQ Panel 2 Plus PowerG 2-1 Kits yesterday, some new weatherproof mounting boxes for sirens on Monday, and the new PROA7 and PROA7C Panels last week. Today we have several new products to gloss over, so let's jump right into it!

First up is the Honeywell 4142BLK. This is a removable terminal block for Honeywell Polling Loop Panels, such as the Honeywell VISTA-128BPT, the Honeywell VISTA-250BPT, and the Honeywell VISTA-50P. What's great about this removable terminal block is that if you are replacing your wired alarm panel with a new one, you can keep all the existing devices (sensors, keypads, communicators, etc.) connected, and just remove the terminal block from the old panel, and connect it to the new one. This will save you the trouble of having to disconnect and reconnect each individual wire!

Next, we have some new mounting adapters for the Alarm.com ADC-V723 Outdoor Security Camera. If you want to mount your ADC-V723 on the outside of an outlet box, then you need one of these adapters. There is the Alarm.com ADC-OB101 for a single-gang outlet box, as well as the Alarm.com ADC-OB102 for a double-gang outlet box. A gasket and mounting screws come included for a complete installation.

The Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-PM is a replacement power module for the Alarm.com ADC-VDB770 Doorbell Camera. Normally the power module comes included with the ADC-VDB770. But if you lose or damage your initial one, then you can get this replacement to power your doorbell camera. Good on Alarm.com for offering this part!

Lastly, we have a pair of new backup batteries for the PROA7 and PROA7PLUS. We have the Honeywell Home PROA7BAT2 and the Honeywell Home PROA7BAT3. Both are listed as 24-hour backup batteries and will reliably keep your system running in the event of an electrical outage. Remember that you will need to replace your system's backup battery every few years, as batteries only have a limited useful life.

Got any questions or comments about these new products? Leave us a comment down below, as we would love to hear from you. As always, stay tuned to the Alarm Grid blog for new announcements and security news coming real soon!

We are glad to announce that three (3) new products are now available for purchase on the Alarm Grid website. The new products include the STI EP121007-T and STI EP141207-T Polycarbonate Enclosures and the Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-WMK Wedge Mounting Kit for the ADC-VDB770 Video Doorbell Camera.

If you are familiar with hardwired alarm panels, then you likely know that their circuit board is typically housed inside of a protective enclosure or cabinet, rather than just laying around loose. Traditionally, these enclosures are made of metal, and they also house other relevant equipment like backup batteries and power supplies. But traditional metal alarm cabinets are not suitable for housing equipment associated with wireless RF signals, such as any wired to wireless converter units and wireless receivers. This is because the metal material is known to cause interference and disrupt wireless RF signals so that they do not travel as far. This is also why you will almost always see cellular or dual-path communicators mounted outside of an alarm panel's metal enclosure.

What makes polycarbonate plastic enclosures so great is that they do not have the same concerns as metal enclosures when it comes to wireless signal transmissions. This means that you can house wired to wireless converter modules in them so that everything stays neat and organized. If you ever wondered why the large enclosure for the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F is made of a plastic material, well now you know! That is the biggest benefit of our new polycarbonate enclosures. If you have a wired to wireless converter like a Honeywell 5800C2W then you can get one of these enclosures to house both the converter module itself and its accompanying backup battery. Everything will stay neat and organized, and your transition from a wired panel to a wireless alarm system with an accompanying wired to wireless converter will be made even easier!

There are also other, less common scenarios where you may find that a polycarbonate plastic enclosure is the way for you to go. Unlike metal enclosures, polycarbonate enclosures are suitable for use outside, as they protect against inclement weather and UV rays. With that in mind, they make a great resource if you are needing to use security equipment outside for some reason. For reference, the STI EP121007-T measures 12"H x 10" W x 7" D, while the STI EP141207-T clocks in at 14"H x 12"W x 7"D. Choose which size is better-suited for your application. It's also important to note that both of these plastic enclosures offer the added benefit of having a see-through translucent front cover so that you can easily see any important activity occurring inside, such as flashing LED lights that may indicate a trouble condition. Overall, these are both outstanding polycarbonate enclosures from the EnviroArmour Lineup from Safety Technology International (STI).

Alarm Grid also now offers the Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-WMK Wedge Mounting Kit. This camera accessory includes four (4) additional mounting wedge options for use with the Alarm.com ADC-VDB770 Doorbell Camera. The camera's mounting wedge determines its positioning angle, and ultimately its field of view (FoV). For more information on determining which mounting wedge to use with your Alarm.com ADC-VDB770 Doorbell Camera, please see this comprehensive FAQ. That FAQ outlines each of the seven (7) available mounting wedges for the ADC-VDB770.

Three (3) mounting wedges (A, B, and C) already come bundled with the ADC-VDB770 by default. But the other four (4) mounting wedges (D, E, F, and G) are only available as part of the ADC-VDBA-WMK bundle. If you determine that Wedge D, E, F, or G is best-suited for your application, then you should purchase the ADC-VDBA-WMK. But if you decide that A, B, or C is best for the job, then no extra purchase is needed. Remember, you will only use one (1) mounting wedge in the final installation for your doorbell camera! For a complete guide to installing the Alarm.com ADC-VDB770 Doorbell Camera, please check this FAQ.

If you have any questions about our new products - the STI EP121007-T, the STI EP141207-T, and the Alarm.com ADC-VDBA-WMK - or any of the other products on our website or our alarm monitoring services, send an email to support@alarmgrid.com. We're here to check your emails from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

We have some exciting new products from Alarm.com now available on our site. The main highlight is the Alarm.com Slim Line II Doorbell Camera from SkyBell. We also have some great new accessories for the existing Alarm.com ADC-VB770 Doorbell Camera. These products are available now!

The SkyBell ADC-VDB105X (Satin Nickel) and SkyBell ADC-VDB106X (Bronze) refer to the new versions of the ADC-VB105 and ADC-VDB106. You may recall these as the "Slim Line" versions of the Alarm.com SkyBell Video Doorbells. The new models retain all of the existing features, while also offering some general improvements. While officially being titled as "SkyBell" devices, they are more commonly referred to as the Alarm.com Slim Line II Video Doorbell Cameras.

Some of the highlights for the Alarm.com Slim Line II Doorbell Cameras include their adjustable 720p recording resolution, their 1.3 MP full-color video camera, two-way voice functionality, WIFI connectivity, a 170° horizontal and 110° vertical field of view (FoV), IR night vision, an IPX4 weather-resistant rating, adjustable PIR sensitivity, real-time alerts, automation rules, an integrated battery heater for seamless operation in cold weather, doorbell-triggered and motion-triggered clips, and much more.

Since these are SkyBell devices, you can technically add one (1) of these devices to your Alarm.com account, even if you do not have true video monitoring service. If you do this, then you will be restricted to only one (1) SkyBell Doorbell Camera, along with 400 monthly clips and 400 total clips. This is a great option if you have an Alarm Grid Gold Plan, and you don't want to upgrade all the way to an Alarm Grid Platinum Plan for true video surveillance. More information can be found in this FAQ covering Alarm.com Clip Limits. Please note that if you want to use additional video devices or increase your clip limits, then you will need to upgrade to a full video monitoring plan. If you use one of these devices with a true video monitoring plan, such as an Alarm Grid Platinum Plan, then the doorbell will just count toward your regular Alarm.com Camera limits, as well as your Alarm.com Clip limits. Also keep in mind that since these are Alarm.com SkyBell models, they should not be used with any interactive platform outside of Alarm.com. They should also not be used with the native SkyBell App. Attempting to use one of these devices with the SkyBell App may make the camera completely incompatible with Alarm.com.

In addition to the Alarm.com Slim Line II Video Doorbell Cameras, we are also now offering several new doorbell camera accessories. These accessories are not for the new Alarm.com Slim Line II Doorbell Camera, but rather they are for the existing Alarm.com ADC-VDB770 Doorbell Camera. This is the "higher-end" doorbell camera that we began offering late last year. It represents the ultimate option for Alarm.com users who are looking for the very best doorbell camera available.

The new accessories for the ADC-VDB770 include:

• ADC-VDBA-COVER - Touchless Doorbell Cover that lets guests know to not touch the video doorbell. Used in conjunction with the Video Doorbell Mat.
• ADC-VDBA-MAT - Video Doorbell Mat that lets guests know to activate the camera by standing on the mat. Used in conjunction with the Touchless Doorbell Cover.
• ADC-VDBA-PSU-PD - Video Doorbell Wall Power Supply Kit that is used if there is no existing chime circuit, or if the chime circuit is incompatible. Can be used with or without a power module. Device is rated at 16 Volts DC, 1.25 Amps, or 20 Watts.
• ADC-VDBA-TC - Temperature Collar Accessory that allows the doorbell camera to be safely used in temperatures as low a -40°F. Can be used with or without the Wall Mounting Plate.
• ADC-VDBA-WP - Wall Mounting Plate that hides blemishes such as missing paint or screw holes. Goes in-between the wall and the doorbell camera. Dimensions are 5.43"L by 3.43"W.

If you have any questions about the Alarm.com Slim Line II Doorbell Camera or any of the new accessories for the ADC-VDB770, please email our support team at support@alarmgrid.com. That is also a good email to use if you are interested in starting new alarm monitoring service with Alarm Grid. We're here to answer your emails from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!