Alarm Monitoring Posts

If your Alarm.com or Total Connect 2.0 alerts show up as text messages, they may rely on an old email-to-text trick that carriers are now shutting down. You might not notice when it quietly stops working. AT&T and T-Mobile have already cut theirs off for good, and Verizon's shutdown looms.

This isn't a rumor or a future warning. For two of the three major carriers, it has already happened. If you set up your alarm notifications years ago and haven't touched them since, this is worth five minutes of your time today.

What Is Email-to-Text, and Why Did People Use It?

Before Alarm.com and Total Connect 2.0 offered push notifications through their own apps, there was a popular workaround for getting alarm alerts as text messages. Every major carrier had (or still has) a special email address format that turns an email into a text. Send an email to a phone number followed by the carrier's domain, like 5551234567@vtext.com for Verizon or 5551234567@tmomail.net for T-Mobile, and it lands on that phone as an SMS.

Alarm.com and Total Connect 2.0 both let you add an email address as a notification destination. Plenty of customers used that feature with a carrier's email-to-text address instead of a real email inbox, which let them get alarm alerts as texts without needing a smartphone app at all. It worked well for a long time, especially before push notifications existed as an option.

Carriers Are Shutting the Gateway Down

Email-to-text was never officially part of how Alarm.com or Total Connect 2.0 were designed to send alerts. It only worked because carriers allowed it, and carriers are walking that back.

T-Mobile hasn't published anything official about this, which is why we can't point you to a source the way we can for AT&T and Verizon. Based on reports from users online, the shutdown appears to have happened quietly around the same time as AT&T's, on June 17, 2025.

Why This Is Risky If You're Still Using It

The dangerous part isn't that this feature is going away. It's how it goes away. There's no error message on your alarm system and no warning in the app. The text messages just stop arriving, and unless you're specifically testing your system, you may not find out until you need an alert and it never comes.

For an alarm or fire notification, that gap is exactly the wrong place to lose reliability.

Alarm.com Already Saw This Coming

This shift didn't come out of nowhere. Back in March 2024, Alarm.com rolled out a push notification migration tool aimed at customers on carriers with degraded SMS and MMS delivery, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Rogers in Canada among them. At the time, Alarm.com called the migration voluntary, but noted it "may become mandatory" if carrier changes made it necessary. That's more or less what's happening now.

Switch to Push Notifications Today

Push notifications don't depend on carrier text messaging at all. They travel over your phone's internet connection, cellular data or WiFi, straight to the Alarm.com app or the Total Connect 2.0 app. That also means they can do things a text message can't, like let you act directly on an alert or come through even when your phone is set to Do Not Disturb.

Open your notification settings in the Alarm.com app or the Total Connect 2.0 app and make sure push notifications are turned on for the alerts you care about, arming and disarming, sensor activity, and alarms especially. If you're not sure how your account is currently set up, or you want help moving away from an old email-to-text address, contact our support team and we'll walk through it with you.

Not an Alarm Grid customer yet? Take a look at our monitoring plans. No contracts, no activation fees, and no cancellation fees, just straightforward alarm monitoring.

No need to consult your Magic 8 Ball on this one, we'll be glad to help you answer it! In short: if your alarm system or communicator runs on Alarm.com or AlarmNet, it likely isn't locked to one company. It just needs to be properly released from the original provider's monitoring account.

Homeowners may assume their alarm system belongs to whoever installed it. If a monitoring company set up the equipment, doesn't that company own it forever? Not necessarily. Alarm.com and AlarmNet (the network behind Resideo's Total Connect service) aren't owned by any single monitoring company. So once your system is released from the current account, any other monitoring company affiliated with the communication platform can pick up the monitoring.

What Makes a System "Non-Proprietary"

Most modern security panels talk to a monitoring company through one of a few shared networks. Two of the most common are Alarm.com and AlarmNet. Neither network is owned by a single monitoring company. Dozens of providers, including Alarm Grid, offer monitoring on panels that use them.

That's different from a proprietary system, where the panel only works with one company's software and can't be reprogrammed to work with anyone else. If your panel uses Alarm.com or AlarmNet, there's a good chance it was built to be flexible from day one, even if the company that installed it isn't.

The Exception: Some Equipment on These Networks Is Still Proprietary

Running on Alarm.com or AlarmNet doesn't automatically mean a system is open to any provider. Some companies build their own locked-down equipment on top of these shared networks. This shows up most with ADT, but Vivint and a few other large providers do it too. The hardware often comes from the same manufacturers everyone else uses, but it ships with a company-specific firmware, a modified part number, or an account binding that ties it to one provider alone.

If you own one of these proprietary devices, you'll generally need to replace it before you can switch monitoring companies, even though under the hood it communicates over one of these shared networks. One thing to look for is a company-specific tag added to an otherwise standard part number, like the "-ADT" or "-BRK" endings in the table below. If you're not sure whether your panel is proprietary, check the exact model number printed on the panel or the communicator and ask a prospective new monitoring company to confirm before you commit to switching.

A note on the list below: these model numbers came from online research, not from the manufacturers or monitoring companies themselves. Because this kind of information is treated as proprietary, we have limited ability to confirm it's fully accurate or current. If your equipment matches, or looks close to, one of these models, confirm its status with a prospective monitoring company before assuming anything either way.

What About Ring and SimpliSafe?

You'll also see Ring and SimpliSafe promoted heavily any time you search for a security system, especially as a DIY installer. These aren't professional-grade systems, meaning professional installers likely aren't installing them, and they're a different kind of proprietary than the ADT and Vivint equipment described above. Neither Ring nor SimpliSafe run on Alarm.com or AlarmNet. Instead, they're built on their own closed platforms from the ground up, so there's no shared network to release your equipment into.

If you want ongoing monitoring on a Ring or SimpliSafe system, you're locked into their monitoring plans (Ring Protect or SimpliSafe's monitoring service) for as long as you own that hardware. Switching providers on this kind of system generally means replacing the equipment in its entirety, not simply requesting a release of your system.

The Real Rule: One Company at a Time

Here's the part that trips people up. A non-proprietary system can only be monitored by one company at a time. While your equipment is active on an account with your current provider, no other company can take over monitoring for it, even though the technology may allow it. The system has to be released from the original account first.

This is where some customers get stuck. Say you've decided to cancel, your equipment is paid off, and you're no longer under contract with the installing company. At your request, your alarm company should release the equipment so you can take it to a new provider.

Some companies make this difficult. They may tell you your system or its communicator can't be used anywhere else. In most cases involving non-proprietary Alarm.com or AlarmNet equipment, like the kind described as non-proprietary above, that isn't true. The system can be used elsewhere. It just needs to be released first.

In most circumstances, AlarmNet and Alarm.com will not facilitate the release of a system. Think of your old monitoring company and your prospective new one as warring nations. In this analogy, AlarmNet and Alarm.com are Switzerland. They don't take sides. One exception to this rule is when the original monitoring company is defunct and your equipment is stuck tied to an account nobody is managing anymore.

How Alarm Grid Handles It

Alarm Grid was built around the idea that customers should never feel trapped. We don't use contracts. We don't charge activation fees. We don't charge cancellation fees.

If you ever decide to cancel your account with us, we'll ask why. We'll see if there's anything we can do to fix the problem or find you a better plan. But once it's clear you want to move on, we process the cancellation and release your equipment. That frees it up to be picked up by any other monitoring company that supports your system's platform, whether that's Alarm.com or AlarmNet.

Know Before You Buy (or Switch)

If you're shopping for alarm monitoring, or thinking about switching providers, ask these questions before you sign up with anyone. First, does the equipment run on Alarm.com or AlarmNet? Second, is any of the equipment proprietary? Third, does the company require a contract, and do they charge fees for cancellation or early termination? The answers will tell you how much freedom you'll actually have down the road.

Ready to make the switch, or start fresh with an easy, no-contract monitoring plan? You can email us with questions at support@alarmgrid.com or call us at 888-818-7728. We're here Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Eastern Time, and happy to help you figure out whether your current system can be moved to a new provider.

ADT, Vivint, Brinks Home Security, Ring, and SimpliSafe are trademarks of their respective owners. Alarm Grid is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these companies.

If your alarm goes off, your monitoring station calls you right away to confirm it's real before dispatching help. Call screening apps and phone features are more common than ever, and they can't always tell that dispatch call apart from spam, so it might get silenced or blocked completely.

These tools are great at stopping robocalls and telemarketers, which is exactly the point of using them. The trouble is, your monitoring station's number may be unfamiliar to your phone too, so it can get caught in that same net. If the call is about a break-in or a fire, missing it could delay the help you need.

The good news is there's an easy fix. Whitelist your monitoring station's phone numbers (add them to your contacts or an "allowed" list) so they always get through, no matter what call screening tool you use.

How Call Screening Can Block Your Monitoring Station

Call screening comes in a few common forms, and most people use more than one at a time without realizing it.

• Phone-based screening apps. Google's Call Screen feature (built into Pixel phones) can automatically answer unknown calls with an AI assistant, ask who's calling, and hang up on anything it flags as spam. Apple's Silence Unknown Callers feature works differently. It sends any call from a number that isn't already in your contacts, recent calls, or Siri suggestions straight to voicemail without ever ringing your phone.
• Phone carrier services. Carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all offer built-in spam protection, such as Verizon's Call Filter or T-Mobile's Scam Shield. These services label suspicious calls and can automatically send anything flagged as "spam" or "junk" to voicemail.
• Third-party call-blocking apps. Apps like Truecaller, Hiya, and RoboKiller work similarly. They compare incoming numbers against huge spam databases and block or silence calls that they deem suspicious.

Every one of these tools works the same basic way. Numbers that aren't already saved to your contacts (or added to the app's own allow list) get treated with suspicion. Since your monitoring station's number probably isn't saved anywhere on your phone, it can easily get caught in the same net as spam calls.

How to Whitelist a Number

Whitelisting is simple, and it works across almost every call screening tool. Save the monitoring station's phone number (or numbers in the case of stations like CMS) as a contact on your phone. Most call screening apps and phone features automatically let contacts through without screening them.

If a carrier or third-party app has its own separate "allow" or "safe" list (Verizon's Call Filter does, for example), add the number or numbers there too. Check the settings menu of whatever call screening app or feature you use to see if this option is available.

Alarm Grid's Monitoring Station Numbers

If you're an Alarm Grid customer based in the United States, you're monitored by Criticom, aka CMS, save all five of these numbers as contacts. A CMS call could come from any of them, so no single number is enough on its own:

• (800) 432-1429
• (800) 631-2299
• (714) 373-7000
• (800) 468-4640
• (800) 482-9800

If you're monitored by Rapid Response (Canadian customers), save this number:

• (800) 932-3822

CMS sends all text message and automated notifications from the short code 60281. If your phone or messaging app filters unknown senders, add this short code to your contacts or allow list as well, so you don't miss those alerts either.

Saving these numbers only takes a minute, but it makes sure a screening app never stands between you and help. If you're an Alarm Grid customer and aren't sure which monitoring numbers apply to your account, contact our support team at support@alarmgrid.com and we'll help you sort it out. we're here Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Eastern Time. You can also call us at 888-818-7728 or visit our website to chat with a live agent (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern Time).

Not signed up for monitoring yet? Alarm Grid offers central station monitoring with no contracts, no activation fees, and no termination fees. Check out our monitoring plans and protect your home or business today.

This Fourth of July marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That's a pretty incredible milestone. From the whole Alarm Grid team, we want to wish you a happy Independence Day, and however you're spending the holiday, we hope you safelt enjoy every moment of it.

A quarter millennium of freedom, independence, and everything this country has built along the way. Whether you're watching fireworks, gathering with family, or just taking a well-earned day to relax, July 4th is a day to appreciate how far we've come and the people who made it possible. Happy 250th, America!

We're Observing Regular Business Hours

With July 4th falling on a Saturday this year, Alarm Grid is observing regular business hours today, Friday, July 3. Our team is available from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern, so if you need help with your system, have a question about your account, or anything else, give us a call at (888) 818-7728 or email us at support@alarmgrid.com. We're happy to help.

Your Monitoring Never Takes a Holiday

As always, our 24/7 central station partners at Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS) and Rapid Response will remain fully staffed throughout the holiday weekend. Your system is monitored and signals are processed around the clock, so you can enjoy the long weekend knowing your home or business is protected.

If you need to contact the monitoring station to cancel a false alarm or put your system on test:

US customers: Call CMS at (888) 818-7728 and press Option 9. Have your name, address, and false alarm password ready.

Canadian customers: Call Rapid Response at (800) 932-3822 with your name, address, and false alarm password ready.

Please make sure to provide your correct false alarm password when you call. Giving the wrong password or your duress password will result in a dispatch of emergency services, as designed.

If You Need Technical Support Over the Weekend, Email Us

The monitoring station can only help with alarm related events and system tests. For technical support, programming questions, or account changes like zone names and contact lists, shoot us an email at support@alarmgrid.com. Our office will be closed Saturday and Sunday, but we'll be back Monday morning at 9:00 AM Eastern and will get to your request as quickly as we can. If it's urgent and you're an Alarm Grid customer, you can also reach us at (888) 818-7728 during regular business hours.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

So, you typed a security question into Google and ended up on a forum from 2009 where "TechDad47" suggested you "just unplug it and plug it back in." Well, now there's a better way. Google has a feature called preferred sources. It lets you mark trusted sites so their results show up first.

What Are Preferred Sources and How Do They Work?

Preferred sources is a Google Search feature that lets you handpick up to three websites you trust. Once added, Google gives those sites priority placement in your results, sitting at or near the top with a small label identifying them as a source you follow.

It's not a filter and it's not a blocker. Other websites still show up. Google just puts your preferred sources toward the top so you find what you want faster. If your preferred source doesn't have content matching your search, Google returns normal results with no harm done. The setting lives in your Google account, so you can add it once on your laptop and it works on your phone, your tablet, even your smart fridge! Anywhere you're signed into your Google account it will work.

Here's How to Set It Up

Step 1: Open Google Search and head to Settings

Head on over to Google.com in your browser.

Then look for Settings at the bottom right of the page. Click it, then select Search settings from the popup menu.

Step 2: Find the "Search Personalization" section

Once you're in Search Settings, scroll down until you spot the Search Personalization section.

Step 3: Click on the Source Preferences button,

Now that you're in the Search personalization menu, scroll down until you see Source preferences and click on it. This will bring you to the Source preferences page.

Step 4: Add AlarmGrid as a preferred source

Click Add a source, then type in: alarmgrid.com

Click the checkbox next to alarmgrid.com to set it as a preferred source.

That's it. You just told Google, "Hey, I trust these people," and now when you Google search with a relevant question Alarm Grid will be prioritized.

That's all there is to it.

From here on out, when you search for anything security related: panel setup, sensor troubleshooting, z-wave devices, you name it, AlarmGrid results jump to the front of the line. No more TechDad47, no offense to him. Just real answers from people who actually know their way around a security system.

A couple of things worth knowing:

• This setting is tied to your Google account, so it follows you across devices as long as you're signed in.
• Google can still show results from other sites. This just moves AlarmGrid to the top of related results.
• You can add up to three preferred sources total, so choose wisely. We're not saying pick us three times, but we're not not saying it.

Why AlarmGrid?

We've been writing detailed, no-fluff guides on home security systems for years. Our content is written by people who actually use and test this equipment, not scraped, not outsourced, not phoned in. If you want to browse what we've got, head to alarmgrid.com. There's a good chance we've already answered whatever you're about to Google.

If you need help or have questions about anything Alarm related, our support team is here Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Eastern. You can contact us at 888-818-7728 or by emailing support@alarmgrid.com.

If you own a Lyric system and have not already done so, please read this important update regarding AlarmNet360 changes that affect your panel. It may be time for an update!

Due to updates affecting AlarmNet360 connectivity, Honeywell Lyric security systems will see important changes as of April 15, 2026. While existing systems will continue to function normally, new system registration and remote programming features will no longer be supported after that date.

Lyric panels that are already active and monitored will continue to arm, disarm, and report alarms to a central station, if enabled. Total Connect functionality also will not change. However, after April 15, no Lyric system can be newly registered for monitoring. Read the original notice, and the followup notice.

This is especially important for anyone considering purchasing a used Lyric panel. If it is not already registered, it cannot be activated, even for self-monitoring. In that case, the system will only function as a local noise-making alarm and a basic Z-Wave controller.

Because firmware updates for the Lyric are delivered through AlarmNet360, any monitored system should be updated to the latest version prior to the deadline. The Lyric panel was discontinued in 2021, and no further firmware updates will be provided at this point.

Although remote programming through AlarmNet360 will no longer be available, users may still be able to make local programming changes directly from the Lyric touchscreen. This includes adding or deleting sensors and adjusting system settings. Although Resideo has said that they don't recommend, and will not support, local programming changes with the Lyric after the deadline, it is likely that these changes will be possible.

If you have a Lyric system using SiX Sensors and are concerned about long-term panel reliability, it may be a good time to consider upgrading to a PRO Series panel. Sadly, there is no migration path between systems. Each sensor must be removed from the Lyric and then enrolled with the new panel. If the Lyric panel fails before the sensors are removed, they will remain locked to the non-functioning panel and must be replaced along with the system.

Alternatively, you can ensure that each sensor is powered up and within range of the Lyric, then default the system. This will cause the Lyric panel to send a signal to all SiX sensors releasing them. As long as a sensor receives this signal, it can then be added to a PRO Series panel. Once enrolled, the sensor will be updated to the PROSIX protocol and will no longer be compatible with any Lyric panel.

Please note, if you have any SiXFOB key fobs associated with the Lyric panel, be sure they are within range of the panel during the default. Once the default is completed, you'll need to press any button on the SiXFOB to complete the release process. Once completed, the SiXFOB is ready to be paired with the new PRO Series panel.

We wrote a series of posts last year about preparing for the eventual Lyric end-of-life. It is a four-part series, with part one linked above. The additional parts are linked at the bottom of each post. The series outlines your options with product recommendations, along with the pros and cons of each approach.

At Alarm Grid, we believe customers should have the freedom to purchase alarm equipment from the source that works best for them. That includes third-party distributors, online marketplaces, and even other end users.

We do not discourage customers from bringing their own equipment. However, it is important to understand that purchasing equipment outside of Alarm Grid can come with certain risks.

One of the most common issues involves used or outdated equipment. While a device may power on and appear functional, it could have hidden problems. Sensors may have reduced battery life, keypads could show excessive wear, and communicators might not perform as expected. In some cases, equipment may be damaged, outdated, or missing critical components.

We have also encountered activation issues with older LTEM-P, LTEM-PX, and IP-COM communicators purchased through third-party sellers. Some older stock did not receive a required critical firmware update and can no longer be serviced. Units with MAC addresses beginning with B82CA0, typically manufactured around 2020 or 2021, and some beginning with 48A2E6, may be affected. Even if these communicators are new in box, they may not be capable of activation.

Another serious concern is account association. Many alarm communicators are registered to an AlarmNet or Alarm.com account. If a used communicator was previously installed and removed during an upgrade, it may automatically attempt to re-register to the original account.

When that happens, the communicator ties back to the previous dealer or seller. If they do not release it, we cannot activate or service the unit. In some cases, the only options are to convince the seller to release the device or purchase a new communicator, which can delay monitoring by days.

Before purchasing from a third party, confirm the seller has a clear return policy. Verify that the communicator firmware is current and that it does not have a B82CA0 or 48A2E6 MAC prefix. Whenever possible, purchase newer equipment from a reputable distributor or retailer.

If you already have a communicator, and you suspect it may be affected by this issue, do not connect it to a wired network before activation. Immediately after powering it up, press and hold the test or registration button for 30 seconds, then release it to default the unit. Completing this step prior to your activation appointment can help prevent registration conflicts.

Ultimately, the simplest way to avoid these issues is to purchase new equipment from a trusted source. When a communicator is purchased through Alarm Grid and found to be defective, we can typically process a replacement in less than 24 hours, helping to minimize downtime.

Alarm Grid is here to support our current and future monitored customers, no matter where you purchase your equipment. We simply want you to begin the process informed and prepared. Our team is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. If you have questions, reach out to us by email at support@alarmgrid.com or by phone at 888-818-7728. You can also use the live chat feature available on our website at alarmgrid.com.

The holiday season is here, and we want to wish everyone a safe and happy season. Alarm Grid support offices will be closed Wednesday, December 24th and Thursday, December 25th, 2025. Our office will reopen Friday, December 26th at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.

During this time, Alarm Grid's super star support staff will be enjoying a well-deserved break to spend time with their loved ones. Even while our offices are closed, professional monitoring continues without interruption. If you have opted for full central station monitoring, your security system remains protected around the clock. That is, as long as you remember to arm it!

Monitoring Station Contact Information

Our central station partners at Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS) and Rapid Response are open 24/7/365 and will continue monitoring alarms and dispatching help exactly as they always do, unless you have provided them with specific instructions to the contrary.

If you need to contact the monitoring station during the holiday to report a false alarm or to place your system on test mode, please use the appropriate number below:

US Customers:

Call CMS at (888) 818-7728 and press Option [9]. Be sure to have your name, address, and false alarm password ready when the operator answers.

Canadian Customers:

Call Rapid Response at (800) 932-3822 with your name, address, and false alarm password ready.

It is very important that you provide the correct password. If an incorrect password or your Duress password is given, the monitoring station will dispatch emergency services, as designed.

If you're an Alarm Grid customer and you need Technical Support – Email Us Instead

The monitoring station can only assist with alarm-related events and emergencies or system tests. They cannot help with technical support, programming questions, or account changes such as zone names or contact lists.

For those needs, email us at support@alarmgrid.com. We will respond as quickly as possible once the office reopens. Please note that there may be a brief backlog after the holiday, and we greatly appreciate your patience while we catch up.

Holiday Travel Reminder

If you are traveling for the holidays, please be sure to arm your security system before you leave. It is also a good idea to double-check that you know your false alarm password ahead of time. A few minutes of preparation can prevent stress while you are away from home.

Happy Holidays!

Thank you for being a part of the Alarm Grid family. Whether you are traveling, hosting family, relaxing at home, or working through the holiday, we wish you a safe, peaceful, and happy Christmas and Hannukkah season!

Thanksgiving is here once again! The Alarm Grid offices will be closed on Thursday, November 27th, so our team can enjoy time with their families. Our office will be open and back to normal hours on Friday, November 28th, at 9:00 AM EST. Despite our office being closed, central station monitoring will be handled as it always is; quickly and professionally.

Monitoring Station Contact Information

Even though our office is closed, your security system keeps working around the clock. Our central station partners at Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS) and Rapid Response will be monitoring systems and responding to alarms all day Thursday. We appreciate their professionalism and commitment to keeping our customers safe.

If you need to contact the monitoring station during the holiday to report a false alarm or put your system on test mode, here's who to call:

US Customers: Call CMS at (888) 818-7728 and press Option [9]. Have your name, address, and false alarm password handy when the operator picks up.

Canadian Customers: Call Rapid Response at (800) 932-3822 with your name, address, and false alarm password ready.

Quick heads-up: Make sure you give them the correct information. If you accidentally provide an incorrect password or your Duress password instead of your false alarm password, they'll dispatch help. Because that's exactly what the Duress password is designed to do.

For Technical Support - Email Us Instead

Here's something important: the monitoring station only handles alarms and emergencies. They can't help with technical issues, programming questions, or changes to your account settings like zone names or contact lists.

For anything like that, shoot us an email at support@alarmgrid.com. We'll get back to you as soon as we're back in the office. The holidays sometimes create a bit of a backlog, so thanks in advance for your patience when we return!

Thanksgiving Safety Tips

If you're traveling for Thanksgiving, please be sure to arm your system before you hit the road. Also, double-check that you know your false alarm password before you leave. Nothing says "happy holidays!" quite like realizing you can't remember your false alarm password while you're three hours, or even three states away.

If you're cooking this year, kitchen smoke and steam are notorious for setting off smoke detectors. If yours is connected to your alarm system and it goes off, just silence it quickly. For all-in-one panels like the IQ Panel 4 or PROA7PLUS, you'll see a prompt on the screen asking for your disarm code. For older VISTA systems, just enter your User Code and press 1 (Off), exactly like you're disarming the system.

The monitoring station will call you when a smoke alarm goes off. If it's just your burning turkey setting off the detector (we've all been there), let them know and give them your false alarm password. They'll ask some questions to make sure everything's okay, and you can decide together whether the fire department really needs to stop by.

Important: Carbon Monoxide Alarms

If your carbon monoxide (CO) detector goes off, get everyone out of the house immediately. Carbon monoxide is completely invisible and odorless, and it's dangerous - especially for little ones, like kids and pets.

The monitoring station is required to send help on CO alarms no matter what. Even if you call them and say you're fine, they're still dispatching the fire department. It's for your safety. The fire department has special equipment to detect carbon monoxide and make sure your home is safe to re-enter.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for choosing Alarm Grid. Whether you're hosting, traveling, staying home for a quiet day, or working through the holiday, we hope your Thanksgiving is exactly what you want it to be. May your turkey be moist, your family drama be minimal, and your smoke detectors stay silent!

This post is a quick intro to the new 2GIG GC Touch, plus the top initial questions and answers circulating among dealers and forums. Documentation is still scarce at launch, so this post collects the most commonly asked questions we’ve seen and summarizes the early answers.

Caveat: This information is based on initial reports and community/dealer chatter about the GC Touch and may contain errors. Consider the Q&A below to be “early info” rather than final specs, we’ll update this post as more official documentation becomes available.

2GIG GC Touch:

Quick overview

The 2GIG GC Touch (Verizon LTE version and AT&T version) is positioned as a budget-friendly successor to the GC2/GC2e series: a modern touchscreen panel that retains broad backward-compatibility with legacy sensors but trims some premium features found on 2GIG’s flagship 2GIG Edge (Verizon LTE and AT&T LTE) model.

Early reports indicate the GC Touch emphasizes compatibility and value. It supports legacy 345 MHz sensors, adds support for encrypted 345S/eSeries devices, and improves wireless zone capacity over the old GC2 family.

Below are the top 20 questions installers and end users are asking right now, grouped by topic, followed by the current answers being reported. Again this is early info and may change.

Upgrading & Compatibility

1. Can I replace my old 2GIG GC2 or GC2e with the GC Touch?
   ○ Yes. It is designed as the direct "budget-friendly" successor to the GC2e series.
2. Will my existing 2GIG sensors (legacy 345 MHz) work with the GC Touch?
   ○ Yes, it is fully backward compatible with legacy 2GIG 345 MHz sensors and Honeywell 5800 series sensors.
3. Can I use my old GC2 power supply with the new panel?
   ○ No. The GC Touch uses a 14VDC adapter. You must swap out the old 12VDC transformer to avoid damaging the new unit.
4. Does the GC Touch fit the same mounting holes/backplate as the GC2?
   ○ It covers a similar wall footprint, but the backplate is new and must be replaced.
5. Will my old TS1 secondary keypad work with the GC Touch?
   ○ No. The legacy TS1 keypad is not compatible. You will need to use the Alarm.com app or a newer compatible secondary touchscreen. We don't currently know if one will be available.
6. Does it work with 2GIG eSeries (Encrypted) sensors?
   ○ Yes, it supports both the older non-encrypted sensors and the newer encrypted “eSeries” / “345S” sensors.

Features vs. 2GIG Edge

7. What is the main difference between the GC Touch and the 2GIG Edge?
   ○ The Edge is the “flagship” with Facial Recognition and a glass-to-edge screen. The GC Touch is the value model with a plastic bezel and no facial recognition.
8. Does the GC Touch have Facial Recognition disarm?
   ○ No, that feature is exclusive to the 2GIG Edge.
9. Does the GC Touch have Bluetooth disarming?
   ○ Yes, you can pair a smartphone to disarm the system automatically when you arrive home.
10. Does it have a built-in glass break detector?
    ○ No, the Edge has a built-in glass break; the GC Touch does not.
11. Does the GC Touch support Z-Wave Long Range (LR)?
    ○ It features the Z-Wave 800-series chip, which supports Z-Wave long range. However, the panel software must also support it, and it's unknown at this time if it does. Regardless, even without the addition of Z-Wave long range, the Z-Wave 800-series chip offers a significant improvement in range and speed over the older 500-series chip found in the GC2e.

Installation & Troubleshooting

12. What is the default Installer Code for the GC Touch?
    ○ 1561 (standard 2GIG default).
13. How do I reboot (power cycle) the panel without opening it?
    ○ Usually via the menu: Toolbox > Advanced > Reboot.
14. Why does the screen look different than my old panel? (Dark Mode)
    ○ The GC Touch introduces a “Dark Mode” UI that matches the 2GIG Edge style — a major visual change from the bright GC2 interface.
15. How do I add the new “345S” sensors?
    ○ With no installation documentation available, the exact process for adding sensors is not available. We'll provide full documentation as soon as it becomes available.
16. Does it support 5G cellular?
    ○ No. It uses an LTE (4G) communicator (AT&T or Verizon), which is standard for security systems today.

General & Smart Home

17. Can I view my Alarm.com cameras on the panel screen?
    ○ Yes, like the Edge, the GC Touch supports live view of compatible Alarm.com doorbells and cameras.
18. Does it work with Apple HomeKit?
    ○ Not directly. It integrates with Alarm.com, which can be bridged to HomeKit via Siri Shortcuts — there is no native HomeKit support on the panel itself.
19. How many wireless zones does it support?
    ○ Up to 128 wireless zones, which is double the capacity of the older GC2 (which maxed at 60).
20. Is there a secondary keypad available for it?
    ○ At launch, users are typically directed to use the mobile app, but a dedicated wireless keypad (like the 2GIG-PAD1-345) can typically be used for basic arming/disarming.

The 2GIG GC Touch looks to be a sensible, value-focused upgrade for GC2/GC2e customers. It has a modern touchscreen, broader sensor compatibility, and a big jump in wireless zone capacity, while intentionally leaving some flagship features (like facial recognition) to the 2GIG Edge.

Keep in mind this post compiles early reports and community feedback, so details may change as official documentation is released. Installers should confirm power, backplate, and keypad compatibility before a takeover, and end users should contact their alarm dealer for provisioning or account setup. We’ll update this page as 2GIG publishes final specs and installation guides so check back for the latest, and download this initial FAQ for a quick reference.