News Posts

Hi DIYers. We made sure to check out the Alarm.com booth at ISC West 2019. The announcements we were most excited about were the SONOS integration with the Alarm.com app and the upcoming ADC T3000 Thermostat. Both will fit in very nicely with the smart home platform offered from Alarm.com.

Alarm.com users will soon be able to integrate their SONOS Speakers with their programmed Alarm.com smart scenes. Users will have the ability to select which audio playlist will play when the scene is triggered. This feature will be great for users who want to put a specific playlist into action when they disarm their system to trigger a scene. The Alarm.com Mobile App will also allow users to play and pause the playlist and adjust the volume as needed. Users with multiple SONOS Speakers can even choose which device(s) will play audio. And with the SIRI shortcuts feature for scene control, it will also be possible to activate a SONOS Speaker using spoken voice commands.

The ADC T3000 Thermostat will essentially replace the ADC T2000 Thermostat. This upcoming Z-Wave thermostat will utilize Z-Wave Plus technology for enhanced signal range. The back of the device offers more space for wiring, and the improved terminals allow installers to make connections more easily. A built-in level helps ensure that the end result is neat and tidy. The UI is very simple, but it also appears modern and sleek. It should fit in very nicely with almost any existing decor. Alarm.com also helped make the device easier to understand, as the words "Heat" and "Cool" are actively displayed based on the current action. Many programming options and settings are available, and the device integrates beautifully with the Alarm.com App.

Thank you for making Alarm Grid your source for ISC West 2019 news! Keep checking our blog for the latest updates.

More ISC West excitement DIYers! Our team just checked out the Nortek and 2GIG booth at ISC West 2019. We can certainly say there were many intriguing new 2GIG products to look at. Nortek went all out this year, as the company has some great new systems and sensors coming in the pipeline!

The key word for 2GIG this year is "Encryption". The company is planning to release their new GC2e System this May and their new GC3e System this July. These systems are modeled after the existing GC2 and GC3 Systems respectively. The exact release dates are still up in the air, but 2GIG is confident that they will both hit the market by the aforementioned months.

The "e" in these names stands for encryption. 2GIG will finally offer systems that support encrypted sensors. The GC2e and GC3e will both support the company's brand-new lineup of encrypted "eSeries" devices that will stop hackers dead in their tracks. Although 2GIG is somewhat late to the party in adding encrypted sensors, this is still a huge addition to their lineup.

The new eSeries Sensors are designed exclusively for use with the GC2e and GC3e Systems, and they will not be backwards compatible with the current GC2 and GC3 models. However, you will be able to use current non-encrypted 2GIG 345 MHz Sensors and the legacy Honeywell 5800 Series Sensors with the GC2e and GC3e Systems.

The GC2e System is the standard, more-affordable option of the two new panels. Modeled after the current Go!Control GC2, the new GC2e Panel offers a larger 5-inch touchscreen display and a slightly re-tooled designed. We tested this panel, and we were particularly impressed with the overall design and satisfying touch controls. It also offers Z-Wave Plus technology.

Meanwhile, the GC3e System offers everything available for the GC2e, plus a little bit extra. The panel adds WIFI connectivity, which is unavailable for the GC2e. The Smart Areas feature from the original GC3 is also being carried over to the GC3e, as the system will be capable of supporting up to four "Smart Area" partitions. Finally, GC3e users will appreciate the panel's 7-inch touchscreen display and its touched up design. Just like the GC2e, the GC3e also supports Z-Wave Plus devices.

It should be noted that there were no new keypads announced for either system. However, the systems will be able to support the existing models for their older counterparts. In other words, the GC2e will support the 2GIG TS1 Keypad, while the GC3e will support the 2GIG SP1 Keypad. Both will support the 2GIG PAD1-345 Touch Button Keypad.

We would also like to briefly touch upon new sensors, some of which are already available on our site. Just last week, the 2GIG STVGRL1-345 Stove and Grill Guard, the 2GIG GNGRD1-345 Gun Trigger Lock, the 2GIG DW30 Outdoor Sensor and the 2GIG F1-345 Personal Safety Pendant were all made available for purchase on the Alarm Grid site.

And it wouldn't be ISC West without some new sensors! We were particularly excited by the new 2GIG Water Leak Detector and the 2GIG Bypass Door and Window Sensor. The water leak detector has a useful design that should help it detect leaks more accurately than standard flood sensors. Meanwhile, the 2GIG Bypass Door and Window Sensor can be conveniently bypassed by pressing a button right on its front!

We plan on taking a closer look at the new 2GIG offerings later during ISC West 2019. Until then, stay tuned for more information from ISC West 2019 and Alarm Grid!

Welcome to ISC West DIYers! We wanted to get our first post up as soon as we had some juicy details. Right now, we're taking a look at the upcoming Resideo Pro SiX Series. The future of Resideo certainly looks bright with their state-of-the-art equipment that will be coming to the market.

The all-new Pro SiX Series is headlined by the all-in-one wireless panel, the Resideo Pro Series 7" All-In-One Plus. This panel will support the all new lineup of Pro SiX Series wireless sensors. These encrypted sensors will feature the latest technology, as they do everything the current Resideo SiX Series Sensors can do, and more. Users can expect the new Pro SiX Series Sensors to feature convenient auto-enrollment capabilities, an impressive wireless range and highly advanced security to thwart hacking attempts.

Just to be very clear, the Pro SiX Series devices are completely different from the current SiX Series devices. The Pro SiX Series devices will NOT work with the current Lyric Controller. They are being designed exclusively for the new Resideo Pro Series 7" All-In-One Plus.

The Resideo Pro Series 7" All-In-One Plus also offers support for up to four partitions. This will be great for users with roommates and businesses that want to section off different areas. Resideo says that the system will feature a completely new user interface that end users should find simpler and cleaner. If you are used to working with any of the current Honeywell Wireless Panels, you will find the new Resideo Pro Series 7" All-In-One Plus even easier to use.

You may also be excited to know that the system uses Z-Wave Plus technology for home automation. This is a real treat, as the current Lyric Controller only supports classic Z-Wave. End users will surely appreciate the increased battery life and the extended range that comes with Z-Wave Plus and the Resideo Pro Series 7" All-In-One Plus.

And with a new system comes all new devices! The Pro SiX Series lineup is diverse and all-inclusive, as it features all the sensors you would expect to find available. Some highlights include a combination smoke and CO detector, an outdoor siren and an indoor motion viewer with night vision capabilities.

We would like to give special recognition to the Pro SiX Series life-safety sensors. The biggest news is that they are all one-go-all-go. This means that they all tie in with each other. If one actives, every other Pro SiX Series life-safety sensor on the network will activate as well. If your smoke detector activates, your carbon monoxide detector will also go into alarm. Each of these sensors has an 85 dB sounder for alerting anyone on the premises. And with the outdoor siren being available, you can rest assured that those on the outside will be alerted as well.

The indoor motion viewer is also particularly interesting; it's basically a motion sensor with a built-in full-motion video camera. The upcoming device will send 10 second video clips to the end user through Total Connect 2.0. This will be great for confirming a break-in, especially for those in verified response areas. Resideo also says that the video clips will be made available to the central monitoring station so that dispatchers can also confirm an emergency event. And IR night vision is built-in!

Another feature is the ability to support up to eight wireless touchscreen keypads. These keypads feature 7-inch touchscreen displays, and they look like an absolute joy to use. This will be great for users in larger homes or businesses who want to access their systems from multiple on-site locations. And having multiple wireless keypads will certainly tie-in nicely with the ability to establish up to four unique partitions.

Finally, we asked about the backwards compatibility of the Pro Series 7" All-In-One Plus. According to Resideo, the system will only support the new Pro SiX Series out of the box. However, they promised an add-on module that will allow the system to support the legacy 345 MHz frequency used by the Honeywell 5800 Sensors and the 2GIG 345 MHz Sensors. They also stated that the module will be able to support 319.5 MHz sensors (Qolsys and Interlogix/GE), 433 MHz sensors (legacy DSC) and Bosch Sensors.

We will make sure to keep you updated as we learn more about this exciting new lineup from Resideo. Keep checking our blog for more information.

Update: We did receive word that the new Pro Series 7" All-In-One Plus will support existing Honeywell SiX Series Sensors. However, any SiX Series Sensor must be deleted from the current system before it can be enrolled with a Resideo Pro Series Panel. This means that you will need to have access to the system's Installer Programming to clear the settings for the sensor. If Lyric Lock is enabled, then you may need to replace your existing sensors. When the SiX Series Sensor is enrolled with the Pro Series 7" All-In-One Plus, a firmware update will be applied to the sensor to make it compatible with the new equipment.

Get ready DIYers! We're here to inform you that next week is the International Security Conference & Exhibition West, more commonly known as ISC West. Our content and video teams will be in Las Vegas, NV to cover all the exciting action and the latest news from the security industry!

ISC West is the largest converged security industry trade show in the United States. This year's edition runs from Wednesday, April 10th thru Friday April 12th. Our content and video teams will be exploring the massive convention and talking to some of the brightest and sharpest minds in the security industry. We will learn all about the upcoming products and offerings from the industry's leading security and home automation manufacturers - products that you can expect on Alarm Grid soon. And you can be sure that we will keep you posted on all our findings. Expect exclusive pictures, videos, interviews and more, as we bring ISC West directly to you!

From Wednesday thru Friday of this week, you can expect multiple posts per day covering our findings at ISC West 2019. You will certainly want to be checking our blog often, as our goal is to get any important news out quickly. And don't worry if you need help or support during this time! Our support and planner teams will still be at Alarm Grid headquarters to provide you with any assistance you need. Remember, the best way to reach Alarm Grid is to email support@alarmgrid.com. If you need to call us, you can do so at (888) 818-7728 from 9am to 8pm EST M-F. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us, as we love supporting our monitored customers!

Let's get ready for a great ISC West 2019, and make sure to stay tuned for more updates!

We have learned that Version 5.8.5 of the Total Connect 2.0 Mobile App for iOS has a bug that affects WIFI thermostats. The update leaves users unable to control their WIFI thermostats with the mobile app. However, iOS users can still control their WIFI thermostats through the TC2 website.

Many users have found that upon updating to the latest version of Total Connect 2.0, they have been left unable to operate their WIFI thermostats through the app. This includes any Honeywell Lyric Round Thermostats and any WIFI thermostat that pairs with TC2 through a Total Connect Comfort, Honeywell Home or Redlink integration.

Please note that the bug only affects the iOS version of the Total Connect 2.0 Mobile App. Android users are not affected. Additionally, Z-Wave Thermostats are also unaffected. If you are currently running iOS Mobile App Version 5.8.5, then you can still use the TC2 website to control your WIFI thermostat. You should be able to access the website using the standard web browser on your iPhone or iPad.

We expect that Resideo will release an update to fix this bug in the near future. But it may take some time before this happens. Until then, Alarm Grid monitored customers should reach out to support@alarmgrid.com with any questions. Alarm Grid will provide an update when we learn that the bug has been fixed.

Just last week, Resideo purchased startup company Buoy Labs. This is the first acquisition from Resideo since the company completed its spin-off from Honeywell in October of last year. The purchase of Buoy Labs should greatly assist Resideo in its technology for environmental sensors.

Buoy Labs is best known for its smart home products that allow users to track the amount of water they use and quickly identify leaks. Their lineup fits in perfectly with Resideo. The company already offers many great flood detecting sensors. These include the Honeywell 5800FLOOD and the Honeywell 5821 when used with a Honeywell 470PB Probe or Honeywell FP280 Probe. Many of our monitored customers use these sensors to receive alerts in the event of a water leak. They can then take action before serious water damage occurs. This equipment works great with the wireless panels from Resideo, including the Honeywell Lyric Controller.

We believe that this acquisition will help Resideo make fantastic strides in its offering of environmental sensors, particularly for flood sensors. Buoy Labs has an impressive portfolio of smart home water management and water leak detection products. Resideo has cited industry studies claiming that homeowner's insurance companies pay more than $9 billion in water damage claims every year. The average claim is roughly $9,000. With the purchase of Buoy Labs, we expect that Resideo will achieve great success in reducing these figures and preventing house floods. And if you still don't think flood sensors are important, think again.

Alarm Grid will certainly keep you up-to-date with the latest news regarding any new environmental or flood sensors released from Resideo. This acquisition means Resideo has some big plans in store, and we are very excited to see what the future holds. Stick with Alarm Grid as we move forward in the exciting worlds of security, property protection and home automation!

Hi DIYers! We have spooky good news for everyone today. We are proud to announce the unveiling of the brand-new Alarm Grid SiXTH Sensor. This is the world's first ever security system sensor that activates upon detecting any paranormal or spiritual activity. It is a must-have for all users!

As you may know, there are the five "standard" senses that we use on a daily basis. These are of course sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch. But what you might not know is that there is paranormal activity lurking among us. You cannot detect such occurrences through normal means. You need a "sixth" sense to detect any paranormal, spiritual or otherworldly activity that may be cursing you and the people in your presence. That is why we created the all-new SiXTH Sensor.

We took inspiration from Honeywell's SiX Sensor Lineup in creating the Alarm Grid SiXTH Sensor. Just like the existing SiX Sensors, the SiXTH Sensor offers 128-bit AES encryption to thwart any real-life hacking attempts. We also added Advanced Spirit Stopping encryption to stop any hacking attempts initiated from the otherworld. You can count on the SiXTH Sensor to function perfectly both in our present world and the dimensions beyond our normal reach. Please be aware that you can only see the Advanced Spirit Stopping encryption through the use of various psychonautic substances that are neither sold nor endorsed by Alarm Grid. But trust us - it's there!

Now, you might be wondering how exactly the SiXTH Sensor works. Well we are happy to explain! The sensor pairs with a wireless zone on your alarm panel much like any "present world" sensor. But you will notice a few things new. You will set the Device Type as "Paranormal Detector". The Response Type should be set to "Bruce Willis". This is a brand-new Response Type designed exclusively for use with our SiXTH Sensor. You will only get this option upon setting the Device Type, so make sure to set the options accordingly. After you save your changes, your SiXTH Sensor will be ready to go!

If your SiXTH Sensor detects any paranormal or spiritual activity that should not be present in our present world, a silent spiritual alarm will be sent to your system. Within moments, the central station will get to work sending out a response. But you can't stop spirits, ghouls and curses with police officers, firefighters or emergency medical personnel. Oh no, you need something better. Instead, you can expect Bruce Willis (not that Bruce Willis) to show up at your home or business to rid the area of any paranormal activity.

Bruce Willis (not that Bruce Willis) will come equipped with sage and various incantations to cleanse the premises and protect the spirituality of yourself and those around you. While Bruce Willis (not that Bruce Willis) might appear to be in an uncomfortable or unusual state as he performs the necessary exorcism, we can assure you that this is perfectly normal. Additionally, you can expect a call from the central station to make sure that Bruce Willis (not that Bruce Willis) arrived safely and without real-life incident. Please note that Bruce Willis (not that Bruce Willis) does not come with cab fare, and you may be responsible for ensuring his departure. Alarm Grid cannot assist with this issue, and it is up to you to make the appropriate arrangements.

Alarm Grid has already tested the SiXTH Sensor with the Honeywell Lyric Controller with great success! We easily enrolled the device to the system, and we intentionally released a safe, but other-dimensional, spirit into our headquarters. We made sure to do this at night to protect the majority of our technicians and staff members. One brave soul working the late shift was around to see the SiXTH Sensor in action. Needless to say, our expectations were more than met.

The Alarm Grid SiXTH Sensor will be coming soon, sometime within your existence. We will make sure to keep you posted about any news related to the SiXTH Sensor as it becomes available. Thanks for being an Alarm Grid customer, and we hope that you have a happy April!

Hi DIYers! We have learned that Resideo put out a new feature for Total Connect 2.0 in the form of "No Activity Alerts". Users can now receive text and/or email alerts when no system activity occurs after a set period of time. This can be great for making sure that a loved one is active.

The No Activity Alert feature represents an ideal method for keeping tabs on a relative or loved one and ensuring that they are moving around and using their system like normal. The feature can be be set to send notifications after every hour, four hours, eight hours, 12 hours or 24 hours. If no system activity occurs after the set period of time, then a notification will be sent to out to any phone number or email address listed as a recipient.

Total Connect 2.0 previously made it possible to send out a notification if a specific event did not occur within a set period of time. Users had to create individual notifications for each activity that did not occur. This general No Activity Alert feature is more of a "catch-all" to eliminate the need for setting up a series of notifications.

Additionally, this new feature will continue to send out notifications every time the set period passes without activity occurring. For example, if you have the feature set to send alerts after four hours of no activity, you will receive a first notification after four hours of no activity, then a second notification after eight hours of no activity, and so on.

Users should keep in mind that No Activity Alerts will only be sent out when the system is in a Disarmed state. If the system is Armed, then No Activity Alerts will not be sent out. The list of activities that can prevent a No Activity Alert from being sent out is extremely extensive. No notification will be sent out as long as at least one of the following events occurs during the set time period:

• Sensor Open
• Sensor Closed
• Sensor Trouble
• Sensor Trouble Cleared
• Sensor Alarm
• Sensor Alarm Cleared
• Sensor Bypass
• Sensor Bypass Cleared
• Sensor Tamper
• Sensor Tamper Cleared
• Sensor Supervision
• Sensor Super. Cleared
• Sensor Low Battery
• Sensor Low Batt Cleared
• Sensor Close Left Open
• Sensor UnMask
• Disarmed
• Armed Away
• Armed Away (Bypass)
• Armed Stay
• Armed Stay (Bypass)
• Armed Away Instant
• Armed Away Instant (Bypass)
• Alarm
• Alarm (Bypass)
• Armed Stay Instant
• Armed Stay Instant (Bypass)
• Disarmed (Bypass)
• Fire
• Alarm Cancelled
• Disarmed Not Ready
• CO Alarm
• Alarm Silenced
• Exit Alarm
• Night Stay
• Night Stay (Bypass)
• Night Stay Instant
• Night Stay Instant (Bypass)
• Armed Custom
• Armed Custom (Bypass)
• Armed Custom Instant
• Armed Custom Instant (Bypass)
• Comm Fail
• Comm Fail – Resolved
• AC Restored
• System Battery Restored
• Phone Line Restored
• Program Exit (New Config)
• Arming
• Disarming
• Cover Tamper
• Cover Tamper Restored
• Duress Alarm
• Partition Removed

Overall, this feature is particularly useful for making sure that loved ones are using their system like they are supposed to. You can set it up for an elderly or disabled user to make sure they haven't fallen down or experienced an injury. It's also great for making sure that your kids or your spouse has returned home safely.

You can set up this feature from the Total Connect 2.0 website or mobile app. For this post, we're going to show the feature on the website. Start by logging into your Total Connect 2.0 account, and then choose the Notifications tab on the left, followed by List. Then choose the Add Notification button:

Choose Security > System. Then provide a Notification Name. In our example, we chose "No Activity Example". Then select No Activity Alert. Finally, choose the time interval for when a notification should be sent out. We chose 12 Hours in our example. Press Continue when you have finished:

Next you will choose who will receive the notification. You can use an existing group, or you can create a new one. In our case, we used a group called "Example", but you can set yours accordingly. Press Save when finished, and then press Yes to confirm:

Your new notification should then appear somewhere in your list under the Security section:

If you are an Alarm Grid monitored customer with questions about this new feature, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. You may email us at support@alarmgrid.com, or call us at (888) 818-7728 during our normal business hours of 9am to 8pm EST M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! We are happy to announce that the Honeywell LYNX Touch Updater Tool is now available for purchase on our website. This easy-to-use module allows users to conveniently update the firmware for any Honeywell L5210 or L7000 and get it running on the latest software version.

As you may recall, LTE Communicators for the L5210 and L7000 were released last year. There is the LTE-L57A for the AT&T LTE Network and the LTE-57V for the Verizon LTE Network. But these systems must be running Firmware Version 9 or higher to support these modules. Any newly manufactured L5210 or L7000 will already be running a high enough firmware version. However, older L5210 and L7000 Systems may require a firmware update.

It used to be possible to push down an over-the-air (OTA) firmware update to an L5210 or L7000. However, this is no longer the case. All firmware updates for these two systems must be applied using the Honeywell LYNX Touch Updater Tool, officially known as the Honeywell LYNXTOUCH-MSD. This tool allows users to update the firmware for their L5210 or L7000 System at their own leisure. It will also come in handy if Resideo decides to release any future firmware updates for these systems at some point.

Alarm Grid has already released an FAQ to help you use this new device to upgrade your L5210 or L7000 System. We also invite you to check out the Installation Guide for the module for even more information. Remember, you will want to get your LYNX Touch System connected with an LTE network sooner rather than later. The 3G sunset is rapidly approaching, and LTE connectivity will allow you to greatly extend your system's lifespan!

If you are an Alarm Grid monitored customer with any questions about the Honeywell LYNXTOUCH-MSD Updater Tool, or if you would like to know why upgrading to LTE is important, we encourage you to reach out to us. You may email us at support@alarmgrid.com or call us at (888) 818-7728 during our normal business hours of 9am to 8pm EST M-F. We look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you might have!

Recently the Supreme Court decided South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. (Wayfair). The ruling allows states to require out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax. The decision changes the landscape of e-commerce significantly.

We appreciate the benefits of doing business in the United States. We were blessed with unprecedented advantage as an e-tailor. We are sad that one of e-commerce's biggest benefits is disappearing. But we also recognize the change was inevitable. We appreciate that most states have provided immense clarity. We also appreciate that technology allows small e-tailors to affordable compliance solutions.

We recognize that Alarm Grid is now required to pay our fair share in states all around the US. Unfortunately, that means that we are going to start charging sales tax in 32 new states. Those taxes will begin showing up on invoices as early as yesterday. All taxes will be active between now and early April. Most invoices will reflect sales tax as of April 1, 2019. While this would be a great April Fools prank, unfortunately, it’s not one. Alarm Grid is in Florida. Our Florida customers have always had to pay sales tax on both product sales and monitoring. If you're one of Alarm Grid's Florida residents, nothing is changing for you.

Unlike Florida, some states exempt services like monitoring. Others do not. Navigating the tax landscape of 50 states is extremely complicated. We've spent a long time unwinding which state does what. Regardless of the state, products are always taxed. Moreover, as Alarm Grid grows, we are going to become nexused in more and more places. As that happens, we will make announcements to keep you updated about how your charges will change.

Below is a table of locations and respective links to relevant regulations. Products will be taxed in all listed states. In the "Monitoring Taxed" column we list whether states require us to charge sales tax on monitoring. Some states do not charge taxes on alarm monitoring. Others do. If the cell is blank it’s because we are still awaiting answers from that state's Department of Revenue. As soon as we know, we will update the table.

For the wild west internet that we have come to know and love, this might feel like a big setback. But we are aware of the enormous advantage online businesses gain from regulations. We have never competed on price, and we won’t be starting today. Alarm Grid has the best service in the industry. We have changed the way the industry works with customers. And we will continue to do just that.

There is no innovation in profiting from the free margin provided by our ability or any company’s ability to avoid taxes. And while the lower prices have been nice, Alarm Grid doesn't grow by eking out an additional 3-8% from each sale. Rather we need to continue working to stand out from our competition. We will continue to provide the same great products, service, and support.

This is a bittersweet day for us. It’s a day that all e-commerce companies knew was coming. We apologize for those impacted by the change. And we hope you continue using Alarm Grid for all of your security system needs.