News Posts

Update February 2024: We Won! For now, at least. LOL. It has been confirmed by Resideo and now a customer, that the weather is now working. This is on the older style Tuxedo Touch WIFI keypads. We have been fighting this fight to keep the weather going on these keypads. It took a while for Resideo to resolve this, and we appreciate everyone's input and patience. So go and enjoy it while you can.

For now, the weather, and hence the Sunrise/Sunset feature is working on older Tuxedo Touch WIFI keypads, but there is no guarantee that it will continue to work. Resideo never rescinded their original Technical Notice about discontinuation of this feature and if the weather feature stops working again, they will likely fall back on this notice to say that it is not meant to work.

Update November 2023: After daylight savings time ended on 11/5/2023, we received multiple reports of the weather no longer updating. We have reported this to Resideo and they are looking into the issue. We will continue to provide the most accurate information we have. We appreciate your patience in this matter.

Update Christmas 2022: It appears the weather stopped updating on Tuxedo keypads once again around Christmas, 2022. However, it appears that as of January 3, 2023, it is back up and working again. This feature has been hit or miss for a while now, and officially, it's not supposed to be working. The last official word from Resideo was in September, 2021, where they said the older style Tux keypads would no longer support weather and only the newer Tuxedo keypads would support it. You can read that notice here.

Newer style Tuxedo Keypad:

Older style Tuxedo Touch WIFI:

Update April 2022: Per Resideo, though this feature seems to be working again, it is not officially fixed until we receive a new Technical Bulletin from them saying that it is. For now, if your keypad is not displaying the weather, refresh the weather on the forecast page. Do this by pressing the refresh button in the lower-left corner of the forecast screen.

Update December 2021: This issue has been resolved and the weather feature is now working as expected again.

Original Post 09/09/21: For some time customers have been reporting issues with the weather feature on the TUXWIFI products from Resideo. Either the weather is blank, or it doesn't update properly. This week, Resideo released a technical bulletin advising that the TUXWIFI product line no longer supports weather.

Alarm Grid first reported on this issue in a blog back in April of this year. At that time, there was some hope that the issue would be resolved, but it appears that is not the case. The older Tuxedo Touch line, the TUXWIFIW the TUXWIFIS, and the VAM no longer support the weather feature or the Sunrise/Sunset programming feature as of October 31, 2021. Any scenes that were previously created using Sunrise or Sunset as a triggering event will no longer work. According to the notice, the issue has to do with the weather information provider that was originally used.

It should also be noted that these products have been discontinued by Resideo as of July 2020. That means that once stock of these items is depleted, they will no longer be available for sale. Customers interested in a new Tuxedo keypad should look to the Honeywell Home Tuxedo or the Resideo Tuxedo instead. The only difference between these two products is the branding on the front. The new, redesigned Tuxedo will continue to support the Weather Feature, including the Sunrise and Sunset scheduling option.

We know this is probably not the news those of you with one of these keypads, and who uses these features, wanted to hear. You can read the full technical notice from Resideo here. Tell us what you think in a comment below. One good thing is that pricing is much more reasonable on the newer Honeywell Home Tuxedo, than it was on the original TUXWIFI. So replacing an older model with a newer version won't be as painful as it would otherwise have been.

Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana on Sunday, August 29, 2021. It hit the shore as a Category 4 storm and slowly lost strength as it traversed the state. Sunday evening it slowed to Category 3, but continued to pummel the state and dump huge amounts of rain.

Over one million homes and businesses are without power in Louisiana, with over 400,000 in New Orleans alone. In addition, it has been reported that the New Orleans Emergency Communications Center (911 service) has been experiencing technical issues that will make it even more difficult to reach help in the event of an emergency. Officials have asked people experiencing an emergency to please go to the nearest fire station, or approach a nearby police officer for assistance.

In St. Charles Parish, the phone lines to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) are currently down. This, according to a post on the Facebook account for the St. Charles Parish. Officials there posted that if assistance is needed, please call 911. If you need to report something to the EOC or Public Works, such as live wires down, or other hazards, then please email help@stcharlesgov.net.

In neighboring Mississippi, nearly 50,000 locations are without power. American and United Airlines canceled outbound flights from the Jackson - Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport on Monday, August 30. Tennessee officials are imploring their residents to prepare for the impact of now Tropical Storm Ida. The remnants of the storm are expected to hit the west and middle portions of the state Monday evening into Tuesday August 31, 2021.

Tennessee had flooding emergencies the weekend of August 21, 2021, and the impact from Hurricane Ida is expected to affect those same areas. The Tennessee Emergency Management Association asks residents to do the following:

• Know the flooding risk for your area.
• Have a plan in place if Flash Flood warnings are issued and you must evacuate.
• Have multiple ways to receive weather information and updates, be sure at least one method operates on battery power and has fresh batteries.
• Download the ReadyTN app, or any app that provides you with accurate weather updates to your smartphone. Be sure your phone is charged.
• NOAA weather radios can provide alerts and warnings for your area and can operate on batteries.

Hurricane Ida brought torrential rain, damaging winds, and a tremendous storm surge to coastal areas of Louisiana. In addition to locations in Louisiana, there is a storm surge warning in effect for areas of Gulfport and Biloxi, MS, and Mobile, AL. The forecast is for many of these areas, in addition to storm surge, to get 8 to 10 inches of rain.

Alarm Grid would like to extend our condolences to anyone who is affected by Hurricane Ida. Our headquarters is in Florida, and though we weren't in the path of this storm, we understand what it feels like to be in your shoes. Please follow all guidance provided by officials in your area, and if there is anything Alarm Grid can do to assist you with your alarm during this stressful time, please let us know.

Significant, prolonged power outages, such as those that coincide with hurricanes will likely exceed the available backup battery for your alarm system. Most modern systems have a feature built into them that shuts the panel down before it has a chance to completely discharge the battery. This "battery-save" feature should allow the battery to charge back up once AC power is restored, and prevents the necessity of replacing the battery after a prolonged power outage.

If the power outage lasts more than 24 hours, expect the panel to power down, and when AC is restored to power back up with a low battery condition being displayed. The low battery condition will last for some time, up to 24 hours. If, after 24 hours, the low battery condition persists, then contact your alarm dealer for troubleshooting and possible battery replacement.

If you are in the area affected by the storm, and you have ordered products from Alarm Grid, please understand that shipping times will be affected. Packages that are being shipped to Hurricane Ida affected areas will arrive later than expected and it's possible that tracking information may also be in disarray for a time. We apologize for any inconvenience and will get your products to you as soon as humanly possible.

If you have questions or concerns, feel free to send us an email to support@alarmgrid.com. We're here Monday - Friday from 9 am to 8 pm Eastern Time. We'll get back to you as quickly as possible. You can also give us a call at 888-818-7728. We sincerely hope that you, your family, your pets, and your belongings are safe.

2GIG has announced the release of their first big firmware update for the 2GIG Edge. This update adds support for image sensors in the form of the 2GIG-IMAGE3. In order to support image sensors, the 2GIG XCVR3-GC3 must be installed. Image sensors can be used without losing any other features.

The 2GIG Edge is a great addition to the 2GIG panel lineup. It has built-in facial recognition, Z-Wave Plus V2 (700 Series) support, up to four (4) Smart Area partitions, Bluetooth disarming, and so much more. One of the disappointing aspects of the panel rollout, is that it didn't support image sensors at the time of its release. That problem is now rectified with the new 3.1.0.011 firmware.

If you have a 2GIG Edge, then there are a couple of ways that you can get your panel updated. Alarm.com is still in the testing phase with this firmware, so it can't be pushed remotely quite yet, but remote over-the-air (OTA) updates will be available soon. Once this form of upgrade is available, you'll need to request the update from your alarm dealer. If your panel has a WIFI connection, the update will be completely free. If your panel connects to Alarm.com via cellular only, then a small fee will be incurred when updating OTA.

If you're an Alarm Grid monitoring customer, you can request the upgrade by emailing support@alarmgrid.com. Once the update is available, we'll verify the cost, if any, and if you give the go ahead, we'll push the update to your panel, and pass the cost along to you on your next monthly monitoring bill, with no markup. Remember, there will only be a fee if your panel connects to Alarm.com via cellular only. The cost for this type of update varies, depending on the size of the file to be downloaded. It could be as little as fifty-cents, or as much as a few dollars.

The other way that your panel can be updated is via USB. There is a USB port on the top of the 2GIG Edge. You can download the firmware update files from Alarm Grid here. This is a free download. Use a standard USB drive with at least 1GB capacity, and not more than 16GB capacity. Be sure the drive is formatted using FAT32, and that it has only one (1) partition. The file you download should be saved to the root directory of the USB drive. Full instructions for downloading and upgrading can be found here.

Once the file has been downloaded to the USB drive, remove the drive and take it to the 2GIG Edge panel. The USB port is on top of the panel, covered by a rubber boot. Remove the boot, and insert the drive. A message should appear on the panel, letting you know that an update is available. Press "Update", enter either the Installer Code (default 1561) or Master Code (1111) and the update will then proceed. Be sure the panel has AC power, and that AC power is not interrupted during the update process. The panel will reboot and provide a message letting you know when the update is complete. Remove the USB drive and reinsert the rubber boot.

If you have a 2GIG Edge Remote Keypad, it will be updated by the 2GIG Edge panel, once the panel has completed updating. Be sure the keypad has AC power and that it is connected to WIFI and to the Edge panel. You can verify this by making sure the keypad shows the panel home screen, and the proper panel status. Once the panel has been updated, it should automatically update the keypad. Again, once the firmware has been installed, the keypad will reboot to complete the update process.

In addition to support for image sensors, this firmware also corrects a few known issues regarding WIFI connection problems, and both remote keypad and main panel touchscreen issues. You can read the full firmware Release Notes Here.

So, what do you think about this firmware update? Do you have a 2GIG Edge and want to share your experience with it? Have you been anxiously awaiting image sensor support? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts. We always look forward to hearing from you.

Today, Resideo and Honeywell Home released Technical Notification #63. This bulletin describes a compatibility issue between some 6160RF keypads and the 5800WAVE and/or 5800RL. Keypad Date Codes D147 - E049 may be affected. Customers with the issue can return the keypad for a replacement.

The 6160RF is one of our most recommended products for those using a VISTA system. It solves two potential problems by providing both a programming (Alpha-Numeric) keypad, and a high-capacity transceiver. High-capacity means that as a receiver it can support as many wireless zones as the panel allows. Depending on the panel, this equates to as many as 249 wireless zones. As a transceiver, it can support all bi-directional 5800 Series devices. It does this using a House ID protocol in most instances.

The Honeywell 5800RL and the Honeywell 5800WAVE are two devices that receive status information from the panel through a transceiver using a House ID. The 5800RL is a wireless relay module with two relays. Relay A activates following the siren output of the panel. Any activity that causes the siren to sound will also cause the relay to activate. When the siren stops sounding, either because bell timeout has been reached, or because someone has disarmed, the relay goes back to its OFF position. The 5800RL is customarily used to add a high-current siren in a location where it is impossible to wire from the desired location all the way back to the panel. Relay B on the 5800RL follows the panel's arming state. This can be used to externally show the panel's armed status using an LED.

The 5800WAVE is a wireless siren. It also follows the panel's siren output. It provides an 85 dB alarm sounder in a location where a wired siren cannot be installed for any reason. It plugs into an AC outlet, and has its own battery for backup power. The problem described in the bulletin exists with only certain 6160RF keypads. These keypads fall within a particular date code range, and have a specific firmware version.

For the affected 6160RF keypads when used with the wireless siren or relay, the 5800RL Armed Status Relay (Relay B) may not provide the proper status. It may show Armed when the system is actually Disarmed, or vice versa. The 5800WAVE siren may also behave improperly, with the siren either continuing to sound when it should shut off or not sounding when it should. Remember, the issue is not with the 5800RL or the 5800WAVE, but with the 6160RF keypad.

To determine if you have a 6160RF keypad that is affected by this issue you need to check two (2) things. The date code of the 6160RF, and its firmware version. To check the date code you must open the keypad. Press in the two (2) locking tabs on the bottom edge of the keypad, then pull the front toward you. The Date Code should be either printed on the circuit board in black ink, or may be on a small white sticker on the board. It will be a letter followed by a 3-digit number. With the letter indicating the year of manufacture, and the number indicating the day of that year. The Date Codes to look for are: D147 - E049. This equates to May 26, 2020 through February 18, 2021. This is a date code range, so if your date code shows D226, then it is within the range. If it shows E037, it is within the range. If it shows D025 or E059, that is not within the affected range.

If you are using a 5800RL and/or a 5800WAVE with a 6160RF, and you are having issues like those described above, and you confirm that you have a keypad within the affected date code range, then you need to confirm the firmware version. Only keypads that fit the date code criteria and have Firmware Version 1.06 are affected by this particular issue. If you are having issues but with different products or with the same products within a different date code range, then you should troubleshoot with your alarm dealer or with Resideo technical support as a separate, unique issue.

However, if you need to confirm the firmware version of your 6160RF keypad, power down and back up. You can either power down the entire system (preferred), or just the keypad. In order to power down the keypad, you would need to remove the power wires at the keypad. To remove the wires at the keypad, you must remove the front as described above. Once the keypad has been taken apart, unscrew the red wire and remove it from the terminal. It is very important that the only thing this wire touches is the terminal you remove it from. Touching anything else with this wire could cause damage as it is a "live" wire. If you choose to power down the entire panel, you may need one person to perform the power cycle while the other person watches the 6160RF, depending on how far the keypad is from the transformer. Upon powering up, the keypad will display its version information. If it displays KeyPad Ver. 1.06, and all the other criteria above have also been met, then the keypad should be replaced.

If any of the criteria mentioned above are not met, if you aren't using a 5800WAVE and/or 5800RL, for example. If your keypad doesn't fall within the date code range, or if it does fall within the date code range, but the keypad firmware version is NOT version 1.06, then you do not need to replace the 6160RF. Only 6160RF devices that meet all of the above criteria should be replaced. In all other ways, the 6160RF keypad should behave as expected. If you would like to read the full Technical Notification, click here.

If you purchased a 6160RF from Alarm Grid and you are affected by this compatibility issue, please reach out to us by emailing support@alarmgrid.com. We will be happy to arrange a warranty replacement of your product once we confirm that the criteria are met. Remember that our support hours are Monday - Friday from 9 am - 8 pm Eastern Time.

On Friday, July 30, 2021, Alarm Grid's monitoring partner CMS announced that this week their standard procedure for handling environmental alarms will officially change. Going forward, environmental alarms will receive one call to each specified number, with a message left where possible.

In the past, it was CMS's standard procedure on environmental alarms to continue calling all available numbers on the customer's specified contact list until a responsible party was reached and had acknowledged the alarm. Processing of the alarm was not considered complete until the operator had contacted and spoken to the property owner, or one of their designees. CMS had reason to review this policy recently, and as a result the standard procedure has been modified.

Going forward, when an environmental alarm is received CMS representatives will attempt to contact all specified numbers on the call list one (1) time. When a contact on the call list can't be reached, if the representative has an opportunity to leave a message, they will. But at that point no further calls to that number are scheduled. The representative will go through the call list in this manner until all numbers specified for environmental alarms have been called with no one being reached and messages left where possible. At this point, processing of the environmental alarm is considered complete.

If the representative receives an answer, they will notify the answering party of the alarm and no further calls will be made. At that point alarm processing is considered complete. All of this information: numbers called, messages left or not, persons reached will be noted to the account. After one (1) call to each number with no one being reached and notations being made in the customer's account regarding messages left, the alarm will be considered finalized with no further action being taken by the CMS representative.

Environmental alarms may include such things as flood detection, and freeze detection. These types of alarms don't customarily require the dispatch of authorities, but a home or business owner usually wants to be notified about them as soon as possible to avoid costly property damage.

The monitoring stations's standard operating procedure for any alarm type will determine how that alarm type is treated in the absence of any other instructions. What this means is, if a customer wants an environmental alarm to be treated differently than what is described above, they can request an alternative procedure. As long as the request is within reason, CMS will gladly follow those instructions rather than their standard procedure. If a request cannot be honored, due to legal issues or company policy, CMS will explain why, and allow the customer to adjust the request until a suitable procedure is determined.

We missed an opportunity to recap videos last week, but that just means we have more videos to cover this week. Six (6) today, with more to follow. Michael and Jorge share their knowledge of the 2GIG Edge and the Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS. Summer's almost over but wade in, the water's fine.

Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS: Resolve WIFI Connection Issues

In this video, Michael discusses the various reasons why the Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS might not connect to WIFI. Reasons can include range, environmental issues, and even bad equipment. In addition, there is a specific setting to watch out for on Ubiquiti Access Points. Having this setting enabled can prevent your Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS from connecting to WIFI.

2GIG Edge: What To Expect During AC Loss

During an AC Loss condition, the 2GIG Edge will go into power conservation mode. After a few seconds, the touchscreen will go dark and only illuminate when something occurs that needs to be displayed, or when a user touches the touchscreen. Jorge tells and shows users what to expect as normal behavior when an AC Loss condition occurs.

2GIG Edge: Powering Down Properly

Believe it or not, there is a right way to properly power down an alarm system. In this video Jorge will show you how to properly power down a 2GIG Edge alarm panel. Begin by removing the set screws, pulling the panel off its base then unplugging the battery. Next, unplug the transformer, either at the barrel connector on the panel side, or by unplugging the transformer from the wall. If you can't find the transformer, you can power down by turning power off at the breaker.

Qolsys IQ Remote: Behavior On a Partitioned System

In this video Michael shows you how the Qolsys IQ Remote behaves when it is used on a partitioned system. The IQ Remote will only display the status of the partition to which it is assigned. It will only allow the user to control the assigned partition as well, and only a user with a User Code that has been given access to the assigned partition will be able to interact with the system from the IQ Remote.

2GIG GC3e: Installing the XCVR3 GC3

Michael shows users how to install the 2GIG XCVR3-GC3 to the 2GIG GC3e panel. Unlike with the 2GIG GC2 panel, the installation of the 2GIG XCVR3-GC3 does not require that anything be removed from the GC3e panel first. This transceiver module simply adds 900 MHz 2-way communication capability between the GC3e and the 2GIG TS1 as well as the 2GIG Image Sensors.

Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS: Installing PROTAKEOVER

Michael shows users how to set the dial for legacy RF devices, and then properly install the Honeywell Home PROTAKEOVER module into a PROA7PLUS system. This module allows the PROA7PLUS to support one (1) of five (5) legacy RF frequencies. This allows the panel to support previously existing sensors from Honeywell or 2GIG 345 MHz sensors, existing Qolsys and/or Interlogix/GE 319.5 MHz sensors, DSC 433 MHz sensors, or Bosch 433 MHz sensors. This module allows a user to replace an older panel with the newer PROA7PLUS without having to replace all the existing wireless sensors that are still working.

The police department in Sandy Springs, GA is one of several that adhere to a policy of Verified Response when it comes to burglar alarms. They require proof that a crime has occurred before they will respond. Proof can come in one of several forms, which we will be discussing here.

Different police jurisdictions define verified response in different ways and with different verification criteria. In some jurisdictions, a second burglar alarm activation on a different zone within the same address occurring within a set period of time qualifies as verification. For others, there must be audio, video, or onsite verification before the police will respond. In Sandy Springs, GA, the latter type of verification is required. The full Alarm Dispatch Guidelines for Sandy Springs, GA can be found here.

This is not to say that the City of Sandy Springs or any other police department that otherwise requires verification won't respond to any type of alarm without proof of an issue at the site. For most jurisdictions, if there is a Panic, Duress, Hold-up, Medical, CO, Elevator or Fire alarm, the requirement for verification is waived and immediate dispatch can be requested. But, at least in the case of Sandy Springs, if authorities respond and there is no evidence of criminal activity or any other emergency, then false alarm fees will apply.

Furthermore, if a monitoring station employee requests public safety dispatch on an alarm, based on audio or video proof that a crime is occurring or has occurred, then Sandy Springs requires that they submit proof of verification within 24 Hours of the dispatch request. Failure to do so will incur additional fines!

Proof can either be described to the monitoring station employee by the end-user after checking their cameras or other means of verification, or it can come from the monitoring station employee themselves having reviewed audio or video evidence. The burden of proof has been placed squarely on the monitoring company.

If a customer has an alarm system that uses Audio Alarm Verification, sometimes referred to as 2-Way Voice, then the monitoring station can use this to verify if an unauthorized individual is onsite. In the case of Sandy Springs, silence does not count as proof of an issue, the monitoring station dispatcher must hear footsteps, talking, sounds of rummaging, or other proof of an issue at the site.

If the customer has video surveillance, either the customer, or in some cases the monitoring station, can use the video system to verify if an alarm is an actual break-in. The customer may even have a friendly neighbor who is willing to receive a notification from the alarm monitoring company and will go and check things out for them and report back.

However, not every monitoring company will support 2-Way Voice. Currently Alarm Grid does not support this option. And not every customer wants to blanket their property with security cameras. Some properties are too large, or too far away from neighbors to make relying on a neighbor a viable option. In these cases, the best option may be to employ a guard service.

Currently, Alarm Grid offers guard response service in the Las Vegas, NV area through Custom Security Guard & Patrol. A patrol supervisor in a marked security vehicle is on standby 24/7 to respond to alarm dispatches. Upon arrival, they document any signs of forced entry, vandalism, suspicious activity, or vagrants, and they take date and time stamped photos of the property. If needed, they will contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

The average alarm response time is approximately 20-30 minutes. Custom Security Guard & Patrol has been providing security, patrol, and alarm response services since 1979 and is licensed under NVPILB #619.

Coverage areas include the entire Las Vegas Valley, including Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Southern Highlands, Mountain's Edge, and surrounding communities.

Customers are billed $55 each time Custom Security Guard & Patrol is dispatched to their property. The charge is added as an extra invoice item to the customer's regular Alarm Grid monitoring invoice.

Areas in the United States where Verified Response is Required:

Please keep in mind that this list is something that may evolve with little notice. It may be difficult to keep the list 100% accurate, but we will do our best. Some jurisdictions have adopted verified response and later changed their policy after public criticism, operational concerns, or an increase in property crime. San Jose, CA is one such place. Other jurisdictions that have reportedly moved away from verified response include Dallas, TX, Madison, WI, Henderson, NV, Cathedral City, CA, Chico, CA, Indio, CA, Washoe County, NV, South Salt Lake City, UT, West Valley City, UT, and Summit County, CO.

You may have noticed that the table above didn't feature any locations from our neighbor to the north. There are a couple of places in Canada that require a version of verified response. Winnipeg, Manitoba, and London and Toronto, Ontario have all adopted a more lax definition of this type of verification.

In all three of these locations, the police department will accept two or more activations of two or more separate burglary zones as a form of verification. Currently, Alarm Grid does not offer a guard service in any of the Canadian provinces. If this changes, we'll be sure to update this blog post.

So, of course the burning question is, "How much does it cost?" Pricing for guard response varies by jurisdiction and provider availability. In the Las Vegas, NV area, Alarm Grid currently offers guard response service through Custom Security Guard & Patrol for $55 per dispatch visit. This includes up to 60 minutes on site per dispatch. They charge an additional $35 per hour if additional time on site is needed. This fee is added as a separate line item to the customer's regular Alarm Grid monthly invoice.

What do you think of the Verified Response Policy implemented in Sandy Springs, GA? Is it overdue, or overreach? Tell us what you think in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you. Stay tuned to our blog for more exciting security industry news. If you need help figuring out what system you have in the house you just moved into, you're looking to upgrade an existing system, or to install one for the first time, reach out to us via email at support@alarmgrid.com. We're here Monday - Friday from 9 am to 8 pm Eastern. We look forward to hearing from you!

Qolsys IQ Panel 2 and IQ Panel 2 Plus users will be pleased to learn that a new firmware update is available! Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Firmware Version 2.6.1 can be downloaded via patch tag right now. Alarm Grid recommends that IQ2 and IQ2+ users download the update at their earliest convenience.

Important Note: For those looking for the 2.6.1 Firmware File needed to update the panel using an SD Card, we will make that file available as soon as possible. Qolsys has not yet posted it. However, when the SD Card method is used, the panel will still need a WIFI connection, and active monitoring in order to be sure the panel updates properly. For this reason, unmonitored systems should not attempt this update method unless the user is absolutely sure the "Firmware2" update is not needed on the system. For those who need the "Firmware2" update, it is recommended that the Patchtag method of updating discussed below be used.

Before we get into how to download Firmware Version 2.6.1, we would like to discuss what the new update includes. This isn't a particularly loaded update, but it still includes some new features, plus some important fixes and general system improvements. For those reasons, updating at your earliest convenience is advised.

There is a new Sensor Group for motion sensors, that being Sensor Group (45) - Away/Stay Instant Non-Follower. This is just like Sensor Group (15) - Stay Instant, except that the new Sensor Group (45) will still have the system go into alarm if the sensor is faulted while the system is armed away or armed stay, even if an Entry/Exit Zone is faulted first. With the old Sensor Group (15), the system will not go into alarm if the sensor is faulted after (following) an Entry/Exit Zone. In other words, if you fault a sensor with Sensor Group (45) while the system is in its Entry Delay countdown, an alarm will occur, but if you do the same with Sensor Group (15) when the system is in its Entry Delay countdown, no alarm occurs.

For SD Card upgrades, there will be an auto-push of the "Firmware2" Patch from Alarm.com, assuming that the patch hasn't already been applied. This patch prevents certain IQ2 Panels from automatically rebooting at times. You can see more information about the Firmware2 fix from this prior blog post. The only other new feature release from the 2.6.1 release is that the IQ2 is now compliant with BS-8243 Standards in the United Kingdom.

All other changes for the IQ2 in 2.6.1 are general system improvements. As listed below:

• Fixed an issue regarding SRF Sensors, outlined in TSB 210705. This issue prevented legacy SRF sensors from communicating with the IQ2 properly following an AC power loss condition. More information on the issue can be found here.
• Stability improvements to dual-path communication with Alarm.com.
• Improved push notification of message center messages while on Photo Frame screensaver.
• Improved boot-up after performing a software update.
• Improved doorbell camera streaming and push alerts when the panel is in the lock screen.
• Alarm.com backend now shows username when arming/disarming from PowerG Keypads.
• Corrected issue with an improvement from 2.6.0 so that silent and audible panics triggered from the panel are able to properly report as different CID codes to the central station.
• Corrected issue from 2.6.0 involving daily & weekly communication tests with central station.

With that out of the way, let's explain how to apply the update! Like all of the other recent updates, users on Firmware Version 2.5.0 or 2.5.1 will need to stage upgrade to 2.5.3 first before upgrading to 2.6.1. But if you are on 2.5.3 or higher or on less than 2.5.0, then you can go right to 2.6.1. And as always, your system must be on at least 2.0.1 for any firmware update to be applied.

To get started applying the update, make sure your IQ2 or IQ2+ is plugged in and that its battery is charged. Your system must be connected to WIFI and actively monitored so that Alarm.com can determine if the Firmware2 update is required, and then send it to the panel via WIFI if it is. Begin from the main screen of the system. Press the small grey bar at the top. Pick Settings > Advanced Settings > enter the Installer Code if prompted (default 1111) > Upgrade Software > Patch Tag > enter iqpanel2.6.1 (must be entered exactly as shown) > OK > Upgrade Using Network. The update should then go through. Once it begins, do not touch the panel screen.

Remember, it will usually take about five (5) minutes for the update to be completed. You can then check the Software Version in the About Menu under the Software tab. This is good for confirming that the 2.6.1 Firmware Update went through as intended.

Please leave a comment down below with your thoughts on Qolsys IQ Panel 2 and IQ Panel 2 Plus Firmware Version 2.6.1. Don't hesitate to let us know about your experience with the panel or the firmware update. We want to hear your honest opinion and assist with any issues. Like always, stay tuned to the Alarm Grid Blog for more news and updates coming soon!

Qolsys recently released a service bulletin describing an issue with certain IQ Hardwire 16-F units. This issue affects both the small enclosure and large enclosure versions. Under certain circumstances, affected units can signal a false tamper/tamper restore message for connected zones.

Qolsys TSB #210708, which was released on July 8, 2021, describes this issue, and the corrective action Qolsys is taking to remedy the problem. They do not provide a lot of information regarding what "conditions" bring about this behavior. We have asked for more detail, and if more information is forthcoming, we will provide updates here in our blog.

Rest assured that only a certain number of these devices are affected, and we will provide users with the necessary information to determine if they have one of these units. Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F units that were manufactured outside of the window in question are not affected and should not exhibit this behavior.

How to determine if your Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F small enclosure (SKU: QS7133-840) is affected:

On the unit itself, or on the box that the unit came in, check the Revision Sticker. This will appear as a bar code on the sticker and will be marked with SN: and DL: If the 4th character of the SN, moving from left to right, is a "C" then the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F small enclosure should be returned/replaced. This sticker may be found on the rear of the unit and may require that you dismount the unit from the wall to get access it.

How to determine if your Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F large enclosure (SKU: QS7134-840) is affected:

On the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F large enclosure, the way you determine the revision is the same, but the revision information is different. On these units the revision to be on the lookout for is "B" rather than "C". This sticker should also appear on the unit itself as well as on the box that the unit comes in. Since these devices come from the factory with an enclosure, the sticker may be on the enclosure rather than the printed circuit board. Unfortunately, it may also be on the back of the enclosure, requiring that it be removed from the wall to be accessed. When reading the sticker, the 4th character when viewing the SN from left to right is "B" on affected units. See the example below:

Qolsys has pulled back available affected stock to correct this issue. Units that may have been affected, but have since been pulled back into manufacturing and reworked or replaced, will sport a sticker that says "TEST OK".

If you purchase a Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F that falls within the Revision range discussed above, but the item has a "TEST OK" sticker affixed somewhere on the packaging or the unit itself, then you do not have to worry about this issue. If you purchased a Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F prior to the date that this notice was released, and your device falls within the revision range discussed above, then you should contact your distributor to discuss replacing the unit. Per Qolsys, you should do this even if you haven't observed the behavior described in this Technical Service Bulletin.

If you are an Alarm Grid customer, and you purchased an affected unit from Alarm Grid, you can contact us at support@alarmgrid.com. We are here Monday - Friday from 9am to 8pm ET. If you prefer to speak to us by phone, you can reach us at 888-818-7728. It is our pleasure to assist you with any and all of your alarm needs. Stay safe!

We have learned from Alarm.com that some new features will soon be made available for the Alarm.com ADC-SWM150 Smart Water Valve and Meter. The new device features will be accessible on the latest version of the Alarm.com Mobile App for Android and iOS, Alarm.com Mobile App Version 4.19.2.

According to Alarm.com, iOS users "can select specific days to view their water usage and scroll back in the history to see how their usage has changed over time." The Alarm.com Mobile App will allow them to select specific days within the past thirty (30) days and view their water usage for the selected day(s). Users will also be able to review their usage history across the past 30 days. This is great for monitoring your water usage to make sure that you aren't being wasteful or letting your water conservation practices slip.

As for Android users, the new features seem to be a bit more limited, but the Android version of the app will still allow you to access an all-new "water usage graph" to check water usage across the last seven (7) days. All water-related activity will be found within the Alarm.com Mobile App Water Card, which is easily accessible from your Android or iOS device.

Keep in mind that the new Alarm.com ADC-SWM150 features may not be available just yet. They are being included with Alarm.com Mobile App Version 4.19.2. According to Alarm.com, the new ADC-SWM150 updates will be made available "in the coming weeks", so just keep your eyes open for these updates, and look forward to them coming soon! We know it's a bit early to get excited and eager, but we want you to hit the ground running once these features are available. Stay alert for the new Alarm.com Updates, and be ready once they are here!

If you aren't familiar with the Alarm.com ADC-SWM150, it is a Z-Wave Plus smart water valve that you can use to control the water supply for a location. It is great for turning the water OFF to prevent damage in the event of a serious flood or leak. Many users use these devices in conjunction with flood sensors, and they create smart scenes so that the water valve is CLOSED and the water is SHUT OFF automatically upon a flood sensor detecting a leak and alerting the security system. The unique aspect of the ADC-SWM150 is that it also includes a meter for monitoring and tracking your water usage over time. The ADC-SWM150 is fitted to water pipes of up to 1.25" (31.75mm) in size. It is typically installed by a plumber.

In addition, Alarm Grid recently began offering the Qolsys IQ Water Valve Kits that include both a water valve and a flood sensor. Unlike the ADC-SWM150, the Qolsys IQ Water Valve devices are a bit more DIY-friendly, as they are actually designed to be self-installed by end users, with no need to hire a plumber. However, a Qolsys IQ Water Valve Kit does not include any water meter for tracking water usage, like the one you receive with the ADC-SWM150. For users who decide upon the Qolsys IQ Water Valve Kits, they are available in two (2) distinct variants, those being the Qolsys IQWV908-KIT-PG (PowerG), and the Qolsys IQWV908-KIT-SL (319.5 MHz S-Line)

The Alarm.com ADC-SWM150 and the Qolsys IQ Water Valve Kits are available now on the Alarm Grid website. Do you have any thoughts or questions on these products? Leave a comment down below, and get the discussion flowing along - these are water valves after all! Our team is always interested in what you have to say about the newest security products and services. And of course, remember to keep checking the Alarm Grid Blog for more news and updates coming soon!