Can I Use a DSC Impassa w/o Monitoring?

Yes, you can use a DSC Impassa without monitoring. However, the system will be incredibly limited without service from an alarm monitoring company. There are many functions and features for the system that can only be performed if the DSC Impassa has active alarm monitoring service.

Arguably the most important component of alarm monitoring service is the ability of a system to send outbound communication signals. These signals are necessary for alerting the end user and/or a central monitoring station about any alarm events that occur. If the panel is connected with a central station, a user can receive automatic emergency dispatch in the event of an alarm. This is extremely important if a burglary or a fire occurs while the user is off-site.

Alarm monitoring is also the only way to utilize home automation services with a DSC Impassa. This is because a Z-Wave controller is integrated into the system's compatible cellular communicator. Therefore, the system will need active cellular monitoring to perform home automation functions. After installing and activating a cellular communicator, Z-Wave devices can then be programmed to the system. Rules and scenes for the Z-Wave devices can then be set up from Alarm.com. The Alarm.com service can only be accessed if the DSC Impassa is receiving cellular monitoring service.

Please note that there are two possible communication paths for a DSC Impassa. These communication paths are phone line monitoring and cellular monitoring. By default, a DSC Impassa can only receive phone line monitoring. This type of monitoring is generally not recommended, since it provides slow connection speeds, and it is unreliable overall. A phone line connection can also be easily tampered with by potential intruders. Instead, we recommend upgrading to cellular by adding a cellular communicator. Unlike phone line monitoring, cellular monitoring provides fast speeds, and it is extremely reliable. Please note that a DSC Impassa will need to be running firmware version 1.3 or higher to support a cellular communicator. The user will also need an alarm monitoring plan that provides cellular connectivity.

But if the DSC receives no monitoring service, then its functionality will be extremely limited. The panel will essentially be nothing more than a local sounder. Sensors will still be able to be enrolled and programmed with the system, and local sirens can still be produced. This will make the system useful for alerting on-site users to alarm events. However, the system will have no way of reporting out to an off-site user or to a central station. But if a user is almost always on-site, then an unmonitored alarm system might be acceptable for their needs.