Does the IQ5 NS Support Ethernet for a Wired Connection?

The IQ5 NS does not include a built-in Ethernet port. It connects over LTE cellular and WIFI, configured through the IQ Installer app since the panel has no screen. If you need a wired link, the optional QC000B-840 Ethernet card installs in a daughter card slot to add a hardwired connection.

How the IQ5 NS Connects

The IQ5 NS (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) is the no-screen member of the IQ5 family, programmed entirely through the IQ Installer app over WIFI. It ships with an embedded LTE cellular radio and a pre-installed WIFI card, and there is no Ethernet jack on the housing by default. For most installations, cellular paired with WIFI is all the panel needs to reach Alarm.com.

The panel uses cellular and WIFI together for dual-path communication. Cellular is the reliable primary path that keeps reporting even if the internet drops, while WIFI adds a fast secondary path and handles software updates. This is why a wired connection is not required on your security system, since WIFI already links the panel to the same network Ethernet would reach.

The Optional Ethernet Card (QC000B-840)

If you prefer a wired connection, the IQ Card Ethernet (QC000B-840) is an add-on daughter card that gives the panel a hardwired Ethernet connection. The IQ5 NS ships with an open daughter card slot, so there is room to add it. One important detail: the panel uses either Ethernet or WIFI, not both. Installing the Ethernet card disables WIFI, either automatically or manually through the IQ Installer app, so your dual-path setup becomes cellular plus Ethernet instead of cellular plus WIFI.

The IQ Card Ethernet (QC000B-840) add-on card.

Installing the card involves powering down the panel and opening the housing to reach the expansion slot, so it is best handled during professional installation or service. After the card is seated and the panel reboots, you confirm it by running the Daughter Cards Test in the IQ Installer app, where the Ethernet card appears with a Run option.

The Ethernet card installs in the panel's internal expansion slot.

Cellular Is Still Required

Whether you use WIFI or the Ethernet card, the IQ5 NS still requires an active cellular connection. Like WIFI, the Ethernet card communicates only with Alarm.com, so it cannot be used for a direct self-monitoring connection outside of Alarm.com. Because cellular is required, the panel needs a plan that includes cellular service. With Alarm Grid, that means a monitoring plan at the Gold or Platinum tier, available as either self or full cellular alarm monitoring.

The IQ5 NS does not have built-in Ethernet, but the optional QC000B-840 card adds a wired connection in place of WIFI when you need one. For help deciding between WIFI and Ethernet or setting up the right plan for your IQ5 NS, contact the Alarm Grid support team. We are here Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Email us at support@alarmgrid.com, call us at 888-818-7728, or visit our website and chat with a live support agent.