How Do I Answer a Doorbell Camera on the IQ5 Hub Panel?

To answer a doorbell camera on the IQ5 Hub, make sure an Alarm.com doorbell camera is on your account with notifications enabled. When someone presses the doorbell, a notification appears on the screen. Select Answer to open the live video feed and speak with the visitor using two-way audio.

Before You Begin

The IQ5 Hub (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) includes a Live Answer feature that lets you talk directly to whoever is at your front door using the panel's 7-inch touchscreen. When someone presses the doorbell button on a compatible Alarm.com doorbell camera, a Doorbell Ringing notification automatically pops up on the panel. You can answer the call, see live video, speak with the visitor, and even disarm the system or unlock the door, all from the same screen.

Live Answer works with all Alarm.com doorbell camera models and requires an active Alarm.com video plan. This feature is ideal for verifying who is at the door before letting them in, communicating with delivery drivers, or screening visitors while you are in another part of the house. The panel handles everything from a single screen, so you do not need to pull out your phone or walk to the door.

Answering a Doorbell Camera Call

1. Wait for the Doorbell Ringing notification to appear on the panel. When someone presses the doorbell button, a popup appears on the IQ5 Hub screen displaying "Doorbell Ringing" with two buttons: Dismiss (red) and Answer (green). This notification appears automatically regardless of what screen the panel is currently showing.

To receive these notifications, you need to enable them on your Alarm.com account. Log in to the Alarm.com website > navigate to Video Settings > select Video Device Info for your doorbell camera > and check the box labeled "Send button pushed notifications to panel."

2. Select Answer to open the live video feed. The panel switches to a full-screen live video view from the doorbell camera. You can see the visitor in real time. The video feed includes several control buttons along the right side of the screen:

• Talk:
  Press and hold this button to speak with the visitor through the doorbell camera's speaker. Release the button when you are finished speaking to hear the visitor's response through the panel's speaker. This is a push-to-talk system, so you need to hold the button down for the entire time you are talking.
• System Armed:
  This button appears when your security system is currently armed. Select it to disarm the system directly from the video screen without navigating away. This is useful when you want to let a visitor in and need to disarm before opening the door.
• Door Lock:
  This button appears when you have a Z-Wave smart lock paired with your system. Select it to unlock the door for the visitor without leaving the panel. This works with any Z-Wave lock enrolled on your system.
• End:
  Select this button to end the call and exit the Live View screen. The panel returns to its normal display. If you want to dismiss the doorbell notification without answering at all, select Dismiss from the initial Doorbell Ringing popup instead of Answer.

Tips

The combination of Talk, System Armed, Door Lock, and End gives you complete front door control from a single screen. You can verify a visitor, have a conversation, disarm the system, and unlock the door without ever walking to the entrance. This makes Live Answer a powerful tool for managing deliveries, service visits, and unexpected guests. You can also view your doorbell camera feed at any time through the Live View page by swiping left from the home screen, or through the Alarm.com app on your phone. For the best experience, keep your IQ5 Hub connected to WIFI so video streams load quickly and home automation commands reach your locks without delay.

Using Live Answer to communicate with visitors directly from the panel adds convenience and security to your front door on the IQ5 Hub. For help with doorbell cameras and Live Answer or other configurations on your IQ5 Hub, 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.