How Do I Set Up the Slideshow on A Qolsys IQ Panel 4?

The "Photo Frame" feature is enabled from the main menu. You can download available image packs from Qolsys, or load personal images to the panel using the built-in Access Point. From there, you can configure when the Photo Frame slideshow begins, the duration of each image, and more.

The Photo Frame is a screensaver feature that prevents the panel's touchscreen from suffering burn-in. The ability to use it to showcase personal photos is an added bonus for IQ Panel 4 users. If you prefer to display stock photos, there are various bundles of images available that you can download using WIFI. You can also choose to display a weather clock or to have the screen turn off as a screen saver.

To enable the Photo Frame feature to display your own images, do the following:

1. Delete stock photos. There is a limit to the amount of space available for images. Approximately 18 images can be displayed, per Qolsys technical support. For this reason, we recommend you erase the stock photos and replace them with your own. To delete, tap the gray bar at the top of the screen and then tap Photo Frame. Tap "Delete". Tap "Select All" then tap "Delete" again. A prompt will appear, to complete the deletion tap the green check mark. You'll see that the stock images have been deleted.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Add custom photos. Next, add your custom photos. Tap "Add" then hit the dropdown next to "Default" and choose "Panel AP" then press "Start". This starts the panel's access point. On your WIFI capable device (the one that stores the images you want to load to the panel) either scan the QR code provided on the panel's screen, or manually enter the SSID and password provided on the screen. This connects your WIFI capable device to the panel through the panel's access point.
   
   
   
   Once you start the panel's built in access point and join your device with the network, another QR code will pop up below the first one. When you scan this QR code, you should be taken to the IP address 192.168.50.1:8448. If you are using Safari as your browser on the device, the site won't open and instead you'll receive an error. Google Chrome will allow you to access the panel's IP address.
   
   
   Below is the error message received when attempting to open the URL in Safari. Note there is no option to connect anyway:
   
   
   When you open the URL in Chrome or another browser, you'll see a similar screen to the one below. Click "Choose Files" to load images from your device to the panel.
   
   NOTE: The images are limited in size to 1440 x 2560. Most photos taken on an iPhone, and presumably on an Android phone are too large to load. You may need to bring up the photos on your phone and screenshot them to make for a smaller file size. Even then, sometimes the file is too large.
   
   
   When you click on "Choose Files" you'll see the prompt shown below (screenshot from iPhone). Assuming the photos you want to load are in the Photo Library, tap that option. Your phone may prompt you to allow access to photos, depending on your settings.
   
   
   Select the photo or photos you wish to load to the panel. Once your photos are selected, press Add at the upper right, then press "Send Image Files". If any of the photos are too large, you'll see the error shown below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Configure remaining settings. Once images have been loaded to the panel you can press "Stop" on the panel touchscreen. This turns off the built in access point. Your mobile device will revert to its regular WIFI settings now. On the panel screen, tap "Settings" and configure the other options pertaining to Photo Frame.
   
   
   • Duration: Can be set to one (1), two (2), or five (5) minutes. This is the duration of each photo's display before a new photo is presented. One (1) minute is the default setting:
     
     
     
   • Effect: Options are Dissolve or Fade to Black. This is the effect that will be used during the transition between images. Dissolve is the default setting:
     
     
     
     
   • Shuffle: This option is either Enabled or Disabled via check mark. It is shown enabled in the image below (the default setting). Shuffle randomizes the order in which images are displayed:
     
     
     
   • Display Type: In the Display Options section, you can set the Display Type for when the screen is inactive. The options are Off, Photo Frame, or Weather Clock. For this FAQ, we have chosen Photo Frame:
     
     
     
   • Photo Frame Start Time: This setting determines how long the screen should be inactive before the screen saver kicks in. The options are one (1), five (5), ten (10), or fifteen (15) minutes. The default setting is ten (10) minutes:
     
     
     
     
   • Nighttime Mode Start Time: Nighttime mode allows you to disable certain display and sound settings so that you aren't kept awake, or awakened by non-alarm events that occur while you sleep. By default Nighttime Mode begins at 11:00 pm, but you can set this to any time you want:
     
     
     
     
   • Nighttime Mode End Time: This setting determines when Nighttime Mode ends. Once it ends, all display and sound settings return to normal. By default, Nighttime Mode ends at 6:00 am:
     
     
     
     
   • Nighttime Mode Settings: This setting determines the panel's behavior during Nighttime Mode. You can turn off the Display, Voices, Chimes, and LEDs (scroll down to see the option to disable LEDs). Based on the settings below, the display will be off from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am each day. Voices, Chimes, and LEDs are still enabled.
     
     
     
     
4. Stop the panel's AP Mode. If you haven't already done so, press "Stop" on the IQ Panel 4 touchscreen. This turns off the panel's access point. This will disconnect your device from the panel and usually your device will revert back to your normal WIFI network. If it doesn't, go to settings and select the proper network from the available list. You can press "Run" on the Photo Frame screen to test your new settings. Press the House Icon at the bottom of the screen to return to the main panel screen.