How Far From the Panel Can an Image Sensor Be to Enroll It?

An image sensor can be as far from the panel as its maximum communication range during enrollment. This principle is basically true for any wireless security sensor. The wireless range for image sensor modules can vary, but most have a range of at least 200 feet when used in open air.

An image sensor is basically a PIR motion detection sensor combined with a still-picture camera. The PIR motion sensor works by looking for changes in infrared (IR) energy that occur with movement. If a person or large object comes within the sensor's field of view (FOV), it will cause a large change in IR energy. The image sensor will detect this and take one or more pictures using its integrated camera. The produced image(s) will then be forwarded to an interactive service platform, such as Alarm.com. so that they can be viewed remotely by the end user. These devices are great for confirming intrusions or break-ins without having to invest in full-fledged security cameras. Remember, you will need an alarm monitoring plan that includes access to the interactive service. Since Alarm Grid only supports image sensors from Alarm.com, a Gold-level plan or higher is required.

Although image sensors require the panel to be connected with an interactive service platform, they still integrate directly with the alarm control panel. This is because the panel communicates with the interactive service platform on the behalf of the image sensor module. It is also important to note that image sensors generally communicate at different frequencies than those that are used with standard security sensors. For that reason, image sensor devices often require that the panel has some special module installed. Some examples of these modules include the 2GIG XCVR2-345 for the GC2, the 2GIG XCVR3-GC3 for the GC3, and the Qolsys IQ Card-IS, for the IQ Panel 2. One exception is the DSC PG9934P Image Sensor, which operates at the standard PowerG frequency of 915 MHz.

Enrolling an image sensor is usually the same process as any other sensor. This involves putting the panel into programming and then activating the sensor's tamper switch to auto-enroll it. You just need to adjust the programming settings for the zone to reflect that of an image sensor module. When auto-enrolling, the sensor must be within range of the panel. This distance can vary between different image sensor modules. Most image sensors will have a wireless range of at least 200 feet in open air, but some will have a greater range. However, it's still good practice to bring the image sensor as close to the panel as possible during enrollment. After programming the sensor, you can then mount it in the desired location and perform a walk test to make sure it works properly.