What Is the SmartStart Z-Wave Feature on the IQ5 Hub Panel?

SmartStart on the IQ5 Hub is a Z-Wave enrollment method that lets you pre-register a device by entering its DSK code before the device is powered on or installed. Once added to the Provisioning List, the panel automatically includes the device when it powers up and comes within range.

What Is SmartStart

The IQ5 Hub (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) supports SmartStart, a Z-Wave enrollment feature that lets you register devices before they are installed or powered on. You pre-register the device using its DSK (Device Specific Key) code — entered manually from the device label or packaging. The device is added to a Provisioning List. When the device is later powered on and comes within range of the IQ5 Hub, inclusion completes automatically. Note that the IQ5 Hub does not have a built-in camera, so QR code scanning is not available — DSK must be entered manually.

SmartStart is useful for pre-programming devices before an installation, or for devices in hard-to-reach locations where triggering a pairing mode after installation would be difficult. The DSK code is printed on the device's label or box. SmartStart is not authorized for EN Grade 2 security installations. For standard home automation and residential security system use, SmartStart works normally.

How to Use SmartStart

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen and touch Settings. The Settings page opens.

IQ5 Hub Settings Tray opened by swiping down from the top of the screen

2. Touch Advanced Settings and enter the Installer Code (1111 by default). The Advanced Settings menu opens.

IQ5 Hub Advanced Settings highlighted on the Settings page

3. Touch Installation, then Devices, then Z-Wave Devices. The Z-Wave Devices menu opens.

IQ5 Hub Z-Wave Devices page

4. Touch SmartStart, then touch Include. The SmartStart screen opens showing a DSK entry field.

IQ5 Hub SmartStart DSK entry screen

5. Enter the DSK code manually and touch Add DSK. The DSK is a multi-digit code printed on the device label or packaging. The IQ5 Hub does not support QR code scanning, so the code must be typed in.

6. Configure the device name and settings, then touch Add. The device is added to the Provisioning List with a status of Not in Network until it powers on.

IQ5 Hub SmartStart device name and configuration fields

The Provisioning List

Devices added via SmartStart appear in the Provisioning List in the Z-Wave Devices menu. Each device shows one of three statuses. Not in Network means the device has been registered but not yet powered on. Started means the device has powered on and inclusion is running in the background. Included means the device has successfully joined the network and is fully active. Once a device is Included it can no longer be deleted via the trash icon — use Clear Device from the Z-Wave Devices menu instead.

IQ5 Hub SmartStart Provisioning List showing device network status

SmartStart on the IQ5 Hub makes Z-Wave enrollment faster by letting you pre-register devices before they are powered on or installed on the IQ5 Hub. For help with SmartStart or other Z-Wave configurations 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.