Honeywell iGSMV4G

The Honeywell iGSMV4G is the latest addition to AlarmNet’s family of 4G cellular alarm communicators and finally replaces the discontinued Honeywell iGSMV. Unlike the other AlarmNet 4G cellular communicators that work with the VISTA Series alarm control panels, such as the GSMV4G or GSMX4G, the iGSMV4G uses an internet communicator as the first path of communication. If the internet communication is ever unavailable when an alarm signals needs to be delivered, the iGSMV4G automatically switches over to the more reliable cellular communication path to ensure that the alarm signal is able to be sent.

For anyone considering adding monitoring services to their security system, one of the most important things to consider if the communication path to use. A traditional phone line used to be the only choice for security system alarm monitoring. However, as the world shifts away from landline telephones and continues to embrace internet and cellular forms of communication, the security industry has changed as well. Now, because of companies like Honeywell, you can add an internet or cellular alarm communicator to your system so that you no longer have to have phone line service at your house to have your system monitored by a central station. Of course, if you do still have phone service, your security system will still support phone line communications. Most people, however, will choose between internet or cellular communications. Internet communications are good because they are fast and inexpensive. Unfortunately, they aren’t as reliable as cellular communications. Just like with phone line communication, if your internet line is cut on the outside of your house, before the criminal breaks in, your alarm signal will never be sent if you are relying solely on your internet service. Also, since an internet alarm communicator relies on your internet service, you need to make sure you have battery back ups for your router and modem so that a power outage won’t prevent your alarm signals from getting out. Finally, no internet service provider (ISP) is perfect and therefore when the inevitable internet outage occurs, your system will not be able to report. For all of these reasons, every alarm owner should seriously consider spending the extra money to go with cellular alarm communications. As cellular alarm communicators use AT&T’s wireless cellular network, there is no wire that can be cut and no concerns about losing power. A cellular service outage is also much less likely than an internet outage. Up until now, everyone that had a VISTA Series alarm control panel had to decide between internet or cellular. Now, the AlarmNet iGSMV4G dual path alarm communicator makes it so you no longer have to choose. The iGSMV4G uses the internet path as primary so that you get the advantages of the faster internet communications when using interactive Total Connect services but also has an available back up cellular communication path for anytime the internet is unavailable

The iGSMV4G replaces the original iGSMV which was the first dual path alarm monitoring communicator offered by Honeywell. Once AT&T announced that they would be discontinuing their 2G cellular network at the end of 2016, it set an end-of-life for anyone currently using the iGSMV. The new iGSMV4G works on the 2G, 3G and 4G cellular network and therefore gives those users an option to upgrade so that they don’t have to worry about their alarm communications stopping anytime in the foreseeable future.

You can add an iGSMV4G alarm communicator to nearly any Honeywell VISTA Series control panel. The device connects to the alarm control panel with a simple four wire connection to the same terminals that the alarm system keypads use. The device also comes with a transformer which supplies power to the communicator. Once you have the device installed, you will need to also run an Ethernet connection from your router to the Ethernet port on the device if you want to make use of the primary internet path.

Just like all of AlarmNet’s new 4G capable alarm communicators, the Honeywell iGSMV4G supports the interactive Total Connect 2.0 service that allows you to control your security system from a smartphone or a computer. Once you are signed up with a monitoring plan that includes Total Connect, the iGSMV4G will allow you to arm and disarm your system from anywhere. You can also receive instant email and text message notifications from your security system with an iGSMV4G and a Total Connect service plan.