Overview - Qolsys S-Line Encryption
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In this video, Jorge from Alarm Grid talks about the Qolsys S-Line Sensors. The sensors utilize rolling code encryption when paired with a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 or a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus with 319.5 MHz Daughtercard. When used with a different 319.5 MHz system, the S-Line sensors do not use encryption.
Qolsys S-Line Sensors are 319.5 MHz devices that utilize rolling code encryption when enrolled with a compatible IQ Panel 2 or IQ Panel 2 Plus. When an S-Line sensor is enrolled with one of these panels, it will engage in two-way communication with the system's transceiver. Faulting the sensor will tell it to send an encrypted transmission to the transceiver. These transmissions always occur at 319.5 MHz, but they are encrypted so that only the panel will know the next coding in the communication sequence. In order for any command to go through successfully, the panel must respond to the sensor with the secret encrypted code. Once the sensor receives the successful return signal with the proper encrypted coding, the sensor then "rolls" onto a new encrypted code for the next interaction. Again, only the panel will know this new encrypted code.
However, Qolsys S-Line Sensors only use this rolling code encryption when they are used with a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 or compatible IQ Panel 2 Plus. These sensors are smart enough to detect which type of system they are paired with upon enrollment. If you use a Qolsys S-Line Sensor with a different system, such as an Interlogix Simon Series Panel or an original Qolsys IQ Panel, then the sensor will just operate as a non-encrypted 319.5 MHz sensor. This is what allows these sensors to be backwards compatible with older 319.5 MHz systems. But when you use these devices with one of the systems that support S-Line encryption, then they will operate as bi-directional sensors to take advantage of the benefits of encryption. The S-Line rolling code encryption makes it nearly impossible to take over these devices or to trick or manipulate the system using special hardware.https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/how-does-qolsys-s-line-encryption-work
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Transcript
Hi, DIYers. I'm Jorge from Alarm Grid. Today I'm going to be talking a little bit about how the Qolsys S-Line encryption works. So the IQ 2 and the IQ 2 Plus both support the Qolsys S-Line sensors. Now s-Line sensors are encrypted sensors in the fact that when they're paired with the system, they share an encryption key. And then after that pairing only the system and the sensor, the S-Line sensor, will know what the next rolling code transmission will be. So that's actually how these S-Line sensors work, they use rolling code transmissions. The way that normal radio frequency sensors work, like let's say the 433 megahertz, the 345 megahertz, the 319.5 megahertz, these are all DSE Honeywell 2 gig Interlogix normal Qolsys. The way that these radio frequencies work is that whenever a sensor is faulted, whenever a sensor is tampered or restored, they send out the same radio frequency signal. And if, let's say, a burglar is standing around with an RF sniffer, he can actually duplicate that RF frequency that's being sent out, or that transmission that's being sent from the unencrypted sensor. And then he can actually duplicate that, and then when you guys leave the house, they can go ahead and re-copy and send out that signal again to start kind of spamming or spoofing the system. The way that rolling code works and defeats this is that only the panel and the sensor know what the next rolling code transmission mean. Now, what does rolling code mean? It means that the transmission is constantly changing. It's changing, it's not sending out the same signal every single time. So there's no way that a burglar that standing around with an RF sniffer can duplicate the next thing because he doesn't know what it is. Only the system and the sensor will know what the next transmission is going to be. And the rolling code transmission is for any faults, any tampers, and your restores. And that's what S-Line line does and that's how it protects you against any of these burglars that are looking to spam or spoof your system. Now, the S-Line sensors only work with the IQ 2 and the IQ 2 Plus, as long as you have the correct daughterboard card in the IQ 2 Plus. The IQ 2 already has the S-Line receiver daughterboard card in it, so you don't worry about that. But if you guys are doing the IQ 2 Plus, it has the PowerG daughterboard card in every single IQ 2 Plus. And then there's three different flavors. There is one that has the Honeywell 2 gig daughterboard card, there's one that has a DSE daughterboard card, and the one that has the Qolsys Interlogix one. That's the one you want to make sure you're using if you're planning on getting S-Line sensors. But PowerG has more encryption and it's longer range. So normally if you have the IQ 2 Plus, you're using PowerG anyways, but just in case you guys want to mix and match sensors. The S-Line line sensors also can work at a 319.5 megahertz frequency. So let's say you guys have a IQ 1, which is the first Qolsys panel that was released, or even if you guys have an Interlogix system, a Simon XT, a Simon XTi, Simon XTi-5, these S-Line sensors will also work with these older version of the systems but because they don't have the receiver for the S-Line, they'll just use the normal radio frequency, 319.5. So they won't actually have the rolling transmission code. So that was just a quick video to kind of just explain how the rolling S-Line transmission works with the S-Line sensors. If you guys have any questions about compatibility, how to program them in, if you guys have an IQ 2 or an IQ 2 Plus that you guys need help getting set up and monitored, please feel free to send us an email to support@alarmgrid.com. If you found the video helpful, make sure you hit Like underneath, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and hit the little bell icon so whenever we upload new content you guys get notified. I'm Jorge, and I'll see you guys next time.
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