Qolsys IQ panel 2

[luisrodz]

Hi all,

I’ve searching around a while in this forum for Surveillance and Alarm systems. I have a new built home which I had prewired for cameras, audio and video. I forgot about alarm prewiring

I read fenderman post about the Ring alarm system and look interesting due to price and since a already have some zwave plus switches and SmartThings integrated with Alexa.

But I’m just want to know what is your feedback regarding the Qolsys IQ 2 panel. It does have Zwave integration and I can do wireless sensors since I didn’t prewire.

I’m aware of the monitoring service fee but willing to pay since I’ll will be able to integrate the systems I’ve planned.

I’m also looking to integrate the surveillance part which I already decided to go with BI on a Optiplex i5 7th gen. I’m starting with some of the highly recommended Dahua IPC-HDW5231R-ZE that I’m getting form Andy.

Maybe, should I get Versa to get rid of the cloud base controller?

I’ll appreciate your feedback.

Luis




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[fenderman]

Hi all,

I’ve searching around a while in this forum for Surveillance and Alarm systems. I have a new built home which I had prewired for cameras, audio and video. I forgot about alarm prewiring

I read fenderman post about the Ring alarm system and look interesting due to price and since a already have some zwave plus switches and SmartThings integrated with Alexa.

But I’m just want to know what is your feedback regarding the Qolsys IQ 2 panel. It does have Zwave integration and I can do wireless sensors since I didn’t prewire.

I’m aware of the monitoring service fee but willing to pay since I’ll will be able to integrate the systems I’ve planned.

I’m also looking to integrate the surveillance part which I already decided to go with BI on a Optiplex i5 7th gen. I’m starting with some of the highly recommended Dahua IPC-HDW5231R-ZE that I’m getting form Andy.

Maybe, should I get Versa to get rid of the cloud base controller?

I’ll appreciate your feedback.

Luis




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You have to consider what benefits the iq is going to provide. It does have a slick touch screen interface, but at 40 bux a month monitoring that's 380 more than the ring per year in perpetuity. Ask yourself if you are really going to control your automation via that panel and if its worth the cost. Honeywell has some options as well, you can buy these systems and not be locked into a contract - cost about 25 a month for cellular monitoring. You might also consider a hybrid system with a vista panel - there are some threads discussing those.

 

[luisrodz]

You have to consider what benefits the iq is going to provide. It does have a slick touch screen interface, but at 40 bux a month monitoring that's 380 more than the ring per year in perpetuity. Ask yourself if you are really going to control your automation via that panel and if its worth the cost. Honeywell has some options as well, you can buy these systems and not be locked into a contract - cost about 25 a month for cellular monitoring. You might also consider a hybrid system with a vista panel - there are some threads discussing those.

Thank you for replying.

I got your point and concur. I was interested in the good looking screen interface which my wife and kids could use. But, I should look into something more of automation rather than controlling.

I liked the idea of geofencing the alarm system, which I don’t know if could do it with other systems.


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[fenderman]

Thank you for replying.

I got your point and concur. I was interested in the good looking screen interface which my wife and kids could use. But, I should look into something more of automation rather than controlling.

I liked the idea of geofencing the alarm system, which I don’t know if could do it with other systems.


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I dont have direct experience with the iq, but i would be wary of any geofencing alarm for two reasons, reliability/accuracy and that it disables the alarm simply by being present which is a security risk for example if someone follows you up to the door.

 

[Mike]

I have a good amount of experience with IQ and like it a lot, it's the go-to for a lot of the alarm installers around here. You can't go wrong with an IQ system, they are very easy to install and configure.

However, @fenderman makes some good points in his first post. It's expensive and in reality you're not going to control your z-wave devices from the panel. I always think about installing either a raspberry pi or tablet in the wall of my house, but my phone does everything so there's no point. Kind of the same thing with using z-wave from the panel. But at the end of the day, you get it for the alarm functionality.

 

[luisrodz]

I got in touch with a vendor and they offer a $13 month fee for cellular / application control / customer support. Sounds fair and including a system with military grade security.

What do you guys think?

 

[fenderman]

I got in touch with a vendor and they offer a $13 month fee for cellular / application control / customer support. Sounds fair and including a system with military grade security.

What do you guys think?

That's fair.

 

[luisrodz]

That's fair.

That’s what I thought. Maybe a little bit expensive upfront but have nice looking panel with a lot of capabilities and cans use a great variety of third party sensors.

Is not tight to a contract neither.

I think I’m going this way and of course disabling the geofencing to disarm the alarm.

Thank you guys for your feedback.

Luis

PS: i already figured out this, but I’ll need some help with my surveillance project. I have some open threads that I would like some of your input.


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[darrenph1]

I have one of these through link interactive. The only integration I use is with smartthings and that just to auto-arm it if we forget when leaving a certain geofence area (via smartthings ios app) I haven't found a way to integrate any of the Dahua cameras I have set up through BI since Link wants you to buy their cameras and charge a crazy fee and require an additional box for video storage.

 

[luisrodz]

I have one of these through link interactive. The only integration I use is with smartthings and that just to auto-arm it if we forget when leaving a certain geofence area (via smartthings ios app) I haven't found a way to integrate any of the Dahua cameras I have set up through BI since Link wants you to buy their cameras and charge a crazy fee and require an additional box for video storage.

Yes. You are right. At this moment they only support their own cameras. I think that’s the way they get the revenue that they aren’t getting from the monitoring fee.

It would be awesome to get both worlds in the same keypad. Maybe you can mount a tablet beside the key pad. Just an idea.


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[luisrodz]

Just got my panel with some sensors in the mail yesterday. Will post some pics and feedback later when I get some time to install it.


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[luisrodz]

I started programming the panel and installing the wireless sensors.

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[luisrodz]

I got stocked last night trying to add my recessed door sensors (pg9307).

It looks like the panel registered them but no triggering when magnet pull apart.

I wonder if any of you could help me. Tech support is already gone for the weekend


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[luisrodz]

Figured it out. The system got an update and I was able to add all door sensors.

I’ll install two PIR sensors tomorrow.


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[luisrodz]

Ok. I got my system up and running. I did change my Z-Wave devices to my alarm panel but I really don’t like the options it provides.

I did it because I’m constantly having issues with my SmartThings hub. Even my wife is telling me “that @&$?! System is broken again”. So I decided to switch it and give it a try.

In summary I think is a good alarm system but is lacking a lot of HA options. So, I’m probably giving another try to my ST hub relocation it to another more centric area. If it doesn’t work, will try Vera!


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