2Gig Expands Into Commercial Intrusion With Vario

Author: Ari Erenthal, Published on Jan 23, 2017

2GIG, an alarm product manufacturer best known for their wireless products, has introduced a new line of wired panels aimed at the commercial market, the Vario. In this note, we look at this new panel offering, how it compares to past 2GIG panels, and its competitive outlook.

2GIG Residential Background

2GIG has historically focused on the the residential market, emphasizing products that could be installed quickly, easy to learn and use, and including features such as home automation and remote access via mobile app. They are perhaps best known as the former preferred panel of door to door alarm leader Vivint (though Vivint has since moved to a proprietary product line).

As a wireless system, 2GIG could be installed in just a few hours, and created upsale opportunities for accessories such as smart thermostats and smart locks.

Commercial Problems

However, they were not used as much in commercial and larger residential systems as they lacked some key features:

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Competitive ********

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Comments (16)

Avatar

John Bazyk

IPVMU Certified | 01/23/17 05:33pm

Good move for them. We don't use 2GIG and wouldn't consider them at this time. They needed a legitimate panel for hard wired takeovers. There will be a massive learning curve for techs who install 2GIG, trouble shooting EOLs, siren drivers, power supplies...etc.

Keefe Lovgren

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Bazyk | 01/23/17 10:57pm

There will be a massive learning curve for techs who install 2GIG, trouble shooting EOLs, siren drivers, power supplies...etc.

John, I agree, well said. I see this with techs now not understanding basic alarm system fundamentals due in part to constantly deploying wireless devices on all in one systems.

Avatar

Sean Nelson

Nelly Security | 01/23/17 06:44pm

Wish they would stop spending R&D costs on hardwired panels and spend more money finishing out the GC3. We were promised a remote keypad with an LCD touch screen for months, still not here. The GC3 has wifi and bluetooth options built in, but they dont have it turned on on the current firmware. Supposed to be partionable, its not. The GC3 has been out for over a year now, we hardly sell any due to some key disabilities it has compared to the GC2.

Scott Sheldrake

In reply to Sean Nelson | 01/23/17 07:14pm

Agreed with Sean. Fix the GC3 first before creating new products. 2GIG seemed to be dying a very slow death with nothing new ever coming out - This announcement came out of left field. But it's not what 2GIG dealers need or want

Keefe Lovgren

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Sean Nelson | 01/23/17 10:53pm

Supposed to be partionable, its not.

The GC2 also for years was supposed to have a firmware upgrade to make this available and still does not.

Keefe Lovgren

IPVMU Certified | 01/23/17 10:55pm

No hardwired option: Previous panels were wireless only, with wired zones requiring additional modules to convert to wireless.

The GC2 panel has two hardwired zones on board.

Avatar

Ari Erenthal

In reply to Keefe Lovgren | 01/23/17 11:07pm

Good catch, Keefe! Edited.

Undisclosed Distributor #1

01/25/17 11:00am

This is OEM Risco, an Israelian company...

Undisclosed Distributor #2

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #1 | 01/25/17 02:37pm

Interesting, what makes you say that?

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #1 | 01/25/17 02:49pm

Thanks for that. Checking Risco's offerings, there are indeed similarities, even cosmetic ones. For example, the LCD Keypad with Prox:

Risco 2GIG

Undisclosed Distributor #1

01/25/17 04:38pm

PCB is the same(called Lightsys with Risco), and the keypads (LCD and Elegant) are the same.

Also the accesoires are matching :)

Avatar

Ari Erenthal

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #1 | 01/25/17 04:41pm

Did they used to be called Rokonet?

Undisclosed Distributor #1

In reply to Ari Erenthal | 01/25/17 04:43pm

Indeed

Dwayne Cormier

04/12/17 12:08pm

The one feature from 2GIG I really like is the 2GIG-SDS1-345 smoke detector sensor. This is a great selling feature to connect existing house wired smoke detectors. No other companies that I have seen have this kind of device. Does anyone have experience with this device to know how reliable it is? Big cost savings to use this versus installing a house full of wireless devices. Thanks

Undisclosed Distributor #2

04/12/17 01:11pm

yeah it works like a champ.

one thing you should also look into is the firefigher:
http://encorecontrols.com/products.php

Even easier than the smoke ring

Dwayne Cormier

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #2 | 04/12/17 01:53pm

The only issue I saw with the fire fighter is it will not work with combo devices. I suppose no different then the ring, but I verified with manufacturer that even if a combo is in place it will still recognize the smoke side. Mainly because it attaches to the 120v and senses the voltage versus the audio.

That and not a separate unit on the ceiling but integrated with the device.

Thanks for for input. I usually install DSC but for this client this is a better direction if it works like advertised.

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