Honeywell Total Connect 2.0 Tested

Published Aug 22, 2017 14:34 PM

********* [**** ** ****** *********] ** *** of *** ******* ****** ** ********, with Total ******* *.* [**** ** ****** available] being *** *******'* ****** ******** *** smarthome ********.

** ****** *** ****** *** ****** to *** *** **** ** ******** works. *** **** ****, ** ********* a ********* ***** *****, ***** ******* cameras, *** ******* *-**** ******* ******** to *** *** **** **** *********.

*** ****** ********:

**** ***** *** ******** *****.*** **** ** *** ******* ******. ****, **** next **** *** ********* ** *****.***.

******, ** ****** *** ******** ** how **** *** ****** ********, ***** it ** ****, *** *** ** compares ** ***** ********* *******.

Key **** ********

*** **** ******* **** *********'* ********* service ** * **** ********* ** several *** ********, *********:

  • ******, ***** **** *********: ********** ** ******* ** *** app ** *** *** ******, ***** Connect **** *** **** *********. ******** are **** ** ****, ******* *** big *** ** ******* *****, *** only * *** ******* ** *********** is ****** ****** ***** *********** **** the ******.
  • ** **** ************* ******: ***** *** ****** ** ********* installed, ***** ** *** **** ** configure ** **-********* ******* ** ********* systems.  **** *****, ******* **** ***** even ** *********** ********* ** *****, unlike ***** '********* ***' *******.
  • ** ****** ***** *** ***** *************: *** **** ***** ** *** most ***** *****, ***** ******* ** valuable ** ******** *** ******** ***** remotely.  ** ** ***** ** *** testing *** * ***** ***** **** to ****** ***** '*** *** *****' by ***** ******* *.*'* *** ** browser.

*******, *** **** ****** ******** ********** **** could ** *** ******** *** *********** customers:

  • **** ***** ***********: *** ** *** ******* ********** of ***** ******* *.* ** ****, low ********** ***** ******* *** * web ******* **** **** *** **** live *****.  
  • ******** *** ***** ****** ********: ******* ***** ******** ****** **** the *** ** ******* ***** **** 10+ ******* ** ********, *** ** some ***** ******** ******.  ******* ******** attempts ******, *** *** *********** ** these ******* ** ***********.
  • ******* *-**** ********** *******: ****** *-**** ******* ** *** platform/panel ** ********* ********, *** *** process ********* **** *** *** **** stop *** ******* ****** ******** ******* verify *******, ******* ** *********** *** confusion.  *** ******* ***** *** ***** associated **** ******* *** *******, *** large ******* ******* *********** ****** ********.
  • ****** *******: *** ***** ** ****** ****** supported ** ***** ******* *.* ** limited ** * *** ***** ***** with ******* *** ********** *** ***** focal ******. **** ***** ***** '***' systems **** ******* ****** **********, ****** resolution *******.

Total ******* *.* ********

********* ***** ******* *.* ** * ****** ***** ***-** ******* to ********* *******, ******** **** ** be ******** ********** ** *********** *** web. *** ******** ******** ****** ********** for ********* *** **** **********. *** key ******** ***** ******* *.* ****** is ******* ******* *** ********** ** intrusion ******, ***** ************, *** **** automation **** *********** *** **** *****.

*** ****** ******** *** ********* ****** through * ***-***** ****** ** ********** app *** ******, *** ******* **********. The ***** ********** ** *** ******** interface ** ***** ** *** ***** below:

***** ******* *.* ** *** * central ******* ********** ******. ******* ******* Monitoring ** ******* ********, *** ********* aspect ** * ****** ********* ******. The ******* *** ***** ** ********** are *** *********** ** *** ********** dealer. 

Uses **** ********* ******

***** ******* *.* ** **** ********** with ******* ********* ******. *** **** used *** ***********-******* ******** **** ***** panel, **** * **** **** ************ and *-**** **** ******.

**** ***** ** * *****-***** *********, with * *********** ****** *** ******** system ********** **** * **** ******* appliance. *** ******* *** *-**** ******* are ********* ** **** ***** *****, and ********** ** ***** ******* *** a **** ** ******** ********** ******:

*** **** **** **** *-**** *** CDMA **** ************ ****** ******* **** slot ****** *** ******* ** *** panel. **** *** ***** ******* ******, the ***** ***** ** ******* **** or ********** ** ***** '***** ******* 2.0' *******:

******* *** ***** ****** ** **** Total ******* ** * ******-**** ******** and ******** * **** ** *********'* ******** ** *** ***** ********.  ************, ********* *-**** devices ******** * ******-**** '******' ********* panel **** *** ********* ******* **** cameras *** ********* *** ********** ****** in ********. *** **** ***** ******* users, ****** ********** ******* *** *-**** devices, **** ***** ********* ***, *** require * ******* **** ** ** integrated.

Other ********* ********* ******

***** *********** ** ********* ****** *** market *** ***** *******, *** * look ** ***** ************* ***** *** platform ****** *** **** ***** ******* with *********** *** ***** ********** *******, including *** **** *****.  *********'* ****** residential ***** ***** *****, *** ***** ****, ** **** compatible **** ***.*:

*************, ****** ********* ****** ***** ******* *** ********* ** ** *** 128 **** ******. ***** ***** ********** panels *** ******** *** ***** ********** systems, ***** ******* **** *** ******* many ** *** ******* ********** ******** like ************, ******* *********** [**** ** ****** available], *** ****** ********** *******.

****** ********* ********* **** *** *** ****, ** ******** ******* ** support *** ***-********* ****** *** *******.

Total ******* ***** ********

*** ** ***.*'* *** ******** ** ****** video ****** ******, ******** ***** ** see ****** ********* '** ****' **** the **** *** *********** ***** ********* panels. *******, *** ******* ***** ***** ************ is *** ** *** ******* ***** of *** ********, *** ****** **** many ***** *** ****. ** **** at ***** *******'* ***** ** *** video *****: 

** ***** ** ***** **********, ********* stills *** **** ***** ** *** web ********* *** ** **** ***** clips *** *********. ****** **********, ******* to ** ****** *****, *** ** triggered *** ****** ** *** '******' tab *** *** *** ********* ********* or **********.

********* ***** **** **** ** **** browser ***** ** * *********** *****. The ******* **** ******* ** ***** ***** Connect ******* ** ******* ** ******* and ****** *******.  *******, ***** ****, live ***** ********* ** *** *********.

****'* ** ******* ****, **** *** limited ********** *** **** ***** *********** of *** ******:

Limited ****** *********

*** ******** ***** **** ******** ***** ******* labeled **** ******* *** ******** [**** no ****** *********], ***** *** *** **** **** ** ************ ** Sercomm ***********.

** ****** *** **** ******/******* *** IR ****** **** ******* [**** ** longer *********]. ** ****** *** ******* using **** **** *** ***** *********** to *** ***** ******, **** ****** and *******, ********* **' - **' away **** * ***.**/*/* ****** ******* through ******** *****. *** ********* ******* exhibited **** ** ********** *********** ** either *************.

************* ****, ***** ******* ****** ********** is ******* ** *** (*** * 480 ******), *** *** ******* ** panels ** *** ** **** (*** X ***) *** ****** *** *****. While *** ****** **** ****** ******** IR ****, *********** ** **** *** generally ******* *' - *' **** the ****** *** **** ** *** FoV *****.  *** ***** ***** ** an ******* ** ** ***********:

HD ******* ******

***** *******'* **** ***** ***** ** improving, *******. ** ***** ** * recent ********** '*** *********'* ***** ******* ******* *** Ugly?', *** ******* *** ********* * new ** **** ** ******* ******* to ** '****** ****'.

********* ***** ** *** *** *** for **** **** **** ******* ****** supporting ** ** *****/ *** ** 30 ***. **** **** **** *** compare ***** *** ****** **** *** become *********.

App **. *******

* ******** ** ***** ******* ** the ********** ** ******** *** ********** of **** *** *** *** *** web ******.  *********** ** * **** is ******** **** *** *********, **** will **** ***** ******** *** ****, greatly *********** ****** **********. ****** ***** of **** *** ******** *****, ***** the ***** ***:

**** ************ *** ****** ******** ** the *** *** *** **** ** the *** ******:

**** *** ***, ***** ************* *** pushed ** *** *** ********** ** what ***** ******** *** **** ** performing, ** **** ** *** ***** is ****. *** **** ***** ***** shows *** **** ************* **** **** the **** ******, *** *** ********* event ****** ******.  ** *** ****, all ***** ****** ************ **** ************* and ** ****** **** ******:

*** ****** ****, ** ***** *** displays * ************* ****** ** * window ** *** **** ********* ******.  While ****** *** ** **********, ** other ****** ********* ** *********:

Z-Wave & ********** ***********

** **** *** '*********' ************, ** installed** ******* *-**** **** *** ********* ** ** *** ****** Lynx **********. *** *********** *** ********** of *** ********** **** ***** ******* 2.0 *** ********* ********, ******** ******* a ******* ******** ***** *** ************** required, ********** ***** **** ******* ** inactivity:

*** ***** ***** ******** *** ********* of *** **********, *** ***** ********* devices, ** **** *** *** *** web ******. ** *******, ********** *********** and *-**** ****** ******* ** ****** and ******** *** ****** *** *****, *** our ***** ***** ******** ******* ******** of ***** ******:

Price *** ********** *********

**** * ********* **** ***********, ***** Connect *.* ******** *** ***** ***** to *********** *********.***, **** * ******* ******* **** of $** - $** *** ***** including **** ********** *** ***.* *******.

*** **** ********** *** ******* *****, the ******* **** **** ** ******* and ***** ** *** ** $**/*****, while ******** ********** ******** ****** *** be $**/***** ** ****. ** *******, features **** ***** ***** *** ******** support *** ** ***** *****, *** the **** ** *** ********* ********* system *** **** **** * ****** in *** ***** ******* ****.

******** ************ ** ***** ******* *.* include *** ****** *******:

*****.***

**** * ************* ***** ** ****, ADC ***** ******* *********** ** ***** Connect, ********* ******* ****** ******* *** Z-Wave **** (*** ******) **********.

*******, *** *** * ******** ******* over ********* ** **** ** ** not ****** ** ******* **** **** one ***** ** ********* *****. **** a ***** ******** ***** ** ****, ADC *** ******* **** *** *********** take **** * **** ****** ** systems ******** ** ***** *******. ***** connected ********** *** * ******* ***** of ****** ***** ***** ************, *** has *** ********* ** *********** ******* with **** ********.

**** (******** ***********)

** **** ********, *** ******* ***** their ******** *********** **** ****.  ** part, **** ** ******* **** ******* many ******** ***** *** * *********** ************* ** **** ** ***** *** private ******* ******** **** *********** ********** backend. ** ******** ** ***, **** Moni ******* **** *** **** ***.*, especially ***** **** **** ******* **** traditional ********* ********* ***** ** ******* or ***** ******** ** ****.

**** ***, **** ******** **** * number ** *********, ********* *** **** 2Gig *** ****** ******, *** ******** with **** ** *** **** *******, Z-wave *******, *** ******* *******. **** ADC, **** **** ******** * ********** app ***** *******, ** ********** ****** and ******* *******, *** **** ***** fashionable ************ *** ********* **** *** like **** *** ******.

*******, ** ***** ** ******** ***********, ADC *** * **** *********** ******** base *** *********** ** *********** ******* itself ******* *** ***********, ******* **** more ********** ** ******* ******* *** may ****** **** ********* ********* *** dealers.

Upcoming *****.*** ** ***** ******* ********

* ****** ****** **** ************ ******* and ******** ***** ******* *.* **** Alarm.com, **** **** *********** *** ********/******* perspectives. **** *** **** **** ** the ****** *****.

Comments (14)
JE
Jeremy Ellis
Aug 22, 2017

The fact that Honeywell can't (won't) figure out 2nd partition accessibility remotely is a joke. Bosch can, and it is a free secondary service. 

(3)
(1)
SH
Sean Hamm
Aug 22, 2017

A couple of observations;

 

1. Pretty sure Honeywell does not charge for doorbell integration.  ADC charges a couple of $$ per month for doorbell.

2. IME, ADC is a fair bit pricier on a monthly basis than TC2

3. TC2 actually supports network connectivity, whereas I think ADC can only be done over cellular, which I think is dumb and shortsighted.

4. Like Jeremy said, how is it that Honeywell can't sort out a second partition, when ADC has a module that wires up to a Honeywell panel that DOES?  SMDH...

(1)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Aug 22, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Good feedback, thanks.

Given that monthly monitoring is required with TC and is not with ADC, the monthly bill trends higher with TC.  On a services-equal basis, ADC is higher, as noted in the report.

We'll examine ADC vs TC2.0 in depth in our upcoming 'shootout' post.

SH
Sean Hamm
Aug 23, 2017

Meant to reply earlier; TC doesn't require monitoring, it just requires a central station and account number. Most CS will just let the dealer create a non-monitored account and not bill for monitoring, since they make a little margin on passing through TC billing.

(1)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Aug 23, 2017
IPVMU Certified

That's informative.  Thanks!

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Aug 25, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Do you have a sense of how common 'free, non-monitored, pass-thru' TC monitor station accounts are?

I've spoken recently with two different TC dealers who say they have not seen this option before.

SH
Sean Hamm
Aug 28, 2017

It's not common, but I think it will become more common as dealers find ways to compete with self-monitored systems. 

It's not advertised by Honeywell at all, and of course the Central Stations would rather we use them to monitor the systems, but it is an accomodation they've made.  I've heard anecdotally that some Centrals won't support non-monitored TC accounts.

Hope that clarifies.

Avatar
Sean Nelson
Aug 28, 2017
Nelly's Security

In response to your #3 Point. Actually ADC does support network connectivity if you have a device that uses it. For example with 2GIG, if you use a GC2 (CP21), You can use a Go!Bridge Communicator to do this. And now with the new GC3 firmware update, it also does this as well.

It utilizes dual path connectivity in which the backend (ADC) will accept whichever "signal" it receives the quickest between celullar and network internet.

This can sometimes greatly improve your alarm reporting and zwave device performance when you have a weak cell signal at the install site.

(1)
SH
Sean Hamm
Aug 28, 2017

Thanks, Sean, did not know that. It's good to have options for areas with little or no cel coverage.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Aug 23, 2017

According to install and programming documents packed with the AlarmNet radios, the larger Vista 250BPT is compatible with Total Connect 2.0.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Aug 24, 2017

The larger Honeywell panel, Vista-250, appears to be compatible with both Total Connect 2.0 and Compass 2.0.  The inability of Total Connect 2.0 to work with more than one partition, whether it's a Vista-20P or Vista-250BPT, is disappointing. I've been asking about multi-partition features in Total Connect for 3 to 4 years and they still have no idea when that will happen.  You can use the "keypad icon" in Total Connect 2.0 to manually change to another partition to control that partition, but events and notifications only work with partition 1.

DB
Derek Bradshaw
Aug 24, 2017

Moni or Monitronics is not a competitor to Alarm.com. Moni is a dealer for both Alarm.com and Honeywell Totalconnect.

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Aug 24, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Thanks for bringing that up.  I'll edit the text above to reflect this. To your point, ADC sells 'connected home' software features to Moni, who then substantially rebrands and modifies those parts into their own platform.  The monitoring backend is proprietary to Moni.

However, ADC does not offer support to 'MyMoni' accounts, nor do customers purchase 'alarm.com' from Moni.  Likewise, a Moni dealer sells more than Honeywell and may not chose to sell TC2.0 at all.

So, a Honeywell dealer, an Alarm.com dealer, and a Moni dealer may fundamentally compete for the same customer and represent their own offerings.

 

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Aug 28, 2017

It seems that new HD cameras have "Dahua" written all over.