Verizon’s Copper Landline Cuts: Paused, Not Canceled</h1> <article> <h1>Verizon’s Copper Landline Cuts: Paused, Not Canceled</h1> <p>2026-10-13T09:00:00-04:00</p> <p>Verizon recently asked the FCC for permission to retire copper landline phone service in as many as 18 states. However, after heavy public pushback, the FCC paused automatic approval, and Verizon has started telling some individual customers their copper line isn’t going anywhere just yet. </p> <p "="">Nothing about this is settled. Here we'll discuss how we got here, why the process stalled, where things stand, and action you can take. </p> <h2>A Quick Timeline </h2> </br> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;" rel="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;"> <colgroup> <col style="width:15%;"> <col style="width:20%;"> <col style="width:65%;"> </colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Date </th> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Event </th> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">What Happened </th> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">September 9, 2026 </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Verizon files with the FCC </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Verizon asks the FCC for permission to retire copper landline (POTS) service in a first group of states, affecting roughly 277,000 lines. </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">Mid-September 2026 </td> <td style="padding:8px;">A second, larger filing </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Verizon files a follow-up request covering nine more states plus Washington D.C., New York, California, and Pennsylvania, affecting about 750,000 more customers. Combined, outside reporting puts the total at 18 states. </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">September 26, 2026 </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Automatic approval deadline </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Under FCC rules, a filing like this is automatically approved if the FCC doesn't act by a set deadline. </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">September 28, 2026 </td> <td style="padding:8px;">FCC hits pause </td> <td style="padding:8px;">The FCC confirms it is not letting the filings win automatic approval, after comments from rural customers, retirees, consumer groups, and lawmakers. </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">October 2-12, 2026 </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Verizon walks it back, area by area </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Verizon tells customers in places like Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and Little Compton, Rhode Island that their copper line isn't being cut until a working alternative is in place. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><br> </p> <h2>Why Does Verizon Want to Retire Copper Landlines?</h2> <p>Verizon’s copper network is old, and it’s only getting more expensive to keep running. The company says the copper lines are more prone to failure in bad weather, are a target for metal theft, and are increasingly hard to repair since replacement parts are difficult to find. Verizon has framed the shift as freeing up money currently spent maintaining copper so it can be put toward newer infrastructure, in line with the FCC’s broader push to modernize phone and broadband networks nationwide. </p> <p>To be clear, Verizon isn’t proposing to cut customers off with nothing. The company says no one will lose service until a reliable alternative, like fiber or a cellular home phone replacement, is actually available to them. </p> <h2>Why Is This On Hold?</h2> <p "="">The filings were on track for automatic approval once their FCC deadlines passed, with the first hitting September 26, 2026. Instead, the FCC confirmed it was pausing automatic approval after a wave of public comments came in. Rural residents with spotty cell coverage, retirees who rely on a landline for medical alerts, consumer groups, phone-company labor unions, and at least one state lawmaker all weighed in. Their argument: cutting copper service too fast could leave people without a reliable way to call for help. </p> <p "="">The FCC’s public comment docket remains open, and dozens of comments have already been filed by residents in New York’s Catskill region, western Massachusetts, and elsewhere. On top of the formal FCC process, Verizon has also been responding directly to specific communities that offered pushback. In Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, a company spokesperson said Verizon wants to make sure no customer is left behind. In Little Compton, Rhode Island, Verizon told state lawmakers it won’t end copper service there until fiber actually reaches the town. </p> <h2>Where Things Stand Now</h2> <p "="">As of this post, Verizon’s FCC filings are still pending, not withdrawn. The plan to retire copper landlines hasn’t been canceled, just delayed. There’s currently no new target date to replace the original October 23 and November 30, 2026 approval deadlines. Verizon seems to be handling the pushback on a community-by-community basis, instead of scrapping the plan everywhere at once. That’s why two neighbors in the same state might get different answers, depending on whether fiber or another alternative communication method has reached their specific area yet. </p> <h2>How to Make Your Voice Heard</h2> <p>If you or someone you know still depends on a Verizon copper landline, you have a few options: </p> <ol> <li>File a public comment with the FCC. The agency’s <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/">Electronic Comment Filing System</a> lets anyone submit a comment on a pending application. The relevant docket number should be available on your Verizon notice letter, if you received one.</li> <li>Contact your state or local elected officials. Several of the pauses and clarifications so far followed direct pressure from lawmakers, not just the FCC process itself.</li> <li>Hold onto any letter Verizon sends you. It will usually include a timeline and a docket number specific to your area, which you’ll want on hand if you file a comment or call in with questions.</li> </ol> <h2>What This Means If Your Alarm System Uses a Phone Line</h2> <p>If your security system still <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/how-do-i-convert-my-landline-security-system-to-work-w-slash-cel">connects over a POTS phone line</a>, don’t wait on Verizon’s final word before making a plan. The review is open-ended, but copper phone lines are being phased out nationwide regardless of this specific fight, and a phone line going down with no backup means your system can’t communicate with the monitoring station at all. </p> <p><a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/blog/reasons-to-switch-to-cellular-monitoring">Switching to cellular monitoring</a> is the most reliable upgrade path for most homes, since it doesn’t depend on a copper line or your home internet staying up. Alarm Grid carries <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/blog/browse/lte-cellular-communicators">LTE cellular communicators</a> for most major panel brands, and we’re happy to help you figure out which one fits your existing system. </p> <p "="">Not sure where to start, or want help picking the right communicator for your panel? Give us a call at 888-818-7728 (Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 8 PM ET) or email <a href="mailto:support@alarmgrid.com">support@alarmgrid.com</a>. If you prefer, you can chat with a live agent by visiting our <a href="http://alarmgrid.com" target="_blank">website</a> (chat available 9 AM - 6 PM ET.) We’ll help you make a plan before your copper phone line becomes nothing but a memory. </p> </article> <article> <h1>Lyric Support Extended: AN360 Access Continues to 2028</h1> <p>2026-09-25T09:00:00-04:00</p> <p "="">Resideo has extended AlarmNet360 (AN360) connectivity for the Lyric® security system. This extension runs through June 1, 2028, reversing notices sent out earlier this year that signaled an end to remote Lyric management. Here's what changed, and why an upgrade is still worth planning. </p><h2>A Quick Timeline </h2><table border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;"> <colgroup> <col style="width:15%;"> <col style="width:15%;"> <col style="width:70%;"> </colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Notification </th> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Date </th> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">What It Said </th> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;"><a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/documents/mywebtech-technical-notification-140-important-update-for-lyric-security-system-installations-dated-3-17-26" target="_blank">TN-140</a> </td> <td style="padding:8px;">March 17, 2026 </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Legacy Lyric authentication on AN360 was expiring April 15, 2026, ending all remote management features. </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;"><a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/documents/mywebtech-technical-notification-142-important-update-for-lyric-security-system-installations-4-6-2026" target="_blank">TN-142</a> </td> <td style="padding:8px;">April 6, 2026 </td> <td style="padding: 8px;">Superseded TN-140 with more detail on what would move to local programming only. </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;"><a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/documents/mywebtech-technical-notification-142-important-update-for-lyric-systems-9-21-2026" target="_blank">TN-150</a> </td> <td style="padding:8px;">September 21, 2026 </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Replaced TN-140. An extension was secured, restoring full AN360 support through June 1, 2028. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table><p><br> </p><h2>The First Two Notices: TN-140 and TN-142</h2><p>Resideo's first notice, Technical Notification #140, explained that the legacy authentication process Lyric panels use to connect to AN360 was expiring on April 15, 2026. After that date, AN360 would no longer support adding new Lyric systems, enrolling new sensors, syncing configuration changes, modifying system settings remotely, applying dealer branding, pushing firmware updates over the air, or changing central stations. Core system functionality (arming, disarming, user codes) and connected services (Total Connect, alarm reporting, two-way voice) were not affected. </p><p "="">TN-142 arrived three weeks later and officially superseded TN-140 with more detail. It confirmed that communicator-level settings, like TC2 configuration, comm path, and central station changes, would keep working through AN360 as before. Panel-level settings, like partition and system changes, two-way voice, Home Kit, Lyric Lock, and firmware updates, would instead require USB (firmware update only) or local panel programming. TN-142 also warned that AN360 would automatically disable the Local Programming Lockout and Lyric Lock features on all panels during the week of April 6, 2026. </p><h2>The Latest Update: TN-150 Restores Support Through 2028</h2><p "="">Technical Notification #150, issued September 21, 2026, explained that the root cause of these changes was an expired security certificate with Resideo's certificate provider. While alarm routing continued working throughout, remote capabilities like configuration changes, sensor additions, and device replacements were no longer available. </p><p>Resideo has now secured an extension with the certificate provider, restoring full AN360 remote management for Lyric systems through June 1, 2028. TN-150 officially replaces TN-140, and no immediate action is required on your part. </p><h2>Can You Still Activate a New Lyric System?</h2><p "="">We're not sure yet whether a brand new, previously unregistered Lyric panel can currently be activated on AN360. In theory, the answer is yes. We want to confirm the current activation process ourselves before telling you it's a 100% safe bet. We'll update this post as soon as we know more. </p><p "=""><strong><i>UPDATE 09/25/26:</i></strong><i> We have confirmed that it is possible to activate a new, previously unregistered Lyric. However, we still firmly believe it's time to begin planning your system upgrade. Don't wait until the last minute and get caught up in a backlog of users trying to upgrade. </i></p><h2>It's Still Time to Plan Your Upgrade</h2><p "="">Even with support extended, June 2028 isn't that far off. If you're running a Lyric system today, now is a good time to start planning a move to a newer platform. Alarm Grid recommends the <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/products/honeywell-home-proa7">PROA7</a> or <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/products/honeywell-home-proa7plus">PROA7PLUS</a> when you're ready to upgrade. </p><p "="">Both of these panels work with the full line of <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/blog/browse/honeywell-six-sensors">SIX Series wireless sensors</a> right out of the box, so much of what you already own will likely carry over. If your Lyric setup uses older <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/blog/browse/honeywell-5800-sensors">5800 Series sensors</a> instead, you'll need to add a <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/products/honeywell-home-protakeover">PROTAKEOVER module</a> along with the Pro Series panel.</p><p "="">Not sure which upgrade path fits your needs? Give our support team a call or send us an email. We're here Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM (ET). Our support number is 888-818-7728 or email <a href="mailto:support@alarmgrid.com">support@alarmgrid.com</a>. We also offer chat support with a live agent from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (ET). Just visit <a href="http://alarmgrid.com" target="_blank">our site</a>. </p> </article> <article> <h1>2GIG GC Touch Firmware 1.2: New Panel Features Added</h1> <p>2026-09-21T15:35:00-04:00</p> <p>2GIG released Firmware Version 1.2 for the GC Touch security panel in August 2026. This update adds new chime options, additional Dark Mode options, and the ability to control door locks straight from the video doorbell screen. </p><p "="">Adding these new features doesn't require a new panel or a truck roll. The update can be installed over the air or via the panel's USB port, and it makes a panel you already own more convenient and user-friendly every day. The GC Touch is available in both <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/products/2gig-2gig-touch-na-aa" target="_blank">AT&T</a> and <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/products/2gig-2gig-touch-na-va" target="_blank">Verizon</a> versions, with the cellular communicator included from the factory.</p><p><strong>What's New in Firmware 1.2</strong> </p><ul> <li><strong>Custom chime options.</strong> The primary user can now select which chime plays for door and window activity, instead of being stuck with one default sound.</li> <li><strong>Voice annunciation with chimes.</strong> Voice announcements can now run alongside the chime options above, so the panel can speak and chime when a zone is faulted.</li> <li><strong>Manual date and time.</strong> Date and time can be set right on the panel instead of relying only on automatic updates.</li> <li><strong>Improved localization screens.</strong> The screens used to set language and region have been cleaned up.</li> <li><strong>Scheduled Night Mode.</strong> Night Mode can now be set to turn on and off automatically at times you choose.</li> <li><strong>Scheduled or automatic Dark Mode.</strong> Dark Mode can run on a schedule you set, or follow sunset and sunrise automatically.</li> <li><strong>Lock control from the video doorbell screen.</strong> Locks can now be controlled directly from the <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/how-do-i-install-the-alarm-com-adc-vdb770-video-doorbell-camera">video doorbell</a> streaming screen, without backing out to a different menu.</li> <li><strong>Faster code entry on PAD1.</strong> PAD1 no longer requires pressing "Enter" after a code, so arming and disarming take one less step.</li> <li><strong>Chime added to walk test.</strong> Walk tests now include a chime, making it easier to confirm a sensor triggered during testing.</li> </ul><p><strong>How to Update Your GC Touch</strong> </p><p>2GIG makes this update available over the air, through cellular or WIFI via <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/what-is-alarm-dot-com">Alarm.com</a>. If you'd like your panel updated to Firmware 1.2 now, contact Alarm Grid support and we can get it scheduled. Updates using WIFI are free. If you don't have WIFI, there is a small charge for sending the update. The amount depends on the size of the download. </p><p>If you don't have WIFI at your panel and want to avoid this charge, you can update your panel yourself. Download the firmware from our site and apply it through the USB-C port on the back of the panel. Full instructions are available in our <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/how-do-i-update-the-firmware-on-my-2gig-gc-touch-panel">GC Touch firmware update guide</a>, and you can download the firmware file from our <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/downloads/2gig-gc-touch-firmware-updates">downloads page</a>. Alarm Grid passes the cellular update fee along at cost, with no markup, and it's added to your next billing cycle. </p><p><strong>Get More From Your Security System</strong> </p><p>Not set up with a GC Touch yet? Alarm Grid carries the full lineup of <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/browse/touchscreen-alarm-panels/brands/2gig">2GIG touchscreen panels</a>, and every system we sell can be paired with monitoring that has no contracts, no activation fees, and no termination fees. </p><p>Check out our <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/monitoring">monitoring plans</a> and get live 24/7 monitoring for your home or business. If you have questions, reach out to our support team. We're here Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Eastern Time. You can reach us at 888-818-7728 or by email at <a href="mailto:support@alarmgrid.com">support@alarmgrid.com</a>. If you visit our website between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM Eastern, you can also chat with a live agent. </p> </article> <article> <h1>Alarm.com Signaling Issue: What You Should Know</h1> <p>2026-09-17T20:02:00-04:00</p> <h3>Update:</h3> <p>This issue was resolved September 17, 2026 before midnight. No further details were provided. </p><p "=""><a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/what-is-alarm-dot-com" target="_blank">Alarm.com</a> is dealing with an ongoing signaling issue that started on September 17, 2026, affecting signaling on some customer accounts, plus access to the Alarm.com dealer and customer interfaces. As of Alarm.com’s most recent update, the issue has not yet been marked resolved.<em></em> </p><p>Alarm.com said the issue began around 5:00 PM ET on 9/17/26. By 5:50 PM ET, systems had stabilized, though customers could still see delays receiving notifications or sending commands like arming and disarming. As of the most recent update at 7:47 PM ET, Alarm.com reported the situation remains stable, but has not issued a notice that the issue is resolved. </p><h2>What This Means for You</h2><p "="">If you use Alarm.com’s app for notifications or remote arming and disarming, you may notice a lag or a missed alert while this is ongoing. It's also possible that a queued notification will be delayed, then come through at a later time. </p><h2>What to Do Now</h2><p "="">Since Alarm.com hasn’t posted an all-clear yet, keep an eye on your app for delayed notifications, a system that shows offline, or trouble sending commands. If you notice any of these, try closing and reopening the app first. If the problem continues or you have questions about your account, contact our support team and we’ll help you check your system’s status. </p><p "="">You can reach us at 888-818-7728, or via email at <a href="mailto:support@alarmgrid.com">support@alarmgrid.com</a>. Our support team is here Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM (ET). You can also visit our <a href="http://www.alarmgrid.com/monitoring" target="_blank">website</a> and chat with a live agent between the hours of 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (ET). </p><p>We’ll update this post as soon as Alarm.com posts a resolution notice. </p> </article> <article> <h1>Cell Carriers Are Shutting Down Email-to-Text Capability</h1> <p>2026-08-25T09:00:00-04:00</p> <p>If your Alarm.com or Total Connect 2.0 alerts show up as text messages, they may rely on an old email-to-text trick that carriers are now shutting down. You might not notice when it quietly stops working. AT&T and T-Mobile have already cut theirs off for good, and Verizon's shutdown looms.</p><p>This isn't a rumor or a future warning. For two of the three major carriers, it has already happened. If you set up your alarm notifications years ago and haven't touched them since, this is worth five minutes of your time today.</p><h2>What Is Email-to-Text, and Why Did People Use It?</h2><p "="">Before Alarm.com and Total Connect 2.0 offered push notifications through their own apps, there was a popular workaround for getting alarm alerts as text messages. Every major carrier had (or still has) a special email address format that turns an email into a text. Send an email to a phone number followed by the carrier's domain, like <em>5551234567@vtext.com</em> for Verizon or <em>5551234567@tmomail.net</em> for T-Mobile, and it lands on that phone as an SMS.</p><p>Alarm.com and Total Connect 2.0 both let you add an email address as a notification destination. Plenty of customers used that feature with a carrier's email-to-text address instead of a real email inbox, which let them get alarm alerts as texts without needing a smartphone app at all. It worked well for a long time, especially before push notifications existed as an option.</p><h2>Carriers Are Shutting the Gateway Down</h2><p>Email-to-text was never officially part of how Alarm.com or Total Connect 2.0 were designed to send alerts. It only worked because carriers allowed it, and carriers are walking that back.</p><table border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;"> <colgroup> <col style="width:20%;"> <col style="width:40%;"> <col style="width:40%;"> </colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Carrier</th> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Status</th> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Effective Date</th> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">AT&T</td> <td style="padding:8px;">Shut down. <a href="https://www.att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1061254/">Confirmed by AT&T</a></td> <td style="padding:8px;">June 17, 2025</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">T-Mobile</td> <td style="padding:8px;">Appears to be shut down, with no official announcement</td> <td style="padding:8px;">Reportedly around June 17, 2025, based on user reports online</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">Verizon</td> <td style="padding:8px;">Being phased out. <a href="https://www.verizon.com/support/vtext-vzwpix-shutdown/">Confirmed by Verizon</a></td> <td style="padding:8px;">Full shutdown by March 31, 2027, though some users may lose access sooner</td> </tr> </tbody> </table><p>T-Mobile hasn't published anything official about this, which is why we can't point you to a source the way we can for AT&T and Verizon. Based on reports from users online, the shutdown appears to have happened quietly around the same time as AT&T's, on June 17, 2025.</p><h2>Why This Is Risky If You're Still Using It</h2><p>The dangerous part isn't that this feature is going away. It's how it goes away. There's no error message on your alarm system and no warning in the app. The text messages just stop arriving, and unless you're specifically testing your system, you may not find out until you need an alert and it never comes.</p><p>For an alarm or fire notification, that gap is exactly the wrong place to lose reliability.</p><h2>Alarm.com Already Saw This Coming</h2><p>This shift didn't come out of nowhere. Back in March 2024, Alarm.com rolled out a <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/blog/alarm-com-to-debut-new-push-notification-migration-tool">push notification migration tool</a> aimed at customers on carriers with degraded SMS and MMS delivery, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Rogers in Canada among them. At the time, Alarm.com called the migration voluntary, but noted it "may become mandatory" if carrier changes made it necessary. That's more or less what's happening now.</p><h2>Switch to Push Notifications Today</h2><p>Push notifications don't depend on carrier text messaging at all. They travel over your phone's internet connection, cellular data or WiFi, straight to the Alarm.com app or the Total Connect 2.0 app. That also means they can do things a text message can't, like let you act directly on an alert or come through even when your phone is set to Do Not Disturb.</p><p>Open your notification settings in the Alarm.com app or the Total Connect 2.0 app and make sure push notifications are turned on for the alerts you care about, arming and disarming, sensor activity, and alarms especially. If you're not sure how your account is currently set up, or you want help moving away from an old email-to-text address, <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/contact-us">contact our support team</a> and we'll walk through it with you.</p><p>Not an Alarm Grid customer yet? Take a look at our <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/monitoring">monitoring plans</a>. No contracts, no activation fees, and no cancellation fees, just straightforward alarm monitoring.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Can You Switch Monitoring Companies? Signs Point to Yes!</h1> <p>2026-08-21T09:00:00-04:00</p> <p "="">No need to consult your Magic 8 Ball on this one, we'll be glad to help you answer it! In short: if your alarm system or communicator runs on Alarm.com or AlarmNet, it likely isn't locked to one company. It just needs to be properly released from the original provider's monitoring account. </p><p "="">Homeowners may assume their alarm system belongs to whoever installed it. If a monitoring company set up the equipment, doesn't that company own it forever? Not necessarily. Alarm.com and AlarmNet (the network behind Resideo's Total Connect service) aren't owned by any single monitoring company. So once your system is released from the current account, any other monitoring company affiliated with the communication platform can pick up the monitoring. </p><h2>What Makes a System "Non-Proprietary"</h2><p>Most modern security panels talk to a monitoring company through one of a few shared networks. Two of the most common are Alarm.com and AlarmNet. Neither network is owned by a single monitoring company. Dozens of providers, including Alarm Grid, offer <a href="http://www.alarmgrid.com/monitoring" target="_blank">monitoring</a> on panels that use them. </p><p "="">That's different from a proprietary system, where the panel only works with one company's software and can't be reprogrammed to work with anyone else. If your panel uses Alarm.com or AlarmNet, there's a good chance it was built to be flexible from day one, even if the company that installed it isn't. </p><h2>The Exception: Some Equipment on These Networks Is Still Proprietary</h2><p>Running on Alarm.com or AlarmNet doesn't automatically mean a system is open to any provider. Some companies build their own locked-down equipment on top of these shared networks. This shows up most with ADT, but Vivint and a few other large providers do it too. The hardware often comes from the same manufacturers everyone else uses, but it ships with a company-specific firmware, a modified part number, or an account binding that ties it to one provider alone. </p><p "="">If you own one of these proprietary devices, you'll generally need to replace it before you can switch monitoring companies, even though under the hood it communicates over one of these shared networks. One thing to look for is a company-specific tag added to an otherwise standard part number, like the "-ADT" or "-BRK" endings in the table below. If you're not sure whether your panel is proprietary, check the exact model number printed on the panel or the communicator and ask a prospective new monitoring company to confirm before you commit to switching. </p><p><em>A note on the list below: these model numbers came from online research, not from the manufacturers or monitoring companies themselves. Because this kind of information is treated as proprietary, we have limited ability to confirm it's fully accurate or current. If your equipment matches, or looks close to, one of these models, confirm its status with a prospective monitoring company before assuming anything either way.</em> </p><table border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;"> <colgroup> <col style="width:40%;"> <col style="width:25%;"> <col style="width:35%;"> </colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Model Number </th> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Associated Company </th> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Backend Platform </th> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">ADC-SEM110-VT-ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Alarm.com </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">ADC-SEM210-VT-ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Alarm.com </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">ADC-SEM110-PS-ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Alarm.com </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">ADC-IS-220-ADT (Image Sensor) </td> <td style="padding:8px;">ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Alarm.com </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">ADT Command (and Control) </td> <td style="padding:8px;">ADT </td> <td style="padding: 8px;">Alarm.com </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">GSMX4G-ADT / GSMV4G-ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">AlarmNet (Resideo) </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">LTE-XV-ADT / LTE-XA-ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">ADT </td> <td style="padding:8px;">AlarmNet (Resideo) </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 8px;">2GIG-GC2 (with Vivint Firmware) </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Vivint </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Alarm.com (Legacy) </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">Vivint SkyControl / Smart Hub </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Vivint </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Proprietary Vivint Cloud (Ex-Alarm.com) </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">BHS-4000 / BHS-3000 Communicators </td> <td style="padding: 8px;">Brinks </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Alarm.com / AlarmNet (Varies) </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">ADC-SEM210-VT-BRK </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Brinks Home Security </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Alarm.com </td> </tr> </tbody> </table><br><h2>What About Ring and SimpliSafe? </h2><p "="">You'll also see Ring and SimpliSafe promoted heavily any time you search for a security system, especially as a DIY installer. These aren't professional-grade systems, meaning professional installers likely aren't installing them, and they're a different kind of proprietary than the ADT and Vivint equipment described above. Neither Ring nor SimpliSafe run on Alarm.com or AlarmNet. Instead, they're built on their own closed platforms from the ground up, so there's no shared network to release your equipment into. </p><p "="">If you want ongoing monitoring on a Ring or SimpliSafe system, you're locked into their monitoring plans (Ring Protect or SimpliSafe's monitoring service) for as long as you own that hardware. Switching providers on this kind of system generally means replacing the equipment <em>in its entirety</em>, not simply requesting a release of your system. </p><h2>The Real Rule: One Company at a Time</h2><p>Here's the part that trips people up. A non-proprietary system can only be monitored by one company at a time. While your equipment is active on an account with your current provider, no other company can take over monitoring for it, even though the technology may allow it. The system has to be released from the original account first. </p><p "="">This is where some customers get stuck. Say you've decided to cancel, your equipment is paid off, and you're no longer under contract with the installing company. At your request, your alarm company should release the equipment so you can take it to a new provider. </p><p "=""> Some companies make this difficult. They may tell you your system or its communicator can't be used anywhere else. In most cases involving non-proprietary Alarm.com or AlarmNet equipment, like the kind described as non-proprietary above, that isn't true. The system can be used elsewhere. It just needs to be released first. </p><p "="">In most circumstances, AlarmNet and Alarm.com will not facilitate the release of a system. Think of your old monitoring company and your prospective new one as warring nations. In this analogy, AlarmNet and Alarm.com are Switzerland. They don't take sides. One exception to this rule is when the original monitoring company is defunct and your equipment is stuck tied to an account nobody is managing anymore. </p><h2>How Alarm Grid Handles It</h2><p>Alarm Grid was built around the idea that customers should never feel trapped. We don't use contracts. We don't charge activation fees. We don't charge cancellation fees. </p><p>If you ever decide to cancel your account with us, we'll ask why. We'll see if there's anything we can do to fix the problem or find you a better plan. But once it's clear you want to move on, we process the cancellation and release your equipment. That frees it up to be picked up by any other monitoring company that supports your system's platform, whether that's Alarm.com or AlarmNet. </p><table border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;"> <colgroup> <col style="width:34%;"> <col style="width:33%;"> <col style="width:33%;"> </colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">What Matters </th> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">Common Elsewhere </th> <th style="text-align:center; padding:8px;">At Alarm Grid </th> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">Contracts </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Often required, sometimes for 2-3 years </td> <td style="padding:8px;">None, ever </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">Activation Fees </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Often charged upfront </td> <td style="padding:8px;">None </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">Cancellation Fees </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Early termination fees are common </td> <td style="padding:8px;">None </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:8px;">Equipment After You Cancel </td> <td style="padding:8px;">May be held or restricted </td> <td style="padding:8px;">Released so you can use it with another qualifying provider </td> </tr> </tbody> </table><p><br> </p><h2>Know Before You Buy (or Switch)</h2><p "="">If you're shopping for alarm monitoring, or thinking about switching providers, ask these questions before you sign up with anyone. First, does the equipment run on Alarm.com or AlarmNet? Second, is any of the equipment proprietary? Third, does the company require a contract, and do they charge fees for cancellation or early termination? The answers will tell you how much freedom you'll actually have down the road. </p><p "="">Ready to make the switch, or start fresh with an easy, no-contract <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/monitoring" target="_blank">monitoring plan</a>? You can email us with questions at <a href="mailto:support@alarmgrid.com">support@alarmgrid.com</a> or call us at 888-818-7728. We're here Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Eastern Time, and happy to help you figure out whether your current system can be moved to a new provider. </p><p><em>ADT, Vivint, Brinks Home Security, Ring, and SimpliSafe are trademarks of their respective owners. Alarm Grid is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these companies.</em></p> </article> <article> <h1>How to Whitelist Your Alarm Monitoring Station's Number</h1> <p>2026-07-24T09:00:00-04:00</p> <p>If your alarm goes off, your monitoring station calls you right away to confirm it's real before dispatching help. Call screening apps and phone features are more common than ever, and they can't always tell that dispatch call apart from spam, so it might get silenced or blocked completely. </p><p><br></p><p>These tools are great at stopping robocalls and telemarketers, which is exactly the point of using them. The trouble is, your monitoring station's number may be unfamiliar to your phone too, so it can get caught in that same net. If the call is about a break-in or a fire, missing it could delay the help you need. </p><p>The good news is there's an easy fix. Whitelist your monitoring station's phone numbers (add them to your contacts or an "allowed" list) so they always get through, no matter what call screening tool you use. </p><h2>How Call Screening Can Block Your Monitoring Station </h2><p>Call screening comes in a few common forms, and most people use more than one at a time without realizing it. </p><ul> <li><strong>Phone-based screening apps.</strong> Google's Call Screen feature (built into Pixel phones) can automatically answer unknown calls with an AI assistant, ask who's calling, and hang up on anything it flags as spam. Apple's Silence Unknown Callers feature works differently. It sends any call from a number that isn't already in your contacts, recent calls, or Siri suggestions straight to voicemail without ever ringing your phone.</li> <li><strong>Phone carrier services.</strong> Carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all offer built-in spam protection, such as Verizon's Call Filter or T-Mobile's Scam Shield. These services label suspicious calls and can automatically send anything flagged as "spam" or "junk" to voicemail.</li> <li><strong>Third-party call-blocking apps.</strong> Apps like Truecaller, Hiya, and RoboKiller work similarly. They compare incoming numbers against huge spam databases and block or silence calls that they deem suspicious.</li> </ul><p>Every one of these tools works the same basic way. Numbers that aren't already saved to your contacts (or added to the app's own allow list) get treated with suspicion. Since your monitoring station's number probably isn't saved anywhere on your phone, it can easily get caught in the same net as spam calls. </p><h2>How to Whitelist a Number </h2><p "="">Whitelisting is simple, and it works across almost every call screening tool. Save the monitoring station's phone number (or numbers in the case of stations like CMS) as a contact on your phone. Most call screening apps and phone features automatically let contacts through without screening them. </p><p>If a carrier or third-party app has its own separate "allow" or "safe" list (Verizon's Call Filter does, for example), add the number or numbers there too. Check the settings menu of whatever call screening app or feature you use to see if this option is available. </p><h2>Alarm Grid's Monitoring Station Numbers </h2><p>If you're an Alarm Grid customer based in the United States, you're monitored by Criticom, aka CMS, save all five of these numbers as contacts. A CMS call could come from any of them, so no single number is enough on its own:</p><ul> <li>(800) 432-1429</li> <li>(800) 631-2299</li> <li>(714) 373-7000</li> <li>(800) 468-4640</li> <li>(800) 482-9800</li> </ul><p>If you're monitored by Rapid Response (Canadian customers), save this number:</p><ul> <li>(800) 932-3822</li> </ul><p>CMS sends all text message and automated notifications from the short code 60281. If your phone or messaging app filters unknown senders, add this short code to your contacts or allow list as well, so you don't miss those alerts either. </p><p "="">Saving these numbers only takes a minute, but it makes sure a screening app never stands between you and help. If you're an Alarm Grid customer and aren't sure which monitoring numbers apply to your account, contact our support team at <a href="mailto:support@alarmgrid.com">support@alarmgrid.com</a> and we'll help you sort it out. we're here Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Eastern Time. You can also call us at 888-818-7728 or visit our <a href="http://alarmgrid.com" target="_blank">website</a> to chat with a live agent (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern Time).</p><p "="">Not signed up for monitoring yet? Alarm Grid offers central station monitoring with no contracts, no activation fees, and no termination fees. Check out our <a href="http://www.alarmgrid.com/monitoring" target="_blank">monitoring plans</a> and protect your home or business today. </p> </article> <article> <h1>Wishing You a Happy 250th Fourth of July From Alarm Grid!</h1> <p>2026-07-03T09:00:00-04:00</p> <p>This Fourth of July marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That's a pretty incredible milestone. From the whole Alarm Grid team, we want to wish you a happy Independence Day, and however you're spending the holiday, we hope you safelt enjoy every moment of it.</p><p></p><p>A quarter millennium of freedom, independence, and everything this country has built along the way. Whether you're watching fireworks, gathering with family, or just taking a well-earned day to relax, July 4th is a day to appreciate how far we've come and the people who made it possible. Happy 250th, America!</p><h2></h2><h3>We're Observing Regular Business Hours</h3><p>With July 4th falling on a Saturday this year, Alarm Grid is observing <strong> regular business hours today, Friday, July 3.</strong> Our team is available from <strong> 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern,</strong> so if you need help with your system, have a question about your account, or anything else, give us a call at (888) 818-7728 or email us at <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="mailto:support@alarmgrid.com">support@alarmgrid.com</a>. We're happy to help. </p><h2></h2><h3>Your Monitoring Never Takes a Holiday</h3><p>As always, our 24/7 central station partners at <strong>Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS)</strong> and <strong>Rapid Response</strong> will remain fully staffed throughout the holiday weekend. Your system is monitored and signals are processed around the clock, so you can enjoy the long weekend knowing your home or business is protected. </p><p>If you need to contact the monitoring station to cancel a false alarm or put your system on test: </p><p><strong>US customers:</strong> Call <strong>CMS</strong> at <strong>(888) 818-7728</strong> and press <strong>Option 9.</strong> Have your name, address, and false alarm password ready. </p><p><strong>Canadian customers:</strong> Call <strong>Rapid Response</strong> at <strong>(800) 932-3822</strong> with your <strong>name, address,</strong> and <strong> false alarm password ready. </strong> </p><p>Please make sure to provide your correct false alarm password when you call. Giving the wrong password or your duress password will result in a dispatch of emergency services, as designed. </p><h3>If You Need Technical Support Over the Weekend, Email Us</h3><p>The monitoring station can only help with alarm related events and system tests. For technical support, programming questions, or account changes like zone names and contact lists, shoot us an email at <a href="mailto:support@alarmgrid.com">support@alarmgrid.com.</a> Our office will be closed Saturday and Sunday, but we'll be back Monday morning at 9:00 AM Eastern and will get to your request as quickly as we can. If it's urgent and you're an Alarm Grid customer, you can also reach us at (888) 818-7728 during regular business hours. </p><p>Have a safe and happy Fourth of July! </p> </article> <article> <h1>Alarm.com Delays Affecting LiftMaster/Chamberlain Devices</h1> <p>2026-07-01T16:33:00-04:00</p> <p "=""><strong>UPDATE:</strong> This issue has been resolved as of 07/02/26. Once resolved, information about the issue was removed from Alarm.com notices, so we don't have an exact time of resolution. </p><p>Alarm.com has confirmed a technical issue affecting remote commands sent to LiftMaster and Chamberlain smart garage door devices. The issue began at midday on July 1, 2026. It may cause a delay when you try to open, close, or check the status of your garage door through <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/what-is-alarm-dot-com" target="_blank">Alarm.com</a>. Some installers may also have trouble adding new LiftMaster or Chamberlain devices to a system until the issue is fixed. </p><p>If you didn't know, you can add a compatible LiftMaster or Chamberlain garage door to your Alarm.com account. We have an <a href="https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/how-do-i-integrate-a-liftmaster-myq-garage-door-to-a-qolsys-iq-p" target="_blank">FAQ that walks through the integration</a> on a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, but the setup is nearly the same for any panel that supports the feature. </p><p>Alarm.com is actively working on a fix and has not yet given an end time for the issue. No action is needed on your part. If you use a LiftMaster or Chamberlain garage door opener with your system, you may notice a delay before your commands go through until the issue is resolved. </p><p>We will update this post as soon as Alarm.com resolves the issue. In the meantime, if you have any questions, contact the Alarm Grid support team at <a href="mailto:support@alarmgrid.com">support@alarmgrid.com</a> or call us at 888-818-7728. </p> </article> <article> <h1>How to Set AlarmGrid as a Preferred Source in Google Search</h1> <p>2026-06-24T09:00:00-04:00</p> <p>So, you typed a security question into Google and ended up on a forum from 2009 where "TechDad47" suggested you "just unplug it and plug it back in." Well, now there's a better way. Google has a feature called preferred sources. It lets you mark trusted sites so their results show up first. </p><h3>What Are Preferred Sources and How Do They Work?</h3><p>Preferred sources is a Google Search feature that lets you handpick up to three websites you trust. Once added, Google gives those sites priority placement in your results, sitting at or near the top with a small label identifying them as a source you follow. </p><p "="">It's not a filter and it's not a blocker. Other websites still show up. Google just puts your preferred sources toward the top so you find what you want faster. If your preferred source doesn't have content matching your search, Google returns normal results with no harm done. The setting lives in your Google account, so you can add it once on your laptop and it works on your phone, your tablet, even your smart fridge! Anywhere you're signed into your Google account it will work.<br> </p><hr><h3>Here's How to Set It Up</h3><p><strong>Step 1: Open Google Search and head to Settings</strong> </p><p>Head on over to Google.com in your browser. </p><p><br><br>Then look for <strong>Settings</strong> at the bottom right of the page. Click it, then select <strong>Search settings</strong> from the popup menu.<br><br><br><br><br> </p><hr><p><strong>Step 2: Find the "Search Personalization" section</strong> </p><p>Once you're in <strong>Search Settings</strong>, scroll down until you spot the <strong>Search Personalization </strong>section. </p><p><br><br> </p><hr><p><strong>Step 3: Click on the Source Preferences button,</strong> </p><p>Now that you're in the <strong>Search personalization </strong>menu, scroll down until you see <strong>Source preferences</strong> and click on it. This will bring you to the Source preferences page. </p><p><br> </p><p><em><br><br></em> </p><p><strong>Step 4: Add AlarmGrid as a preferred source</strong> </p><hr><p>Click <strong>Add a source</strong>, then type in: <strong>alarmgrid.com</strong> </p><p>Click the <strong>checkbox</strong> next to alarmgrid.com to set it as a preferred source. </p><p "="">That's it. You just told Google, "Hey, I trust these people," and now when you Google search with a relevant question Alarm Grid will be prioritized.<br><br><br><br><br> </p><hr><p><strong>That's all there is to it.</strong> </p><p "="">From here on out, when you search for anything security related: panel setup, sensor troubleshooting, z-wave devices, you name it, AlarmGrid results jump to the front of the line. No more TechDad47, no offense to him. Just real answers from people who actually know their way around a security system.<br> </p><hr><p><strong>A couple of things worth knowing:</strong> </p><ul> <li>This setting is tied to your Google account, so it follows you across devices as long as you're signed in.</li> <li>Google can still show results from other sites. This just moves AlarmGrid to the top of related results.</li> <li>You can add up to three preferred sources total, so choose wisely. We're not saying pick us three times, but we're not <em>not</em> saying it.</li> </ul><hr><p><strong>Why AlarmGrid?</strong> </p><p>We've been writing detailed, no-fluff guides on home security systems for years. Our content is written by people who actually use and test this equipment, not scraped, not outsourced, not phoned in. If you want to browse what we've got, head to <strong>alarmgrid.com</strong>. There's a good chance we've already answered whatever you're about to Google. </p><p>If you need help or have questions about anything Alarm related, our support team is here Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Eastern. You can contact us at 888-818-7728 or by emailing <a href="mailto:support@alarmgrid.com.">support@alarmgrid.com.</a> </p> </article> </main></body></html>