Author Archives: Beau Freeman

Blog: IQ Base Sound You Can Feel

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When designing IQ Panel 4, we were intent on incorporating critical feedback into the panel. Many users and installers told us that the panel needed better, more powerful speakers. We responded to this feedback with the new QuadSound speaker system incorporated into the panel. But we wondered if we could take it further.

 

So we did.

 

The new IQ Base adds increased levels of depth to the IQ Panel 4’s powerful QuadSound speaker array. With its large, low-frequency speaker, IQ Base rounds out your panel’s sound with impressive bass to give your panel the richness of sound it deserves. No matter what you’re playing, you can be sure that you’re hearing it the way it should be heard.

 

In 2022, NPR reported on a 5-year survey about smart home devices and revealed that more than 1/3 of Americans own a smart speaker. In that same survey, they found that between 2017 and 2022, the number one reason users bought a new smart speaker was to listen to music.

 

Luckily, with IQ Base, your home security panel is that speaker. Thanks to IQ Panel 4’s Bluetooth connectivity, you can take advantage of IQ Base’s room-filling sound to stream audio from any app on your Bluetooth-enabled device. Jam out to your favorite songs while you’re cooking or wind down for the evening with a cozy audiobook. If you can stream it, IQ Base will make it sound pristine.

 

In addition to sounding great, the IQ Base makes your IQ Panel 4 look great as well. The sleek design expands your choices for your panel location, meaning you can keep your panel wherever you want without needing to reinstall the system on a wall. Install your IQ Panel 4 on a desk, side table, counter, or anywhere you want convenient access to your home security system and music.

 

But the IQ Base is more than just music. Every sound that comes out of your panel will have improved strength and dimension. That includes IQ Panel 4’s built-in features, like Live View, Live Answer for your video doorbells and cameras. Every voice and alarm – regardless of how high or low – will come through loud and clear.

 

IQ Base is an essential add-on to every IQ Panel 4 installation. Enjoy every sound’s mid, low, and high wherever you want in your home.

Blog: Keeping Water Where Water Belongs

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It’s the nightmare scenario: your home’s pipes have burst, and the water is rising quickly. An unexpected freeze may have blown in, or some aging pipes finally gave way, or perhaps an errant, thirsty tree root found the ultimate watering hole. In any case, you’re stuck with the repair costs of flood damage.

The threat of flooding exists everywhere. According to floodsmart.gov, 30% of all flood insurance claims are filed in low- to moderate-risk areas, and just one inch of flood water can cause more than $25,000 in damages. Standard homeowner insurance policies don’t include flood damage in their terms, meaning those costs will be coming out of your pocket – unless you have a plan.

The IQ Water Valve can help you stop flooding as soon as it starts. The retrofit servo can operate 1/4 turn ball valves with pipes from 1/2” to 1 1/4”. When a flood is detected in your home, the valve will automatically turn your main water off to prevent any more water from escaping your plumbing.

As part of the Qolsys IQ platform, the IQ Water Valve utilizes powerful Z-Wave 700 to ensure reliability and maximum range to your IQ Panels. Like other IQ products, setting up is as easy as putting your panel in pairing mode and adding the device.

Most amazingly, the IQ Water Valve can be completely installed without the need for a plumber. Similar, more expensive products on the market today require an appointment with a plumber to install, and that visit alone can cost you an average of $330 (according to homeadvisor.com). The IQ Water Valve is designed to keep your install simple, removing burdensome and expensive appointments to save you time and money.

In fact, the IQ Water Valve is so easy to install, our technical account manager’s 5-year-old son completed an install in less than one minute during a product workshop in 2021. In just a few turns of the screws, you (or your kids) can protect your home from future flooding catastrophes.

Protect your home, keep it dry, and give yourself peace of mind with IQ Water Valve.

Blog: Smart apartments make life easy for tenants and property managers

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The term “smarthome” has become main stream, with devices all over the internet claiming to make life safer, smarter, and more convenient.  As adoption increases even the smallest apartments are looking for ways to be smart, safe, and energy efficient, and there’s no better solution than the Qolsys IQ Panel.  The IQ Panel is a 7 inch easy to use touchscreen looks great on the wall and provide easy access to control all the connected devices within an apartment. These include lights, locks, thermostat, security sensors, life safety sensors, cameras and more.

Continue reading→

Blog: Hands free is more than just convenient, it’s sanitary.

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Wherever you find yourself on the scale of sanitization, one thing is certain: There’s more cleaning than ever before. That’s why we love the Qolsys IQ Panel.  It includes a feature called “Bluetooth Disarming” which was originally designed for hands-free convenience, but in today’s new normal hands free is more than just convenient, it’s safer.  Simply pair a smartphone with the IQ Panel over Bluetooth and the system deactivates itself as soon as that phone gets in range.  In addition to disarming the security system, use smart home rules to unlock the front door, turn on lights, and resume thermostat schedules.  Now when you come home the only thing you’ll have to touch is the door handle.  Bluetooth Disarming TRULY makes less to sanitize.  

Imagine just getting home from the DMV.  To be safe, you tried not to touch anything, but there were some things you just couldn’t help, like the pen to sign the forms, the credit card machine to process the payment, the renewed license you got back from the person who verified your identity, and the paperwork and receipts you were handed at the end of your visit.  Any one of those items could have come in contact with something that could make you sick, and to be safe, you plan to wash your hands as soon as you get home.  As you approach the front door it unlocks automatically.  You touch the door handle but DON’T have to touch the keypad.  You step inside and lights turn on automatically, thermostat fires up and the security system is already disarmed.  The first thing you do after placing things on the counter is to wash hands, and then, just to be safe, perhaps sanitize the car door, the steering wheel, the controls in the car, and my door knob.  Its a lot of work, but knowing that the Qolsys IQ Panel lightened that load by making my lock, lights, and thermostat all hands free…. Its a good feeling… thanks technology!  (Alexa, buy more Clorox wipes….)  

WANT A SMARTER HOME? JUST ADD IQ.

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IQ-Smarthome-Qolsys

Everyone is buzzing about the “smart home” these days aren’t they?  Maybe that’s why we’ve been as busy as bees making it a reality.  It’s more than just building a nice panel though.  Its an entire network of connected devices, and the ability to continue to add support for new devices as they are released into the market.  To make your home smarter, you’ll need to add more and more of these intelligent devices, or as we call it, “IQ.”  As you work to make your dream smart home setup, here’s a few things you should know.Continue reading→

USING THE IQ PANEL TO AUTOMATE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE

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Christmas-Tree

Christmas trees are a wonderful part of the holiday season, but can also be a cause of fires.  According to NFPA.org (the National Fire Protection Association) each year an average of 230 home fires start with a Christmas tree, causing 6 deaths, 22 injuries, and $18.3 million in damages.  You can mitigate this risk by creating a simple rule using your Alarm.com account and Qolsys Smart Socket.Continue reading→

IF MOMMY KISSES SANTA CLAUS… I’LL KNOW.

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One of the beautiful things about having an IQ Panel with Alarm.com is the ability to know who is coming and going at any time. To make this possible, one needs a simple yet robust network of sensors and devices that track every day occurrences like doors opening and closing, bodies, moving, and the exact location of smartphones.  (Shameless plug: All of these devices are available as part of the IQ Solution.)Continue reading→