Qolsys Booth

Qolsys blew us away with their upcoming daughtercard for DSC PowerG Sensors. This add-on for the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 will allow Power G Sensors to be used with the system. The PowerG Sensors boast an astounding RF signal range of up to 3,000 feet in open air and roughly 2,000 feet when used indoors. The Power G lineup includes outdoor PIR motion sensors with integrated cameras, outdoor siren/strobe combos, and a door contact with a wired input for long range expansion. The sensors operate at a wireless frequency of 900 MHz, meaning that they won't interfere with the low-band RF signals in the 300-400 MHz range for other legacy protocols such as GE/Interlogix/Qolsys (319.5MHz), 2GIG/Honeywell (345MHz), and DSC (433MHz). These sensors also offer 128-bit AES encryption so that they cannot be hacked or taken over by others. We plan to start featuring the PowerG Sensors on the Alarm Grid website sometime in the coming months.

The security industry needs to evolve to meet the challenges of cybersecurity threats. Unencrypted sensors and lack of firewalls and panel security open companies to litigation and expose consumers to danger. Dealers have an obligation to understand the evolving threats from cybersecurity attacks, select partners that have addressed known vulnerabilities, and put mechanisms in place to quickly respond to new threats as they emerge. This whitepaper outlines specific threats to sensors, security panels, and network connections that security dealers need to address. 

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Qolsys, a leading security and smart home technology provider, announced support for the line of PowerG sensors to its flagship product, the IQ Panel 2.  The updated IQ Panel 2 will also support multiple legacy technologies including 345 MHz, typically used by Honeywell and 2Gig, and 433 MHz used in DSC wireless systems, in addition to the Qolsys S-Line encrypted 319.5 MHz line. 

Todd Homitz, Guardian Protection Services’ marketing project manager, has been with the company for 11 years. “Two years ago, I transitioned to my current role as the marketing project manager and really enjoy getting to interact with all teams, staying on top of the latest projects and trends, and even helping ideate new programs and projects,” he said. In late February, he told Security Systems News about his home alarm system.

What kind of system do you have?

I have the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 with one outdoor camera, two indoor cameras, one HD video doorbell, smart thermostat, garage door controls, lights, locks, CO and smoke detectors. 

The IQ Panel 2 is the flagship panel from Qolsys, a relatively new security company that has already made great strides in the industry. Qolsys sought out to create a modern and easy to navigate security panel that would appeal to every type of homeowner and business owner. In the end, they accomplished exactly that, as the IQ Panel 2 meets all of the requirements that a new buyer would look for in a security system. Overall, it is pleasing to the eye, offers a quick learning curve and presents a plethora of outstanding features and capabilities.

Bench Test reviewer Bob Grossman shares what it was like to beta test the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 over 18 months.

Back in December of 2014 we reviewed the Qolsys IQ Panel as one of our earlier bench tests. When we review a product, it is generally done over a fixed time period ranging from a few days to a couple of months.

This gives us enough time to learn the product, put it through its paces, and verify the stability and operability as best we can under the usual time constraints. We don’t live with a product for an extended period, so our reviews are, by necessity, educated first impressions.

When Qolsys started working on the follow up IQ Panel 2, they invited us to participate in its beta program. We’re not sure if this was done because of our enthusiasm for the first-generation IQ Panel, our fresh approach to the product (also called “inexperience, I believe), or the relentless stream of questions they got from us the first time around.

The IQ Panel 2 remains the Swiss army knife of alarm panels with a strong lineup of security and home automation features.

In December 2014, we reviewed the Qolsys IQ Panel, mentioning that it was an extremely difficult product to review. This is not a single function device but rather what I would term a partnership product.

It requires the panel itself, myriad accessories, the back-end support of Alarm.com, and the involvement of a skilled and trained dealer for installation, support and alarm monitoring.

The IQ Panel 2 remains the Swiss army knife of alarm panels and includes several features we believe are unique to this platform.