What is Wi-Fi 6?

Posted on February 13, 2023February 8, 2023 by Beau Freeman

The newest generation of Wi-Fi technology is more than a catchy name.

When connecting to new Wi-Fi networks on your smartphone, you may have noticed a small “6” next to your Wi-Fi signal strength and thought to yourself, “What does that even mean?” Maybe you didn’t even notice it because of how tiny it is.

Even though the symbol is small, that little number is a big deal. When it appears, congratulations! You are now connected to a Wi-Fi 6 network.

What is Wi-Fi 6?

Wi-Fi 6 is the latest generation of Wi-Fi technology, following a change in Wi-Fi Alliance’s naming conventions. Wi-Fi 6 is faster and more secure than Wi-Fi 5, with support for new WPA3 encryption and a theoretical maximum transmission of 9.6Gbps – nearly triple Wi-Fi 5’s 3.5Gbps max.

While it’s true that Wi-Fi 6 is faster than previous iterations of Wi-Fi, you’re unlikely to notice a significant change in speeds on your wireless devices. According to Ookla’s speedtest.net, the average download speed in the United States at the end of 2022 was 78.86Mbps, or .7% of Wi-Fi 6’s theoretical maximum. Even across multiple devices, you’re unlikely to ever need to hit that limit.

Where Wi-Fi 6 really shines is in the number of devices that can connect to the network and maintain fast speeds. As more Wi-Fi devices make their way into homes and homes come bundled with more Wi-Fi devices, wireless routers need to keep up with the onslaught of connections headed their way.

Wi-Fi 6 enables routers to handle the ever-increasing number of devices with ease. Through features that more efficiently manage when and where data is transmitted, more devices can connect without slowdowns than with previous generations of Wi-Fi. Improvements to wireless security standards on Wi-Fi 6 means you can connect with confidence knowing that your information is safe.

What do I need?

Wi-Fi 6 starts with the right router. While Wi-Fi 6 is an amazing improvement to wireless connectivity on its own, picking the router that addresses your needs is essential to getting the most out of your connections. Router features can help you create an easier and more unified wireless experience with Wi-Fi 6.

IQ WiFi 6

The IQ WiFi 6 router utilizes Wi-Fi 6 like other routers on the market but offers additional features and benefits specific to the security industry to make your home or business safer than ever before. Remote router access, Alarm.com and IQ Panel integration, and a dedicated network for security devices means your Wi-Fi 6 network can provide the best wireless connection, no matter the device.

IQ4 Hub: Your Warrior in Winter

Posted on December 1, 2022December 1, 2022 by Beau Freeman

Winter weather approacheth, and with it, the risk of flooding from frozen and burst pipes. Taking steps to prevent this disaster from happening may seem daunting and expensive, but thanks to IQ4 Hub, customers can keep their homes safe for a fraction of the cost.

IQ4 Hub is the most affordable all-in-one option for customers looking to up their home or business’ security and comfort. IQ4 Hub provides similar functionality to the IQ Panel 4 at a lower cost and offers a compelling choice for those wanting to secure their home or business for less.

Powered by an 8-core processor and sporting lightning-fast LTE and Wi-Fi Dual Path, IQ4 Hub unifies smart home devices on one beautiful 7” touchscreen to give customers ultimate control over their building’s wellbeing. IQ4 Hub can pair with devices such as the PowerG Temperature Detector, PowerG Flood Detector and IQ Water Valve to defend against flooding by monitoring freezing temperatures near piping, detecting leaks, and automatically shutting off a building’s main water before a puddle becomes a pool.

As part of the IQ family, IQ4 Hub also comes with many of the amazing features present in our other panels, like Bluetooth disarming and music streaming. Set-up is a breeze with the included SmartMount system, and the Install Wizard and on-screen diagnostics quickly guides installs with easy-to-understand instructions and in-panel fixes.

Customers looking to automate their homes can utilize the IQ4 Hub’s powerful Z-Wave 800 functionality to program their lights, locks, thermostats, or garage doors together in one panel. Those with security cameras or video doorbells will be able to watch those video streams in real time and communicate through the panel with Live View, Live Answer.

Of course, IQ4 Hub comes in tons of different versions so you can pick the panel that suits your needs: PowerG, 319.5 MHz, 433 MHz, and 345 MHz.

IQ4 Hub presents a lower-cost alternative to other home security panels while offering a robust suite of features customers can use to defend their home against threats. With IQ4 Hub, your customers can buy peace of mind at a discounted price.

Double-check this to make sure the options are being used correctly.

Black IQ Panel 4: So Much More Than Color

Posted on November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 by Beau Freeman

When creating IQ Panel 4, our designers wanted to make something that not only automated and protected your home but looked great in it as well. IQ Panel 4 is the first panel we’ve made that comes in two colors: white and black.

Black is a timeless color. It’s unique in that, compared to other color options, it doesn’t move in and out of trendiness in the same way. Insider.com predicted in early 2022 that black accents were going to soar in popularity. In fact, Google searches for black accents reached their highest peak in January 2022.

In 2020, Jessica Pierce, lead design consultant with David Weekley Homes wrote about this trend as well, stating, “We’re seeing a trend toward light, bright spaces with black accents to create contrast that’s very popular. Black plumbing fixtures, door and cabinet hardware, lighting and even tile, is helping to create this unique look.”

Of course, a room can easily be overwhelmed with black and become devoid of character and life, but light touches of black in contrast with brighter colors can pull a room together and make it feel “finished”. Neptune.com, an interior design company, explained why this trend works, saying, “Rather like a painting which is transformed once mounted in a slim black frame, every room can benefit from the stabilizing effect of a delicate touch of black.”

Your customers will be looking at their IQ Panel 4 every single day. They will have to consider the design implications of the panel as well as its technical specifications. For customers looking to tie a room together and follow trends, a black IQ Panel 4 will be a strong choice.

The Power of Choice

In 2000, psychologist and “expert on choice” Sheena Iyengar, along with her collaborator Mark Lepper, published an interesting study on the influence of choice on consumers. In it, Iyengar and Lepper set up a jam-tasting booth in front of a grocery store and rotated between a selection of six and 24 jams to discover how variations in the number of choices affected consumers’ final decisions.

The pair found in general, although customers appreciate large numbers of options, fewer choices make consumers more likely to make a purchase – almost six times as likely in their jam study. Additionally, customer confidence went up when they received a recommendation on which choice they should make.

It might seem like the choice between a black or white IQ Panel 4 is a simple choice, but it is a choice your customers will have to make, nevertheless. You can help them make that choice with confidence with recommendations tailored to their concerns.

Blog: IQ Base Sound You Can Feel

Posted on November 14, 2022November 14, 2022 by Beau Freeman

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

Posted on November 9, 2022November 9, 2022 by Beau Freeman

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.

Press Release: Johnson Controls Honored in Inaugural SecurityInfoWatch Readers’ Choice Awards

Posted on November 2, 2022November 2, 2022 by Jesse White

Leading security industry online portal announces top products after more than 1,650 security pros participate in online voting

Nov. 2, 2022 — Johnson Controls is pleased to announce that its IQ Panel 4 has been named a winner in the inaugural SecurityInfoWatch.com Readers’ Choice Product Awards in the Residential Security & Smart Home category.

The SecurityInfoWatch Readers’ Choice Awards recognize the most impactful products introduced in the physical security industry over the past year (June 2021 through June 2022) in 13 different categories. The program is judged and decided by the very people who use and install these products every day. Voting was open to any SecurityInfoWatch reader (one vote per IP address) during September. In all, more than 1,650 security professionals participated in the voting.

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Press Release: Johnson Controls releases IQ4 Hub for Lower Cost Markets

Posted on October 3, 2022October 3, 2022 by Jesse White

New lower cost panel leverages IQ Platform targeting residential, SMB, Builder, MDU/Multifamily and wellness segments.

San Jose, CA — (October 3rd, 2022) — Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings today announced its IQ4 Hub is now available. By utilizing the IQ Platform, this lower-cost adaptation of the IQ Panel 4 targets residential, SMB, builder, Multifamily/MDU and wellness installations with many of the software features customers love – such as Bluetooth Disarming and Dual Path communication on LTE and Wi-Fi – while retaining the IQ Panel 4’s attractive form factor.

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Press Release: Johnson Controls Releases IQ WiFi 6

Posted on September 26, 2022September 27, 2022 by Jesse White

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Awards: Winners of 2022 ESX Innovation Awards Revealed

Posted on July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 by Jesse White

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Press Release: Johnson Controls Announces IQ Pro for Commercial Markets

Posted on March 22, 2022March 21, 2022 by Jesse White

New hybrid panel combines the IQ Panel platform and PowerSeries Neo

The global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings announced today the new IQ Pro, a hybrid panel utilizing the IQ Platform and key features from IQ Panel 4, PowerSeries Neo and customer feedback. IQ Pro will address the needs of commercial, SMB, large residential, campus, and K-12 markets.

“We are reinventing the commercial security market,” said Mike Hackett, Johnson Controls, VP Global Sales & Marketing. “We already have a reputation of disruption in the residential security space and we are bringing that same experience to commercial installations. The IQ Pro is a true hybrid panel leveraging key features of IQ Panel 4 and the DSC Neo, the most popular products in their respective spaces.”

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