How to Swap an Alarm Panel on the Alarm.com Account

[tyler (Tyler G)]

If your current panel is being replaced you will need to associate that new panel with your existing Alarm.com account and run a communications test to begin using it.

You can swap your panel in one of two ways, Manually or with a Remote Backup and Restore.

Note This guide is specific to Surety subscribers. If you use Alarm.com service with a different provider, reach out to them for more information.

Manual Panel Swap

You can swap your panel manually at any time through your Surety login. When manually swapping your panel, the new panel will need to be programmed from scratch. This includes:

• Security Sensors
• Z-Wave Devices
• Secondary Panels

You can program the panel before or after associating it with your Alarm.com account but typically it is best to do this before the swap occurs. You can find a variety or programming guides in the How To section of the support site, just search for the panel and/or device type in use:

How To

When going the manual programming route, once you are ready to begin using your new panel, you can switch to it through the System Manager feature of your Surety account login

You will need the associated cellular radio’s 15-digit IMEI number for this step.

How to Find an Alarm Panel's 15-digit IMEI Serial Number

An IMEI number, or International Mobile Equipment Identity number, is a 15-digit identification number unique to your alarm panel’s cellular radio. This number is needed to link your alarm panel to your Alarm.com account. This number can be tricky to locate but can typically be found through panel programming, printed on the panel or cellular radio, or on the box the device came in. This guide will show you the various ways to find your Alarm.com compatible panel’s IMEI number. In order to c…

Once the process has been completed, you will need to run a communication test from the panel in order to start communication.

Remote Backup and Restore

Depending on which panels are involved in the swap process, it may be possible to run a backup of current panel settings and apply them to the new panel.

Backup Restore Panel limitations are as follows:

• Swapping between panel brands is not possible

  • E.G. 2GIG ↔ Qolsys, Qolsys ↔ Interlogix.

• Swapping between panel types of the same brand is possible, so long as the RF Radios match (319.5MHz, 345Mhz, 433MHz), with some exceptions:

  • Supported: Qolsys IQ Panel 2 w/ 319.5MHz → Qolsys IQ Panel 4 w/ 319.5Mhz
    • IQ Panel 2/2+ must be on Firmware 2.6.0 or higher
  • Supported: 2GIG GC2 → 2GIG GC3
  • Not Supported: Any 2GIG Panel (non-Edge) → 2GIG Edge
    • 2GIG EDGE panels can only be restored with and to another 2GIG EDGE panel. Both must be on FW 1.2+.
  • Not Supported: Interlogix NX or Interlogix Concord.

Only the dealer (Surety) can run the backup and send Restore Commands to the new panel. As such, this process can only be done during normal business hours.

This process typically allows you to skip programming on the following:

• Security Sensors
• Panel Programming
• User Codes

If interested in doing a remote backup/restore, do not program the new panel or follow the manual swap process above as this will overwrite the backup.

To get started with the Backup/Restoral Process, let us know via Private Message to get started. The process is:

• Surety runs a backup of current settings, sends confirmation to user.
  • Panel must be on and communicating with Alarm.com.
• User powers down both panels completely and confirms via PM and includes the new panel’s 15-digit IMEI number.
• Surety sends restoral commands to new panel.
• Power up new panel completely, wait 15-30 minutes for restoral process.
  • You will know the process is nearing completion when the last of the sensors populates. Wait about 5 more minutes for Users to be restored.
• Run cell test to ensure communication. Wait 20 minutes after cell test.
• Restoral commands complete, new panel has sensors and user codes.

More information specific to various panel brands can be found below:

Backup and Restore Process for Qolsys Brand Panels (IQ Panel Gen 1, IQ Panel 2, IQ Panel 4

This guide covers the process of swapping from an older Qolsys brand panel to a newer one. What can be Backed up and Restored? Because the architecture is similar between the different models, it is possible to have a backup of your panel settings run and then applied to the newer panel. Qolsys Gen 1 → IQ Panel 2/2+ User Codes and RF Sensor programming Qolsys Gen 1 → IQ Panel 4 Not Supported Qolsys IQ Panel 2/2+ → IQ Panel 4 User codes and RF Sensor Programming IQ Panel 2/2+ mus…

Backup and Restore Process for 2GIG Brand Panels (Go!Control, GC2, GC3, eSeries, Edge

What can be Backed up and Restored? Depending on the differences between the versions of the original and new panel, there may be limitations on the settings that can be restored from a backup. Panel models that are the same (e.g., swapping a GC3 with a new GC3) are able to restore all panel programming settings, user codes, and sensors. The following table outlines what settings can be restored from the original panel to the new panel. Note: GoControl and GoControl 2 (GC2) panels are noted to…

More information on system backups can be found below:

Alarm.com System Back Up

A backup can be performed to save system settings and later restore them to a new module or panel of the same panel type. The backup can also be useful to restore the current panel’s settings in the event of a factory reset. What do Backups Contain? System settings may include: Panel settings Sensor programming User codes (including duress codes). What don’t Backups Contain? System settings do not include: Z-Wave devices Alarm.com Image Sensors Bluetooth devices Hardwired sensors Wi-Fi Dev…