I had an issue recently where an intruder was inside my house for 10 minutes before the alarm triggered. I believe he must have walked by the main floor motion times multiple times before it triggered. I have one instance on video.
I therefore don’t trust my current motion sensor setup and want to upgrade it.
What is the gold standard of motion detectors compatible with a Qolsys 4 panel?
Let me know your thoughts on these. My sense is the image sensor is good because it will enable rapid video verification. Not sure how the accuracy/reliability of that sensor compares with the Power G Wireless Dual Tech sensor.
It looks like you are using an IQ Panel 4 with a 345Mhz radio. That panel is compatible with 345Mhz 2GIG/Honeywell sensors and PowerG sensors. It is not compatible with S-Line sensors.
Typically I would recommend choosing the PG9914 or PG9984P for the best general motion detector options. These are PowerG sensors, which means they have a number of benefits. Read more about PowerG below.
That QZ8103-840 is an older item and not compatible with the IQ Panel 4.
If you want an image sensor motion detector, PowerG options exist for that. The PG9934P is an indoor PowerG motion detector with built in camera. The PG9994 is the outdoor version of that.
Looking at prior communication regarding this incident, it looks like the sensors which did not activate were wired sensors using a 2GIG TAKE-345 takeover module. If the problem lies with the takeover module it may affect all zones connected to it, so it may be good to replace all of those zones if you plan to replace the motion detectors.
Alternatively troubleshooting the takeover module wiring and signaling would be recommended. It looks like this and would be near the old metal alarm panel can usually in a utility room or basement.
Sounds like the 2GIG Take-345 could be the issue as you say. I am leaning towards replacing the current setup with wireless P9984P as a more reliable setup since it would connect wirelessly directly to the panel.
Our house is not an old house with a metal alarm panel. it was built 2 years ago and the alarm company set it up for the Qolsys 4 Panel. My guess is though that maybe they wired all the sensors to a single spot, and had a wireless transmitter from there to the Qolsys 4 panel?
Attached is a picture of the inside of a plastic cabinet I found in my machine room which bears the logo of the original alarm company.
Thanks for the photos, yes often homes are pre-wired for some wired alarm sensors but a wireless system is used, so a wired to wireless translator is installed to make use of those wired sensors.
You do not have a 2GIG TAKE-345 but it looks like you have the Alula/Resolution Products equivalent. That looks like you have an Alula RE508X up above the cabinet where the bundle of wires are running.
The RE508X pairs zones to the panel the same way as a 2GIG TAKE-345, where the each zone has the same TXID as the translator, with the last digit changed to match the wired input number for that zone, 1-8.
That would be the device which is transmitting the status of your wired alarm sensors.
Got it. Do you think this could be the source of the delay in motion detection during the intrusion? In addition to the wired motions, I also have wired door sensors. I have never seen my door sensors fail to report status changes correctly and instantly. I assume these also go through the Alula wireless system.
If you are concerned about the Alula, should I switch it to an IQ Hardwire Power G? or keep the Alula and just switch out the motions for Power G versions?
It is possible that wiring issues are present, shorts can occur which would make it so one or more particular zones cannot open. This would be odd and rare, I would test the sensors that did not trip to see if this might be the case. If you get no activity on the zone when trying to trip the sensor, open the sensor and pull the C or NC wire. Disconnecting one of those wires should activate/open that zone immediately. If it does not, there is a wiring issue/short circuit somewhere.
It could be that there is a power delivery issue for those sensors. Motion detectors and glass break detectors are powered, wired door and window sensors do not require power from the translator.
It could be that the location is causing intermittent signaling issues, though if you never have trouble with other sensors that is unlikely.
It also may be that the sensors may not cover the range required in the room. Have you tested the motion detectors to ensure they cover the area necessary? How far away does it look like in the video the intruder got from those motion detectors?
If you are concerned about the Alula, should I switch it to an IQ Hardwire Power G? or keep the Alula and just switch out the motions for Power G versions?
I wouldn’t be concerned if other sensors on it work fine. It is likely an issue specific to the two sensors or their wiring, not the translator overall.
