System Feature Questions

Support
1

I’m working with a local installer as I’d rather have someone local install, and then be available for possible service in the future.

in case it matters - I’m looking at using the iq5 panel, integrating 3 existing z-wave door locks, a new POE doorbell camera, a POE camera with “intelligent” floods / spots for my driveway, and 4 other nice POE cameras.

I’m also looking to buy a professional monitoring package from Surety.

I had a ton of questions about features / capabilities in the system. my local installer was able to answer the vast majority of questions - but I had a few that they said either won’t work, or they weren’t sure.

I figured I’d check here to see what everyone has to say.

  • is there a single document with all of the cameras and their capabilities? for example, I read here about the Prism cameras which seemed like they might be a good option for my 4 non flood cameras - but my local dealer didn’t know about them. I want to make sure I’m picking the right hardware.
  • given the types of cameras I’m looking at - any way to use them as a siren / alarm extender? my system today does this - if the alarm goes off, it also plays the “siren” to outdoor cameras I select
  • same question but for doorbell chimes. if I’m in my backyard without my phone - and someone rings the doorbell, today it also “chimes” to the outdoor camera back there
  • today when I arm my system it puts all the cameras in deter mode. however, I’m able to use the app to shut off deter for a period of time. I use this a lot with my landscaper - if I’m out, and he shows up I turn off deter for say 2 hours so the cameras aren’t annoying him or my neighbors
  • any way to put the cameras I’m looking at into privacy mode so they don’t record live video or clips for a period of time?
  • I also have my current system integrated into homekit via homebridge. it exposes all of the devices, sensors, and even cameras. I think I read that even using the homebridge plugin for ADC - that most features will work, but not the cameras. I know that I can use the ADC appletv app - but it’s really nice to have video from the doorbell pop when someone rings the doorbell, or be able to easily check a camera while watching tv without changing the app I’m using

I know it’s alot of questions :frowning:

thanks in advance and looking forward to joining the ADC / Surety family!

2

Happy to assist

  • is there a single document with all of the cameras and their capabilities? for example, I read here about the Prism cameras which seemed like they might be a good option for my 4 non flood cameras - but my local dealer didn’t know about them. I want to make sure I’m picking the right hardware.

There is not a single place to view all camera specs or features unfortunately. We have a list of a lot of the cameras on our forum linked below but not all of the cameras are listed, primarily just the ones we carry.

The PRISM cameras dont even have all of their stat listed in Alarm.com just yet. Ive reached out to get some more information on them to put on the website but I have not hear back just yet.

iven the types of cameras I’m looking at - any way to use them as a siren / alarm extender? my system today does this - if the alarm goes off, it also plays the “siren” to outdoor cameras I select… * same question but for doorbell chimes. if I’m in my backyard without my phone - and someone rings the doorbell, today it also “chimes” to the outdoor camera back there

No this is not a feature that is supported. You can manually trigger warning sounds for proactive video deterrence with specific cameras including:

A compatible Alarm.com video device with firmware version 0.6.7.852+:
ADC-V515 with firmware version 0.0.5.476+*
ADC-V516
ADC-V523/523X
ADC-V724/724X
ADC-V729/V729AC/VC729P
ADC-V730
ADC-VC728PF
ADC-VC727P
ADC-VDB775
ADC-V731B

  • any way to put the cameras I’m looking at into privacy mode so they don’t record live video or clips for a period of time?

Which specific models are you looking for?

3

Some cameras allow you to draw Privacy Zones to obscure parts of a video device’s view (i.e., public sidewalks or a driveway) from all future live and recorded footage. Up to three Privacy zones per camera can be configured using the ADC website.

Compatible cameras
ADC-V515 with firmware version v0.0.5.450+
ADC-V516
ADC-V523/523X
ADC-V723/723X
ADC-V724/724X
ADC-V730
ADC-VDB775
ADC-V731B
ADC-VC727P
ADC-VC728PF
ADC-V729/V729AC/VC729P
ADC-VC827P
ADC-VC838PF
ADC-VC847PF

ADC-V530 has a physical shutter (privacy shield) as well.

4

thanks for the reply @tyler

so extending the siren and / or doorbell to cameras that already have speakers sounds like it could be achieved with some software changes on the panel. I don’t know if it’s a feature that others ask for - but if ADC accepts feature requests - those features would be awesome.

regarding privacy - the scenario might be that my house sitter is going to use our hot tub. she might want to put the camera covering that area into privacy mode so that it’s not recording, and also not generating a ton of alerts / clips when it detects motion there.

another feature that sounds like it could be achieved with just a software change - so again, if ADC is accepting feature requests this would be another.

thanks!

5

Slight correction, triggering the camera sirens when the alarm system is in alarm is available. The information provided by Alarm.com yesterday was outdated.

This can be done with Alarm.com cameras by pausing that camera’s recording rules. With the recording rule paused, the camera will not record clips or send notifications unless manually requested or another rule is triggered, such as recording a clip from all cameras when an alarm is reported.

6

oh, that’s amazing! since siren extension was added - was doorbell chime extension added too?

i’ll have to take a look at the app once i’m installed and see how easy it would be to pause / re-start the recording rules.

thanks @nicholas !

7

There isn’t currently a way to do a doorbell alert over the cameras. A doorbell pressed notification can only be received through Alarm.com push notifications, email, and notifications on compatible alarm panels.

Pausing and restarting the recording rule is fairly easy. Head over to the video section of the Alarm.com app, tap the settings icon, then tap Recording Rules. On each camera’s recording rule, there is a dropdown that says Pause Options. You can pause it for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours, 1 day, or turn the rule off entirely. Paused recording rules can be reactivated by tapping the Resume Options dropdown, which replaces pause options when a rule is already paused.

8

thanks for the clarification - hopefully that might be something that ADC might add at some point.

that sounds pretty easy. i was thinking since this feature would be used mainly by my kids, or my house sitter - that there might be a scene / button / etc that i could put either on the panel or in the app. i’ll play around that once my system is installed.

thanks!