Hey, DIYers.
I'm George with Alarm Grid.
Today, we're going to be going over
if we can use the Lyric controller without Total
Connect.
The simple answer to that is going to be yes.
You can most definitely use the Lyric controller
without Total Connect.
Now, there's different options you guys can do.
You guys can do central station monitoring only.
You guys can use the system as a local noise maker
only, as well.
But do keep in mind the Lyric controller actually
comes with Wi-Fi and Z-wave already built in.
So basically, this system is ready for monitoring out
of the box, and once you plug in, all you have to do
is connect it to your Wi-Fi.
Now, there are a couple of programs and apps
that you can download onto your smartphone,
whether you have an iOS or an Android device.
And you guys can actually control the system from the app
from your phone, tablet, wherever you guys
have the downloaded on.
Now, to start off, Lyric actually
has an app you can download.
It's called My Home Controller.
I'm going to place it up here right next to this Lyric.
It's a blue icon with a white shield.
It says Honeywell.
If I click on it, it's going to take you
through a couple of steps that you're
going to need to complete in order to pair it,
but it's basically going to make your tablet
or iPhone into an emulator so it acts as a keypad.
You can arm and disarm from this app.
And just use something to keep in mind
is that that app only works locally,
so if you guys were looking for any remote notifications,
it would not be through that app.
That only works when you're connected
to the same Wi-Fi network that the Lyric is connected to,
so you do have to be at the actual location and on site.
If you were looking for remote notifications such as email
and text notifications, which is what a lot of people like,
then you would want to do Total Connect.
I know this video is about not using Total Connect,
but I'm here to let you know also what Total Connect can do.
It allows you to control the system remotely,
so whether you're in a different state, city, country,
as long as you have internet and you're
logged into your account, you can control the system
and receive notifications.
Now, one other thing about the system, which a lot of people
have been discussing on the internet, is HomeKit.
This system, if bought new, it does come with the software
to do HomeKit.
However, you still need a monitoring company
to enable it.
That's something that a lot of people are getting confused.
For the HomeKit, you need a monitoring service
to enable it, so if you get the Lyric,
keep in mind you need to have a monitoring
company and some service with them
so that they can enable it for you.
Now, once you have HomeKit enabled--
now, again, that's going to be through an iOS device, also.
Android doesn't have HomeKit.
Once you have the HomeKit app, you can arm and disarm
from that HomeKit.
You can get alarms.
However, those alerts through HomeKit
are not as specific as they are in Total Connect.
So Total Connect will actually let
you know sensor one front door alarm burg zone or fire alarm,
so it's very specific with what alarms are being reported
and it lets you know very specifically what's
going on with the system.
HomeKit does not do that.
Also, if you want to use HomeKit remotely,
you need to have an Apple TV set up as a HomeKit hub
or you need to have an iPad with the latest firmware
update, again, set up as a HomeKit hub.
So that's the only way to use HomeKit remotely.
Remember, again, very, very important.
You need to have a monitoring company enable HomeKit.
Now, as for the Lyric system, to get back into the monitoring
services without Total Connect, you can certainly use that.
We are actually a monitoring company, as well,
and we have monitoring plans for this system.
So you can either do central station monitoring only,
which is the typical alarm dispatching where there's
an alarm, or central station will call the authorities
or call you.
However you want to set it up.
We also have plans where you can do central station and Total
Connect, so you get both of those.
And we also have different plans, which
are self-monitoring plans.
Now, that is a Total Connect only,
which means you are the only one that is receiving notifications
and it's up to you to contact the authorities.
Yeah.
So there's three different plans, right?
Central station only, central station
plus Total Connect, or just Total Connect.
Yeah.
And again, you guys don't need to get any monitoring
on the system.
If you guys just want to use it as a local noise maker,
you guys can do that, but then keep in mind
the only people knowing that the alarm is going off
are the people onsite that are getting the big alarm
sound from the Lyric or that can actually hear the Lyric.
So keep in mind if you guys don't get any monitoring,
the only people that are going to know of the alarm
are the people who hear it going off.
Yeah.
So we always recommend getting the system monitored,
whether it's through Wi-Fi, through cellular, Total Connect
only, or central station only, or both of them.
So if you guys do have any questions,
you can always e-mail us at support@alarmgrid.com.
If you found this video helpful, make sure
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you guys do get notified.
Again, guys, my name was George.
I'm with Alarm Grid.
See you guys next time.