GE IS-TS-0700 No Wifi Signal Solved

I am going to apologize in advance for not having any pictures to better explain what I did to restore Wi-Fi on the GE IS-TS-0700.  When I started this process I figured on zero chance of success.  I don’t want to repeat this process out of fear of screwing up my TS.

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT ATTEMPT ON YOUR TS UNLESS DEVICE IS OUT OF WARRANTY.  DOING THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY.

I purchased a cheap GE-IS-TS-0700 on eBay for about 30 bucks.  ADT offers this same device for 200 dollars +/- depending on the vendors price point.  The device is brand new however, the original OEM packaging showed signs of an impact.  It did not appear the device itself had suffered any damage.

To add a touchscreen to your ADT Pulse system, you need to connect the TS to the intra-net port on the ADT IHub 3000.  You then go to the portal, system tab and select the option to “manage devices.”  From there you select “add touchscreen.”

Looking at the TS I noticed the MAC address listed on the TS in the “about” area was different than the MAC address listed on the back of the hardware.  Odd.  I also noted there was NO Wi-Fi signal with a Wi-Fi status listed as “failure.”  In the settings area the wifi signal strength showed no bars and was simply a red outline.  I was not sure if this was due to the TS not being made part of the network or if this was due to a malfunction within the device.

I was unable to add the device to the network using the MAC address on the back of the hardware.  Using the MAC address listed in the settings area, I was able to join the TS to the network.  Once the TS was physically disconnected from the IHub it ceased to function.  Wireless signal strength was ZERO and Wi-Fi status in the “about” area indicated a failure.  Hitting the “reset” button defaulted the TS to its original setting however, it did not fix the Wi-Fi issue.  Power-cycling the TS while holding down the “home” key did give the option to restore factory defaults.  Doing this failed to download any new firmware and seemed to cause a failure loop as the device looked for an IP address.

Calling ADT Pulse technical support was non-productive.  They offered to send a tech out to take a look.  I doubted the tech could help.  I asked if there was an option to update the TS firmware.  They were not sure and again came back with a Tech option.

A tech I am familiar with showed up.  She is very good.  However, she confirmed what I believed.  The Wi-Fi was not working on the device and there was no option to fix it with her training and equipment.  I had hoped she could physically connect via the USB port on the TS to possibly re-install missing factory firmware.

At this point I decided to open up the TS.  Flipping it over you will see a number of tiny screws along the outside perimeter of the TS.  I removed all the screws and gently removed the back panel.  This rear panel is connected to the main body by the DC connection.  I raised the panel toward the DC connection so I would not have to disconnect the rear panel from the main body.  On my TS the Wi-Fi heat sink and module is directly above the Ethernet port.  If you are looking at the rear of your TS it would be attached to the main body in the upper right corner.

Everything appeared to be ok.  I did note the MAC address listed on the Wi-Fi module matched the MAC address listed on the rear of the TS.  This shot down my theory that perhaps somebody had tried to hack the TS and replace the firmware with something different.  I had theorized the different MAC address was a residual value from a clone attempt.

Closer examination revealed the power connection to the wireless module appeared to be slightly loose.  It is a four pin connection.  I believe it was a black, red, white and green wire?  (I should have taken pics!….I know…sorry)  The connection is obvious.  The power to the Wi-Fi module connects closest to the Ethernet port and runs behind a silver panel covering the main board of the TS.  I gently pushed this power cord tighter at both connection points.

Before securing the rear panel I powered up the TS.  A small green LED on the Wi-Fi module lit.  This LED is not visible when the TS is assembled.  The MAC address on the back of the panel and listed in the “about” area now matched the MAC listed on the hardware.  Wi-Fi signal strength was listed as full despite not being connected or joined to my network.  No error messages were listed in the Wi-Fi status area.

I re-attached the rear panel and successfully joined the TS to the network.  It would appear the power cord to the Wi-Fi was knocked off causing the issue.  It is also possible (and less likely) removing the rear panel caused some sort of reset to the Touchscreen system.  The “alien” MAC address listed is probably a default for the Ethernet port?

Problem solved.   Again, don’t do this unless you find yourself with an out of warranty, non-ADT supplied GE IS-TS-0700.

HSS101 Netgear Touchscreen

ADT has released sporadic information on an alternative touchscreen for their ADT Pulse system.  The current base model is the GE IS-TS-0700.  One look at the HSS101 and it looks like a higher quality option.

Trying to get a hold of one of these touch screens seems impossible.  ADT reps I have talked to have no idea about this alternative touchscreen.  Information indicates this model is available only in select areas.  Probably for testing and eventual wide spread release.

The other day I stumbled across an ADT dealer website advertising the option for this touchscreen in their area.  This website gives a cost rundown….gulp.  First off, 599 dollars for a touchscreen is insane.  Secondly, this price is just 100 dollars more than the GE IS-TS-0700 is flat out crazy.  The GE touchscreen does not feel like a 499 item.   I am not sure what the price point is for these items in California.  Two months prior to this post, ADT’s price for a GE IS-TS-0700 in the Midwest area, was $200.00 give or take a few bucks for tax.  With a USAA discount that price was brought down to $180.00.  Still to much for me, I bought a used one on Ebay for 80 bucks.

The HSS101 is impossible to find even through legitimate ADT resources.  Perhaps the recent availability indicated by the two dealers out of California, shows a pending wide spread release.

EDIT: toned down my outrage.  California appears to have a different price model.  I received an email from the second website.  They advise they can’t get the GE TS for what I was quoted in Nebraska.  Not sure why but it may have to do with what ADT charges their vendors.  My price came directly from ADT.

The Return of the Installer Option On The ADT Touchscreen

When ADT Pulse was first released it was possible to add security modules via the ADT GE IS-TS-0700 Touchscreen.   Apparently, ADT became aware this option was out in the wild and being used by users to add modules not listed on the ADT portal.  They removed the interface with an update.  Security modules need to be added through the security panel.

I got my hands on an older GE IS-TS-0700 touchscreen on ebay.  I added it to my system.  I was surprised to discover the old “Installer” option was on this touchscreen.  I looked at the firmware version by pressing the “ADT” logo in the upper left corner.  This touchscreen was running firmware 3.5.0-66 from Nov 18, 2010.  My older touchscreen is pushing firmware version 4.5.0-780 from March 2012.

This brings up a couple of questions.  How long before the touchscreen gets forced to update?  Is it possible to reset an updated touchscreen back to factory in order to regain the installer option?  If this is done, will ADT force an update to the newer firmware?

Answers in order: 5 minutes, Maybe, yes….you have 5 minutes.  So, not really worth it.

A touchscreen with original factory settings definitely has the touchscreen installer option.  My attempt to enter installer mode via this menu worked.   Within 5 minutes your touchscreen will appear to power off, power on and then you are forced back to the new firmware.  I interrupted the download by unplugging the screen and it defaulted to the old firmware with all options intact.

I believe you can reset the touchscreen to factory by holding down the power button while power cycling the screen.  I am not sure about this and I am looking for verification in an online manual.  I recall reading about this procedure.  I don’t want to go through the headache since I am not sure of the impact of a reset.  I would caution you before trying this.  It might just cause the touchscreen to become a brick.

The easier option is to just go through whatever interface you have for your security panel.

In short, it is not really worth it.

EDIT: I have been told that you may be able to get the Touchscreen to set back to default by simply removing the TS from the network then re-joining the same TS through the web portal, back to your network.  Upon the re-install, the TS may default back to its original firmware.  If successful, unplug the IHub from the INTERNET to prevent an update of firmware.  Once done using the interface, plug IHub back in to network (internet).  No idea if this works.  To lazy to try at the moment.