It’s been a year since the last update in the Ajax Hub line, the release of Ajax Hub 2 in September 2019, and it was just a matter of time before we get the Ajax Hub 2 Plus version. Here it is, looks the same, but feels different, and has plenty of updates under the hood. We will glance through the changes done, compare the Hub 2 Plus to all previous Hubs, connect, activate, and conclude.
Hardware / Box Contents
It’s the same on the outside – hard plastic, rounded edges, the LED behind Ajax logo, within the box you get power cord, pack with screws and anchors, and the quick start guide. On the rear under the back lid, which is also a mounting bracket, you will find functional elements: power in, ethernet cable input, and 2 slots for micro-sim-cards, able to operate in 3G and 4G networks. And this is the killer feature – in total of 4 channels for data transmission: cable, Wi-fi, and 2 independent SIM-cards supporting LTE, and it’s nice to have so many backup channels. There’s also a power button, a tamper button, and the QR code to activate the Hub in the phone app.
Features Overview
Substantially, the biggest feature that Hub 2 brought is the support for Ajax MotionCam, a device that combines a PIR sensor and Photo Camera, where PIR sensor triggering launches the camera that takes series of up to 5 photos in 640×480 resolution and then sends it to the Hub via radio frequencies for as far as 1700 m., and then via ethernet you receive those photos in Ajax phone app. Also, along with the Hub 2 launch, Ajax backed it with a new OS update for Hubs that added scenarios, and Ajax Hub 2 Plus doubles the number and supports 64 scenarios. Those could be auto-arming and disarming the security system or a certain group on schedule. It can control the activation of a smoke machine in case of intrusion, cut the power supply and turn on emergency lighting in case of fire, or cut the water in case of a water leak. It makes Hub 2 Plus able to control lights, electric locks, roller shutters, and many other things.
Ajax Hubs Comparison / The Numbers
The numbers demonstrate the situation better than words do. Here‘s the comparison table, which clearly defines the Hub 2 Plus's intention – to provide a bigger system scale. 200 devices connected at once to Hub 2 Plus, opposite to 150 for Hub Plus, and 100 for Regular Hub.
Activation / Start-up
With Ajax Systems’ appliance, you get a plug-and-play device from the box – supply the power to it with a cable from the box and get the network to it as well via the standard UTP cable, which is not included in the box. Press the power button located under the back lid, install the free Ajax app onto your phone, and wait till the LED behind the logo lights green. Back to the rear part where you scan the QR code from the Ajax app on the phone, and then it is added to your account, and now you can access it remotely anytime from your phone, and this is actually your remote control for every process happening in the system.