As of August 2023, Verkada has replaced the BC51 Alarm Console with the BC82 Alarm Console. For details, see the End-of-Sale announcement.
The BC51 alarm console is used to arm/disarm alarm sites, with additional functionality including a digital panic button, device status page, event feed, and integrated camera and microphone for remote monitoring and talk-down from Command.
Install the Verkada BC51
Your alarm console comes with a 10W PoE adapter (IEEE 802.3af) for power and network connectivity and includes a powder-coated steel enclosure for secure mounting.
Note: The alarm console must be mounted in portrait mode/vertically.
Recommendation. Once you take the alarm console out of the box, we recommend that you stage the console and test its functionality before mounting.
Attach an Ethernet cable to the PoE adapter from the top of the alarm console mount.
Connect the Ethernet cable to an open port on a PoE switch.
Note: If the alarm console is out of power when you first receive the device, it may take up to 15 minutes for the device to power on after being plugged into a PoE switch.
Once the console powers on, add the device to Verkada Command via the web interface with the serial number located on the box and on the console display. In Command, ensure the console is added to the appropriate alarm site.
If the console has network connectivity to our servers and the serial number has been added to Command it should take you to this keypad interface:
Test the keypad features prior to mounting it in its final location to ensure everything is working as expected:
Events
On this tab, you can see all the live events that have occurred on the alarm site. This should mirror the Activity tab seen in the alarm site in Command. This should also allow you to view the feeds of the Cameras in your Alarm Site.Devices
On this tab, you will see all the devices and the last event that exists in the alarm site. This should mirror the Devices tab seen in the alarm site in Command.
Keypad
On this tab, you can test arm/disarm functionality with your configured keycodes in Command.Two-Way Talk-Down and Listening In
This test is best performed with 2 people in separate rooms, please have one individual in front of the console and the other on the Command web interface. On the Command interface, the alarm console should display a live feed. To test the listen-in feature, unmute the alarm console, we should hear the sounds that the console is picking up. To test two-way talk-down, initiate a video call by pressing the call button in the video feed of the console.
You can also choose to plug in a 3.5 mm audio jack to the console for broader / louder coverage for talk-down communications, including outdoor speakers.
Note: The alarm console includes an integrated camera and microphone for remote monitoring from Command, and a banner at the top of the console screen will indicate when video or audio is being viewed or recorded.
Panic
Hit the digital panic button to test an immediate alarm - you can disarm it with your configured keycodes or via the Command web interface.
After testing these features, you can proceed to mount the alarm console in its final location using the mounting instructions included in the box.
Need more help? Contact Verkada Support.