Ajax Hub 2 vs Hub 2 Plus: Which Ajax Control Panel Should You Fit?

Last updated: 5 June 2026 · Netview CCTV, Leicester · Trade desk 01163 800 838

The control panel is the single most important decision in any Ajax quote — it sets the device ceiling, the communication channels and the price floor for the whole system. This installer guide compares the Ajax Hub 2 vs Hub 2 Plus wireless control panels, explains the 2G and 4G variants, and shows which Ajax control panel to fit for domestic, light-commercial and larger sites. Every model below is UK trade stock at Netview with same-day dispatch.

Ajax Hub 2 vs Hub 2 Plus control panel comparison — Ajax Hub 2, Hub 2 (4G) and Hub 2 Plus — the three wireless control panels Netview stocks for trade.

At a glance

Hub 2 (2G) — entry wireless panel, Ethernet + 2G, up to 100 devices and 50 users. Best for small domestic jobs on a budget.
Hub 2 (4G) — same capacity as the 2G but with Ethernet + 2G/3G/LTE cellular back-up. The sensible default for most monitored homes.
Hub 2 Plus — four communication channels (Ethernet, Wi-Fi and two SIMs), up to 200 devices, 200 users and 25 security groups. The panel for larger homes and commercial sites.
All three support MotionCam photo verification. Only Hub 2 Plus adds Wi-Fi and dual-SIM redundancy.
Need a wired or EN 54 fire panel instead? See the Ajax MultiTransmitter guide and the Ajax EN 54 Fire Hub below.

What is an Ajax control panel (hub)?

An Ajax control panel — Ajax calls it a hub — is the brain of the system that polls every wireless detector, makes the arm/disarm decisions and signals alarms to users and the monitoring centre. Every Ajax detector, keypad, siren and keyfob pairs to one hub over the two-way Jeweller radio protocol, while photo frames travel on the separate Wings protocol so a verification image still gets through on a weak signal (Ajax Hub 2 Plus). Choose the wrong hub and you either over-spend on a domestic job or hit the device ceiling halfway through a commercial fit.

Ajax Hub 2 vs Hub 2 Plus: the quick answer

Fit a Hub 2 (4G) for the typical monitored home, and step up to a Hub 2 Plus when the site needs Wi-Fi, dual-SIM redundancy, more than 100 devices, or staff groups. The Hub 2 family tops out at 100 devices and 50 users; the Hub 2 Plus doubles that to 200 devices and 200 users and adds a fourth communication channel (Ajax hub comparison). If photo verification matters — and for ARC-monitored sites it usually does — all three panels here support it.

Ajax control panel comparison table

The table below is the fast spec comparison installers ask for most. Figures are from Ajax's own product and support pages.

Feature	Hub 2 (2G)	Hub 2 (4G)	Hub 2 Plus
Communication channels	Ethernet + 2G	Ethernet + 2G/3G/LTE	Ethernet + Wi-Fi + 2× SIM (2G/3G/LTE)
Max devices	100	100	200
Max users	50	50	200
Security groups	Yes	Yes	Up to 25
Automation scenarios	Up to 32	Up to 32	Up to 64
MotionCam photo verification	Yes	Yes	Yes (up to 200 MotionCam)
Wi-Fi	No	No	Yes
Backup battery	Up to ~16 h	Up to ~16 h	Up to 15 h
Netview SKU	22920 (white) / 22919 (black)	34721 (white)	22925 (white) / 22924 (black)

Ajax Hub 2 control panel three reference builds — Three reference builds — domestic on Hub 2 (4G), commercial on Hub 2 Plus, and a fire system on the EN 54 Fire Hub.

Communication channels explained

Communication redundancy is the headline difference between the Hub 2 family and the Hub 2 Plus. The Hub 2 (2G) uses Ethernet plus a single 2G cellular path; the Hub 2 (4G) keeps Ethernet but upgrades the cellular module to 2G/3G/LTE, which matters now that 3G is being switched off and 2G-only signalling is on borrowed time. The Hub 2 Plus goes further with four channels — Ethernet, Wi-Fi and two SIM cards — so you can run two separate internet providers over Ethernet and Wi-Fi with two cellular services on standby, switching between them in seconds (Ajax Hub 2 Plus). For any ARC-reported or dual-path site, the Hub 2 Plus or a Hub 2 (4G) with a SIM is the right starting point.

Device, user and group limits

The Hub 2 family supports up to 100 connected devices and up to 50 users, with a limit of no more than 10 HomeSiren or StreetSiren sounders per hub (Ajax Hub 2 support). The Hub 2 Plus doubles the device ceiling to 200 and the user count to 200, and adds up to 25 security groups so you can split a building into zones with separate staff access (Ajax Hub 2 Plus). Groups are the deciding factor on most commercial jobs: if the customer needs reception, warehouse and office armed independently, you want the Hub 2 Plus.

Photo verification and MotionCam

All three panels deliver MotionCam photo verification, but the Hub 2 Plus manages the most cameras. A Hub 2 Plus can handle up to 200 MotionCam detectors and deliver the first photo confirmation of an alarm in around 9 seconds, even over a SIM connection thanks to LTE (Ajax Hub 2 Plus). Photo frames are sent on the Wings protocol so verification still works on a weak signal, and the camera only activates in response to an alarm — never on demand — which keeps the system privacy-friendly. For police-response and high-value sites, photo verification is the single most useful feature you can spec.

2G vs 4G: which Hub 2 to fit

Fit the Hub 2 (4G) unless budget is the overriding constraint. The Ajax Hub 2 (4G) shares the 2G model's capacity but its 2G/3G/LTE module is future-proof against the ongoing 3G shutdown and degraded 2G coverage, so it is the safer choice for any system that relies on cellular signalling for its alarm path. Reserve the cheaper Hub 2 (2G) for small, self-monitored domestic jobs sitting on a solid broadband line where cellular is only an occasional fallback.

When to step up to Hub 2 Plus

Move to the Hub 2 Plus the moment a site needs Wi-Fi, dual-SIM redundancy, more than 100 devices, more than 50 users, or staff groups. The Ajax Hub 2 Plus (white) and Hub 2 Plus (black) also run a processor Ajax rates as 4.5 times faster than the Hub 2 with eight times the flash memory, so the panel has headroom for years of over-the-air OS Malevich updates (Ajax Hub 2 Plus). For multi-area commercial sites, large homes with outbuildings, or anything reporting to an ARC over multiple paths, the Hub 2 Plus is the default.

Ajax hub kits: the fastest way to quote

For straightforward jobs, an Ajax StarterKit gets a working system on the wall in one box. The Hub 2 Kit 1 pairs a Hub 2 with two PIRs, a door contact, two keyfobs and indoor and outdoor sirens, while the Hub 2 Kit 3 swaps the keyfobs for a keypad. Where the customer wants photo verification out of the box, the DD (dual-detector) kits such as the Hub 2 DD Kit 1 and the Kit 4 DD ship with MotionCam-capable detectors. Kits price faster and stock-pick faster — see our Ajax StarterKit installer guide for the full breakdown.

How to choose an Ajax control panel in five steps — Five questions that point you straight at the right Ajax hub.

The Ajax EN 54 Fire Hub: a separate panel

The Ajax EN 54 Fire Hub is a dedicated fire control and indicating panel, not an intruder hub — do not confuse it with the Hub 2 range. It is wireless control & indicating equipment certified to the EN 54 commercial fire standard, and Netview stocks it in white and black. If the job is a monitored fire system rather than an intruder alarm, this is the panel to quote; for combined fire-and-intruder retrofits, talk to our trade desk about which devices land on which hub.

How to choose: 5-step spec workflow

Work through five questions and the right Ajax control panel falls out:

Device count — under 100 devices and 50 users, a Hub 2 is fine; over that, Hub 2 Plus.
Signalling — monitored or dual-path? Hub 2 (4G) with a SIM, or Hub 2 Plus for four channels.
Groups — does the site need independently armed areas? Hub 2 Plus (up to 25 groups).
Photo verification — police-response or high-value? Spec MotionCam detectors on any of the three.
Speed to quote — simple job? Start from a Hub 2 Kit and add detectors.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Ajax Hub 2 and Hub 2 Plus?

The Hub 2 supports up to 100 devices and 50 users over Ethernet and one cellular path, while the Hub 2 Plus supports up to 200 devices, 200 users and 25 security groups over four channels — Ethernet, Wi-Fi and two SIM cards. Both support MotionCam photo verification; only the Plus adds Wi-Fi and dual-SIM redundancy.

Does the Ajax Hub 2 have Wi-Fi?

No. Neither the Hub 2 (2G) nor the Hub 2 (4G) has Wi-Fi — they use Ethernet plus cellular. Only the Hub 2 Plus adds Wi-Fi as a communication channel.

Should I fit the Hub 2 (2G) or the Hub 2 (4G)?

Fit the Hub 2 (4G) for any monitored system. Its 2G/3G/LTE module is future-proof against the 3G shutdown, whereas the 2G-only model is best kept for small self-monitored jobs on a reliable broadband connection.

How many cameras can an Ajax Hub 2 Plus handle?

A Hub 2 Plus can manage up to 200 MotionCam detectors for photo verification and supports third-party RTSP cameras, including Hikvision and Dahua, for live video within the Ajax app.

Is the Ajax EN 54 Fire Hub the same as a Hub 2?

No. The EN 54 Fire Hub is a dedicated wireless fire control and indicating panel certified to EN 54, used for monitored fire systems. The Hub 2 range is for intruder alarms. They are separate products.

Can I migrate a customer from an older hub to a Hub 2 Plus?

Yes. Ajax's data-import feature lets engineers migrate settings, devices, groups, scenarios and users from an old hub to a Hub 2 Plus in under 15 minutes, so an upgrade does not mean re-commissioning the whole system.

Order Ajax control panels from Netview

Netview is a UK trade supplier of the full Ajax range, holding stock of the fast-moving Hub 2, Hub 2 (4G) and Hub 2 Plus panels and kits for same-day dispatch. Need help speccing the right hub for a job? Call the trade desk on 01163 800 838 or browse the brands we stock.

Trade desk: 01163 800 838 · netviewcctv.co.uk

Sources: Ajax Hub 2 Plus product page; Ajax Hub 2 support; Ajax hub comparison. Specifications correct at time of publication; confirm against current Ajax documentation for compliance-critical jobs.