Subject: From: Date:

Re: RE: RE: RE: [ECS] Alarm suggestions Daniel Dubay Tue, 08 Sep 1998 13:54:19 -0400

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Thanks for the info Terry.  I am going to look further into Napco
Gemini.

Dan Dubay

>>> Martin Terry <Martin.Terry@mail.tribnet.com> 09/08 11:29 AM >>>
Dan, sorry it took so long to reply to this, but I've spent most of
the
weekend running cables in my house.

Looks like the DSC 832 will not pan out as well as I had hoped.  The
serial connection works fine and I can see how the transfer is being
made however there are two things that make it basically unusable with
ECS.

1. You have to initiate the serial connection from a kepad with a
code.
2. While the serial connection is active the keypads are completely
locked out!

Oddly enough, dial up into the panel does not have to be initiated
each
time as the serial connection. I'm still working on the wiring but I
plan on seeing if I can dial up and query the panel for a few
statuses.
This however would take too long for any real time interaction.

I can still arm/disarm the panel from ECS with a relay closure by
setting up the panel with a keyswitch zone. I can also read the armed
status with a digital item. I cannot however determine these via the
serial port due to the problems noted above.

Oh well, it was a fun exercise!


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Daniel Dubay [SMTP:ddubay@umich.edu] 
> Sent:	Wednesday, August 26, 1998 4:48 PM
> To:	ecs-list@vancouver.ml.org 
> Subject:	Re: RE: RE: [ECS] Alarm suggestions
> 
> Hello Terry,
> 
> The Serial analyzer software you have sounds pretty good.  I've
> recently heard some good things about this DSC system.  When you
> figure
> out the comand set can you attach a copy to the email?
> 
> What do these intercoms look like.  sounds like a nice way to give
ECS
> voice.  Where are you buying your equipment from?  Thanks for the
> info.
> 
> Dan Dubay
> 
> >>> Martin Terry <Martin.Terry@mail.tribnet.com> 08/25 11:42 PM >>>
> Well, since it connects to the PC's serial port, I am guessing it is
> using ASCII to communicate.
> 
> I've already ordered the unit, and I have the software provided by
> DSC.
> I plan on connecting a serial port analyzer, using the software to
get
> status, see what ASCII codes are sent to the device, and what ASCII
> codes are returned and how these codes translate (armed, alarm,
etc.).
> I
> do this for all the functions I'm interested in controlling via ECS.
> 
> So far things look promising. It appears there is an initial
> "handshake"
> between the software and the unit, but the docs state that once that
> has
> occured there is no timeout of the serial link, meaning once you've
> logged in, you don't have to do it again unless you log out.
> 
> One of the cool things about this unit is that everything is
software
> controllable, including all the ancillary cards like the intercom
card
> I'm interested in. Using a "broadcast mask" function, I can pick the
> stations I want to receive an announce, send the announcement via
ECS,
> then turn on all the stations again.
> 
> You can even answer the phone directly from the intercom. You can
also
> send text to the 32 chararcter LCD keypads.  Lots of cool stuff.
> 
> Unless there's some incredibly tricky timing involved in the
protocol,
> this should be a piece of cake to reverse engineer.
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:	Daniel Dubay [SMTP:ddubay@umich.edu] 
> > Sent:	Tuesday, August 25, 1998 1:39 PM
> > To:	ecs-list@vancouver.ml.org 
> > Subject:	Re: RE: [ECS] Alarm suggestions
> > 
> > Terry,  I have easy access to Gemini and it has the features I
want.
> > I
> > can get a good price through Home Controls dealer program.  I
would
> be
> > interested in looking at the DSC system.  Is it available through
> ADI?
> > 
> > Either way we need a protocol to work with these systems.  ECS
needs
> > to
> > know the commands to send to the system.  I don't know if your
> serial
> > analyzer can monitor commands sent by proprietary software?
> > 
> > Dan Dubay
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > >>> Martin Terry <Martin.Terry@mail.tribnet.com> 08/24 1:25 PM >>>
> > Thanks for the Input Dan. Why are you going with the Gemini may I
> ask?
> > The DSC unit supports a serial link to PC and although I haven't
> found
> > the protocol, I do have their software and an serial analyzer :)
> > 
> > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From:	Daniel Dubay [SMTP:ddubay@umich.edu] 
> > > Sent:	Monday, August 24, 1998 7:35 AM
> > > To:	ecs-list@vancouver.ml.org 
> > > Subject:	Re: RE: [ECS] Final CID questions
> > > 
> > > Hello Martin,
> > > 
> > > I prefer a stand alone system.  One of the principals of
> > > professionally
> > > integrated systems is to use stand alone subsystems.  Although
ECS
> > is
> > > very stable, I sometimes cause instability with my own changes.
> > > 
> > > I am considering the inovonics hardwired system (only six
inputs)
> vs
> > a
> > > Napco Gemini system (not directly supported by ECS).  I am
trying
> to
> > > obtain their protocol.
> > > 
> > > Dan Dubay
> > > 
> > > >>> "Michael David" <michael@michaeldavid.com> 08/23 9:48 PM >>>
> > > Hi Martin!
> > > 
> > > I use ECS as my alarm system, with hardwired sensors connected
to
> my
> > > digital
> > > inputs, and Inovonics wireless transmitters sending signals to
the
> > > Inovonics
> > > receiver that's supported by ECS.  Works great.  I have yet to
> think
> > > of
> > > any
> > > reason to go with a stand-alone system.
> > > 
> > > Cheers!
> > > 
> > > Michael David
> > > michael@michaeldavid.com 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From:	Martin Terry [mailto:Martin.Terry@mail.tribnet.com] 
> > > Sent:	Sunday, August 23, 1998 1:35 PM
> > > To:	'ecs-list@vancouver.ml.org' 
> > > Subject:	RE: [ECS] Final CID questions
> > > 
> > > Hi All,
> > > 
> > > I'm thinking of buying a DSC 832 alarm system and it's optional
> > > intercom. Anyone out there have experience with this unit? I'm
> > > currently
> > > thinking of ways to interface the alarm status with ECS, but it
> > looks
> > > difficult at best.
> > > 
> > > I do think interfacing with the intercom should be easy enough.
> > > 
> > > What are you folks doing in this reguard? I realize there's a
> brand
> > of
> > > alarm already supported by ECS but how's it compare in price to
> the
> > > DSC
> > > unit (which I consider dirt cheap, <$200 for the panel and 1
> > keypad).
> > > 

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