Subject: From: Date:

RE: [ECS] Alarm suggestions Martin Terry Thu, 3 Sep 1998 12:03:44 -0700

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Hi Dan, I got the stuff yesterday, so I'll be throwing it together today
and starting the test. I should have some difinitive answers by Saturday
[better-half delay :)]

The software for the box definately says you can arm and disarm the
system via software. I'll know for sure in a few days.

The serial interface is on a 4 pin header that's on the main board.
There's an adapter that plugs into it.


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Daniel Dubay [SMTP:ddubay@umich.edu]
> Sent:	Wednesday, September 02, 1998 1:44 PM
> To:	ecs-list@vancouver.ml.org
> Subject:	Re: RE: RE: RE: RE: [ECS] Alarm suggestions
> 
> Terry,  I called DSC at 1.800.387.3630.  Apparently the panels can
> send
> info on status changes but you cannot change status with ECS.  You
> might
> want to call them if you haven't allready.  They were very helpful.  I
> think I want something that I can disarm with ECS so I am still
> checking
>  on the Gemini panels.  I may have to ask you about your serial
> monitor
> in the future.
> 
> Dan Dubay
> 
> >>> Martin Terry <Martin.Terry@mail.tribnet.com> 09/01 2:09 PM >>>
> Hi Dan. I'm still waiting on UPS, but it should be here any day. The
> serial interface requires an adapter, available from dsc.  From the
> documentation it looks like a 4 pin header or possibly an RJ45
> connector
> on the panel itself. The cable terminates to a DB 25.
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:	Daniel Dubay [SMTP:ddubay@umich.edu] 
> > Sent:	Tuesday, September 01, 1998 10:14 AM
> > To:	ecs-list@vancouver.ml.org 
> > Subject:	Re: RE: RE: RE: [ECS] Alarm suggestions
> > 
> > Hello Terry,
> > 
> > Any more info on the DSC alarm?  I went to a local supplier to look
> at
> > one.  I notice they have a connection for phone interface but I
> didn't
> > 
> > see anything for serial interface.  How are you doing this?  Thanks
> > for
> > the info.
> > 
> > Dan Dubay
> > 
> > >>> Martin Terry <Martin.Terry@mail.tribnet.com> 08/27 12:11 PM >>>
> > The analyzer is coming from my work, on a dedicated Compaq
> "portable".
> > Old but reliable, it gets the job done.
> > 
> > I'm getting my equipment from Baran-Harper, but there's several good
> > suppliers on the net with what I thought was good pricing, as low as
> > $140 for the alarm panel and led keypad (8 zone).  The intercom
> units
> > are a tad biiger than a dollar bill standing vertically, with two
> > buttons. Very clean lines.
> > 
> > I expect to get the unit by Saturday and I'll post what I find about
> > the
> > protocol it uses.
> > 
> > > -----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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