HouseBot Serial Control over DSC Security Panels

gorfllub · Post by **gorfllub** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:50 pm

Hiya.

Looks like DSC has released a module that converts contols and data for their alarm systems to serial.

Its the PC5401 - http://www.dsc.com/products/intrusion/a ... speMod.asp

Now it looks like someone has been writing code for MisterHouse

- http://w3.misterhouse.net:81/mh/code/pu ... _pc5401.pl

I was wondering if anyone has played with this for HB?

I have a DSC system already, and would love full access from HB. From what I can gather, this module will give real-time reporting of zone and system status, as well as being able to arm/disarm the panel.

Not being a coder myself, it would be super cool if there was a little more info out there.

Post by **ScottBot** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:13 pm

Looks cool. I have a DSC system too. I they were nice enough to send me a free one, I'd be happy to give it a shot.

I can't even find the protocol specification for it. Is the spec available anywhere?

gorfllub · Post by **gorfllub** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 9:18 pm

I have been looking, but nothing yet. I am going to try some folks over at the misterhouse forum. She does have that one little script written in perl.

I wonder if its gonna be one of those things that you just have to hook up and see what kind of strings come out of it......

gorfllub · Post by **gorfllub** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:00 am

Scott. I have found the developers guide for this board. It goes through all of the associated code. Want me to send you a copy??

Post by **ScottBot** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:38 pm

That would be great. Send it to me at [email protected].

gorfllub · Post by **gorfllub** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 12:01 am

Scott. Did you ever get the protocol for this? Have you had a chance to play with it?

I have been spending several hours lately building a GUI of my DSC control panel.

This way, on my touchscreen, it will look like the panel I already use on the wall.

When its done, it could be packaged as a DSC control bundle. (Plugin and images)

Post by **ScottBot** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 5:10 pm

Yes, I received it. Thanks for sending it, and I'm sorry I never got back to you. My current project has consumed all of my extra time, so I haven't even had a chance to look into it and I really don't see much free time coming up. The spec looks like it is exactly what is needed for the design. All I need is spare time again and a PC5401.

menesi · Post by **menesi** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:04 am

It's a very old topic, but is there any improvement in this case?

menesi · Post by **menesi** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:03 pm

Scott, any comment?

bjlamarca · Post by **bjlamarca** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:10 am

I use the PC5401 to link my DSC panel to HB. Use a generic serial device with VB script to make it work. Will be happy to share it.

menesi · Post by **menesi** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:54 am

bjlamarca wrote:I use the PC5401 to link my DSC panel to HB. Use a generic serial device with VB script to make it work. Will be happy to share it.

That's it, it is a perfect solution for me and a generous offer from you... Please send me the script to my email ([email protected]), or link to a post into this topic, and I say a big thank you.

Post by **ScottBot** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:27 am

menesi wrote:Scott, any comment?

My intent was to get a PC5401 and hook it up to my DSC system and develop a custom plugin for it. Unfortunately I never had a chance to dig into it and I have since moved to a house with a non-DSC security system.

However, the Generic Serial with script sounds like the perfect solution.

bjlamarca · Post by **bjlamarca** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:32 pm

Attached is an HB export of all the components of my DSC832 system. First time I ever created an export, so let me know if anything seems to be missing. There are properties that I added in the property manger, not sure if those got exported. When I was putting this together, I never intended to share it. It is very customized to my townhouse. It will have to be heavily modified to work with another system.

The heart of the system is the Scr-DS832ControlScript. It takes the data from the alarm panel and updates the various Null Devices. It also writes to the AlarmLog.mdb. The few commands that are sent to the panel are in the hardware device, I blanked out the one that sends my code.

Good Luck, please feel free to post any questions

menesi · Post by **menesi** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:09 pm

Thanks, I will try it next weekend.

James D · Post by **James D** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:14 am

I have an Ademco Security System. Can someone tell me what module I would need to have my Security System Communicate with HB and HB to Cummunicate back to the Security System? I have a Vista 10 P alarm system.