is anyone considering messing around with this? i have a dsc powerseries security sys and am thinking about getting the pc5401 rs232 comm module for it, but i don't have time to sort out the scripting/translation. been too long since i've dabbled in that stuff.

if anyone out there is, i'd love a chance to tryout/help/test what you're working on.

tia.

here's a link to a .pdf of the dsc dev guide for the rs232 module. it contains the command language used with the module (to be connected to a powerseries 864 system).

http://www.baranharper.com/pdfs/pc5401-dev_guide.pdf

is anyone interested in writing a serial bridge script to provide the commands to indigo? i would really only be interested in a basic protocol, something like: armed, disarmed, armed-away, armed-stay, zone open, zone restored, ac trouble, ac trouble restored... those are the basics... i suppose indigo should be able to send a command like: status update, or clear comm buffer. but wouldn't want to necessarily control any alarm functions via indigo... better to restrict that interface to status only and keep the security system discrete and... well, secure.

thanks to anyone with any ideas on this... if there is someone who really knows their stuff and wanted to get into it... i could consider a little remuneration for the effort. i would appreciate the help.

dt

no takers at all? not even a bit of friendly advice on how to go about this?

i'll take anything...

The protocol looks pretty straightforward. That said, there aren't many examples so without having that alarm system it wouldn't be possible for me to guess the exact command/data sequences for which you want to listen. Additionally, for some reason that dev guide doesn't tell you what baud rate you should use. I'd guess 4800 or 9600, but it might be 2400 or 1200.

I'd suggest firing up Serial Bridge, editing the default connection script to do nothing (or just log the bytes that it sees), then have the alarm panel go through the states you want to capture and see what exact bytes are sent to Serial Bridge.

Regards,
Matt

I would be willing to give it a try. I have extensive experience with RS-232, AppleScript and programming so am confident I can get it to work.

The only problem I see is that I don't have any of the equipment to test it against. If you would be willing to buy me a basic set (lowest end panel, keypad, a sensor of some description and the pc5401 - I don't need anything fancy, just something that can be hooked up and works), then I can do all the programming for it for you. You can consider the system as payment if you like 8)

i am giving it a go myself in spare moments, but i'm sure i won't get that far.

i will consider that offer.. it's a bit rich. the basic system that works with the 5401 is $200 and the 5401 is over $100.... for that, i would have to have complete command translation back and forth to and from the 5401, tested and bugfree.

also, i would be in the position of supplying you with a bunch of hardware and waiting for the work which could take a long time (i don't know your schedule or expertise) or, in fact, forever. not very prudent on my part, frankly...

or:

are there others out there who would be willing to pay a nominal price for the results of this? a full dsc security system interface through serial bridge. it's probably worth... oh, $39US? anyone care to help offset my development costs?

Ahhh.....I didn't realise they were so expensive.

On Googling I found the Power432 panel for $50, An LED keypad for $50 and a sensor for $3.50. I couldn't find a price for the 5401. I didn't realise the 432 won't work with the 5401.

yah, think it only works with the 864 series, maybe the 832, but it makes no sense to get an 832 as it's a more than ten years old motherboard by now...

i'm researching a kit, maybe i could do half of it for you; what would think your timeframe would be?

has anyone used smile? does it have any advantages over script editor?

http://www.satimage.fr/software/en/downloads_smile.html

Well, I just bought a DSC 864, and of course I want to integrate it with Indigo and my home automation system. I was leaning on exploring the TLink ethernet module to log to (& accept commands from) my OS X HA box, as opposed to YASD (yet another serial device - the pc5401). Then there's the ESCORT5580 Telephone & X10 module (looks like an awkward option). Unfortunately, information on the TLink (like a user's or programmer's manual) seems impossible to come by (it looks like they want to sell you some expensive software). If you or anyone else has any other documentation to share on the TLink, let me know. If I end up looking at the serial option (which I'm strongly avoiding), then I'll be looking at Serial Bridge too.

In the meantime, I'm happy to share whatever I learn (& I'm anxious to hear what you learn). I do need to finish my other HA-enhancement project - integrating the cool web-server-in-a-thermostat (from Proliphix) with Indigo - first. You know how the SAF lowers when there are too many open-and-not-completed projects going on...

-John

yeah, dsc is very tight-fisted with the tlink info. i think that is for central station applications only, they won't even talk to a non-licensed installer about it...

i'll keep posting here what i'm up to...

well, i never thought i'd have it up and running in a night, let alone two hours, but that's the situation...

i received the 5401 this evening, installed it in twenty minutes and had indigo receiving codes about half an hour after that -- thanks to matt for the applescript code that worked with minimal tweaking -- then it was just a matter of telling indigo what the codes meant.

i had already programmed many of the triggers and sequences i was looking for and simply connected the codes to pre-programmed variables via triggers (if/thens). now i have arrival lighting, departure routines, garage door open reminders, motion detector night lights, and more working like a charm (i'm sure there's some debugging to do once i see how it all works.. ), but i'm so pleased at how well this came together.

i will gladly supply the applescript to translate the 5401 codes into ascii for indigo, just pm me. i used a var called "AlarmComm" and there are a couple other specifics, but basically it is very easy to implement....


dt

Hi

I tried to work PC5401 and PC4401 (Datalink) and I created SW for control DSC systems (PC585, PC1565, PC5010, PC5020 and PC4020v3.3)
You can see it on
http://www.kelcom.cz/manual/pdf/dsc_monitor.pdf
and you can try it -
http://www.kelcom.cz/podpora/down_sw/dsc_monitor.zip
It is only Czech version, but it could be easy translated.

You talked here about indigo. What is it?

Is there a Mac OS X version of your software available?

Indigo is Mac OS X home control software -- more info here.

Regards,
Matt

Hi,
This software is only for Windows.
It is graphic SW for the DSC security systems, designed to monitor and control the whole security system. SW shows one or more site maps on the PC where the device symbols are located.
I created an english version, you can try it.
If is it interesting for you, you can look at PowerPoint presentation.

http://www.kelcom.cz/manual/pdf/dsc_monitor_en.pps