Alarm

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Alarm System

Purchased Alarm

Decided to go with the Vista-20P with the 6160RF keypad and AD2USB module.

• Alarm was purchased from here for $205 (better deal than amazon or ebay): http://www.aesecurity.com/vi61plkit.html
  • Came with bonus backup battery and siren.
• Separately ordered 2 motion sensors and 2 wireless door sensors.
• Also ordered AD2USB module for ~$90.

Requirements

• Controls must be accessible over serial or ethernet (this is required for integration)
• Must have open source software or be easy to write code for

Options

DSC Power Series

• Integration through the IT100 (serial) and IT120 (ethernet) modules
• Works with Vera home automation
• Lack of open-source software

Ademco Vista Series

• $160 for complete kit (w/o wireless): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ademco-Honeywell-Vista-20P-with-6160-Alpha-keypad-Version-9-12-/221041630131
• $205 for complete kit (w/ wireless)
• ~$90 for Integration via the AD2USB adapter via Nutech http://www.nutech.com/online-store/35.html
• Good open-source software
• Works with Vera home Automation
• Requires 6160 keypad to be programmed
• Requires 6160RF keypad to be programmed and accept wireless sensors

HAI – Omni panels

• These have Serial connectivity built in.
• Expensive (possibly around $1k for the kit?)
• No good software?

Automation & Integration

Requirements

• Must be able to program the alarm to disarm when someone successfully badges into the access control.
• Must be able to use the program on linux or over the web.

Options

Homeseer

• Expensive ($219.95)
• Closed Source ($100 for source code)
• Requires Windows server
• Plug-in for DSC is free, plug-in for Ademco is $30

Vera

• Controller is $179 or $294 (not sure about the difference between the two)
• Not sure how we would make this work with the access control to disarm the alarm automatically
• Could be used to control other Z-Wave devices

DSC Software

• Module (IT-100) costs $60, but there does not seem to be any well developed software for it (except HomeSeer)
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/dsc-alarm/
• http://hackaday.com/2012/07/27/bending-a-home-security-control-panel-to-your-will/
• http://openremote.org/display/docs/OpenRemote+2.0+How+To+-+DSC+Alarm+Systems

Ademco Software

• Software is free, but module costs nearly $90
• For Linux (will work on our file server)
• Large community
• Node JS module: https://github.com/alexkwolfe/node-ad2usb
• http://www.nutech.com/online-store/35.html
• http://www.nutech.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=74&func=view&catid=4&id=21
• Should be fairly easy to disarm the alarm with it, as long as access control system can send a signal to the PC

Monitoring

See: https://dallasmakerspace.org/wiki/Alarm_Monitoring

Important Vista 20p Notes

• Explanation of zone types: http://www.diysecurityforum.com/index.php?topic=24817.msg116103#msg116103
• How to add the additional panel: http://help.safemart.com/entries/20485302-Adding-wireless-sensors-to-an-Ademco-Vista-Series-panel
• “The resistors are supposed to be at the sensor location. They serve no useful purpose when installed in the panel.” http://www.diysecurityforum.com/index.php?topic=24817.msg116101#msg116101
• Good review: http://www.allpar.com/reviews/other/ademco.html
• Good wiring diagrams: http://www.myalarmguy.net/honeywell.html
• Best explanation of an EOLR (end of line resistor): http://www.diysecurityforum.com/index.php?topic=19202.msg85357#msg85357
• Make sure both the Loop# and serial number on a wireless device match or the sensor will always fault. For example, this is wrong, since the loop number is wrong:
• You can disable a zone by using 00 for the zone type: