How To: Interface ISY-99i with DSC Alarm

[chadodes]

Hello! and welcome to another How-To.

In this How to I go over how to Arm and disarm your DSC Alarm System.

 

There are two ways this can be done:

• 1.) Via an

Insteon IOlinc 2450
2.) Programmaticly communicating over the network with a DSC TL150 or TL-250.

 

Method 1.) IOLinc

If you have a IOlinc, you can set it up as a "Keyed switch" on your DSC.

under normal circumstances the DSC Alarms use this option for use with littery just that.. a "Keyed switch" however with the fun power of insteon we can trick the panel into believing we are arming or disarming the system via one of these switches.

 

to do so, run some station wire from one of the zones in your panel to an IOlinc.

For this example we will use green for common on the alarm panel and yellow for say.. z8 (pick the common next to the zone in the panel).

on the IOlinc, connect the green wire to the terminal labeled Com and the yellow wire to the terminal labeled NC (Standing for normally closed).

 

Programming the DSC Alarm Panel:

You will need to set the zone you picked to a option 23 (Maintained Keyswitch Arm)

as this is an ISY forum and not a DSC forum I am not going to get into too much detail about this programming method. (and DSC frowns upon Putting links to programming manuals or detailed instructions)

Some systems may also need a 5600 ohm resistor for end of line, if you have that in place.

 

Method 2.) Programmaticly.

This is the most fun and secure way of doing things.

Secure depending on how you look at it at least.. you are hard-coding your alarm code in and all... but on the other hand you don't have two wires that can be joined together to arm/disarm your system.

 

For this you must have two things:

• The network module for the ISY (Help->Purchase Modules)
  A DSC TL-150 or TL-250 network interface. (might work on others.. not sure..)
  

 

Let's get started:

Create a new network Resource:

In ISY, go to: Configuration->Networking->Network resources.

For this example, lets name it: DSC.Arm

 

Use these settings:

http GET host tl-150 Port 80 Path /2?A=3&p=1&X=1234

• Replace the host with the hostname or IP of the DSC network interface (the TL-150 or tl- 250)
  Replace the 1234 with whatever your alarm code is you wish the ISY to use to arm / disarm (The cool part about this is different alarm codes can be set for different partitions thus different KPL buttons.)

 

In the header section, be sure to add "Authentication" and put in your username and password for the TL-150/250 (in my example I used admin/admin and it automatically gets encoded.

 

When all finished, it should look something like this:

 

Save and Save and Test!

if it works, you should hear some beeping from your DSC Keypads.

Now go run and disarm your system.

 

Speaking of disarming,

lets cover how to disarm if you should so desire to have that as a program..

Use the copy button to copy the DSC.Arm Network resource.

Lets name the copy DSC.Disarm.

Edit the body and change only the following.. the Path.. that's IT!

Change it to this:

 /2?A=4&p=1&X=1234

Replace the 1234 with the code you wish to give the ISY to disarm your alarm panel.

 

Save and Test, and Voila! all Done! isn't that awesome!

I hope your proud of yourself, I know I am.

 

As usual with my How-To's feel free to ask questions as I will try to monitor and reply to this post for at least a couple of months.

[cslee]

Cool. Besides arm/disarm, what else can you do? Can you get panel status? Zone Status?

[io_guy]

Cool. Besides arm/disarm, what else can you do? Can you get panel status? Zone Status?

Network module cannot receive info and process it.

To get zones as described above you would need to have a digital input into the ISY for each zone.

 

Other option is DSCLink:

viewtopic.php?f=58&t=4642

[bbconvert]

This is great! Thanks so much for sharing.

 

/2?A=3&p=1&X=1234 ==> Arms is "Stay" mode

/2?A=4&p=1&X=1234 ==> Disarms

 

Is there a code to arm in "Away" mode?

 

Thanks again.

[Skripo]

This is the coolest thing since sliced bread. I just ordered my Insteon system with an ISY99IR to control it. My biggest frustration is the lack of DSC integration, especially when there is a TL-250 IP board available.

 

My one question is status info. My monitoring provider, who I am friendly with, can see the status of the panel at all times, why can't we get more data from the TL-250?

 

The IT-100 is a messy outdated solution. I would go with an Elk but need ip monitoring as I am all VOIP and it is hard to find a provider who works with ELK IP monitoring, especially here in Canada where ADT and Brinks (now part of Honeywell) seem to have a death grip on the market.

 

You would think Universal Devices would make some effort to integrate DSC with an IP solution as it is elegant and ubiquitos.

[io_guy]

The IT-100 is a messy outdated solution.

Absolutely not true. The IT-100 provides full control via a published API (try to find one for any other IT-XXX device). It acts and functions identical to any control panel on your wall.

 

Elk integration is handled in a virtually identical way. The M1EXP is nothing more than an ethernet port connected to th Elk's RS-232 port.

[Skripo]

I just got a message from the IT person at my service provider and he confirmed that he can query my panel to get zone status, which is what we need. The question remains whether or not that is an external IP command or is it done through the software once it is talking to the module.

 

Any ideas?

[Skripo]

The IT-100 is a messy outdated solution.

Absolutely not true. The IT-100 provides full control via a published API (try to find one for any other IT-XXX device). It acts and functions identical to any control panel on your wall.

 

Elk integration is handled in a virtually identical way. The M1EXP is nothing more than an ethernet port connected to th Elk's RS-232 port.

 

Actually you are right in that they have a developer API which makes it easy. What I was trying to say was that I much prefer querying my panel through IP on my internal network than worrying about setting up a serial port connection. I have 30 years experience with serial ports, none of them good.

 

My question is, if it is so easy to arm and disarm through IP, it would be stupidly simple to do this by adding commands and not have to depend on extra hardware or development.

 

The trick of course would be how to get those commands as the system is closed to developers.

[Skripo]

If I look at the 2A HEX address (42 decimal) it looks like the code arms/disarms by "violating", in DSCs words, Digital input 7 of the TL-250.

 

If the 2?A parameter is HEX for 2A then it would equal Digital input 7 = 42= Maintained Key Switch Arm Input. So would the format be:

 

2?A = Maintained Key Switch Arm Input (HEX 2A = 42)

2&p = Input violation flag

1&X = Input value (1234)

 

to disarm

 

2?A = Maintained Key Switch Arm Input (HEX 2A = 42)

3&p = Input secured flag

1&X = Input value (1234)

 

If so, how do I translate 4&p=1&X=1234?

 

Not a programer but would really like to know if that is correct so I can try to figure out rest. All help appreciated.

[Schoolhouse]

FROM ABOVE:

 

"Method 2.) Programmaticly.

This is the most fun and secure way of doing things.

Secure depending on how you look at it at least.. you are hard-coding your alarm code in and all... but on the other hand you don't have two wires that can be joined together to arm/disarm your system.

 

For this you must have two things:

The network module for the ISY (Help->Purchase Modules)

A DSC TL-150 or TL-250 network interface. (might work on others.. not sure..)"

 

QUESTION

 

WHERE DOES THE OTHER END OF THE LAN CABLE GO TO -- THE NETWORK ROUTER, OR TO THE ISY DIRECTLY?

[Schoolhouse]

...AND DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ABOUT WHICH MIGHT BE PREFERRED, THE TL-150 OR TL 250.

 

THANKS!

[Skripo]

The TL-150 is one way only so it can only report status, not control. It does have a web interface.

 

The TL-250 is 2 way and is therefore recommended.

 

Hang on a week there will hopefully be a big update to this post by the OP that will allow you to not only arm/disarm but also report zone status. If this works you can then get a TL-250.

[Schoolhouse]

Thanks. great advice!

 

(What does OP mean?)

[Skripo]

OP = Original Poster

[TJF1960]

Hang on a week there will hopefully be a big update to this post by the OP that will allow you to not only arm/disarm but also report zone status. If this works you can then get a TL-250.

 

Anything new on this topic?

 

Thanks,

Tim

[Skripo]

Actually yes, just nothing we can talk about right now. The goal is still to be able to use the TL-150 or TL-250 to communicate over IP.

 

I really can't say more than that until I finalize something next week. Once we get that information Chad will take over and comment.

[ssingh1234]

Hello! and welcome to another How-To.

In this How to I go over how to Arm and disarm your DSC Alarm System.

 

There are two ways this can be done:

• 1.) Via an

Insteon IOlinc 2450
2.) Programmaticly communicating over the network with a DSC TL150 or TL-250.

 

Method 1.) IOLinc

If you have a IOlinc, you can set it up as a "Keyed switch" on your DSC.

under normal circumstances the DSC Alarms use this option for use with littery just that.. a "Keyed switch" however with the fun power of insteon we can trick the panel into believing we are arming or disarming the system via one of these switches.

 

to do so, run some station wire from one of the zones in your panel to an IOlinc.

For this example we will use green for common on the alarm panel and yellow for say.. z8 (pick the common next to the zone in the panel).

on the IOlinc, connect the green wire to the terminal labeled Com and the yellow wire to the terminal labeled NC (Standing for normally closed).

 

Programming the DSC Alarm Panel:

You will need to set the zone you picked to a option 23 (Maintained Keyswitch Arm)

as this is an ISY forum and not a DSC forum I am not going to get into too much detail about this programming method. (and DSC frowns upon Putting links to programming manuals or detailed instructions)

Some systems may also need a 5600 ohm resistor for end of line, if you have that in place.

 

Method 2.) Programmaticly.

This is the most fun and secure way of doing things.

Secure depending on how you look at it at least.. you are hard-coding your alarm code in and all... but on the other hand you don't have two wires that can be joined together to arm/disarm your system.

 

For this you must have two things:

• The network module for the ISY (Help->Purchase Modules)
  A DSC TL-150 or TL-250 network interface. (might work on others.. not sure..)
  

 

Let's get started:

Create a new network Resource:

In ISY, go to: Configuration->Networking->Network resources.

For this example, lets name it: DSC.Arm

 

Use these settings:

http GET host tl-150 Port 80 Path /2?A=3&p=1&X=1234

• Replace the host with the hostname or IP of the DSC network interface (the TL-150 or tl- 250)
  Replace the 1234 with whatever your alarm code is you wish the ISY to use to arm / disarm (The cool part about this is different alarm codes can be set for different partitions thus different KPL buttons.)

 

In the header section, be sure to add "Authentication" and put in your username and password for the TL-150/250 (in my example I used admin/admin and it automatically gets encoded.

 

When all finished, it should look something like this:

 

Save and Save and Test!

if it works, you should hear some beeping from your DSC Keypads.

Now go run and disarm your system.

 

Speaking of disarming,

lets cover how to disarm if you should so desire to have that as a program..

Use the copy button to copy the DSC.Arm Network resource.

Lets name the copy DSC.Disarm.

Edit the body and change only the following.. the Path.. that's IT!

Change it to this:

 /2?A=4&p=1&X=1234

Replace the 1234 with the code you wish to give the ISY to disarm your alarm panel.

 

Save and Test, and Voila! all Done! isn't that awesome!

I hope your proud of yourself, I know I am.

 

As usual with my How-To's feel free to ask questions as I will try to monitor and reply to this post for at least a couple of months.

 

Hi there, I have setup based on the instructions provided however I am getting a TCP client request failed [Net Module Rule 1:404] SSL Request not authenticated. Not sure what's happening. I have configured the authentication variable in the header section. Any chance you may know the issue? I have an IT100 connected to a LAVA link serial. I can see the SS is talking to the IT100.

 

Thank you kindly!

[TJF1960]

Actually yes, just nothing we can talk about right now. The goal is still to be able to use the TL-150 or TL-250 to communicate over IP.

 

I really can't say more than that until I finalize something next week. Once we get that information Chad will take over and comment.

Was wondering how you were making out with this?

[pauliep]

Quick question, for method #1, is there a way to activate the alarm via the "stay" function? I understand the "away" function is probably the default, but is the "stay" function possible?