Re: Question for Robert Bass

["Robert L. Bass" <robertlbass@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dan,

If you want call me during the day on my personal line and I'll have ELK
engineering e-mail you the manual.  As to the Napco protocol doc you're
right.  It's incomplete.  Anyone wanting to develop an app from it will
either have to get help from another developer like Rick Helmke (he's got
it) or scope the panel.  For most DIYers that's a royal pain.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
2291 Pine View Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34231
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

"Dan Lanciani" <ddl@danlan.*com> wrote in message
news:1331420@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> In article <Q-KdnbnR_L44iajfRVn-iA@xxxxxxxxxxx>, robertlbass@xxxxxxxxxxx
> (Robert L. Bass) writes:
> | > Thanks a lot; that's exactly what I needed to
> | > see.  Looks like of those types I use with the
> | > MAXSYS I'd be losing Auto Verification
> | > Fire and 24 Hour Bell/Buzzer.  Probably
> | > not a big deal compared to the gain.
> | > Decisions decisions...
> |
> | Not to further complicate matters (you know I love to do so:)) but have
> you
> | considered the zone options of the Napco P9600.  It's by far the most
> | configurable panel around.
>
> Ok, since you ask, I dug up my notes.  One problem was that the serial
> protocol
> document lacked some of the information required to talk to the panel.  I
> believe that this was discussed, but I never saw a revised protocol
> document.
> (I stopped looking about a year ago, though.)  The other problem was that
> there
> seemed to be no way to program the system to arm/disarm on entry of a
> numeric
> code only.  You had to hit some special-purpose key.
>
> | What all of the other lack that I really like in
> | the M1 Gold is direct analog zone inputs.  You can read actual
> temperature,
> | RH, soil moisture, fluid motion in plumbing pipes, etc.  It's more
> expensive
> | but not when you start to add all the functionality to some of the
> others.
>
> I don't really care about those particular features, but the M1 does look
> good.  The serial protocol document seems to be complete and (unlike those
> from Napco and Paradox) does not induce headache/nausea on extended
> reading.
> In fact, I got the list of zone types from that document.  I've been
> meaning
> to study the M1 in more detail, but, unfortunately, they make that a tad
> difficult by password-protecting the installation manual...
>
> | Decisions, eh?  :^)
>
> I suppose it would be worth checking whether DSC ever solved their problem
> and added unarmed zone state changes to their serial automation interface.
> If so I'd be happy to stick with a version of MAXSYS.  Anybody know?
>
> Dan Lanciani
> ddl@danlan.*com