Apex Destiny panel question

[Vampire]

Using an Apex panel, Destiny 6100AN. Using the RS232 interface from
the panel to a PC, and monitoring the zone status with the PC. The
panel is never armed, and the PC takes care of all zone changes
through a program I have written.

Wanting to use the panel's dialer to connect to an outside phone, and
have the panel speak words through the phone to describe any alarm
events to the person that answers. Having the panel speak the words
is easy, but I cannot find out how to get the panel to dial it's
programmed number by a trigger through the RS232 port, or how to get
it to hang up once finished. I probably have to write some data to a
particular memory location, but I don't know which one it is.

Anybody that has experience in communications through the RS232
interface to the panel would be appreciated.

Robert

 

[Bob Worthy]

Using an Apex panel, Destiny 6100AN. Using the RS232 interface from
the panel to a PC, and monitoring the zone status with the PC. The
panel is never armed, and the PC takes care of all zone changes
through a program I have written.

Wanting to use the panel's dialer to connect to an outside phone, and
have the panel speak words through the phone to describe any alarm
events to the person that answers. Having the panel speak the words
is easy, but I cannot find out how to get the panel to dial it's
programmed number by a trigger through the RS232 port, or how to get
it to hang up once finished. I probably have to write some data to a
particular memory location, but I don't know which one it is.

Anybody that has experience in communications through the RS232
interface to the panel would be appreciated.

Call tech support at Ademco 1 800 645 7492. I sure they will be glad to
help.

 

[G. Morgan]

Call tech support at Ademco 1 800 645 7492. I sure they will be glad to
help.

They don't help end users. I wouldn't be so sure.




-Graham

Remove the 'snails' from my email

 

[Bob Worthy]

They don't help end users. I wouldn't be so sure.

I know, but who here is going to help him write software and apply it to a
"UL" approved panel. He has already blown the UL on his panel by adding his
own twist. I hope he doesn't intend to have his insurance company cover him
on any loses. Fire included if he has smokes. He is obviously smarter than
the average bear but just can't help himself from tinkering. As I said in
an earlier post, there are some things in the security industry that should
not be discussed in a public forum. I am sure he will find that out when he
talks to Ademco about the willingness to help a tinkerer, if that's a word.

Bob4Secur

 

[Robert L. Bass]

Using an Apex panel, Destiny 6100AN. Using the RS232 interface from
You might want to look at HomeSeer. This is a software program which can do
most of what you want. I know there are plug-ins for Napco Gemini P9600 and
for Caddx. I don't know if there's one for the Apex Destiny 6100AN but if
you're comfortable wring code you could easily make your own with the
HomeSeer SDK.

I may be a bit biased on this subject because I sell HomeSeer to DIYers.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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

 

[Robert L. Bass]

They don't help end users. I wouldn't be so sure.

I know, but who here is going to help
him write software...

Most who participate here wouldn't be able to assist the gentleman anyway.
Very few alarm installers write software.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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

 

[Vampire]

You might want to look at HomeSeer. This is a software program which can do
most of what you want. I know there are plug-ins for Napco Gemini P9600 and
for Caddx. I don't know if there's one for the Apex Destiny 6100AN but if
you're comfortable wring code you could easily make your own with the
HomeSeer SDK.

I may be a bit biased on this subject because I sell HomeSeer to DIYers.

Appreciate all that responded with useful info. For the record, this
is a private project for a friend and not anything that is being sold
to anybody, so we have no problem with UL listings or anything like
that. The reason I wrote the interface for him is that we couldn't
find a panel that would do everything that he wanted it to do, with
the level of customization in the software ( the ability to open
multiple sites from multiple PC's over a network connection, setting
up alarms so that multiple sensors have to trigger within X number of
seconds before an alert is sounded, etc. etc. ), and that he had to
have support for wireless sensors.

I have tried APEX support, and while I have been successful in the
past in getting help from them on other things, they are not
forthcoming on this particular subject.

I am not going back to step one and starting over with another panel,
especially since we already have two systems installed and the
software is mostly done and works great.

Looks like I'm going to have to resort to using a modem in the PC
controlling the system instead.

Thanks anyways,

Robert

 

[Robert L. Bass]

Appreciate all that responded with useful info...

You're most welcome.

For the record, this is a private project for a
friend and not anything that is being sold to
anybody, so we have no problem with UL
listings or anything like that.

Makes sense. When you're doing something like this code may not be of prime
importance. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with code precepts if
you have not already done so though. Oftentimes you'll plan a different
approach to resolving a given problem based on your knowledge of code. I'm
not specifically referring to UL but to NEC anf NFPA72.

The reason I wrote the interface for him is
that we couldn't find a panel that would do
everything that he wanted it to do, with
the level of customization in the software
(the ability to open multiple sites from
multiple PC's over a network connection,
setting up alarms so that multiple sensors
have to trigger within X number of seconds
before an alert is sounded, etc. etc.), and
that he had to have support for wireless
sensors.

If you decide to do more of these projects in the future, give me a call to
discuss the ELK-M1G and the Napco Gemini P9600. I'll be glad to share some
techniques to make these systems do all kinds of interesting things.

I have tried APEX support, and while I have
been successful in the past in getting help
from them on other things, they are not
forthcoming on this particular subject.

If you're not an installer or a client of Honeywell's distribution
subsidiary, ADI, tech support will be irregular at best. If you need to
bounce a question off them, call and I'll help. I'm a Honeywell dealer
selling tons of their hardware in my online store. I'll call the regional
rep for you if necessary.

I am not going back to step one and starting
over with another panel, especially since we
already have two systems installed and the
software is mostly done and works great.

That's fine, but if you decide to do a lot more of these jobs you might
still want to consider other options. If your code is modular it should be
relatively easy to cross to another platform. I've worked with Apex systems
in the past and whiile they do have some interesting HA and interface
options there are other panels which you may find more adaptable to your
needs.

Looks like I'm going to have to resort to using
a modem in the PC controlling the system
instead.

Unless you're prepared to decipher the data buss (keypad) communications
that's probably going to be your only option with the Apex.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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

 

[Frank Olson]

You're most welcome.


Makes sense. When you're doing something like this code may not be of
prime
importance. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with code precepts
if
you have not already done so though.

UL doesn't write "code".

Oftentimes you'll plan a different
approach to resolving a given problem based on your knowledge of code.
I'm
not specifically referring to UL but to NEC anf NFPA72.

Which you know next to nothing about.

If you decide to do more of these projects in the future, give me a call
to
discuss the ELK-M1G and the Napco Gemini P9600. I'll be glad to share
some
techniques to make these systems do all kinds of interesting things.

Really?? Why won't you respond to Jim's challenge about Napco's latest
wireless sensors??

If you're not an installer or a client of Honeywell's distribution
subsidiary, ADI, tech support will be irregular at best.

Try "non-existant".

If you need to
bounce a question off them, call and I'll help. I'm a Honeywell dealer
selling tons of their hardware in my online store. I'll call the regional
rep for you if necessary.

I doubt you'll get *any* support from that end after giving out the dealer
access codes to their website, but do please "motor on"...

That's fine, but if you decide to do a lot more of these jobs you might
still want to consider other options. If your code is modular it should
be
relatively easy to cross to another platform. I've worked with Apex
systems
in the past and whiile they do have some interesting HA and interface
options there are other panels which you may find more adaptable to your
needs.

You've probably never even seen an Apex panel unless it was at the ISC show.