Radionics D7212 logging

[Xartle]

Hi All,

I just bought a house and it came wired with a Radionics D7212. I've
been doing some research on it and it sounds like I need a D9133
serial interface module to talk rs232 to it. Is that true? Really,
all I want to do is get log type information out of it and in to a
computer. Is there any way to interface directly with the panel?

Thanks
Seth

 

[Jim]

Hi All,

I just bought a house and it came wired with a Radionics D7212. �I've
been doing some research on it and it sounds like I need a D9133
serial interface module to talk rs232 to it. �Is that true? �Really,
all I want to do is get log type information out of it and in to a
computer. �Is there any way to interface directly with the panel?

Thanks
Seth

I don't know much of anything about Radionics but if things hold true
to form...... if you don't have one of their exclusive programers, and
the dealers programing code, you can't do anything.

Radionics was way ahead of it's time and was a popular product for
some time, a number of years ago. The bad thing about it was that the
whole idea behind the Radionics product line was exclusivity. Which
means that only the installing dealer or in some cases any (Radionics)
dealer could install and service their products. Radionics would not
help any dealer who did not install their products. It seemed to me
that mostly (but not all) dealers who thought they could "capture"
their customers with the exclusive dealer requirements, would use the
Radionics line. You are probably "captured" and if you don't know who
the original installer was, you're SOL. If you do know who he is, it's
not likely he'll give you access to the programing free of charge nor
will you have access to the dealer programer needed to make changes.
Besides, their panels are not very popular now days. They never did
much to upgrade their capability as the industry caught up and
surpassed them.

 

[Crash Gordon]

sad but true (mostly)

at least it's a 7212 and not a 7112 (the panel that almost killed
them...imo)



--
**Crash Gordon**

 

[Xartle]

I don't know much of anything about Radionics but if things hold true
to form...... if you don't have one of their exclusive programers, and
the dealers programing code, you can't do anything.

Radionics was way ahead of it's time and was a popular product for
some time, a number of years ago. The bad thing about it was that the
whole idea behind the Radionics product line was exclusivity. Which
means that only the installing dealer or in some cases any (Radionics)
dealer could install and service their products. Radionics would not
help any dealer who did not install their products. It seemed to me
that mostly (but not all) dealers who thought they could "capture"
their customers with the exclusive dealer requirements, would use the
Radionics line. You are probably "captured" and if you don't know who
the original installer was, you're SOL. If you do know who he is, it's
not likely he'll give you access to the programing free of charge nor
will you have access to the dealer programer needed to make changes.
Besides, their panels are not very popular now days. They never did
much to upgrade their capability as the industry caught up and
surpassed them.

Well, good info but obviously not what I was hoping to hear...
Looks like I'll either need to go with Logan's solution and buy extra
hardware or pretty much just forget about it. Would it make more
sense to replace the whole thing a more friendly and modern panel that
can use the same sensors since I'm looking at buying hardware anyway?

 

[Crash Gordon]

....and if you figure out what Radx stuff you may need please post back
here...I have a bunch of old NOS Radx stuff that my wife would love for me
to get rid of.



--
**Crash Gordon**

 

[Xartle]

[email protected]:





You have a couple of options. There is a way to recover from a locked
panel using a handheld programmer, so you don't have to toss the panel to
get it reprogrammed, assuming its even locked. Second, panels are pretty
cheap, especially the 7212 panel. I had a guy offer me a new 7212GV2 for
$150 with some extras and I turned him down. The serial interface you
would need isn't that hard to get, if you are willing to wait around on
ebay for a while. The 9133 or the 4010i will both work, one is just newer
than the other. This place actually has new modules for about $70.http://www.internet-security-inc.com/catalog/product_info.php?
products_id=493111  

What exactly are you trying to accomplish with this? Odds are there is
probably an easy way do it. Something else I didn't mention was to just
download the log via a phone line using RAM or RPS. Someone has a copy of
RPS on ebay right now for $150 which could do that, no extra hardware
needed except for an old serial modem. Also, no programming is needed,
but you will need the RAM password. The download process can be automated
to run on a schedule if you wanted it to.

As for Radionics, now Bosch, I think they have kept up with the times
pretty well. They continue to update their product line and capabilities
while retaining backward compatibility with older equipment. You can
still use an original POPIT from the 1980s with a new 9000-series panel.
Some of their stuff is proprietary, as is the case with almost all
vendors, but it is of high quality and you'll probably never need to
replace during the lifetime of the facility you are securing if you stick
with Bosch. I'd try to avoid a refit with another vendor if you can avoid
it. Their offerings are flexible and there about a half a dozen different
ways to do just about anything with them, some of which are rather
arcane, but its what makes them so versatile.

The short answer is I'd like to do my own home automation and
alarming. The alarm system has all the information I need to automate
all the computer controlled gizmos I already have. It has just proven
to be more of a struggle than I had expected to get that information
out of the 7212. I actually already have most of the software
written, I just need a way to fetch states or watch for changes. I
have the feeling I started in the wrong place.

I guess I'll keep an eye out for the D9133 on ebay since there seems
to be a huge price difference between the 9133 and 4010i. I see one
auction where a lot of 20 D9133's went for $32 so that seems like the
clear price winner.

If I end up failing with all this I suppose I'll just get a phone line
and go back to the old dial up way of doing things but it just seems
sort of archaic to have to get a phone line just so I can have my
alarm can have dial up. But at least I'll have a working alarm
system...

Thanks

~Seth

 

[Xartle]

Ok, I kind of thought you were looking to do some kind of automation
thing as opposed to just wanting to review log files. Get one of those
serial interfaces, it is meant to do exactly this. Then call Bosch tech
support, tell them you want the interface specification for the serial
interface module that you bought. They will give you some BS about an NDA
and some other stuff. I started to do this a while ago, but decided
against for other reasons. Once you have the specification and serial box
in hand, you can go to town with it and automate just about any function
on it. You can even use Octorelays that interface to the panel to control
stuff around the house. I can't speak for other alarm vendors, but the
Bosch/Radionics system is definately designed to be connected to an
automation system. Bosch had PC9000 which is a whole building automation
system which is now known as BIS, building integration system. When I was
researching this a while back, I found several companies who had written
support in for Bosch panels in home automation software packages so it is
clear that third parties can connect into the panel.
As an aside, you might want to upgrade your panel if you decide to get
serious with this. The 7212 only supports 40 input points on a single
expansion bus. It doesn't support any door access control and relay
outputs are somewhat limited in number. 7412 and 9412 panels can be had
cheaply enough, new and used, on ebay and elsewhere. The 9412 supports 8
doors, 129 relays, and 248 points. The 7412 supports 2, 40(?), and 75
respectively. Hands down the coolest part of the 9412 is the door access
control, you can use HID rfid cards to control doors and you can control
them remotely via your automation interface if you decide to do that.

I'd be interested to see what you end up doing with all of this so keep
the group posted.

No problem, I'll definitely post back once I find the hardware and do
the NDA thing. I really appreciate all the help.

And if anyone wants to offload a D9133 at ebay-like prices, I'm in the
market now.

Thanks again!
Seth