Hi gsun, just to get our terminology straight: There's no such thing as an SX-VI.
The Rollins name for the SX-5 (SX-V) is the "System 6" (System VI). Notice I don't pretend to count in Latin like ITI and Rollins. I prefer to write using the numerals of the language I write in. Saves confusion in speech. Lots of people have told me they have an "Ess-Eks-Vee" system, or a Rollins "System-Vee-Eye".
So you're right, it's an ITI SX-5 system. Good luck with getting a handheld programmer--that system and its generation were discontinued in the early/mid 90's and AFAIK, the programmer you're looking for went out of production with them. Some techs still have them here and there but they're rare as hens teeth at this point. Mine finally went south a few years ago and I have to rendezvous with a friend to program SX-5 sensors on the rare occasions I need to. He doesn't let his programmer out of his sight--which is wise of him.
I'm guessing you need the programmer because you don't know your house code and want to read it off one of the sensors. Unfortunately, I'm afraid you may have to seek help from a pro in your area, whom you need to ask if he has the handheld programmer before you let him come over. But before you do that, check every square inch of any documentation you have on the system, or paper in the control cabinet (where the CPU is housed) including anything stuck inside the door. Look for a number between 1 and 256 to try for a house code (assuming my guess is right). Techs usually write the house code down somewhere in the cabinet.
Another thing about these old systems: You should have a zone list of all your sensors. Make sure you know which sensor number you're reading _before_ you try to read it. You may need to reprogram the sensor too.
The tamper buttons, which look like black plastic square boxes on the PCB's, are extremely prone to stick down (closed) with age. This simulates the cover still being on the PCB.
If the tamper button is stuck down when you use the handheld programmer to try to read the sensor, it wipes memory from the sensor! So (1) know the sensor number before you try to read it, and (2) make sure the tamper button is up--push it a few times and make sure it's unstuck and springs back up. You cannot read or program these sensors with the tamper button down.
Also--you may have replaced your battery but here's some advice from someone who's averted the disaster you're going through. You don't have to use the model battery that came with the panel from the factory.
Over ten years ago, I started replacing those dinky 3.2 Ah batteries with 6V, 10 Ah batteries. The panel has no trouble charging up a bigger battery in the same voltage. Sealed lead-acid gel batteries are versatile that way. At least one of my customers with a huge system had a 5-day power outage and the oversize battery saved him all kinds of grief. I usually install a small cabinet under the CPU cabinet to hold the battery.
Final question: When was the last time you changed the sensor batteries? You're probably aware that they lose program memory too if the lithium battery goes dead? Are you also aware that you may have only hours between the first supervisory signal and the battery going dead?
I'm sending you a PM as soon as I post this.
