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[Solved] Receiving zone status messages while alarm is armed

PostPosted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:48 am
by deltanu1142
I use AD2USB as a gateway between my Vista 15P and my Micasaverde Vera home automation system. It works well, and I'm able to see zone status and control the alarm through Vera's Ademco alarm plugin. The attachment shows Vera's UI as of a couple of minutes ago. The alarm is disarmed, and the front door is open, apparently (there's someone home, don't get any ideas)...

When the alarm is armed, however, I don't get zone status messages out of AD2USB. I would like to be able to see what the zones are doing when the alarm is armed--particularly zone 2, first-floor motion. I want to use this in my home automation scheme. Obviously, if any other zone changes status when the alarm is armed, the alarm will sound... so it's mainly zone 2 I'm interested in.

Is there a way to retrieve zone status through AD2USB while the alarm is armed?

Re: Receiving zone status messages while alarm is armed

PostPosted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:54 am
by deltanu1142
I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but I should note that all of the zones I'm interested in are hardwired.

Re: Receiving zone status messages while alarm is armed

PostPosted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:05 am
by kevin
If I recall correctly, and Sean can feel free to correct me if wrong, but I don't think the alarm panel sends out information on hardwired zones when armed unless faulted or wired through an expander or relay.

Re: Receiving zone status messages while alarm is armed

PostPosted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:15 am
by Scott
It's doable via virtual relays, I believe.

Some details can be found here: http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/ ... #msg101688

I realize the links to the old forums are bad, but if you click on 'Legacy Forum Topics' on this forum.. and then 'Relay support (initial beta report)' on the first page should have instructions on how to do this.

Now excuse me while I go fix those links..

Re: Receiving zone status messages while alarm is armed

PostPosted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:20 am
by deltanu1142
Scott wrote:It's doable via virtual relays, I believe.
Some details can be found here: http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/ ... #msg101688
I realize the links to the old forums are bad, but if you click on 'Legacy Forum Topics' on this forum.. and then 'Relay support (initial beta report)' on the first page should have instructions on how to do this.
Now excuse me while I go fix those links..

Thanks Scott--I'm on that forum, naturally, but I didn't see that thread. Very handy. And I've ready the Relay support thread on the old NuTech forums, but I'm just unclear on how to proceed. I did the Ademco takeover procedure through the keypad, but beyond that, my confidence in programming via the keypad is shaky at best.

EDIT: I may give this a try when I get home. When I say, "I'm unclear on how to proceed," I mean, I'm not sure how to get the programming done. It looks like I'll need a new version of the panel plugin, and then to do some work with the alarm keypad. It's the key presses I'm unsure of.