Internet Communicators

[Joe Lucia]

I am getting hit with more requests for Internet Communicators that are
not specific to an Alarm Panel. All of the Internet Communicators I've
seen are specific to a manufacturers panels (and receiver
hardware/software) which makes it difficult to support all of the
different internet communicators out there.

What I think we want is a "plug-n-play" internet communicator. I.e.
Unplug the Alarm Panels RJ31X connector from the phone jack, plug it
into an Internet Communicator box, plug the Internet Communicator box
into an Ethernet hub, walk away (no reprogramming of alarm panel should
be necessary assuming it is already doing a standard Contact ID or Pulse
format). The Internet Communicator should have a unique identifier so
the C/S can attach it to an internal Account Number (regardless of the
account number and phone number programmed into the alarm panel). The
panel will pickup the phone line, hear dialtone (from the Internet
Communicator), dial, get a handshake, communicate, and get kissed-off.
The Internet Communicator would then send the kissed-off signals to the
Central Station via TCP on the Internet connection. If a connection to
the C/S cannot be established via TCP then it should not kiss-off the
panel causing a COMM
FAIL message (just like a phone line failure would). The Internet
connection to the C/S should be supervised periodically (like at least
once every four hours). Any other features I'm forgetting? Maybe the
ability to control a few Outputs on the module to be controllable via
the C/S Dealer Web Access?

Has anyone run into an Internet Communicator with this capability. We
do this exact scenario with the AES Radio and IntelliTap module (replace
phoneline with radio without having to re-program account numbers or
phone numbers in the alarm panel), but I haven't seen a solution for an
Internet Communicator. I'm almost done with an output module that can
be used on any AES IntelliNet radio to control a few outputs via the C/S
Web Interface (for remotely resetting a fire panel or even as a
keyswitch arm/disarm for any panel).

I've already ordered parts to make an Internet Communicator bases on
these specifications since I haven't found anything like it already
available. If anyone is out there that can build or knows of an
existing one I'd like to hear. I'm not in the hardware business but it
looks like I may be if I can't find someone else who will do or has done
it already.

 

[Bob La Londe]

The Napco Netlink Module does trigger activated reporting for any panel that
has trigger outputs. I can tell you more about it in a couple months when I
finish the alarm in my new house as I intend to play with one. It works for
network reporting a lot like the Uplink 1500 works for cellular. Not
wonderful, but ok as a backup only. For Napco 3200, 9600 and 255 it is
supposed to be able to do full reporting.

I assume you are looking for something that just plugs in like the Telular
TG-100 does for cellular and reports full CID or 4 X2. If I run across
something I'll sure let you know.

 

[Joe Lucia]

We a lot of DMP iCOM users. The iCOM SL has inputs and outputs also.
Nobody has ever wanted to use the outputs though.

Yep, I want the CID or 4x2 reporting so it'll work for just about any
panel. It really surprises me no one has made one yet. All of the
components are available relatively cheaply. Some assembly required.

 

[Mark Leuck]

I'm not sure how much longer the TG-100 will be out, they now have the TG-1
and TG-4, the TG-4 is similar to the old TG-100 and the TG-1 is like an
Uplink 1500

 

[Bob Worthy]

They are slowly getting people to change over to the TG-4 Digital as a
replacement for the TG-100 before the Feb. 2008 deadline. There is a small
price increase of maybe 20-25 dollars.

 

[Mark Leuck]

I just got in both TG-1 and TG-4 to test, they now support SIA unlike the
TG-100

 

[Nomen Nescio]

Joe Lucia said:

What I think we want is a "plug-n-play" internet communicator. I.e.
Unplug the Alarm Panels RJ31X connector from the phone jack, plug it
into an Internet Communicator box, plug the Internet Communicator box
into an Ethernet hub, walk away (no reprogramming of alarm panel should
be necessary assuming it is already doing a standard Contact ID or Pulse
format).

Don't build your own. Bosch C900V2 does this, and you can buy one from
ADI. Of course, it's a Bosch product, so you need a 6600 receiver at the
other end to talk to it. I assume you have one.

- badenov

 

[Robert L Bass]

Don't build your own. Bosch C900V2 does this, and you can buy one from

ADI. Of course, it's a Bosch product, so you need a 6600 receiver at the
other end to talk to it. I assume you have one.

Bob Dolph writes a column in SSI. Following is a brief quote
from his comments on the subject: "VoIP Can Strengthen Link to
Central Station if Done Right

"One of the fastest places that technology is moving forward is
with homes having access to the Internet.

"Existing “plain old telephone service” (POTS) customers on a
daily basis are being enticed by voice over Internet protocol
(VoIP) services and its considerable savings in operating costs.

"However, many customers do not realize their existing monitored
alarm system will, at best, work intermittently with the new
service. The only time they may find this out is when a panel
alarms but their central station never receives it. This has
raised much concern in the alarm industry.

"An innovative approach to this communication problem is an
interface device known as a universal “dialer capture” module.
One device in particular is the Bosch C900V2 dialer capture
module that can be used to upgrade existing alarm panels to
communicate over high-speed Internet (IP) connections.

"There are many positives to Internet monitoring once a reliable
connection has been established. At the central station, new
head-end, receiver/gateway communication systems such as the
Bosch D6600 with NetCom can provide secured Internet
communications via an 128-bit Rijndael encryption protocol.

"Systems like the C900V2 have built-in supervision or “heartbeat”
signals provided to make sure Internet VoIP connections are
intact."

It is noteworthy that, as Bob Dolph points out, this kind of
Internet monitoring can actually be an improvement over standard
digital dialing over POTS lines because it offers a "heartbeat",
the loss of which can trigger a response by the monitoring
center. If the premises POTS phone goes out of service or is cut
the central station has no way to know it at the time.

IMO this is one more reason why VoIP service is going to drive
some alarm companies out of business and others to greater
success.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com

 

[Joe Lucia]

But will it communicate via Internet? By not including the Cellular or
any other networks we can keep the monitoring costs down more. It's not
that they need a "backup", this is mostly for Primary for those who
don't have phone but have internet and don't want to pay for a Radio.
I'd like to see a bare-bones internet communicator (no proprietary
receiver) for under $150 to be more affordable for those people trying
to "save" money using VOIP services. The equipment should be cheap so
we can all bask in the recurring monitoring revenue Unfortunately
the equipment manufacturers don't get that recurring so they have to
up-their-prices.

 

[Joe Lucia]

I've looked into http://www.lobenninc.com/ who has a decent setup.
Their equipment actually uses a form of VOIP to communicate via the
internet directly to an alarm receiver. They say it will do SIA without
a problem. Has anyone used this with success?

 

[Robert Campbell]

Joe, I still think it is too new yet....not sure when production actually
starts (although I know its only months away at most). I have personally
seen everything work perfectly using all formats and with a variety of
different panels in the lab, both current panels and old ones. It appears to
be truly as "generic" as they claim, but we'll have to wait and see.......

At the moment, they are working on the firmware that will allow dealers to
dial in to their panels over the same internet connection, identical to what
we do now over a POTS line.

RHC

I've looked into http://www.lobenninc.com/ who has a decent setup.
Their equipment actually uses a form of VOIP to communicate via the
internet directly to an alarm receiver. They say it will do SIA without
a problem. Has anyone used this with success?

 

[Mark Leuck]

No they will not communicate over the internet, the problem with anything internet related is the hookup on the customer's side, if they don't have a router you have to install and set one up which is a little daunting for a lot of techs

But will it communicate via Internet? By not including the Cellular or any other networks we can keep the monitoring costs down more. It's not that they need a "backup", this is mostly for Primary for those who don't have phone but have internet and don't want to pay for a Radio. I'd like to see a bare-bones internet communicator (no proprietary receiver) for under $150 to be more affordable for those people trying to "save" money using VOIP services. The equipment should be cheap so we can all bask in the recurring monitoring revenue Unfortunately the equipment manufacturers don't get that recurring so they have to up-their-prices.


Mark Leuck wrote:
I just got in both TG-1 and TG-4 to test, they now support SIA unlike the
TG-100

They are slowly getting people to change over to the TG-4 Digital as a
replacement for the TG-100 before the Feb. 2008 deadline. There is a small
price increase of maybe 20-25 dollars.

I'm not sure how much longer the TG-100 will be out, they now have the
TG-1
and TG-4, the TG-4 is similar to the old TG-100 and the TG-1 is like an
Uplink 1500

The Napco Netlink Module does trigger activated reporting for any
panel
that
has trigger outputs. I can tell you more about it in a couple months
when
I
finish the alarm in my new house as I intend to play with one. It
works
for
network reporting a lot like the Uplink 1500 works for cellular. Not
wonderful, but ok as a backup only. For Napco 3200, 9600 and 255 it
is
supposed to be able to do full reporting.

I assume you are looking for something that just plugs in like the
Telular
TG-100 does for cellular and reports full CID or 4 X2. If I run
across
something I'll sure let you know.



I am getting hit with more requests for Internet Communicators that
are
not specific to an Alarm Panel. All of the Internet Communicators
I've
seen are specific to a manufacturers panels (and receiver
hardware/software) which makes it difficult to support all of the
different internet communicators out there.

What I think we want is a "plug-n-play" internet communicator. I.e.
Unplug the Alarm Panels RJ31X connector from the phone jack, plug it
into an Internet Communicator box, plug the Internet Communicator
box
into an Ethernet hub, walk away (no reprogramming of alarm panel
should
be necessary assuming it is already doing a standard Contact ID or
Pulse
format). The Internet Communicator should have a unique identifier
so
the C/S can attach it to an internal Account Number (regardless of
the
account number and phone number programmed into the alarm panel).
The
panel will pickup the phone line, hear dialtone (from the Internet
Communicator), dial, get a handshake, communicate, and get
kissed-off.
The Internet Communicator would then send the kissed-off signals to
the
Central Station via TCP on the Internet connection. If a connection
to
the C/S cannot be established via TCP then it should not kiss-off
the
panel causing a COMM
FAIL message (just like a phone line failure would). The Internet
connection to the C/S should be supervised periodically (like at
least
once every four hours). Any other features I'm forgetting? Maybe
the
ability to control a few Outputs on the module to be controllable
via
the C/S Dealer Web Access?

Has anyone run into an Internet Communicator with this capability.
We
do this exact scenario with the AES Radio and IntelliTap module
(replace
phoneline with radio without having to re-program account numbers or
phone numbers in the alarm panel), but I haven't seen a solution for
an
Internet Communicator. I'm almost done with an output module that
can
be used on any AES IntelliNet radio to control a few outputs via the
C/S
Web Interface (for remotely resetting a fire panel or even as a
keyswitch arm/disarm for any panel).

I've already ordered parts to make an Internet Communicator bases on
these specifications since I haven't found anything like it already
available. If anyone is out there that can build or knows of an
existing one I'd like to hear. I'm not in the hardware business but
it
looks like I may be if I can't find someone else who will do or has
done
it already.