Programming First Alert Pro FA168CPS Alarm Panel

[[email protected]]

I recently bought a house with an alarm system and I want to change
some of the zone programming.

The alarm panel is a First Alert Pro FA-168CPS and I have the
programming manual and can get into programming mode and change
things. Unfortunately, my keypad is not an alpha-numberic one and so I
can't program the zones.

The programming manual mentions the Compass software so I was hoping
that I could do the zone programming using this. I downloaded Compass
1.5.8.54 and the First Alert Pro Canadian Personality disk (I live in
Canada). The problem is that when I start up Compass, the First Alert
Panels do not appear in the list of panels.

Do I need any other software to get Compass to work with my panel?
Can I connect Compass up to my panel directly without using a
telephone line?
Is there any special programming I need to do to the panel to get it
to work with Compass?
Is there any other way to do the zone programming without an alpha-
numeric keypad?

I asked First Alert these questions and they simply referred me to a
local dealer. I asked the local dealer and he only wanted to sell me
alarm monitoring service. Can anybody help?

 

[Buggs]

Have you tried a rocket scientist?

They're not smart enough.
js

 

[Robert L Bass]

Have you tried a rocket scientist?

They're not smart enough.

The funny thing is that although there are
none in ASA, I have a fair number of clients
who actually *are* rocket scientists. :^)

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Bob La Londe]

The funny thing is that although there are
none in ASA, I have a fair number of clients
who actually *are* rocket scientists. :^)

You realize don't you that rocket scientists may be plenty smart, when
it comes to making things work they get a mechanic to do the work.

My grandfather retired from NASA. He was a research mechanic.
Basically when some egghead want to do an experiment or test something
they would call my gramps and ask him how to do it.

 

[Frank Olson]

You realize don't you that rocket scientists may be plenty smart, when
it comes to making things work they get a mechanic to do the work.

You mean that with "24 years" running a "modestly successful central
station alarm company", Bass may have actually had to *hire* installers
and service techs to do the actual work?? GASP!!! That sort of
explains a lot.

My grandfather retired from NASA. He was a research mechanic.
Basically when some egghead want to do an experiment or test something
they would call my gramps and ask him how to do it.

I want to put an old Volvo into orbit... What's your "Gramps" email
address?

 

[Crash Gordon]

Gonna be cheaper for you to buy a keypad to program with than trying to get
Compass to work locally...cause you'll need the proper modem (hard to find)
and a dial tone emulator...programming keypad's cheaper.

Then it's just a simple matter of reading and understanding the
install/programming manual to make the changes you want.



|I recently bought a house with an alarm system and I want to change
| some of the zone programming.
|
| The alarm panel is a First Alert Pro FA-168CPS and I have the
| programming manual and can get into programming mode and change
| things. Unfortunately, my keypad is not an alpha-numberic one and so I
| can't program the zones.
|
| The programming manual mentions the Compass software so I was hoping
| that I could do the zone programming using this. I downloaded Compass
| 1.5.8.54 and the First Alert Pro Canadian Personality disk (I live in
| Canada). The problem is that when I start up Compass, the First Alert
| Panels do not appear in the list of panels.
|
| Do I need any other software to get Compass to work with my panel?
| Can I connect Compass up to my panel directly without using a
| telephone line?
| Is there any special programming I need to do to the panel to get it
| to work with Compass?
| Is there any other way to do the zone programming without an alpha-
| numeric keypad?
|
| I asked First Alert these questions and they simply referred me to a
| local dealer. I asked the local dealer and he only wanted to sell me
| alarm monitoring service. Can anybody help?
|

 

[Frank Olson]

Gonna be cheaper for you to buy a keypad to program with than trying to get
Compass to work locally...cause you'll need the proper modem (hard to find)
and a dial tone emulator...programming keypad's cheaper.

Then it's just a simple matter of reading and understanding the
install/programming manual to make the changes you want.

You forgot to mention that it isn't "Rocket Science".

 

[Crash Gordon]

And a degree in Alarmglish to understand some of the manuals.



| Crash Gordon wrote:
| > Gonna be cheaper for you to buy a keypad to program with than trying to
get
| > Compass to work locally...cause you'll need the proper modem (hard to
find)
| > and a dial tone emulator...programming keypad's cheaper.
| >
| > Then it's just a simple matter of reading and understanding the
| > install/programming manual to make the changes you want.
|
|
| You forgot to mention that it isn't "Rocket Science".

 

[[email protected]]

I wonder how you got the "First Alert Pro Canadian Personality Disk" since
the U.S. version seems tough to come by.










- Show quoted text -

The Canadian personality disk can be found on this page:
http://www.homesecuritystore.com/compass.htm. Here is a direct link:
http://www.homesecuritystore.com/software/ademco/compass/canada.zip.

Does anyone have a link the the US disk or can you email it to me?

Thanks.
Neil.