Security alarm system integration?

Community Playground General Discussions
1

I just bought a Vera2 to play with home automation/security (to use with the Schlage locks, for example), and I’m wanting to install a security system in our home as well. The house is wired for sensors at the doors and windows already, but there’s no alarm system installed. Of course, I’d like to connect the Vera with the alarm. In particular, I’d want to:

[ul][li]Arm (and possibly disarm) the alarm system remotely, whether via the web or iPhone app[/li]
[li]Disarm the alarm system when one of the Schlage locks is unlocked[/li]
[li]Trigger scenes when sensors are tripped (i.e., turn on the foyer lights when the front door is opened)[/li]
[li]Monitor the status of the alarm remotely[/li][/ul]

I’ve seen the plugin for DSC alarm panels, but it’s not clear if it will do what I’m looking for with one of those systems. Would I be able to do this with a DSC panel and the plugin, or should I look at a different brand of panel?

2

The 2 Gig system can do most of this. It is Zwave capable, and has a remote monitoring app from “alarm.com”. FYI, I should mention this system runs on a GSM cellular data link, via AT&T, T-Mobile or Rogers in Canada. It does not have an ethernet interface, or use the internet, without the service from alarm.com’s servers (who also receive and process the data link from the carriers)

Here is the link to the 2 Gig: http://www.2gig.com/

Alarm.com: https://www.alarm.com/ They do NOT sell to individuals, so you need to go through a third party monitoring company, “alarmrelay” does this: http://www.alarmrelay.com/

None of this is inexpensive… there is another thread on “APX” becoming “Vivant”, they will sell you a system for about $200, of course they want about $50/month for monitoring for between 36 and 42 months… Vivant: http://www.vivint.com/packages

You CAN do this yourself, if you are so included. I bought my equipment from “automatedoutlet.com”, Automated Outlet - Smart Home Automation Solutions
parts ran about $750, and the monitoring setup runs as follows:

alarmrelay.com: $8.95/month
alarm.com: $18/month for enhanced service
lights and thermostats: $8/month
locks: $5/month

Totals are $40/month, in a 12 month prepaid contract, which is better than the $50/month for a 42 month contract from APX/Vivant

This is Zwave capble, with scenes etc, and the scense can be activated by alarm events, as in a door opening, the alarm going off, the alarm being armed/disarmed, etc.

Not much DIRECT integration with Vera…

2 Gig installation guide: http://www.2gig.com/pdf/product-info/2GIG-CNTRL2%20Installation%20and%20Programming%20Instructions.pdf

2 Gig Zwave users guide: http://www.2gig.com/pdf/product-info/CNTRL2%20Z-Wave%20Users%20Guide.pdf

page 15 shows the alarm events that can cause Zwave scenes to run

3

Outside of the 2Gig system there are 3 main alarm plugins that will work with Vera (look in the LUUP forum for the GE/CADDX and Paradox) and they’ll do the things you want to do without monthly fees!

The trouble with the 2Gig system is that while I think it will be able to be added as a secondary controller for manual scene triggering etc, you wont be able to use its sensors and the alarm statuses to directly interface with Vera and allow any automation…for instance using its movement sensors to trigger lights etc through Vera, and the other stuff you want to achieve!

There is currently an effort underway to standardize the way the DSC ,Paradox and GE/CADDX plugins work so that that they all work the same way for integration within mobile apps such as SQremote.

4

You don’t really need Vera, with the 2 Gig, either… that’s the other way of looking at the situation. The 2 Gig can trigger scenes based on non-alarm inputs (a PIR not in an alarm zone, for example). The 2 Gig is firmware upgradeable, so they may someday allow sensors to trigger scenes, but my guess is for now, for the UL listing, they are not allowing this.

5

Seeing as we’ve probably confused the OP by now lets reply to his questions:

For the DSC, GE/CADDX, Paradox:

Arm (and possibly disarm) the alarm system remotely, whether via the web or iPhone app
Yes but requires a scene configured with PIN entry in the advanced scene control.
Disarm the alarm system when one of the Schlage locks is unlocked
Yes with a scene again.
Trigger scenes when sensors are tripped (i.e., turn on the foyer lights when the front door is opened)
Yes again using an scene/event
Monitor the status of the alarm remotely
Yes if you set up notifications

Cost for the above… Just the price of the panel etc.

My panel kit cost $200, $65 for the RS232 interface and another $20 for a USB to Serial adapter.
I now have 12 sensors that can be used for automation.

6

Thanks for the information, folks. I’m not really interested in paying a monthly subscription fee to do what I can do for free with Vera, so I’m thinking that the 2Gig approach might not be what I’m looking for. As between DSC, GE/CADDX, and Paradox, is there a strong reason to favor one over the others with respect to Z-Wave/Vera integration (or other reasons)?

For the monitoring, I was thinking more of being able to log into Vera and see which windows/doors were open, which mode the system was in, etc. Notifications of arm/disarm/alarm would also be convenient, of course.

7

I expect there are some pros and cons.

I bought the DSC stuff because of availability and and price mainly; however since the DSC plugin was originally developed by an MCV employee who’s since left, its features or bugs were not being addressed.

The Paradox and GE/CADDX plugins have very active developer support so this is a big advantage!
However, @guessed who wrote the Paradox plug-in has kindly pretty much re-written the DSC plugin to fall in line with the other two so as to standardize it; and therefore its not so much an issue now.

I’d let other weigh in though before making your decision.

By the way, you may wish to go with a separate monitoring solution anyway as the cost (if you are in the US) can be as little as $9 per month, and you will get about the same discount or more from your insurance company for having a UL listed monitoring solution!

8

And by “it”, he means the DSC Panel. @strangely sent me one, temporarily, to help in the process so I’m re-doing that code as time permits. Current alignment being done to “v1” (defacto) Alarm standard at the moment, and if the v2 (preferred) spec can be evolved in enough time, then I can do that also…

At some point though, once I’m “done”, I plan to return the panel to @strangely, and the code will be back in the hands of MCV (or whoever) to drive it forward, functionally)

9

And by “it”, he means the DSC Panel. @strangely sent me one, temporarily, to help in the process so I’m re-doing that code as time permits. Current alignment being done to “v1” (defacto) Alarm standard at the moment, and if the v2 (preferred) spec can be evolved in enough time, then I can do that also…

At some point though, once I’m “done”, I plan to return the panel to @strangely, and the code will be back in the hands of MCV (or whoever) to drive it forward, functionally)[/quote]

Thanks, dodgy info in previous post edited! :slight_smile: