Thinking about the Vera and need some system planning advice..

Other Devices & Integrations Door Locks & Sensors
1

Gentlemen,

I have the home automation/security bug and I have a few questions about setting up a Vera/DSC system in my house. I appreciate any and all advice.

Currently I have an ADT monitored alarm system with door and window sensors that were installed 3 years ago. Will these older sensors work with a newer DSC alarm panel as well as the Vera? Or do I need to rebuy all the sensors? I want to set up scene triggers when certain events occur like doors opening etc…

Does the Vera need to be hardwired into the alarm panel for them to “talk” or is a wireless connection a possibility?

If I upgrade my alarm panel how do I keep ADT as my monitoring service? Or is there a better monitoring service out there? Currently I have a battery backup and a cellular connection. Currently my only phone line is an IP phone (Magicjack Plus).

Along the same lines, can the Vera email me or send me a text when my alarm is triggered?

Also, what are the components of a DSC alarm? Panel, keypad, sensors?

I have a billion more questions, but this will get me started.

Thank you.

Eddie

2

[quote=“Slow Eddie, post:1, topic:171210”]Gentlemen,

I have the home automation/security bug and I have a few questions about setting up a Vera/DSC system in my house. I appreciate any and all advice.

Currently I have an ADT monitored alarm system with door and window sensors that were installed 3 years ago. Will these older sensors work with a newer DSC alarm panel as well as the Vera? Or do I need to rebuy all the sensors? I want to set up scene triggers when certain events occur like doors opening etc…[/quote]

Apparently my alarm panel is a GE Simon Version 3 which means I have GE sensors, which will not work with DSC? Bummer. I have 10 windows and 2 motion sensors.

I still don’t know the answer to this question.

I’m doing research here. My gsm communicator is a Telguard Digital TG1. I will probably have to rebuy this as well. Seems like there are other monitoring services as well.

Yes.

I figured this one out. Some panels are built into the keypad, some are not. The one I had the most interest in (Alexor) is not compatible with Vera.

The more I learn, the more confused I get.

Eddie

3

Given that you have a GE, and Wireless sensors, you may want to read the GE Plugin thread. They have a discussion going on about what components may be salvageable from this setup for re-use with another GE Panel that Vera can talk to.

Here’s that discussion:
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,4060.225.html

Typically Wired sensors will cutover from one brand of panel to another, but the Wireless ones will not.

Each alarm Panel has a specific adapter device that bridges between the “bus” wiring of the panel, and a Serial or Ethernet port. In turn, this Serial/Ethernet port is what needs to be connected to Vera.

I can’t speak for the GE models, but for the DSC and Paradox models, these adapters connect to the same wiring that’s used to connect a wired Keypad. If your Vera unit isn’t close to the Alarm Panel itself, it may be close to a Keypad that’s hanging off of this bus wiring, and the adapter can usually be attached there, with a length of 4x wire.

For continued monitoring services, you’ll need to talk to your provider and see if they can handle the specific panel you’re planning on using. Some of this is a regional thing, so you’ll likely need to contact your provider for details.

Once the panel is connected to Vera, you can use Scenes and Notifications to supplement whatever monitoring that your service provider gives. You can also use the events to drive Scenes for Lighting (etc) based upon arming/disarming and motion events in the various Alarm Zones.

4

If you upgrade to a DSC panel Adt can monitor the panel. They do use DSC in small business accounts and they are owned by the same parent company Tyco. You could also have any other company monitor the panel that supports contact ID format.

John

5

You’ve spoken pretty well for the GE models, in fact. The adapter in this case is the NX-584. It can be connected just like a keypad to the main panel, or to any existing keypad.

Slow Eddie:

The important question is the one I can’t answer: can your existing wireless sensors work with an NX-8 panel? It looks like yes, if you buy an NX-548 wireless receiver, but no one has confirmed it yet.

Note similar names for different equipment: NX-584 = serial interface for connecting to Vera. NX-548 = wireless sensor transceiver.

Getting an alarm panel because it’s compatible with your sensors sounds like the cart driving the horse. Consider replacing the whole lot, unless your sensors are a large investment.