Cellphone communicator

[cestor]

Hi, I am looking for some advice regarding adding cellphone dialler backup capability to an HAI OP2.
I don't want to go with the HAI C3 due to it being 2G only.
 
What I am looking for is something which has the capability to:
 
1. In the event of the hardwired phone being unavailable, take any number of contact ID codes from the OP2 and send them to a monitoring station over the GSM network.
2. Send customised SMS messages to different numbers and with different messages based on the contact ID code generated.
3. (nice to have but not essential) - hook into the two way voice module to allow the monitoring station to listen/talk into the house
 
I have looked at a few GSM diallers but it seems that they rely on a contact closure and then send a single pregenerated contact id from the dialler, rather than a passthrough of the specific code generated by the OP2.
I also looked specifically at Uplink but it seems that it requires my monitoring station to have a specific type of GSM receiver.
 
Any suggestions?

 

[cestor]

Maybe this? http://www.diycontrols.com/p-6195-agm-gsm-cellular-remote-alarm-module-rm200gsxmusb.aspx

 

[Del91574]

The nail in your coffin is going to be the requirement for SMS. Same if you're attempting to self-administer. You need a dialer capture based unit in actuality as the C3 is a less than ideal solution across the board.
 
Uplink 45XX series, Telgard TG units or DSC GSMXXXX units come to mind. All work and would be universally compatible.
 
Uplink does NOT require the CS to have a specific form of receiver for the CS to receive alarms....they're 100% transparent for the CS if programmed properly. If you're intending on the data being retransmitted from Uplink via TCP/IP and ported in, it's no different than 99% of the units out there.
 
I think you have some bad information from your service provider or CS from those that don't understand how the data is brought in or how those units function.

 

[cestor]

Note - I am not in North America so doubt anything proprietary will work.
 
The DSC dialler http://www.tycoemea.com/pdf13/datasht/intruder/PSI212A.pdf seems to be limited to only 2 specific sms messages (activation and restore) per input - it won't allow fully customisable sms, and I don't believe Telgard are supported outside of North America, so of the three you mention, only Uplink seems feasible here (and it's cheaper than the Rokonet link that I posted above).
 
A couple of questions about it:
1. The uplink website talks about a proprietary network service offering, and I have seen a monthly subscription mentioned. Without this, what functionality will I lose?
 
2. Can the uplink devices provide a dial-tone to the connected panel, if it's expecting a PSTN connection?

 

[Del91574]

You should be more forthcoming in the details of your installation and location.
 
You need to understand how a dedicated cellular unit functions, what it receives, transmits and the protocols it uses. No professional unit will send SMS (text). They are not designed to send that to a professional CS.
 
The dialer capture based units would be what you need to take a predetermined communication protocol from your panel (IE: CID, SIA, Modem II, 4/2, etc) and then transmit the same event code(s) to the CS receiving the data.
 
If you are intending on grabbing panel generated data and bending it to go to whatever item you choose besides a CS receiver, you're barking up the wrong tree.

 

[ano]

Once you have your system monitored, many monitor companies can send a variety of SMS messages for many situations. NextAlarm can even send you an SMS if your alarm is activated (or not activated) during a certain time interval. Its very flexible and included with most of their plans for free.  Other options would be to have some third party programs send those out assuming you do have Internet access, for example HAIku Helper with an Omni panel. In addition, HAI/Leviton now has an email board that can send out SMS messages given that you are using the right services, again if you have Internet running.

 

[cestor]

You should be more forthcoming in the details of your installation and location.
 
You need to understand how a dedicated cellular unit functions, what it receives, transmits and the protocols it uses. No professional unit will send SMS (text). They are not designed to send that to a professional CS.
 
The dialer capture based units would be what you need to take a predetermined communication protocol from your panel (IE: CID, SIA, Modem II, 4/2, etc) and then transmit the same event code(s) to the CS receiving the data.
 
If you are intending on grabbing panel generated data and bending it to go to whatever item you choose besides a CS receiver, you're barking up the wrong tree.

 
 
Not sure what other information would be useful. It's an OP2 in Europe and the monitoring center uses Contact ID over PSTN.
 
I want the SMS alerting for my own purposes, not as a substitute for the CID going to the CS and my additional concerns are that I want both the CID to the CS and the SMS to me if either the phone line is cut, there is a power outage or both.
 
I don't want to be reliant on the monitoring company sending me an SMS and yes, I want the SMS messages to contain the panel generated data  .
 
I have found one device that can do this -the proline GSM module here http://global.tellsystem.eu/products/gsmgprs-modules/ but I was wondering if people knew about any other options.

 

[Del91574]

Cellular services aside, the units that contact the CS are their own entity, period. It would not be prudent or intelligent to insert anything between the panel and the unit communicating to the CS.

Talking about doing such is beating a dead horse and asking for trouble.
 
You're not going to get the OP to generate SMS messages by itself, not going to happen nor is it the nature of the hardware. The extreme limiting factors are wanting it to be cellular only and send SMS of your choosing.
 
The only thing I see as a realistic option for you is to find a unit that will connect to the serial ports on the OP and then take the data and send via SMS to whatever you want it to. When that takes over is it's own entity dealt within programming on the OP. The issue is going to be any dialer capture cell (since the C3 is NOT an option) is going to emulate a phone line to the panel, so line cut is never seen by the panel, so it will be redundant signalling.
 
I see this as a brew your own solution with a bunch of hardware, like an Arduino or you're going to need to figure out how to grab a voice dial and bend it via a 3rd party service to SMS text, but I would put the notification of the CS as paramount before sending a SMS to someone for self monitoring purposes.
 
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.microhardcorp.com%2Fbrochures%2FIPn3G.Brochure.Rev.2.31.pdf&ei=rc2iVMu_McKdNvLng5gK&usg=AFQjCNGIsMxPaza3ZUKFu9OFKQCqaeXK0A&bvm=bv.82001339,d.eXY&cad=rja

 

[cestor]

Cellular services aside, the units that contact the CS are their own entity, period. It would not be prudent or intelligent to insert anything between the panel and the unit communicating to the CS.

the Proline unit I am looking at takes a phone input from the panel, simulating a PSTN dial tone, and will send CID DTMF tones over a GSM connection to the CS as well as sending customisable SMS to me - do you see anything wrong with this setup?

 

[Del91574]

Not enough information given on the unit.
 
In the states, because the unit is not UL listed or carries any such certifications, that would knock it from any list I would have it on. Same goes in the fact it doesn't have an onboard output that can be tied to the host panel for supervision purposes. I'd want the end user to be notified on a device failure via the system keypad. It looks like you can snap on daughter boards to get these, but I can't see documentation as to what their function can be programmed to be. I'm also not a fan of the design of the power management in this case.
 
I'd need to see a whole lot more on the unit and know how it operates before I'd go with it. Should be contained in the tech documents.

 

[tmbrown97]

I'm with DEL on this one - I would completely ignore the setup between the panel and the CS and for your own monitoring/alert purposes, I would find something that is a cellular modem with RS232 input that can send text messages based on programmed rules via the serial port. 
 
If you want cellular backup for the CS reporting, do that with an Uplink type of product and  keep it separate and dedicated for CS communication. 
 
These are two completely separate functions - I don't think you'll find a way to combine them into a single device, and I don't think it's a good idea.

 

[cestor]

Thanks for all your input

 

[pete_c]

For play here purchased three devices which are sort of related to what it is you want to do.
 
1 - Ericcson W25 -
 
You could autoswitch the copper to the W25 GSM dial out easy enough.  For SMS out you could utilize the ethernet port and connect it to an Arduino (Tigers stuff below) plus this or that and do custom SMS messages. 
You can also use MC85's notification system.  I played with the notification system setup a couple of days back and it works well.
 
The W25 can be installed anywhere (like an attic).  Here playing a bit with ethernet WAN failover and load balance 2 ISP lines and making all of this work with the OPII.
 
2 - Nexus Hawk -
 
Here you can have two GSM lines but you would have to add to the setup some.  I purchased two of these and they work well.  Doing failover stuff with two GSM lines here.