Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Ademco Vista 128BP with VA8201 Alpha Pager Module

I have recently had an Ademco Vista 128BP installed at my home with the VA8201 Alpha Pager Module.

After much frustration, I have been informed that the Alpha Pager Module will only send an alpha page after the panel gets the "Kissoff" from the Central Monitoring Station. I assume this is a safeguard by the manufacturer so the end-user can't bypass the central monitoring station and only have the alpha pager module for notifications. (This is not my intent)

I am using the paging module for open/close reporting, as well as alarms. In the event of an alarm, I have no problem with the system calling the monitoring station then paging me.

My main concern is, the pager number is a local number. On open/close reporting, I only want it to call the local pager number (via the Alpha Pager Module). The central station can charge for the additional traffic produced by the open/close reports. Not to mention the 800 fees my installer is having to pay for long distance.

My question is... Does anyone know of a work-around to make the pager module work without the central station kissoff?

If not, does anyone know of a PC application that will act as a central station and communicate with the panel with the appropriate "Ademco Contact ID Protocol" standards -- i.e. get kissoff from a PC at home the system dials (on a separate phone number)?

Thanks,


Joel.

All you need to do is program a "1" in field 51 and a "1" in field 1*34. The first field enables split reporting and the second tells the panel to send alarms and restores ONLY to the central station while all other signals go to the secondary report number.

All you need to do is program a "1" in field 51 and a "1" in field 1*34. The first field enables split reporting and the second tells the panel to send alarms and restores ONLY to the central station while all other signals go to the secondary report number.

I'll try that... I am concerned if I put the actual pager number in the secondary phone number field, it will only send numeric pages instead of going through the alpha pager...

When setting up the system, we had it set to page for open/close reports, but it did not start paging until we send the open/close reports to the central station -- thereby getting the "kissoff" I've been told is required for the alpha pager module to activate.

I'll let you know what happens.


Thanks,


Joel.

Made the changes for alpha paging, and no pages were sent unless it also called the central station.

Called Ademco tech support, and was advised that no paging is supported unless the central station is called first. "due to liability issues" -- I'm not sure how it is a liability for Ademco (they are not the monitoring service).


Does anyone know of a software product that can be installed on a PC to "act as a monitoring station"? i.e. simulate the handshake, accept the data, and give the kissoff -- so the paging module would then do what I paid for it to do?

Had a Caddx-Cadi Ranger 9000E before I "upgraded" to this Ademco system. The Caddx had no problem calling a numeric pager as the 2nd number without calling the central station for open/close reports...

Any solutions/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance.


Joel.

The issue is not whether the _alarm panel_ can call a pager number without calling the primary number (it can do so without the add on module).

The issue is that the 8201 module is designed to not trigger until there is a successful communication kissoff received by the primary dialer (this is a very specific signal). The "liability" issue has to do with the UL listing for the alarm panel system and add on modules (this module is not a UL device by alarm security standards).

In essence they are telling you that "it's not a bug, it's designed to work the way it works."

As far as software goes, I don't know of any I can mak you a tape of the tones. All you have to do is call the number the panel dials and record the transmission. Then take the parts you need which are the handshake and kissoff signals.

As far as software goes, I don't know of any I can mak you a tape of the tones. All you have to do is call the number the panel dials and record the transmission. Then take the parts you need which are the handshake and kissoff signals.

If you have the handshake/kissoff tones in a wav file you could e-mail to me, that would be great.

I'll put those on a cheap answering machine attached to the phone line I'll have the panel call (the secondary number in the panel). At that point, play-back the handshake and kissoff -- it sounds like that might work. The panel is using the Ademco Contact ID protocol...

Thanks,


Joel.

Just FYI...

I got a butt set to listen in to the communications between the alarm panel and the central station.

I was able to record the tones and play them back when the alarm calls the local number.

Works like a charm!!

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions -- it was a tremendous help!!


Thanks,


Joel.