#Dsc Serial Protocol full
#Dsc Serial Protocol software
#Dsc Serial Protocol Pc
#Dsc Serial Protocol windows

These are 12v outputs so I had to use a simple divider to make it max out at about 4v, suitable to drive an Uno input pin. The panel's standard outputs are easily programmed and offer a variety of events.

#Dsc Serial Protocol windows

I also included an email function which used SMTP to send an email straight to my phone, which would then prompt me to VNC in to the windows app and view the alarm system state. In the end I opted to use an Uno to translate the alarm panel's output states into a serial chunk which it would then pass on to the windows app to be turned into pretty pop up boxes. I experimented with both ideas and eventually had very poor reliability with the ethernet shield, randomly losing response on the LAN, and not being able to to much other processing onboard with the Uno's limited memory being consumed in one big gulp by the ethernet code.

#Dsc Serial Protocol Pc

This was either to be by using an ethernet shield and having my phone call up a webpage over the net, alternatively to send serial information into a windows app on a nearby PC which I'd then VNC into over the web.

#Dsc Serial Protocol full

Initially I was just looking for a way to get a notification to my phone on certain alarm events, and to provide feedback to the panel to rearm, reset, etc etc, while in the long run it would be nice to have a way of adding for example a repeater LCD display instead of a full remote keypad.

The data stream itself maxes out well below 5 volts. The Galaxy bus is run alongside a 12v pair of wires, this is standard voltage for burglar alarms in this country, and will power an Uno through its raw pin. I doubt they will ever join the open source collective (but hey Honeywell if you are reading, prove me wrong!) I'm led to believe that Honeywell will work 'alongside' developers if they can see a good profit in it. Either that, or design my own 'expansion module' using an Uno which would mimic Honeywell's official kit and perhaps open the system up to more outputs, or who knows what. I have one of these systems at home and since that means a 2 wire bus already hard wired around the house, it seemed like a good idea to piggyback on and use the same data stream or something superimposed to connect to a bunch of Uno's around the house. I havent asked Honeywell for their official bus protocol, simply because I know what the answer will be, these are security systems after all.

#Dsc Serial Protocol software

The easiest and official way to extract panel state and remotely control the system is to use Honeywell's software in conjunction with a serial or ethernet comms expansion module. Infact ADT branded accessories for this system are sought after and fetch good money. There are several of these available on a well known auction site, just search for 'Honeywell galaxy'. all individually addressed up to the capacity of the panel variant. Each of these expansion units is given an address by rotary switch, and the range of expansions goes on to include remote keypads, comms modules, etc. Some main board variants allow alarm sensor connections at the panel, others are simply a hub and require that you connect expansion units which give inputs and outputs in order to receive information from alarm sensors. The system uses a 2-wire communication bus from its main panel. It has a couple of built in timers making it handy for heating controls, night lighting, etc, and it can do proximity setting, door access, and many other gimmicky things.

These panels are big news, you'll find them in many of the most security conscious installations within the last 20 years or so in various incarnations and software revisions, and yet somehow Honeywell very kindly kept the prices down enough to allow the average home owner to have a slice. Somewhere along the line Honeywell and Ademco became one, so some of the older Galaxy panels are branded Ademco, the newer ones Honeywell.

I've got a little experience on this which I can share, and a lot of experience with the Honeywell Galaxy range of alarm panels (through profession not malice), if anybody else fancies attempting this.