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General => Users => Topic started by: brake16 on April 27, 2010, 01:56:59 am

Title: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: brake16 on April 27, 2010, 01:56:59 am
I'm looking for alternatives since the VistaICM is no longer available.  I was updating the wiki pages to reflect that the VistaICM is discontinued and I stumbled across the only non-Honeywell alarm panel wiki-page, the GE NX-8E.  The fact that it's in our wiki tells me somebody tried it at some point.  I'm curious if anybody has it working.  I'm a little troubled by the line: "--still trying to get the alarm panel to work so if anyone has LinuxMCE configuration help, please include it here.-- "  But from the history, it looks like it's an edit from the Pluto days.

brake16
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: rndinokc on April 28, 2010, 07:16:38 pm
This alarm panel thing is driving me crazy. lol.  I got a GE NX-8E because it was once listed as supported.  Then the Honeywell system and was saving up for the VistaICM and they discontinue it...darn.  Could go Thom's route and just use a bunch of GC100's but that is pretty expensive or z-wave stuff.  Then your insurance company wants a "Real" alarm panel.  Oh well...  I am not sure which direction this will take now.
Thanks,
Randy
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: tschak909 on April 28, 2010, 07:45:55 pm
Guys,

If you can get a security panel with either RS232 or Ethernet connection, and a protocol sheet to control it, you can write a template and a driver for it.

Adam and I wrote the VistaICM2 as an example of a complex driver that does two way communication, and handles the multiple ports that the device talks on in C++. The DSC Power5020 is an example of doing one in Ruby. Pick one. :)

-Thom
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: pwned on April 30, 2010, 09:00:22 am
Hey brake16,

I'm currently in the process of implementing a communication library for the NX-8E for slampt. It's been a bit slow going as I've not had much time for work recently, but once I've done this I'll also be using the VistaICM2 stuff as a base for integrating support into LinuxMCE.

Currently the IO and message parsing/checksumming code is done, all that needs doing now is implementing message handlers for each type of event and generating some hooks for third party applications. If you've got C++ experience, I'd more than appreciate some help writing message handlers once I get the base MessageHandler class finished.

I'll be releasing the code under the GPL also - but I don't want to get ahead of myself until it's all sorted.
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: los93sol on April 30, 2010, 01:28:42 pm
Pwned, feel free to reach out to me when you start integrating with LinuxMCE, I am quite familiar with the Security plugin having worked with Thom on the VistaICM and written the HAI integration.  Once you understand the DCE architecture of LinuxMCE and the significance of device categories, it's really quite simple.  There is room for improvement in the Security plugin too, mainly there's currently no command to add a security zone so plug and play partitions is not possible currently.

-Adam
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: brake16 on April 30, 2010, 03:01:54 pm
Good Morning

My last coding days were the college semester of Turbo Pascal back in '93.  Prior to that I took QuickBasic in high school, and I had a few great self-taught years on a Commodore 64 in the mid-80's.  So for now, my lmce contributions have been wiki-related.  Once my house reconstruction activities have settled, I'll be able to contribute $.  But I don't think anyone wants me messing with code right now.

Chunky bacon!

brake16
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: DragonK on October 26, 2010, 09:46:20 am
Pwned, feel free to reach out to me when you start integrating with LinuxMCE, I am quite familiar with the Security plugin having worked with Thom on the VistaICM and written the HAI integration.  Once you understand the DCE architecture of LinuxMCE and the significance of device categories, it's really quite simple.  There is room for improvement in the Security plugin too, mainly there's currently no command to add a security zone so plug and play partitions is not possible currently.

-Adam

Adam,

Sorry to "bump" an old thread, but the Caddx NX-8 is commingly used in South Africa. So is the Texecom Premier series. I have the latter.
A friend installs alarm systems so he is going to get me a "PC-COM" unit ( http://www.texe.com/view.php?page=139# ) so that we can test with. Can you point me into the right direction for wtiting a driver if need be?

Karel
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: DragonK on November 02, 2010, 02:50:40 pm
Hi,

I got and "Ip com" module that is connected to my alarmpanel and then to the network. The problem is that the supplier doesnt want to give a protocol sheet.

However I found this document on the net.
http://www.texe.com/document.php?docid=127

Dont know if it is the right one? Where do I go from here?
I want to intergrate my alarm panel into LMCE. If my understanding is correct, i can arm and disarm my alarm from any orbiter?

Karel
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: tschak909 on November 02, 2010, 05:53:54 pm
correct, so long as you have the protocol well defined enough.

-Thom
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: tschak909 on November 02, 2010, 05:54:52 pm
If you look at code for the VistaICM2 for example, we have code for setting the house mode,

but we also have code for intercepting sensor data from the panel as well, so LinuxMCE can react to the various sensors connected.

-Thom
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: DragonK on November 10, 2010, 07:49:40 pm
Hi,

The link in my previos post, isnt the "protocol sheet" im looking for?
I got a communications protocol sheet for the Caddx panels, and it doesnt remotely look the same as that in the link.......
Where can I get one for the Texecom alarm Panels.....

Karel
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: pwned on November 11, 2010, 06:38:24 am
Hey guys, just an update that I've found time recently to start working on this again.

Decoding and parsing data from the panel has been working for a while now - I've rejigged the classes and whatnot and am aiming to have return communication and zone status working in some capacity in the next two weeks - then it's a case of implementing DCE notifications, which should again be pretty straightforward.

los93sol - I'll probably drop you a PM in the next week or so when I hit a problem :)
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: DragonK on December 17, 2010, 03:51:36 pm
Hey guys, just an update that I've found time recently to start working on this again.

Decoding and parsing data from the panel has been working for a while now - I've rejigged the classes and whatnot and am aiming to have return communication and zone status working in some capacity in the next two weeks - then it's a case of implementing DCE notifications, which should again be pretty straightforward.

los93sol - I'll probably drop you a PM in the next week or so when I hit a problem :)

Pwned,

Any progress on this? I would love to get my alarm panel intergrated, even if it means changing to a NX-8E.

Karel
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: funatic on December 29, 2010, 04:49:06 pm
Hi guys,

I am completely new to LinuxMCE but I find it extremely interesting and powerful, and I want to use it as the basis in my new home to integrate media, security and some home automation.

I am planning to buy and install the Caddx NX-8E alarm with various wired sensors because of its price, availability in Greece and support with LinuxMCE. I would like to trigger events from its sensors in LMCE and capture video from the IP cameras, make phone call to report status to a phone number, trigger lighting scenarios (turn lights on/off) using z-wave or X-10 and I would like to arm/disarm it remotely from my iPhone or a web browser.

First of all, can all this be done using LMCE or I am just dreaming?

I have read a lot in the forum and the wiki and my latest understanding is that NX-8E is supposed to be supported by LMCE via its RS232 interface but it is actually not supported to allow for all the things that I would like to do.

Can you please give me a clear idea on what is the case with NX-8E alarm as I really need to buy the equipment and if it is not working with LMCE I will need to look at other options.

Many, many thanks for your support and help in this forum!
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: funatic on January 13, 2011, 02:13:55 pm
Can anybody help with this?

Has anybody used NX-8E successfully with LinuxMCE?

Many thanks for the help!
BR
Chris
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: DragonK on February 17, 2011, 09:07:11 pm
If you look at code for the VistaICM2 for example, we have code for setting the house mode,

but we also have code for intercepting sensor data from the panel as well, so LinuxMCE can react to the various sensors connected.

-Thom

Thom,
I got the protocol sheet. Which would be the best example to follow, The VistaICM2 or Apex Destiny?
If posible I want to use the alarm panel's PIR's as motion detectors........ or am I aiming to high?

Karel
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: tschak909 on February 17, 2011, 09:09:53 pm
You can look at either, for an example.

-Thom
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: bwhitson on May 06, 2011, 05:56:10 am
Hate to bump just for the sake of bumping.....

Any word? I'm this (-----) close to dropping the money for the NX-8E panel and and RS232 connector board.
Just wondering how much functionality anyone has accomplished.

Can the security mode be set using DCE commands?

I'm not really concerned with setting off events from tripped sensors as of yet. I just have family members that never remember to set anything and would like to be able to arm/disarm remotely.

And yes Tom i'm one of those users that has been toying with LMCE for a couple years and haven't contributed anything but if were close and have something workable i'm fully willing to trash my personal system over and over again in a trial and effort way of figuring it out.  ;D
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: tschak909 on May 06, 2011, 09:44:45 am
To my knowledge, no code has been committed for this device template. Somebody needs to do that, and my plate is currently very full.

-Thom
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: bwhitson on May 07, 2011, 06:08:44 am
Fair enough....

Think I'll order this weekend.  Let you know how it goes.

B.
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: pwned on May 18, 2011, 02:26:59 am
Hey all, just an update on where things are at. I've still been pecking away at various bits on and off - but spent last night rewriting a lot of the code with a new approach so should be able to spend my time actually making progress not dealing with other issues.

I'll try to push a weekly update on here - if you don't see anything, give me a PM poke and I'll get off my laurels (again).
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: pwned on May 18, 2011, 04:33:06 am
Hey all, just an update on where things are at. I've still been pecking away at various bits on and off - but spent last night rewriting a lot of the code with a new approach so should be able to spend my time actually making progress not dealing with other issues.

I'll try to push a weekly update on here - if you don't see anything, give me a PM poke and I'll get off my laurels (again).

Okay, slampt has complained this update wasn't exciting enough... *pops confetti cannon*

Where things are at: I've partially written a generic NX8E comms library, it can send and receive messages over the wire to the NX8E. Now I'm implementing all the messages we need to do simple things. When those things are testing and working, I'll create a device template and code it up to talk DCE back to LinuxMCE.

Phase 1 = Simple Zone status.
Phase 2 = Bypassing zones, managing codes, etc - thoughts/suggestions guys?

I might end up throwing together a few quick standalone tools as well.

I'm excited! </BigKev></AussieJokes>
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: marrandy on May 21, 2011, 03:57:07 am
The main features on most alarm panels are:-

1)   set alarm away

2)   set alarm home (PIR's disabled)

3)   set entry/exit door to immediate

4)   disable alarm

Sometimes, but not always, 2 & 3 are combined.


If you can configure the above, that will do most people.

Anything extra is icing on the cake as it can still be accomplished from the actual alarm control panels.

YMMV.
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: rndinokc on May 25, 2011, 09:15:50 am
Fantastic, keep up the good work.  I have a NX-8E panel I have just been using stand alone for over a year so anything in this area is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your hard work.
Randy
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: LmceCape on June 09, 2011, 11:04:45 am
Hi Pwned

Have you had any progress with the Caddx plugin?


Regards
LMCEcape
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: tschak909 on June 09, 2011, 02:44:04 pm
When ready, please talk to us in the #linuxmce-devel channel.

We will need to get you to create a device template and run DCEGen etc (assuming this is a C++ device), as soon as possible.

-Thom
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: pwned on June 10, 2011, 04:55:27 am
Yeah I'll come have a chat to you guys on IRC in a few days I reckon, just dealing with a small checksumming issue on my comms library and then it should be on like donkey kong.

The library/app is a .NET assembly that runs under mono, so I'm thinking to get things done to start with I'll P/Invoke the existing libraries to talk DCE back to the DCERouter (and maybe write a native .NET lib for it later).

Might be easiest if I set up an Ubuntu PPA to push builds through, will chat to you guys about this in any case (was also thinking about helping restructure the existing LinuxMCE packages if thats something that people want doing?).
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: tschak909 on June 10, 2011, 10:47:28 am
yikes, dude... *thwap-you-upside-the-head*

This is why you talk to us beforehand.

You should do the library either in C++ or Ruby.

-Thom
Title: Re: Is anybody using the GE NX-8E for their alarm panel?
Post by: pwned on June 10, 2011, 10:52:39 am
yikes, dude... *thwap-you-upside-the-head*

This is why you talk to us beforehand.

You should do the library either in C++ or Ruby.

hahah, yeah the lib is part of a bigger project so no go there, I'll jump on IRC some time and have a chat to you :P