Home Security System

[Arbutus]

Unless the MCU has a cellular radio on board, it cannot send SMS directly. So my trick is to send an eMail to my Apple mail account, with a specific subject string.
In the Apple mail system, I set up a rule to run a script when that email arrives which sends the SMS to my phone.

Another way, if your phone company allows it, it to send an eMail to the carrier's SMS gateway, but I have not tried that.

 

[Arbutus]

My first home burglary left my wife with a BAD case of PTSD. She felt just like she had been raped and was afraid of her shadow and every tiny noise in the house when I was not home. No way she would even open closet doors.

To address this, I built my very first alarm system. It was home built but not smart - just relays and tree logic. But it worked. We had another burglary attempt and it stopped them cold.

My second alarm was a home built smart system using a Z80 CPU and custom circuits. It worked but required a crap load of circuitry and expensive components to support the CPU.

My third used a Parralax Basic Stamp Microcontroller. A fantastic advancement in cheap smart capability.

Today I use a regular retail "DSC" Alarm box. The only reason for that is because DSC and Honeywell systems are supported by my monitoring company. Otherwise I'd do an ESP32 or even an Arduino based system like you suggest.

I still have one I made around 1980:

Its a missing-pulse detector that runs at 5 pulses/sec. If any circuit is opened, the pulse is lost and the alarm trips. There are exit delay and enrty delay settings as well. Runs on a pair of 555 and 556 timers. There was a surplus firehall siren attached at one point too.

OMG that was 45 years ago!
🙂

 

[Lucky7]

Like others, our monitored security system has proven its worth with two water events in our sub-basement. Both of which times we were not home. Glad we have it.

 

[Susquatch]

I'm using email message to cell provider for SMS, how are you doing SMS?

I would like to add direct SMS.

I don't think you can do direct SMS because SMS is native to the cellular carrier signal. However, many (but not all) cellular providers will send you a txt message if you send an Email to [email protected] or similar where xxx-xxx-xxxx is your cell number. I've tried it many times and it works.

 

[Elektrishun]

Just got off the phone with our phone service provider. They checked the analog line and verified it is good. I then had them monitor it while I set off the alarm. Sure enough, they could see an "in use" signal during the alarm. I let the alarm continue and they could see a "not active" which means the alarm system is no longer sending the signal.

My theory is that the monitoring centre cannot properly monitor analog signals. Interesting fact is that I was told by two security system reps that they last recieved a signal from our system on June 1st which apparently was "phone line restored". Restored from what? Our phone service provider did not see any issues on June 1st with our landline.

So how does that signal get through via our system (I assume it was sent from our security system) but not the alarm signal?

 

[Elektrishun]

I still have one I made around 1980:
View attachment 68956
Its a missing-pulse detector that runs at 5 pulses/sec. If any circuit is opened, the pulse is lost and the alarm trips. There are exit delay and enrty delay settings as well. Runs on a pair of 555 and 556 timers. There was a surplus firehall siren attached at one point too.

OMG that was 45 years ago!
🙂

My DSC system is not as old as that system but has been in service for about 20 years. Is it possible that the outgoing signal is at fault? The security system is interrupting the phone line during an alarm but maybe the signal is in error?

 

[Susquatch]

It's annoying when something no longer works but nobody knows why.

I'll bet it's as simple as digital tones vs analog pulses. Many alarm systems include the option to use either one. See if you have the option and then if changing the option fixes it.

 

[trlvn]

My old DSC system started acting erratically after 25-ish years and I replaced it with a DCS PowerSeries 1832. I added a third party board to the system that gives me alarm notifications. It is an EnvisaLink from EyeZOn:

EyezOn | Home

EyezOn

www.eyezon.com

I am far from a guru with this stuff about electrons scooting along wires but it was easy enough to follow the directions and get it all working. When we move, I think all I have to do is yank the EyeZOn board and it goes back to being a plain vanilla DSC system.

Craig

 

[trlvn]

My first home burglary left my wife with a BAD case of PTSD. She felt just like she had been raped and was afraid of her shadow and every tiny noise in the house when I was not home. No way she would even open closet doors.

My wife is not the same as yours. Early on in this house, my work involved 2 week trips a few times a year. My wife said she took comfort that we had the security system and, since it is not monitored, indicated that she would call the cops from the bedroom (this is before cell phones) if the alarm ever went off.

One night, while I was away, it did go off! My wife said the siren's screaming was so loud that the only thing she could think of was to silence the d@mn thing! So she ran down to the alarm panel and did just that. And then it occurred to her what she had just done. Luckily, it turned out that it was just a door sensor where the adhesive had failed.

Craig

 

[slow-poke]

Unless the MCU has a cellular radio on board, it cannot send SMS directly. So my trick is to send an eMail to my Apple mail account, with a specific subject string.
In the Apple mail system, I set up a rule to run a script when that email arrives which sends the SMS to my phone.

Another way, if your phone company allows it, it to send an eMail to the carrier's SMS gateway, but I have not tried that.

I don't think you can do direct SMS because SMS is native to the cellular carrier signal. However, many (but not all) cellular providers will send you a txt message if you send an Email to [email protected] or similar where xxx-xxx-xxxx is your cell number. I've tried it many times and it works.

I have been using the email to SMS gateway method for quite a white now and it seems reliable. What I'm thinking of doing is getting one of the Arduino modules with a cell module and then from what I have read, there are pay as you go cell services that don't require a monthly fee, they are strictly based on data, so you buy a $50 package and only send data when something bad is going on and perhaps a test message once a month --> really cheap SMS messaging, $50 should last a long time . IIRC these pay as you go services are not from the oligopolistic Canadian companies but from some foreign provider that piggybacks on our local cell service. Closest thing we have to that in Canada is the 7-11 pay as you go cards, however they expire and require regular top ups.


One of a million projects that I will eventually get to.

"Bored in retirement". What an absurd phrase.

 

[Elektrishun]

I'll bet it's as simple as digital tones vs analog pulses. Many alarm systems include the option to use either one. See if you have the option and then if changing the option fixes it.

100% correct.

I just went through it again. Analog line must have been moved over to phone modem by a previous installer. I just don't remember when this became an issue. I really dropped the ball on this one. Normally, I pay closer attention to these things.

 

[Susquatch]

"Bored in retirement". What an absurd phrase.

Oddly enough, I know people who are actually like that!

I can't imagine it. For me, it's all about choices. I'm never bored and never have nothing to do. My only challenge is choosing what I want to do next. I call it choosing my priorities.

 

[Susquatch]

Normally, I pay closer attention to these things.

So do I, but you can't catch them all. Don't be hard on yourself. Sooner or later something slips past us.

I'm so glad you got it working.

 

[Elektrishun]

I'm so glad you got it working.

Not there yet. I have a technician coming on Monday morning to verify if the landline is still active. I don't want to remake connections to find out the landline is not active. If there is a problem it may involve going to the panel outside. Finally, I will test the security system before they leave. This will be a free service call since it was their work.

- I dropped the ball by not testing the security system more frequently.

- The alarm company dropped the ball because apparently if the system isn't tested every 30 days they should contact you to make sure all is well (I know, might as well be wishing in one hand and shitting in the other to see which gets filled first). Maybe more modern systems do this automatically, like a self-test or system verification???

- Finally, whomever moved everything over to the phone modem shouldn't have walked away without verifying our alarm system. They should've got us to test it. When I worked on any type of alarm or critical warning system we tested before calling it a day.

 

[Chicken lights]

I still want a camera to show me what's at the front door. Talked about it on here in other posts but I still think I want higher up than just a ring cam. I'd like to monitor what's at the front door but not limited to JUST the door

 

[Elektrishun]

I have been doing some reading about Telus and security system monitoring centers in general. It might not matter what I do in the end. If the monitoring center is in the Philippines like their tech support then at some point the signal will likely be VOIP'ed. I spoke to an installer earlier today who has been in the business for over 20 years. He said my system lost support 2 years ago and encouraged upgrading. I will continue with this service call but I have a feeling I'm going to be disappointed with the result.

 

[Janger]

Ok I’ve got a weird one.

See this flower thing. It’s some sort of thick paper wrapped around a bamboo stick. I found two in our backyard. Nobody in the family has a clue what they are or how they got there. I asked the neighbours 12 year old girl, denial. Wtf. Who was in our yard, and why, and what are these things?

We have a camera pointed out the window now….

 

[Elektrishun]

I still want a camera to show me what's at the front door. Talked about it on here in other posts but I still think I want higher up than just a ring cam. I'd like to monitor what's at the front door but not limited to JUST the door

Not sure if you can get them anymore but I have a Panasonic Window Camera. I can see who is at the door and most of the front yard. Of course, how effective it would be depends on what window you have to mount it to (suction device).

I don't pay any fees for video storage, nobody outside the house can tamper with it, weather doesn't affect it (I have heard that RING doorbell cameras can freeze up in Saskatchewan), and it stores all the video on a HD memory card. Plug it in to a local outlet and let it go. Lot of features, easy to set-up, and the app just works. Haven't had any issues in 3 years. I put a second one in my garage mounted to a selfie stick in a clear plastic vented box instead of mounting it directly to the window. Still provides an excellent image of the backyard and driveway.

 

[Elektrishun]

Ok I’ve got a weird one.

See this flower thing. It’s some sort of thick paper wrapped around a bamboo stick. I found two in our backyard. Nobody in the family has a clue what they are or how they got there. I asked the neighbours 12 year old girl, denial. Wtf. Who was in our yard, and why, and what are these things?

We have a camera pointed out the window now….

Cauliflower mushrooms? If that's it they are supposed to be very good to eat. Or paper around a stick🙂

Home » Wild Mushroom Recipes Cauliflower Mushrooms or Sparassis: The Noodle Fungus

 

[Susquatch]

I still want a camera to show me what's at the front door. Talked about it on here in other posts but I still think I want higher up than just a ring cam. I'd like to monitor what's at the front door but not limited to JUST the door

Arlo Pro. That's what I use for that. Works great! I'll show you next time you are here.