Honeywell VISTA 20P, VISTA-20PSIA, VISTA-15P, VISTA-15PSIA System Communication and Operation

S E C T I O N 6

System Communication and Operation

Panel Communication with Central Station

This system accommodates several formats for reporting alarms and other system conditions to the Central Station. The process of a successful transmission consists of both the method of communication between the control panel and the Central Station receiver; and the actual way the information is sent and displayed at the Central Station.

When the panel calls the Central Station receiver, it waits to hear a “handshake” frequency from the receiver to confirm that the receiver is on-line and ready to receive its message. Once the panel hears the handshake it is programmed to listen for, it sends its message. The panel then waits for a “kissoff” frequency from the receiver acknowledging that the message was received and understood.

If the handshake frequency is not given or is not understood by the panel, the panel will not send its message. Once the handshake frequency is received and understood by the panel, the panel sends its message. If there is an error in the transmission (the receiver does not receive a “valid” message), the kissoff frequency is not given by the Central Station receiver.

The panel makes a total of eight attempts to the primary telephone number and eight attempts to the secondary telephone number (if programmed) to get a valid message through. If the panel is not successful after its numerous attempts, the keypad displays COMM. FAILURE (on alpha keypads) or FC (on fixed- word keypads).

Report Code Formats

The following chart indicates the types of (handshake/kissoff) frequencies that the panel supports and the different formats that can be sent with each.

FORMAT	HANDSHAKE	TRANSMITS DATA	KISSOFF	TRANSMIT TIME
Low Speed	1400 Hz	1900Hz (10PPS)	1400 Hz	Under 15 secs
3+1, 4+1, 4+2				(Standard report)
Sescoa/Rad	2300 Hz	1800Hz (20PPS)	2300 Hz	Under 10 secs
3+1, 4+1, 4+2				(Standard report)
Express	1400–2300 Hz	DTMF (10 cps)	1400 Hz	Under 3 secs
4+2
Contact ID	1400–2300 Hz	DTMF (10 cps)	1400 Hz	Under 3 secs

The following table describes each format in greater detail.

FORMAT TYPE	DESCRIPTION
3+1 and 4+1	Comprises a 3- (or 4-) digit subscriber number and a single-digit report
Standard Formats	code (e.g., Alarm, Trouble, Restore, Open, Close, etc).
3+1 and 4+1	Comprises a 3- (or 4-) digit subscriber number and a two-digit report code.
Expanded Formats	The first digit is displayed on the first line. On the second line, it is repeated
	3 (or 4) times and is followed by the second digit. This is the “expanded”
	digit.
4+2 Format	Comprises a 4-digit subscriber number and 2-digit report code.
ADEMCO Contact ID	Comprises a 4- or 10-digit subscriber number (depending on format
Reporting Format	selected), 1-digit event qualifier (“new” or “restore”), 3-digit event code, and
	3-digit zone number, user number, or system status number (see the
	following page).

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