Paradox and Olarm

greg_SA

greg_SA

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Hi,

I bought a Olarm MAX to control my Paradox MG5050 system. Mainly because I need to be able to arm/disarm it remotely.

There are a few things that are confusing.

When I connect the Olarm (to the serial / PC interface) I am no longer able to enter the Installer or Master programming modes! As soon as I unplug the Olarm, it works again.

This seems to be normal, as when the serial interface (normally used with Babyware) is active, it is assumed that it will be used for programming, disabling the keypad programming.

So if I want to add something to the system, do I need to unplug the Olarm to access the programming via the normal keypad? Or am I missing something.

It seems like you can use Babyware via the Olarm, via a fairly elaborate process, explained here:


But you need the Olarm Command Centre, which only seems to be available to Installers / Security Companies, etc.

Any advise?

Thanks
Greg
 
You need to upgrade your panel to MG5050+. This panel has 2 serial ports, and with it I have been able to connect my IP150 to the 1 serial port, and the Olarm to the 2nd serial port. The great thing about this is that the Olarm no longer locks up the programming system, so I can use Babyware through the IP150 without any problems while the Olarm is still plugged in and operating.
 
greg_SA said:
Hi,

I bought a Olarm MAX to control my Paradox MG5050 system. Mainly because I need to be able to arm/disarm it remotely.

There are a few things that are confusing.

When I connect the Olarm (to the serial / PC interface) I am no longer able to enter the Installer or Master programming modes! As soon as I unplug the Olarm, it works again.

This seems to be normal, as when the serial interface (normally used with Babyware) is active, it is assumed that it will be used for programming, disabling the keypad programming.

So if I want to add something to the system, do I need to unplug the Olarm to access the programming via the normal keypad? Or am I missing something.

It seems like you can use Babyware via the Olarm, via a fairly elaborate process, explained here:


But you need the Olarm Command Centre, which only seems to be available to Installers / Security Companies, etc.

Any advise?

Thanks
Greg
Click to expand...
As other have said, this is the expected behaviour.

I used Olarm (the first version) a couple of years ago. Though it worked, I was not thoroughly impressed. The app felt like a non-native app, kinda slow.

Since switching to Home Assistant, I've not had any need for Olarm. It's fast and I have much more freedom to set it up the way I like.

An additional benefit of this configuration is that I can simply deactivate the Paradox Alarm Interface (integration) and Mosquito broker in home assistant, allowing me to use babyware.
 
Awesome, thanks everyone.

Will the MG5050+ stop the keypad programming access from being disabled?

I might just add an inline switch to the serial TX/RX pins (or all pins) to temporarily allow keypad programming access.
 
greg_SA said:
Awesome, thanks everyone.

Will the MG5050+ stop the keypad programming access from being disabled?

I might just add an inline switch to the serial TX/RX pins (or all pins) to temporarily allow keypad programming access.
Click to expand...

I only use Babyware through the IP150 to program so I have no idea, but if you give me a check code to use I can check quickly on the keypad of my MG5050+.
 
deweyzeph said:
I only use Babyware through the IP150 to program so I have no idea, but if you give me a check code to use I can check quickly on the keypad of my MG5050+.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I couldn't even log in to the Installer Programming with Olarm Installed. It just rejected my Password. So you can query any code, like 001.
 
Thanks. What is also strange is that my 2 partitions names are different on the Olarm, and they change on Alarm Panel too (TM 50 LCD screen) when the Olarm is plugged in..
 
greg_SA said:
Thanks. I couldn't even log in to the Installer Programming with Olarm Installed. It just rejected my Password. So you can query any code, like 001.
Click to expand...

Cool, just tested it now. So, with the IP150 connected to the 1st serial port, and the Olarm connected to the 2nd serial port (and working and connected to the Olarm data centre), I can confirm that I was able to successfully use the installer code to go into programming mode and query section 001 without any issues. So it's definitely possible to have the Olarm connected to the MG5050+ and still be able to use the keypad to program.

Another thing I can confirm is that if Babyware is connected to the panel via the IP150 then system programming via the keypad definitely no longer works, which is as it should be as I understand it.
 
deweyzeph said:
Cool, just tested it now. So, with the IP150 connected to the 1st serial port, and the Olarm connected to the 2nd serial port (and working and connected to the Olarm data centre), I can confirm that I was able to successfully use the installer code to go into programming mode and query section 001 without any issues. So it's definitely possible to have the Olarm connected to the MG5050+ and still be able to use the keypad to program.

Another thing I can confirm is that if Babyware is connected to the panel via the IP150 then system programming via the keypad definitely no longer works, which is as it should be as I understand it.
Click to expand...
Awesome, thanks! Really appreciate you help :thumbsup:
 
greg_SA said:
Awesome, thanks! Really appreciate you help :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

No worries. BTW, replacing my old MG5050 was relatively simple. The MG5050+ board is exactly the same format as the MG5050 apart from the additional serial port. I just ordered a new board from Alarmtec, took a photo of the old board so could wire everything back the same, then I took a backup of the control panel configuration through Babyware. I then physically replaced the board making sure to wire everything back the exact same way as before. I then connected the IP150 module to the new board, and uploaded the entire configuration backup to the new board, and everything worked exactly as it did before.
 
I've got this Olarm app on my phone but I dont see any option to automatically arm the system at a set time?
It seems there isnt an option for this (dumb), any ideas of a workaround with this?
 
You can set a reminder on olarm to set your alarm. .depending on your alarm panel you can program the panel to arm itself.
 
Jam Sandwich said:
I've got this Olarm app on my phone but I dont see any option to automatically arm the system at a set time?
It seems there isnt an option for this (dumb), any ideas of a workaround with this?
Click to expand...
I've been using macrodroid on my Android phone for performing different automation tasks. Did the same with olarm. Enable olarm's API access, record the unique token it assigns and then create a scheduled macro in macrodroid to automatically arm and disarm my alarm.

Simple http post request:


with simple JSON body:

{
"actionCmd": "area-arm",
"actionNum": 1
}

to arm and

{
"actionCmd": "area-disarm",
"actionNum": 1
}

to disarm
 
greg_SA said:
Hi,

I bought a Olarm MAX to control my Paradox MG5050 system. Mainly because I need to be able to arm/disarm it remotely.

There are a few things that are confusing.

When I connect the Olarm (to the serial / PC interface) I am no longer able to enter the Installer or Master programming modes! As soon as I unplug the Olarm, it works again.

This seems to be normal, as when the serial interface (normally used with Babyware) is active, it is assumed that it will be used for programming, disabling the keypad programming.

So if I want to add something to the system, do I need to unplug the Olarm to access the programming via the normal keypad? Or am I missing something.

It seems like you can use Babyware via the Olarm, via a fairly elaborate process, explained here:


But you need the Olarm Command Centre, which only seems to be available to Installers / Security Companies, etc.

Any advise?

Thanks
Greg
Click to expand...
Thanks ! This has saved me a lot of trouble and a potential factory reset on my MG5050.
Installed olarm unit few days ago, had to change mg5050 master pin in the process and now when I want to access setup via the keypad it rejects all pins. Thought it had to be a bug or something
 
Automatically arming an alarm on a schedule is probably not something that most people want to do. I could do that through Home Assistant but I'd rather just have a notification to remind me.

Unless you have an extremely rigid schedule and never have any visitors or deviations from your normal schedule then you're going to have a few times where the alarm is armed when you don't want it to be.
 
Different strokes for different folks 'Doc' .... Automation works great to, just for example you know, make sure my alarm is armed at midnight in case somebody missed the reminder ....
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Automatically arming an alarm on a schedule is probably not something that most people want to do. I could do that through Home Assistant but I'd rather just have a notification to remind me.

Unless you have an extremely rigid schedule and never have any visitors or deviations from your normal schedule then you're going to have a few times where the alarm is armed when you don't want it to be.
Click to expand...
 
DawieMoller said:
Different strokes for different folks 'Doc' .... Automation works great to, just for example you know, make sure my alarm is armed at midnight in case somebody missed the reminder ....
Click to expand...
Yep, more power to the user - I'm just giving a justification on why this options is probably not available in the app.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Yep, more power to the user - I'm just giving a justification on why this options is probably not available in the app.
Click to expand...

Pretty useful for businesses where you have set closing times and can set an alarm to arm shortly after closing time in case anybody forgets to arm it.

They really should give the user the choice I feel.
 
falcon786 said:
Pretty useful for businesses where you have set closing times and can set an alarm to arm shortly after closing time in case anybody forgets to arm it.

They really should give the user the choice I feel.
Click to expand...
Agreed... We stlll had guests late into the night and my staff wanted to go home so one of them was stuck until they had left... With a schedule setting we could have had the alarm activate at midnight or something. For what this kak cost an auto arm service should definately be an option.
 
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