Paradox IP150 configuration issue

[F1 Fan]

I have an older version IP150 which Im just going to sell. The Insights app is terrible.

Have used Olarm and it works pretty well. Wanted to try out Falcon app, but I need a cable to connect the panel to the falcon communicator, and I can't seem to find one online.

 

[itareanlnotani]

Cool thanks, I have integrated it with HA as well. Just wanted to make sure it stays that way. I see the connection from PAI drops now and then and then it immediately reconnects. Is this normal?

Suggest look at your PAI logs to see the reason.

Mine seems to be stable, although I have only had it running since last night.

Seems to happen often.

Logs only says lost connection, and immediately reconnects:

2022-04-29 11:07:31,241 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.paradox - Running
2022-04-29 11:27:58,326 - ERROR    - PAI.paradox.paradox - Lost communication with panel
2022-04-29 11:27:58,326 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.paradox - Disconnecting from the Alarm Panel
2022-04-29 11:27:58,326 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.paradox - Clean Session
2022-04-29 11:27:58,326 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.paradox - Cleaning previous session. Closing connection
2022-04-29 11:27:58,328 - ERROR    - PAI.paradox.connections.protocols - Connection was closed: None
2022-04-29 11:27:58,328 - ERROR    - PAI.paradox.connections.connection - Connection was lost
2022-04-29 11:27:58,329 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.paradox - Disconnected from the Alarm Panel
2022-04-29 11:28:04,338 - INFO     - PAI - Starting...
2022-04-29 11:28:04,338 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.paradox - Disconnecting from the Alarm Panel
2022-04-29 11:28:04,338 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.paradox - Clean Session
2022-04-29 11:28:04,338 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.paradox - Connecting to interface
2022-04-29 11:28:04,338 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.connections.ip.connection - Connecting. Try 1/3
2022-04-29 11:28:04,340 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.connections.connection - Connection established
2022-04-29 11:28:04,341 - INFO     - PAI.paradox.connections.ip.commands - Authenticating with IP Module

This also seems to happen every time, when it tries to load the definitions from the panel it times out, and on the next connection it works. Is something taking too long to load or respond?

2022-04-29 11:28:09,814 - ERROR    - PAI.paradox.paradox - Timeout while connecting to panel. Is an other connection active?
2022-04-29 11:28:09,814 - ERROR    - PAI - Unable to connect to alarm
2022-04-29 11:28:09,814 - INFO     - PAI - Starting...

I didn't change much in the config file, maybe there is a keep alive time I need to change?

Probably worth updating the firmware on the IP150 then, some of the change revisions were communication problem related ones. No guarantee thats the issue though, but my IP150 is on a recent firmware and no comms issues.


Otherwise open a terminal window and ping the ip150 on your network, check for any dropped packets. Leave it running for a good few minutes.

You don't have anything else polling (i.e. talking to) the IP150 do you?
That will kick off others logged in. - eg Insight Gold or similar, or one of the other apps.

eg https://github.com/maisken/Paradox_IP150

 

[furpile]

Suggest look at your PAI logs to see the reason.

Mine seems to be stable, although I have only had it running since last night.

Probably worth updating the firmware on the IP150 then, some of the change revisions were communication problem related ones. No guarantee thats the issue though, but my IP150 is on a recent firmware and no comms issues.


Otherwise open a terminal window and ping the ip150 on your network, check for any dropped packets. Leave it running for a good few minutes.

You don't have anything else polling (i.e. talking to) the IP150 do you?
That will kick off others logged in. - eg Insight Gold or similar, or one of the other apps.

eg https://github.com/maisken/Paradox_IP150

Nothing else talking to it. I think it is related to the changes I made on the IP150 itself this morning. I changed the gateway to 0.0.0.0 and the DNS as well. Changed the DNS to the router's IP now so will see how it behaves going forward. The version currently on the IP150 does not give an option to block internet connection or SWAN so have to change the gateway to prevent it from updating.

 

[itareanlnotani]

Nothing else talking to it. I think it is related to the changes I made on the IP150 itself this morning. I changed the gateway to 0.0.0.0 and the DNS as well. Changed the DNS to the router's IP now so will see how it behaves going forward. The version currently on the IP150 does not give an option to block internet connection or SWAN so have to change the gateway to prevent it from updating.

I have never ever seen an SA IP150 update itself.

Sure, I've only really played with a handful, but its never happened. I really wish it would, would save me the hassle of doing it myself on systems I want to keep it updated on.

 

[furpile]

I have never ever seen an SA IP150 update itself.

Sure, I've only really played with a handful, but its never happened. I really wish it would, would save me the hassle of doing it myself on systems I want to keep it updated on.

Thanks, that is just what I have read trying to get PAI up and running. Anyway after changing the DNS server to the router IP it is now stable for more than 20 minutes so it seems resolved now.

 

[krieg]

I have an older version IP150 which Im just going to sell. The Insights app is terrible.

Have used Olarm and it works pretty well. Wanted to try out Falcon app, but I need a cable to connect the panel to the falcon communicator, and I can't seem to find one online.

My mom has got a Falcon unit that the armed response installed, it is just a normal multi core cable going from the Falcon unit to another small circuit board connected to the POTS phone line connection on the alarm board.

Actually checked now in the manual for DSC it is called DSC POWERSERIES FSK KEY-BUS MODULE.

Manufacturer is South African, company is now called Amecor, so just order from them.

 

[Mzezman]

Updates will only happen if you flash it yourself.

Essentially the newer IP150 firmwares remove anything useful - no webui on the later ones even.
They do add compatibility with Insight Gold (a paid app service). I do use it, but its flaky AF.

Not a train smash, the main thing with the IP150's is that you can connect to other stuff.
eg I just setup mine to connect to PAI in Home Assistant last night.

View attachment 1300336

How did you manage to get this done? tearing my hair out here - i dont have access to the IP150 web gui - i installed PAI ad it is connecting to the panel - but after that getting it to show up in lovelace isnt working

 

[itareanlnotani]

How did you manage to get this done? tearing my hair out here - i dont have access to the IP150 web gui - i installed PAI ad it is connecting to the panel - but after that getting it to show up in lovelace isnt working

configuration / addons.
- install mqqt broker.

Configuration:

logins:
- username: pai
password: YOUR_OWN_PASS_HERE
require_certificate: false
certfile: fullchain.pem
keyfile: privkey.pem
customize:
active: false
folder: mosquitto

(change the pass to something else!)


In your PAI configuation make sure that you set the same details as the mqqt user/pass eg

MQTT_USERNAME: pai
MQTT_PASSWORD: YOUR_OWN_PASS_HERE

Also Make sure
CONNECTION_TYPE: IP
and your ip address for your IP150 is set.

Now head back to Configuration / and go to devices & integrations
Click on MQTT

You should be able to see the PAI device listed in there now (eg MG5050)
Mine looks like this.




Once you see that in there, you can go to the Dashboard, edit dashboard, and add the Alarm there.
It should appear in the dropdown. eg - mine

 

[Mzezman]

configuration / addons.
- install mqqt broker.

Configuration:

(change the pass to something else!)


In your PAI configuation make sure that you set the same details as the mqqt user/pass eg


Also Make sure
CONNECTION_TYPE: IP
and your ip address for your IP150 is set.

Now head back to Configuration / and go to devices & integrations
Click on MQTT

You should be able to see the PAI device listed in there now (eg MG5050)
Mine looks like this.

View attachment 1301038


Once you see that in there, you can go to the Dashboard, edit dashboard, and add the Alarm there.
It should appear in the dropdown. eg - mine

View attachment 1301040

You sir are a lifesaver - also i had my mqtt incorrectly configured (my Solar Assistant was also publishing there) - it is now on my dashboard

Now to learn how to bypass zones

 

[F1 Fan]

My mom has got a Falcon unit that the armed response installed, it is just a normal multi core cable going from the Falcon unit to another small circuit board connected to the POTS phone line connection on the alarm board.

Actually checked now in the manual for DSC it is called DSC POWERSERIES FSK KEY-BUS MODULE.

Manufacturer is South African, company is now called Amecor, so just order from them.

Thanks dude, but I think you are talking about DSC whereas I have a paradox system?

The cable I need looks like this?

 

[krieg]

Thanks dude, but I think you are talking about DSC whereas I have a paradox system?

The cable I need looks like this?

Correct I was referencing DSC but it seems to be the same according to the linked manual with Paradox, only difference being DSC connects via the phone terminal and Paradox via the serial port. I am still not clear on whether you have the small PCB being connected at the 00:47 mark on the right?
If you have and you only need the cable it is a simple small 4 pin Molex connector like on a floppy drive or you can use Du Pont female to female jumper cables.

 

[itareanlnotani]

You sir are a lifesaver - also i had my mqtt incorrectly configured (my Solar Assistant was also publishing there) - it is now on my dashboard

Now to learn how to bypass zones

Next up, I need to setup "last triggered" so I can see when a sensor was triggered.

eg -

How to show last motion movement [LIST]?

I have several motion sensors and i would like to have a list, last detected motion lets say last 10 and updated when somebody trigger the sensor.

community.home-assistant.io

 

[Mzezman]

Next up, I need to setup "last triggered" so I can see when a sensor was triggered.

eg -

How to show last motion movement [LIST]?

I have several motion sensors and i would like to have a list, last detected motion lets say last 10 and updated when somebody trigger the sensor.

community.home-assistant.io

i managed to get the bypass function working using an mqtt button using this post

I got it working with two partitions; one for the main house and the other for the flat at the back.

switch:
  - platform: mqtt   
    name: "Kombuis Deur Bypass"
    command_topic: "paradox/control/zones/Kombuis_Deur"
    state_topic: "paradox/states/zones/Kombuis_Deur/bypassed"
    qos: 0
    optimistic: true
    state_on: "True"
    state_off: "False"  
    payload_on: "bypass"
    payload_off: "clear_bypass"
    payload_available: "Online"
    payload_not_available: "Offline"

This is one of my door sensors that is created as an MQTT Switch.

Worked a charm. Will leave it here for now as that covers my main use cases - although i would like to see if a particular zone is armed or not.... hmmm

 

[F1 Fan]

Correct I was referencing DSC but it seems to be the same according to the linked manual with Paradox, only difference being DSC connects via the phone terminal and Paradox via the serial port. I am still not clear on whether you have the small PCB being connected at the 00:47 mark on the right?
If you have and you only need the cable it is a simple small 4 pin Molex connector like on a floppy drive or you can use Du Pont female to female jumper cables.

No, so I don't have the PCB or the molex connector. What do you think this will cost?

Can't seem to find Amecor online?

 

[krieg]

No, so I don't have the PCB or the molex connector. What do you think this will cost?

Can't seem to find Amecor online?

Can't be that much, pretty basic board. They have branches nationally, give the closest one a shout.
Amecor

 

[F1 Fan]

Can't be that much, pretty basic board. They have branches nationally, give the closest one a shout.
Amecor

Thanks dude...apparently they don't sell to the public.. only alarm companies..

 

[krieg]

Thanks dude...apparently they don't sell to the public.. only alarm companies..

@chrisc might be able to help.

 

[Thor]

I purchased insite gold.

It keeps prompting me now to update the IP150+ to a new version but it does not work.

And it's honesty frustrating the hell out of me.

 

[nad_isa]

I purchased insite gold.

It keeps prompting me now to update the IP150+ to a new version but it does not work.

And it's honesty frustrating the hell out of me.

My opinion. Bin it and go PAI if you willing to mess around or go olarm for no hassles with increased cost. I also was pondering ip150 and insite gold. Went olarm and no issues since day 1.

 

[georgelza]

My opinion. Bin it and go PAI if you willing to mess around or go olarm for no hassles with increased cost. I also was pondering ip150 and insite gold. Went olarm and no issues since day 1.

Agree.

DO NOT UPGRADE.

Rather use PAI and integrate it with HomeAssistent.

G