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🛡Home Security => Problems and Troubleshooting => Topic started by: prb44t on November 05, 2008, 10:30:39 PM

Title: DS7000 losing connection to Window Sensor
Post by: prb44t on November 05, 2008, 10:30:39 PM
I just installed the DS7000 system about a week ago. It seems like every other day one of my 4 window sensors loses connection to the station. I get a slow flash on one of the zones, then when I arm the system it just chimes. I have to bypass the zone, open and close the window and then it's fine.

Any idea why this would be happening?
Title: Re: DS7000 losing connection to Window Sensor
Post by: PajamaGuy on November 06, 2008, 07:16:00 AM
The DS7000 is not receiving the DS10A's heartbeat.  The DS10A sends its status about every 60 minutes or so, the MS10As send it about every 90 minutes (plus or minus a few minutes).  Those signals let the DS7000 know that they're still alive.

You've got to either re-position the DS7000, move the DS10A (higher-up on the window), try a passive antenna on the DS10A (do a search here), or get a device that repeats the RF signal (like an SR731).

I had the problem, tried the passive antenna, but settled on an SR731.  If you're only doing the DS7000 and not AHP, the SR731 is the way to go, but if you use AHP, beware that you'll get, and have to deal with, the possibility of multiple signals.  For instance, one of my centrally located motion sensors sends a signal - The CM15A picks it up directly, as do both of my SR731'a, so AHP gets the same signal 3 times.

Search this forum, and read the Wiki.

Title: Re: DS7000 losing connection to Window Sensor
Post by: spam4us on November 09, 2008, 01:00:31 AM
Agree with the above........Also..........make sure you don't have the DS7000 near anything that could interfere with the signal.  Something as inconspicuous as an extension cord nearby.

One thing I noticed when I first installed mine.  If you registered your ds10a's within a minute of each other, they may be trying to report their “I’m alive” signal back to the ds7000 at the same time & neither gets through.

I have 2 ds7000s with 26 DS10A's and 3 MS10A's installed in my house & found within the 1st 2 weeks, I had the same problem as you. By spacing out the register timeline a little, the problem went away.  Functioning great for over a year until I put new batteries in.  Once I registered everything again, the problem came back for awhile. 

One more thing.  Check the spring that holds the batteries in place.  I had a few where the battery contact wasn’t being made because the spring  wasn’t tensioned enough. I just stretched the spring a little and that cured it.
Title: Re: DS7000 losing connection to Window Sensor
Post by: HA Dave on November 09, 2008, 03:10:22 AM
.... re-position the DS7000, move the DS10A (higher-up on the window), try a passive antenna on the DS10A, or get a device that repeats the RF signal (like an SR731).

Another option (that I used) is hard wire the magnetic reed switches, to the DS10A's at more central area (where the console could be located). I've extended the wires on the DS10A by 30 feet... and have heard of [extentions] twice that.