X10 Community Forum
🛡Home Security => Home Security General => Topic started by: James S. on March 08, 2005, 03:34:04 PM
-
After using the DS7000 for five months, I am
satisfied with its performance. I would
recommend some improvements in the next
version: (1) A 3-6 dc volt output outlet
that turns on when arm light is on. I would
use this for an outside hard wired enterance
LED to verify alarm status. (2) A dry set of
contacts that would close when alarm is
activated. One use for this would be to
activate a PSC01/PF284 Powerflash Interface
Module to flash lights on other house codes
when alarm is activated. (3) Include with
sale of the DS7000 the (non-advertised) wall
mount adapter or put two holes on the back
of the DS7000 for wall mounting. These are
simple and low cost recommendations. You
could also design a more expensive security
console that transmitted a signal to a
wireless indoor/outdoor Alarm Status Module
(that you could design and sell at an
extremely high price).
-
I would like to see an on-off switch on the
DS7000 that would turn off the chimes. Also
be great if Active Home Pro and DS7000 could
interact together. X10, how about a wish
list forum for the DS7000 like the one for
the AHP.
-
I would also like to be able to turn on and
off those annoying chimes. At the very
least, being able to adjust the volume of
the chimes.
-
I have added plug ins to my DS7000 to
connect 3 X10 universal modules to arm or
disarm, and bypass switches on my system. I
then program my USB powerlinc to arm or
disarm my system at pre-determinrd times.I
have the system arm itself first, then I
have it bypass just in case a sensor is not
working. Then it will disarm itself at the
end of the day. Since this system is
utilizing the X10 universal modules. I have
an outside light come on whenever the Arm
universal module is activated, to let
everyone know the system is armed. I also
use can use my X10 phone responder to arm or
disarm the system from my cell phone.
-
Tom: That is exactly what I was talking
about, that X10 could incorporate simple
modifications to the DS7000 and make it a
more practical system. That way we wouldn't
have to void our warrenty by doing it
ourself. In addition, I sure some users
don't have the electrical knowledge to make
the changes for themself. The USB Powerlinc
you are using for timers is another
suggestion that I have for the Active Home
Pro System, to incoporate commands for the
DS7000. The CM15A currently recognizes the
DS7000, however it doesn't send or receive
any commands. I hope the next AHP update
corrects this. If not, I'm going to crack
open my DS7000 as soon as my one year
warrenty expires and start adding my own
plug-in adapters.
-
Excellent ideas James and Tom!!
Unfourtunatly I'm not electronically
oriented and hope x10 takes these
suggestions. Does anybody from x10 ever post
any replies here?! I've read so many
negative post. It seems like so many people
are frustrated about support from x10. I
guess I'm one of the lucky ones. So far I
called them 5 times and emailed them a few
and was promptly answered. I don't know what
my opinion on this company is yet cause I've
only been with them a month or so. All I
know is If my system keeps working and I can
rely on x10 for support, they have my
buisiness.
-
Oh yea,
Tad, Carl, Them chimes drive me nuts too
sometimes.
-
I stuffed cotton into the holes of the
chimes on the security panel. This brought
down the noise to acceptable limits. Besides
who needs the chimes with all the lights
flashing?
-
Another suggestion. I have my security
panel on my nightstand, next to my bed.
Sometimes it is difficult in the dark to
differentiate which red LED is lit or
flashing. Since all LEDS are red, and in are
very close to each other in a row.
I have started to replace the LEDS with
different color LEDS, Red, Blue, yellow,
white, etc., to make it a little easier to
tell which sensor is lit or having a
problem. X10 could cheaply do this, or even
offer lighted numbers on the security panel.
As for the chimes, I simply put a piece of
tape over the chimes, which also helps to
reduce the siren volume. But a volume
control would be nice.
-
LOL! This is hilarious. X10, look at what
you're making your customers do... sticking
cotton balls in the console speakers or
putting tape on it. I wonder it looked
afterwards.
-
An electronics Lab? Thanks for the info
you guys. I'm excited again, like I was in
the 70s with glitchy, cheap computer kits,
with lots of promise for the future. There
wasn't message boards then. Break open the
boxes and void the warrenties, it's cheap
anyway, we are the Research and Development
as far as I can see it.
My front door flood cam activating my
remote chine has been very useful to me so
far.
-
Seeing as how the chimes scare the hell out
of my dog, I would also include on my wish
list an external keypad with a security code
to arm/disarm the DS7000. My pockets aren't
big enough for all the keychain remotes now
used for nearly everything. And while you
are at it, how about a remote that will
silence the wife and kids during football
games. Now that would be priceless!
-
Tom: I like the suggestion for different
colored LEDs. What is voltage specs. of the
LEDs? I mounted my DS7000 on Great Room wall
at 11 ft.(outlet for power was required) and
the colored LEDs will make it easier to
differentiate zones. Before anyone asks, X10
makes a wall mount bracket(87-WMB)for the
DS7000. It can only be ordered by phone as
online ordering not avaiable. At 11 ft. I
also get greater RF range for remotes and in
the unlikely event that someone were to
break in, it would be more diffcult for them
to just grab unit off a table and smash it
on the floor. Thats another reason X10
should add on/off chime switch. The unit
cound then be hidden and the chimes wouldn't
lead someone directly to unit. The remote
chimes and flashing lights should make
anyone not want to stick around very long.
-
I also have the wall mount bracket for the
security system and its worth the 10 bucks
for the range increase for the sensors and
remotes.
-
Does anyone know the part number of the wall
mount bracket for the DS7000?
-
If you throw the DS7000 in a closet to rid
the chime, you can't see the zones! In the
meantime, on the issue of colored LED's, each
zone doesn't even have it's own LED! 2 zones
have to share one light, imagine that! I
would really like to see this system revised,
with the suggestions mentioned here, in a
nicer looking enclosure. The black thing with
red LED's looks a little cheap. I'd like to
see a revised system with Code operation
(enter a code to arm/disarm) on the remote
control, hide the actual control box to
recieve signals and also on the remote have
it display which zones are active with
colored lights, etc. I'd upgrade for sure.
-
The wall mount bracket for the DS7000 can
not be ordered online. You have to call in
order. Part number is 87-WMB-B (in black
color).
-
I don't believe anyone from X10 monitors any
of the forums other then the Active Home
Pro, Smart macro, and iWittness forum. There
are so many bugs in those systems to fix
that they don't have any time left for
issues discussed here or anywhere else.
-
I to would like to know the voltage of the
LEDS. I plan on opening my system and tap
into the armed LED with a simple plug added
to the side of the box. Then I can run wired
LEDS to the out side of my entry doors so I
can tell when the unit is armed. If any one
has discoverd the voltage of the LEDs please
post it.
-
Does anyone have a wiring diagram of the
DS7000?