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Honeywell MID-7H Android Mobile Internet Device w/ Built-In Wi-Fi

The  Honeywell MID-7H Android Mobile Internet Device w/ Built-In Wi-Fi is one of the newest additions to our stock and it is a great addition at that!

When I was first introduced to the MID-7H I noticed that it came in a Honeywell branded product box with the usual red and white packaging. I proceeded to open the box to get my hands on the cool tablet which lay inside.

Upon opening the product box; I immediately saw the MID-7H tablet. It’s a sleek, black tablet with a 7″ screen. I tried powering up the tablet, but it seems that Honeywell sends them without a charged battery. I looked further into the box and found the power adapter. I also located a little zip-locked baggy that contained the tablet’s user manual, 2-USB adapters, and a set of earphones. They really give you everything you’d need to use it.

I plugged the tablet in and about an hour later it had enough juice to boot up plus some. When the tablet came on; it operated just like any other android tablet would. You get the ‘Slide To Unlock’ screen. I slid the slider and then the home screen was presented to me.

The display of the MID-7H is very nice and has a beautiful color palette. All the familiar icons where there such as ‘Settings’, ‘Browser’, and ‘Gallery’ along with a new one that comes already installed by Honeywell. This app icon is for the L5100 Connect app that controls the LYNX L5100 wireless alarm system. I started the app and it gave me a screen asking me to accept the terms and conditions and I accepted it then told me that it could not detect any L5100 panel on the network.

That is when I realized that I had forgotten to install the L5100-WIFI card into the L5100 panel. I removed the WIFI card from its box and installed it in the L5100 panel. It was a snap, literally. It snaps into place on a connector on the main board. After I installed the card I went into the tools section and entered my master code. I then chose the ‘WiFi Config’ option and scanned for wireless networks. When my network was discovered I chose it and then entered the authentication information. At that point the panel synced up to my network and I was ready to link the MID-7H to the L5100 panel.

I picked up the tablet and started the L5100 Connect app, agreed to the terms, and then the app started looking for my alarm panel on the network. It took a matter of seconds and then I was presented with an interface that resembled the keypad on my Lynx Touch Screen.

As far as the workings of the MID-7H app interface went; it has a lot of the same features as the main panel itself. The only thing I couldn’t access on the MID-7h app was the programming sections. Other than that it had all of the functionality of the L5100. It gave me options to control Z-Wave devices if I had any and gives the option to arm in both ‘Away’ and ‘Stay’ modes.

I really like the tablet because not only can it do all the great things an Android tablet does such as surf the internet, email, games, etc., but it can now be used to control the security of my home.

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The DSC PC5108 Zone Expander is used to add additional hardwired zones to your existing control panel.  Each expander module has jumper settings that can be set for the desired zone numbers.  For example, if you are using an expander to add zones 9 through 16, you would make sure that jumper 1 is off, jumper 2 is on, and jumper 3 is on.

If using any wireless devices on your system, be sure not to include any wireless zone on a module that has been designated for hardwire devices.  The zone sets would be: Zones 1-8 (main panel), 9-16, 17-24, and 25-32…

Zone expanders are easily installed and will connect directly to the same keybus terminals as the keypads (red, black, yellow, green).  You must also run a small wire from the “TAM” terminal on the expander module to the “Black” terminal, also on the expander module.  Failure to jump the “tam” to “black” will result in a General System Tamper.

As many people are starting to get rid of their home telephone service, they are in search of a cellular or gsm alarm communicator so their system can report alarms to the Central Station.

When it comes to choosing a cellular communicator, aka GSM, there are many options to choose from.  The one I would like to introduce and is very popular is the Uplink 2500.  This is a universal Communicator and can be used with any alarm system.  There is no need trying to figure out which communicator is needed.

The Uplink 2500 cell communicator module is an alarm communicator that sends alarm data to a central monitoring station over the cellular network. The Uplink 2500 hooks into your siren terminals. Depending on what signal is being activated by the terminals, depends on what signal is sent to the central monitoring station. If a burglary signal is activated, the unit would report a burglary alarm to the monitoring station and the same goes for fire.

All GSM and Cellular Communicators usually require a service fee.  This fee is typically a separate fee that is required.  Some companies will offer a combined fee for monitoring and the gsm fee.  Some companies will advertise monitoring for $44.99 which would include the central station monitoring and the cellular fee.  When dealing with wholesalers, the fees may be separate.  For example one company may charge $8.95/month for central station monitoring, but if you are using a gsm or cellular communicator, you must then also have the gsm cellular service fee.  Wholesale price for that fee is typically around $12.50/month.  So when you add the two together, you would get $21.45/month for central station monitoring and cellular service.  $21.45 is still over 50% less than $44.99 that some companies charge.

So if shopping around and you see two fees for monitoring, do not be alarmed.  Not everyone needs both services and they separate the two fees.

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The BT 600 is a nice little terminal expander used to keep the amount of wires limited in a terminal.

After several questions from customers asking, “how do I fit all these wires in one terminal”, we would like to introduce to you the Terminal Expander by ATW.

Lets say for example you have six wires in your “Aux -” and six wires in you “Aux +” terminals on you main control panel.  The BT-600 will allow you to eliminate that clutter.  You would run one wire from you “Aux -” to one side of the BT-600.  All the wires in your “Aux -” will go on the same side as the wire you ran.  The same goes for “Aux +”.  Each wire will have it’s own terminal and will allow for better connectivity and less clutter.

If you have multiple keypads or devices that require power, you can add another BT-600 for the data wires of your keypads and you clean up the terminals on the main board.  These are a great alternative to our 4 port wire connects or the 8 port wire connects.

There are several times people get confused on programming their zone definitions into the DSC security systems.  It is fairly easy to do, but can also be really confusing.  Zone definitions basically tells the system how that zone is to respond to that device being triggered.  In other words, the definition tells the system how to function for that zone.  The only thing to remember when doing your definitions is to know that you will not enter a zone number, but only a definition.  You must also know how to count, because each time you enter a 2-digit zone definition, the system will do a quick triple beep and then you are ready to input the definition for the next zone.

Here are the most common Zone Definitions:

• Definition 00 = Not Used (null, turned off)
• Definition 01 = Delay 1 (ie: entry/exit doors)
• Definition 03 = Instant (ie: window sensors, non entry doors, glass breaks)    
• Definition 05 = Interior Stay/Away (motion)
• Definition 08 = Delayed 24hr Fire (hardwired)
• Definition 88 = Standard 24hr Fire (wireless)

To program your zone definitions, you must:

1. Enter Programming by pressing ” * 8 + Installer Code “
2. Enter Section 001 (Section 001 is used for Zones 1 – 16 only… If you have more than 16 zones, you will use 001 for the first 16 zones, then you will use section 002 for zones 17-32)
3. Now you will enter Zone 1′s 2-digit definition
4. The system will triple beep, and now you will enter zone 2′s definition
5. When you are finished entering the Zone definitions, you will hit # # #

So let’s, for example, say we want to make:

• Zone 1 and entry door with a delay
• Zone 2 a back perimeter door, no delay
• Zone 3 a living room motion
• Zone 4 a bedroom window
• Zone 5 a hardwired smoke detector
• Zones 6, 7, 8 not used

I will use the definitions above and program my zone definitions as follows:

• * 8 + Installer Code
• 001 (enters section)
• 01   (delay 1 for entry door)
• 03  (perimeter back door)
• 05  (motion sensor)
• 03  (perimeter bedroom window)
• 08  (hardwired smoke)
• 00  (zone 6 not used)
• 00  (zone 7 not used)
• 00  (zone 8 not used)
• # # # (to exit)
  

Now you have defined all eight zones. Please note that you must start with zone 1 and proceed in order with the other zones.  There is no way to just start with zone 5 or just enter one zone, without starting at the beginning of the section (unless you start in a whole different section for higher zones, but if using less than 16 zones, you will only be in section 001).   Notice that we did not enter the zone numbers, just the definitions. The system knows that the first two digits you enter in section 001 will be the definition for zone 1, the next two digits will define zone 2, etc.

Depending on the type of keypad you use, depends on how easy it is to program your system.  If using one of the PK5500 fully alpha-programmable keypads, this keypad will show you everything the system is asking for, as well as display the number of digits required for that section.  If using an older keypad or a PK5501, the keypad will not display anything and you have just the beeps to go by.

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A few people I’ve talked to in the past on the tech support line have a big misunderstanding of what Honeywell’s RF House Code is used for or even what it is.

Honeywell incorporated the RF House Code into the programming of quite a few of their panels whether they be the hardwired Vista panels equipped with wireless receivers or their totally wireless Lynx panels. The house code was made for certain add-on accessories so that they wouldn’t take up zones in programming.

We will use the Honeywell 5800WAVE Wireless Siren, pictured to the left, as an example of how to set up the RF House Code in your Honeywell system and in the device itself.

First of all let’s crack open our manuals and find the section in the programming manual that deals with the RF House code. The page this is listed on may vary depending on what Honeywell system you have, but it will definitely be in the ‘Programming Manual’.

I will, for this tutorial, be using the Honeywell Lynx Plus panel as the panel that we are installing the 5800WAVE siren on. You can find the programming section listed for the RF House Code listed on page 3 of the programming manual. In this instance it will be section *24 of programming. For the House Code you can enter any number from 01-31 to use as the frequency for your House Code to run on.

So the first thing we need to do on the Lynx Plus is enter our installer code and 8 0 0 . If you haven’t changed it from the default then it would be 4112 800. This should bring you into programming. If you were successful then the next thing that you’d see would be ‘Installer 20′. This is just the first section that displays when you enter programming. You will then need to enter *24 to access the panel’s section that deals with the RF House ID. After you enter *24 you will see ’24 – RF HOUSE ID CODE’. Here you will need to enter in the number you picked between 01-31. After you enter the two-digit number the panel should beep letting you know that your entry took successfully. After this you can exit programming by entering *99.

Next we will move to the 5800WAVE to finish the setup process. You will need to enter the RF House ID into the 5800WAVE by setting the dip switches on the inside. Now, the process of entering the House ID will different between the devices that run on a House ID Code, but one thing is certain, not only will you have to enter this number in the panel but you will also enter it into the device that you are using. Sometimes this is accomplished via dip switch settings or by entering number into a keypad, as on the 5828V wireless keypad.  The House ID Code in the panel will remain the same, so you would want to make sure all future device codes match the one you entered on the panel.

Taking a closer look inside the 5800Wave wireless siren, you can see the dip switches.  For example purposes only, lets assume we programmed in the main panel a House ID Code of 15.  We will need to set the wireless siren’s House ID also for “15″.  According to the chart, locate House ID 15.  You will see that dip switches 5, 6, 7, 8 need to be on and dip switch 4 is set to off.

When the house id’s match with the panels id, the devices should communicate back and forth.  The Honeywell 5800wave wireless siren will have a green light that comes one and lets you know it has paired with the main panel.  On the wireless 5828V keypad, the system will announce the current state( “Ready to Arm”) of the alarm.

So when using additional devices that require the use of the House ID, be sure to input the id into the panel and remember everything in that house needs to be set for that particular id.  You will not need an id for the actual security alarm protection devices, such as door sensor, smokes, motions, glass breaks, etc..

Hopefully this has been informative for you. We here at Alarm System Store get great enjoyment out of helping the DIY layman succeed in the installation of their home alarm systems.

Rather you are replacing or installing the WT4911Bat (battery) in the WT4911 outdoor wireless siren, you must follow certain directions.  Failure to follow instructions during this installation process may damage your battery and your siren may not work.

When dealing with this certain type of battery, it must go through a depassivation mode.  The purpose of this is to pre-condition the battery so that it won’t drop below the minimum voltage of the device once a load has been applied.  This is done by advancing the discharge past the point of the voltage dip.

Before connecting your battery in the DSC WT4911, please read and follow theses instructions:

1. Hold the tamper switch down and plug in the battery (continue holding tamper)
2. Continue to hold the tamper switch down for 10 seconds and then release
3. Once the tamper switch is released, the strobe lights on the WT4911/WT8911 will flash different patterns to indicate that it is in depassivation mode.
4. When depassivation is complete, the strobe lights will shut off and the siren will begin to beep three (3) times every five (5) seconds. (Note: It can take the unit up to 30 minutes to fully depassivate.  If at the end of 30 minutes the unit could not depassivate the battery, the unit will stop trying and begin to beep once every (5) seconds.  If this occurs, the battery should be replaced).
5. When the system begins to beep 3 times every 5 seconds, then press and release the tamper switch on the unit.  At this point, the WT4911/WT8911 should flash the strobe lights and beep six (6) times.  The unit is now in the normal power up stage.
6. The WT4911/WT8911 is now ready to be enrolled into your DSC Wireless Alarm Panel, or returned to service.

DSC places a depassivation sticker on all new WT4911 wireless siren that are manufactured.  A pdf copy of the sticker can be seen Here.

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The Honeywell 6280 color graphic voice touchscreen keypad (comes in 6280S which is silver or 6280W which is white around the screen). This is Honeywell’s newest offering if you are looking to add a touchscreen keypad option to your Vista system.

This keypad has a graphical interface that matches the icons from the Honeywell Total Connect graphics, which makes it easier to understand if you get the total connect monitoring add-on later. It also has the voice annunciation for all system status conditions, that means if you don’t understand the icons it will speak to you. It will only speak in the English language.

This new Honeywell 6280 keypad not only displays what your alarm is doing, but it can be a digital picture frame or play videos as well. This makes it not only useful as a keypad but fun as well.

The keypad can accept many user codes, but can only store descriptions for ten users. This means that if you assign the first ten people codes; then you can put their names alongside the codes so that you never forget who has what code.

Features

High-resolution, 7″ widescreen 640 x 480 TFT display
16 million colors capability to display vivid images
Intuitive touchscreen display with icons and menu driven prompts (English only)
Digital picture frame, slide show or home movies through standard SD card
Available in two colors
- Silver: Ideal for kitchens with stainless steel appliances, garages and basements
- White: Blends seamlessly with lighter décors
Three languages can be displayed
- English
- Spanish (Latin American)
- French Canadian
Voice annunciation of type and location of alarm (English only)
Family message center that lets end-users record and playback messages
Entry/Exit countdown displayed
Authorized end-user can easily add or delete user codes
View zone lists with status
End-user can quickly and easily bypass zones

I have worked with one of these and I have to say they are very nice looking as well as easy to work with. This would be a very good addition for anyone that is looking to have touch screen capability on your Vista system.

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The Ademco 5800MICRA wireless recessed transmitter is for those people who would like a recessed wireless transmitter that is hidden from plain site. This device also helps save against voiding the warranty on your vinyl windows because you can shallow recess it without having to drill into anything.

A lot of people like the idea of a recessed transmitter for doors, but don’t like the standard ones that Honeywell makes because it requires drilling too deep of a hole in the door jamb. This small contact is easy to install and, at a depth of .33″, you don’t have to drill a very deep hole at all to fit it into the jamb of a door or the sill of a window.

This will allow you to have a recessed contact to protect your doors and windows from intrusion and, because of the transmitters small size, you won’t have to worry about voiding the warranty of door or window that you might be installing this in.

The batteries used to operate this transmitter are 3.0V Lithium Coin Cell Battery CR1620 and, depending upon usage, can last up to 10 years. All of the Honeywell alarm systems that can use 5800 series transmitters will also let you know when the batteries are going low so that you may change them out before they go dead on you.

This is a very slim, nice looking transmitter and is perfect for installations where you don’t want any of the perimeter transmitters to be seen. You can find the data sheet on the Honeywell 5800MICRA transmitter at the link below if you’d like to read the full specifications:

http://library.ademconet.com/MWT/fs2/5/6482.pdf

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The new Z-Wave Control Communication Module for L5100 is a Z-Wave controller that was made especially for the Lynx Touch L5100 Wireless Alarm System.

The L5100-ZWAVE will let you add home automation devices to your Lynx Touch L5100 so that you can schedule different events in the home when you are away such as turning lights on and off. You can also have a Z-Wave thermostat for your heating and cooling system that will lower the temp when you arm and leave the house and, when you return and disarm the system, will return the temperature to its regular state. this is very useful for saving energy costs while you are away on vacation. A lot of people have been waiting very patiently for something like this to come along. And we are very happy to be able to offer it.

This controller can control:

• Up to three thermostats
• Four door locks
• 40 devices (lights, switches and lamp modules)
• 20 scenes
• 20 rules (event based actions)
• 20 schedules (time based actions)

Now, the remote control options that this gives you can only be used with Honeywell’s Total Connect service, but that’s only if you want to be able to be away from home and set schedules for events to occur, or to control locks while  on vacation. You can do the scheduling at home though without having Total Connect.

They have some Z-Wave locks that will, if you enter your arming/disarming code into the lock, unlock the door and disarm your system all at once! This is a very useful feature and is almost better than having a keychain remote.

Honeywell has come out with some very useful devices for home security and home automation. This is their newest addition to that family of products. You can find a lot of the products that you be able to use with this device at Z-Wave.com. Z-Wave has a myriad of products that make home automation a breeze. We here at Alarm System Store will be offering Z-Wave products in the near future.