MASterMind Monitoring

Basic Receiver Setup Reference Information Version 6.06

2002 Monitoring Automation Systems

COPYRIGHT
Copyright 1997-2002 Monitoring Automation Systems. All Rights Reserved. Monitoring Automation Systems (MAS) reserves the right to make improvements or changes to the product described in this document at any time and without notice. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Companies, names and data used in examples herein are fictitious unless otherwise noted. In no event shall MAS be held liable for any incidental, indirect, special, or consequential damages arising out of or related to this document or the information contained herein. The information contained in this document is the property of MAS. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Monitoring Automation Systems. Monitoring Automation Systems 101 Academy, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92612 U.S.A. www.monauto.com

TRADEMARKS
MASterMind and MAS are registered trademarks of Monitoring Automation Systems. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other brands and their products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should be noted as such.

DOCUMENT HISTORY
Document Edition Date First Description

January 2002 Initial Document Release

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MASterMind Monitoring Basic Receiver Setup Table of Contents

Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1
Overview........................................................................................................................ 1 Audience........................................................................................................................ 1 PDF Document .............................................................................................................. 1

Basic Receiver Setup ......................................................................................... 2

Creating the Task .......................................................................................................... 4 Using the Task Window.............................................................................................. 5 Receiver Type.......................................................................................................... 6 Receiver Interface.................................................................................................... 6 Start Command........................................................................................................ 6 Port# ........................................................................................................................ 6 Description............................................................................................................... 7 ACK ......................................................................................................................... 7 NAK ......................................................................................................................... 7 Log Communication?............................................................................................... 7 Poll Frequency......................................................................................................... 7 Poll Message ........................................................................................................... 7 Poll Response ......................................................................................................... 7 Poll Option ............................................................................................................... 8 Trailing Characters .................................................................................................. 8 Leading Character ................................................................................................... 8 Communications Protocol Fields ............................................................................. 8 Command?, Command Ack and Command Nack................................................... 8 No Signal Warning................................................................................................... 8 Expanded Format Delay .......................................................................................... 8 Unit, Shift Character and Shift Position ................................................................... 9 Receiver Option ....................................................................................................... 9 Communication Method........................................................................................... 9 Setting the CS Account Number Format .................................................................. 11 CS Account Number Options ................................................................................... 12 Setting Up the Task ..................................................................................................... 13 Enable the Task........................................................................................................ 13 Setting the Port Settings........................................................................................... 13 Start Up the NTRecv/Signal Processor Program ..................................................... 13 Verify the Signal Processor Is Logged In ................................................................. 14

Contacting MAS ................................................................................................ 15

Sales............................................................................................................................ 15 i-Support ...................................................................................................................... 15 e-Service...................................................................................................................... 15 MAStech ...................................................................................................................... 15 Help Desk .................................................................................................................... 15 Training........................................................................................................................ 16 Documentation............................................................................................................. 16

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MASterMind Monitoring Basic Receiver Setup List of Figures

Figure 1: MASterMind Monitoring Alarm Signal Process ................................................. 3 Figure 2: Receiver Type Window ..................................................................................... 4 Figure 3: Tasks Window................................................................................................... 5 Figure 4: Example of a Task ............................................................................................ 6 Figure 5: Task Comm Method Lookup Window ............................................................... 9 Figure 6: Ademco 685 Example..................................................................................... 10 Figure 7: CS account Number Format ........................................................................... 11 Figure 8: CS Account Number with Separate Prefix ...................................................... 12 Figure 9: Conditional Replacements Button................................................................... 12 Figure 10: Replacement Window ................................................................................... 12

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MASterMind Monitoring Basic Receiver Setup Reference Information

Introduction
In MASterMind Monitoring, receivers process the alarm signals that come in from the systems. It is, therefore, important to make sure the receivers are set up and functioning correctly so they can communicate with the servers at the central station. This document provides basic information on setting up your receivers so the signal can be transmitted from the site to the server.

Overview
This document includes: Basic receiver setup. Procedures for creating a task. Verification procedures to make sure the receiver has been set up properly.

Audience
This document is intended for all personnel responsible for receiver setup and other operations related to configuring the receivers. Those responsible for receiver setup and maintenance should be experienced in both hardware and software operations.

PDF Document
MAS distributes product documentation in Portable Document Format (PDF). To best view this document as a PDF, use Acrobat Reader version 5.0 or later. If you need to upgrade to the most current version of Acrobat Reader, you can do so from http://www.monauto.com/docorder.htm by clicking the Get Acrobat Reader link.

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Basic Receiver Setup

In MasterMind Monitoring, a task is used to define the communications protocols used by the site to transmit a signal to the servers at the central station. The site is the home or business where the alarm panel is installed. When a zone is tripped, the panel uses a phone line to send the signal to the receiver at the central station. Equipment at the central station includes: One or more receivers. A Digiboard such as an RS232. The digiboard contains from 8 to 16 ports and one receiver can be attached to each port. The first four ports are reserved for use by the server; therefore, port 5 is the first available port for the receivers. A PC used as the signal processor. The signal processor monitors the receiver for signals. A PC used as the operator workstation. The operator workstation uses the MASterMind Monitoring software to process alarms.

In addition to the MASterMind Monitoring software installed at the operator workstation, the NTRecv.ini file is installed on the signal processor. The NTRecv.ini file includes the ReceiverID value which is used to help define the task in the Task window. Each receiver attached to the same digiboard has the same ReceiverID value.

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The following diagram illustrates the process used by MASterMind Monitoring to receiver, interpret, and act on alarm signals. Figure 1: MASterMind Monitoring Alarm Signal Process

Alarm Signals travel along Public Telephone Network

SITE Site: A home or business where alarm equipment is installed.

Alarm Panel

Central Station

Uninterrupted Power Source "Hot" Redundancy UL Listed UPS Rated Output: 10 KVA Primary Electrical Power 120 AC, 60Hz

Receiver Receiver
Primary FILE SERVER Primary Data Storage

Backup FILE SERVER Redundant Data Storage

Receiver

SIGNAL PROCESSING CPU Ethernet (10Base2/CoAx) or (10BaseT/Twisted Pair)

UL Listed ITE Network Hub

MAS
MAS Software running on UL Listed ITE Operator's PC Work Stations

MAS

digiboard RS232

Back Up Signal Processor "Cold" Redundancy

The receivers are part of the monitoring network and have the responsibility of getting the signals transmitted from the site, formatting the signals so that the signals can be understood by the signal processors, and then passing the signals on to the digiboard. The receivers must be setup so that they can communicate with the servers. The Task window is used in MASterMind Monitoring to set up the receivers. After the receiver gets the signal from the site and translates it so the signal can be processed, the signal is passed through the digiboard and then on to the signal processor. The signal processor monitors the receivers in order to detect any signals. The signal processor takes the signals and passes them to the operator workstation and the server so that action can be taken to resolve the signal.

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Creating the Task

Receivers are defined in the Receiver Type window. Initially, MAS defines all valid receiver types that can be used with the MASterMind Monitoring software. When you create a task, select from the valid receivers included in the lookup table.
Path: Function, Task Maintenance, Receiver Type

Figure 2: Receiver Type Window

Your receivers should be listed in the lookup window for the Receiver Type window. To access the lookup window, press F2 when the cursor is in the Receiver Type field. If the receiver is not listed, contact your MAS representative. The receivers defined in this window are used when the task is created using the Task window.

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Using the Task Window

Use the Tasks window to specify the protocols used by the receiver to respond to alarm signals. For example, tasks are used to specify how MASterMind Monitoring builds CS numbers from the receiver data string.
Path: Function, Task Maintenance, Tasks

Figure 3: Tasks Window

The window fields are blank when the window is first opened. 1. Enter the task number in the Task# field. Click on the UP ARROW to display the list of current tasks. The task number must be unique for each task. The following task numbers are reserved: 101 and 102 These numbers are reserved for signal processing and late processing tasks. 932 through 937 These numbers are reserved for redundancy tasks. A common technique used by central stations is to match the port number used by the receiver with the task number. This provides an easy reference for troubleshooting purposes. For example, port 5, which is the first available port, would have a task number of 5. MAS recommends this technique. 2. After you enter the task number, press TAB. This displays the Do you want to Add prompt. 3. Click on [Yes]. 4. Fill in the rest of the fields.
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5. Press CTRL+S to save the new task. The following is a typical task definition for a Surguard receiver. Figure 4: Example of a Task

The following sections describe the Task window fields. Detailed information about all of the window fields is also located in the Help.

Receiver Type
This field specifies the type of receiver you use. If the receiver type does not currently exist, press SHIFT+F2 to display the Receiver Type setup window and add the necessary type. The information specified when the type is created is used as the default when this receiver type is used with future tasks.

Receiver Interface
The value specified in this field is the ReceiverID value defined in the NtRecv.ini file. The NtRecv.ini file should be located on your C:\ drive in the NTRECV directory on the signal processor. The Receiver Interface value is the same for all receivers attached to the same digiboard.

Start Command
This field is not currently used.

Port#
This field is the port number where the receiver is attached to the digiboard. MAS recommends that the task number and the port number be the same value.

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Description
Use the Description field to provide brief information, such as the name, of the receiver. This field is required and can contain a maximum of 30 characters.

ACK
The ACK field is a positive acknowledgement that the signal has been received from the site. Typically, this value is ASCII 6; however, check the receiver manual to verify what this value should be.

NAK
The NAK field is used to define a value that is sent when the signal has not been correctly received from the site. The possible values for this field will vary among receivers so check the receiver manual to verify this value.

Log Communication?
Set this field to Y for the initial set up of the receiver. Setting this field to Y creates a log file when you start up the NTRecv/Signal Processor. After the receiver has been installed and is running correctly, you can set this option to N. When this field is set to Y, a log file is automatically created that is a history of the signals received from the site. This log file is named COMTASK#.log and is located in the NTRECV directory.

Poll Frequency
The poll frequency is used to specify the length of time, in seconds, that the receiver will send an ACK signal to the central station to make sure that they are communicating properly. Set this field to 0 (zero) for non-polling receivers.

Poll Message
The poll message is the ACK signal sent by the receiver to the central station to verify that they are still communicating properly. The message varies among receivers. Check the receiver manual to verify the poll message value. For example, the Ademco 685 receiver sends an S as the message. Leave this field blank for nonpolling receivers.

Poll Response
The poll response is a signal sent by the central station to the receiver that acknowledges that the poll message sent by the receiver was received correctly and that the receiver and central station are still communicating properly. The response expected by the receiver will vary according to receiver type. Check the receiver manual to verify the poll response value. For example, the Surguard 1011 receiver expects the @ character. Leave this field blank for non-polling receivers.

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Poll Option
The Poll Option field is used to specify whether the receiver or the MASterMind Monitoring application software at the central station initiates the acknowledgement test.

Trailing Characters
The value specified for this field varies among receivers. This field is used to define the ASCII character string that indicates the end of the signal sent by the receiver. You can check the trailing characters in the COMTASK#.log file when troubleshooting receivers.

Leading Character
The Leading Character field is used to specify the ASCII character string that is used to indicate the start of a signal sent by the receiver. Although the leading characters help the MASterMind Monitoring software determine the start of a new signal from the site, it is rarely used and is not required.

Communications Protocol Fields

The following fields are used to define the communication protocol used by the task. The values for these fields are programmed into the receiver. Consult the receiver documentation for detailed information. Baud Rate Data Bits Parity Stop Bits

Command?, Command Ack and Command Nack

These fields are used to define the method used if the receiver processes commands from MASterMind Monitoring. Generally, these fields are not used.

No Signal Warning
Use this field when polling between the receiver and the central station is not automatically performed. The value in this field specifies the amount of time, in minutes, that the software waits for a signal from the receiver before notifying the operator that a problem might exist. When the specified period of time has elapsed, a **16 Warning Time Expired event is generated.

Expanded Format Delay

The expanded format feature enables older panels to transmit alarm signals in two message segments to create one alarm signal message. The first message is the account number and the first part of the zone. The second message is the second part of the zone. MASterMind Monitoring then combines the two messages into one
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alarm signal. During the period between the transmission of the first and second messages, other alarm signals can come into the central station. Use this field to specify the time interval that MASterMind Monitoring will wait to receive the second message from the site before processing other alarms signals.

Unit, Shift Character and Shift Position

Refer to the Help for information about these fields.

Receiver Option
This field is not currently used.

Communication Method
This field is used with the TCPIP Address field when the receiver is setup to bypass the digiboard and connect directly with the network. Click on the UP arrow to display the Task Comm Method lookup window. Figure 5: Task Comm Method Lookup Window

Select the appropriate value and press ENTER.

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Not all fields in the Tasks window are required and some fields require values specified by the receiver manufacturer. Figure 5 is an example of a typical task definition for an Ademco 685 receiver. Figure 6: Ademco 685 Example

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Setting the CS Account Number Format

The CS account number consists of the receiver number, the line number and the account number. The receiver manufacturer determines the basic format of the CS account number, and the account number ID is determined by a chip in the panel that is programmed by the installer. When an alarm is tripped at the site, the signal is sent from the site over a phone line to the receiver. The phone line is associated with a line card which is connected to the receiver. A typical receiver can have up to 8 line cards which are numbered 1 through 8. The receiver number is determined by the order of the receiver in the configuration. For example, the first receiver in the set of receivers would be number 1 and so on. It is the responsibility of the central station to number the receivers. Therefore, the format of the CS account number uses the following logic: Receiver number is the first position. An r is entered on the top line of the format to indicate that the number on the bottom line is associated with the receiver number. This number can be either 1 or 2 digits, depending on the type of receiver. Line card number is the second position and along with the receiver number functions as a prefix in the CS account number. An l is entered on the top line of the format to indicate that the number on the bottom line is associated with the line number. The account number is from 1 to 6 digits, depending on the type of receiver, and is programmed by the installer when the panel is installed at the site. An a is entered on the top line of the format to indicate that the number on the bottom line is associated with the account number.

The following is an example of the account number format for a Surgard receiver. r1 r2 l1 a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 The following illustrates the format used to specify the CS account number in the Tasks window. Figure 7: CS account Number Format

Rotary line cards are also available for use. With a rotary card, the panel can call a series of phone numbers to reach the receiver if one or more of the other phone numbers are busy. Rotary line cards are configured the same as other line cards.

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CS Account Number Options

You can specify different values for some parts of the CS account number. For example, a hyphen can be coded into the CS account number by adding the character in the top line between the last line number and the first account number. You might do this to separate the prefix portion of the CS account number from the main body of the number and to improve readability. Doing this will reduce the available positions for the account number. The following illustration is an example of how this is done. Figure 8: CS Account Number with Separate Prefix

You can also use the Conditional Replacements button to customize the CS account number prefix. To do this click on the button in the lower right corner of the Tasks window. Figure 9: Conditional Replacements Button

When you click on the Conditional Replacements button, the Replacements window is displayed. If any replacements have already been defined, highlight the necessary replacement and press ENTER. If you need to add a new rotary line, press CTRL+A to display the Replacement window. Figure 10: Replacement Window

Enter the necessary values to define the replacement and press ENTER to save. The replacement replaces the original prefix number for the CS account number.

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Setting Up the Task

After you have created the task, the following steps must be performed before the receiver is available for use. Enable the task. Set the port settings. Start the NTRecv/Signal processor application. Verify the signal processor is logged in.

Enable the Task

Normally, the task is automatically enabled after it is created. Use the Task Status window to make sure the task is enabled.
Path: Function, Task Maintenance, Task Status Shortcut: CTRL+K

If the task is not enabled, 1. Click on it once to select the task. 2. Press the space bar.

Setting the Port Settings

Open the ports control panel.
Windows Path: Start, Settings, Control Panel

Select the port number attached to the receiver and set the Baud Rate, Parity, Data Bits and Stop Bits to match the receiver and task settings. It is important that the port and task have the same settings for Baud Rate, Parity, Data Bits and Stop Bits. If the settings are not the same, the receiver cannot communicate with MASterMind Monitoring.

Start Up the NTRecv/Signal Processor Program

Locate the Start NTRecv shortcut on the desktop and click on it to start the service.

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Verify the Signal Processor Is Logged In

Look in the NTRECV folder on the server/signal processor.
Path: C:/NTRecv

Open the db.log file and look for the following text.
12/09/2001 07:55:51 *** Signal processor version: NTRECV Version 4.00 -- 11/16/99 12/09/2001 07:55:52 Connected to server serverA. 12/09/2001 07:55:53 serverA is now the ACTIVE server. 12/09/2001 07:55:53 Starting receiver task 25, type SUR, port 1. See logfile comtask25.log for more detail.

Make sure the current date and time are displayed. Also check that the receiver is the one you just created and that it has the correct task number. You should also verify the signal processor is logged by checking the BD.log in the NTrecv folder as well as the comtask.log to see if signals are coming in and are logged. The DB.log indicates if NTRECV is logging the receivers correctly and the comtask.logs shows that the specific receiver is actually getting signals.

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Contacting MAS
You can reach MAS at 101 Academy, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92612; phone 949.737.7800, or Internet www.monauto.com. If you need to speak to any of our departments, use the main phone number above.

Sales
Want to know more about MAS products or have questions we can answer? Just give our Sales Department a call at 800.447.6721. Or, you can fill in our on-line sales inquiry form at www.monauto.com/inquiry.htm.

i-Support
MAS provides an Internet-based service, i-Support, for requesting assistance from our support personnel. You must obtain a username and password to use i-Support. If you need to register for this service, send us your request using the Need to Register form on our web site: www.monauto.com/isupport.htm.

e-Service
MAS provides an e-mail based service for requesting assistance from our support personnel. You submit an inquiry or problem report to e-service@monauto.com, which automatically assigns a ticket number, a support representative, and notifies you by return e-mail. Please include your Customer ID#, description of the issue, the software application version, the individual to contact and telephone number.

MAStech
MAS provides customers the means for downloading software and documentation via MAStech, our access-controlled Internet site. If you need to register for this service, send us your request using the Need to Register form on our web site: www.monauto.com/mastech.htm.

Help Desk
MAS support personnel are dedicated to providing timely worldwide assistance in all product areas including monitoring applications, accounting applications and PC products. Our help desk is available whenever you need assistance between the hours of 0600 to 1700 Pacific and our i-Support is available around the clock. You can email our Help Desk too: MASterMind Monitoring CS Support: cssupport@monauto.com B32 Support: acctb32support@monauto.com MASterMind Business: acctmmsupport@monauto.com MASlink/MASterLink Support: pcsupport@monauto.com

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Training
MAS offers an extensive class catalog and custom classes designed to provide a complete understanding of MAS products. For more information about our training, see our web site at: www.monauto.com/training.htm. You can also contact our Training Department at training@monauto.com.

Documentation
Our experienced technical writers work closely with Training, Support, Development, and our customers to create accurate user-friendly documentation for MAS software. If you have comments or suggestions about this document, or documentation in general, you can contact our Documentation Department at documentation@monauto.com. To order documentation, see www.monauto.com/docorder.htm.

2002 Monitoring Automation Systems