Reprogram Ademco 6160v
#1
07-29-06, 06:23 PM
Reprogram Ademco 6160v
I just moved into a house with an ATD Safewatch Pro alarm. I am able to enter into programming mode and reprogram the zone descriptors.
My problem is the keypad, which is a ademco 6160V, displays the previous owners name on the first line. For Example, the display looks like:
OWNERS NAME
CHIME,Rdy to Arm
I cannot find any reference on how to change this.
Does anyone know how to reprogram the message on the first line?
My problem is the keypad, which is a ademco 6160V, displays the previous owners name on the first line. For Example, the display looks like:
OWNERS NAME
CHIME,Rdy to Arm
I cannot find any reference on how to change this.
Does anyone know how to reprogram the message on the first line?
#2
07-29-06, 07:31 PM
It all depends on the specific system model. Assuming that it's a Safewatch Pro 3000, you have to enter the system programming. If it's a SW3000, the most likely go to program will be 6321 + 8 + 00
You will need a programming manual. The one for a Vista 20p is essentially the same as this panel. The steps to do this aren't excessively difficult, but you will need the reference. The manual can be found online from a number of sources.
You will need a programming manual. The one for a Vista 20p is essentially the same as this panel. The steps to do this aren't excessively difficult, but you will need the reference. The manual can be found online from a number of sources.
#3
07-29-06, 08:05 PM
Thanks for your reply. I have the programming manual and the master programing code but cannot find how to do this in the manual. What exactly is customizing the first line of the display called?
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
#4
07-29-06, 11:33 PM
Reprogramming keypads
Dear Cooper -
You're starting to wedge yourself into a rock and a hard place - let's address both issues.
ADT likes to customize their firmware AND lockout home programmers (exiting program mode with */# 98 instead of 99 will lock your panel down where it must be re-enterd with a software tool). If the panel was locked down when last programmed, it will most likely need to be unlocked via a dialin software program. If you can get into program mode, NEVER exit with */#98.
The SIMPLEST way to fix your message is probably to have a professional security dealer (like me) dial into your panel and put whatever you want. My keypads are quite comical in my house like "Security Status: Defcon 4" instead of the normal "Ready to Arm" - obviously your prior owners got cute and put their name on it. This is a simple task on the compass dialin software to make it say whatever you want. There is even a provision for dealers to notify past due accounts that their system is no longer being monitored due to lack of payment on the keypad.
The proceedure is quite simple if ADT didn't lock it too bad - you enter your MASTER code (the code used to make more users) and then #5 (i.e. 1234#5) - then you call me with your panel number, I dial in, it answers, and with any luck it allows me to enter your system depending on ADT's prior setups (over time and with the variety of installers ADT panels can be unpredictable - most of the time I can enter
them unless they REALLY wanted to prevent anyone other than ADT from servicing the system. This is rare, however)
Tell me what you want and I'll key it in for free. It's a 5 minute job and can be done remotely over the phone. You can call my 24 hour support line at four zero eight two six one three thousand (which prevents spiders looking for phone numbers from harvesting my account) - don't dial it from a blocked caller ID phone because those calls don't make it through the office PBX to the support phone but get sent to a voicemail box explaining caller ID and how to send it properly if you have blocked your line.
I tend to disagree with people about the statement that compass is a steep learning curve - if you are pc literate it's a no brainer. If you have trouble with ms-word, well, yes, it is going to be a learning curve, but all of my installers use compass in one way or another to keep our database up to date and to print contract forms for people who want monitoring. I know people who use it to manage their own system as their house changes usage (renters, etc) - compass is easier than poking numbers into the keypad and getting 32 characters at a time because you have a universal interface to all panels and don't have to remember the * codes for a particular one.
Depending on what panel you have, you may be able to setup your system to call your cell phone or pager and indicate what zone is violated - some panels have this feature, which is nice if you don't have monitoring. We also distribute wholesale monitoring for $5/mo for people who may be a long response time to their residence and want to have a monitoring company dial them and / or the police depending on which sensors have been tripped.
Good luck with your panel investment - it's not hard to fix the keypad message to whatever you want, but I'd sorta recommend if you are new to the panel to stick with the factory defaults. We do setup our customers with custom messages when a partitioned system has multiple keypads so that they understand they are only arming a subsection of their system, but most home systems are done as a single partition - businesses with a common lobby will usually have a keypad for each business and one for the entry lobby - after all businesses are armed, the last one to leave arms the lobby too protecting the whole establishment. Other uses can be created using common lobby logic in the higher end panels. You won't have this level of complexity to deal with - it's just a decision of do you want factory default messges or some customization.
Uwave Security Engineering
You're starting to wedge yourself into a rock and a hard place - let's address both issues.
ADT likes to customize their firmware AND lockout home programmers (exiting program mode with */# 98 instead of 99 will lock your panel down where it must be re-enterd with a software tool). If the panel was locked down when last programmed, it will most likely need to be unlocked via a dialin software program. If you can get into program mode, NEVER exit with */#98.
The SIMPLEST way to fix your message is probably to have a professional security dealer (like me) dial into your panel and put whatever you want. My keypads are quite comical in my house like "Security Status: Defcon 4" instead of the normal "Ready to Arm" - obviously your prior owners got cute and put their name on it. This is a simple task on the compass dialin software to make it say whatever you want. There is even a provision for dealers to notify past due accounts that their system is no longer being monitored due to lack of payment on the keypad.
The proceedure is quite simple if ADT didn't lock it too bad - you enter your MASTER code (the code used to make more users) and then #5 (i.e. 1234#5) - then you call me with your panel number, I dial in, it answers, and with any luck it allows me to enter your system depending on ADT's prior setups (over time and with the variety of installers ADT panels can be unpredictable - most of the time I can enter
them unless they REALLY wanted to prevent anyone other than ADT from servicing the system. This is rare, however)
Tell me what you want and I'll key it in for free. It's a 5 minute job and can be done remotely over the phone. You can call my 24 hour support line at four zero eight two six one three thousand (which prevents spiders looking for phone numbers from harvesting my account) - don't dial it from a blocked caller ID phone because those calls don't make it through the office PBX to the support phone but get sent to a voicemail box explaining caller ID and how to send it properly if you have blocked your line.
I tend to disagree with people about the statement that compass is a steep learning curve - if you are pc literate it's a no brainer. If you have trouble with ms-word, well, yes, it is going to be a learning curve, but all of my installers use compass in one way or another to keep our database up to date and to print contract forms for people who want monitoring. I know people who use it to manage their own system as their house changes usage (renters, etc) - compass is easier than poking numbers into the keypad and getting 32 characters at a time because you have a universal interface to all panels and don't have to remember the * codes for a particular one.
Depending on what panel you have, you may be able to setup your system to call your cell phone or pager and indicate what zone is violated - some panels have this feature, which is nice if you don't have monitoring. We also distribute wholesale monitoring for $5/mo for people who may be a long response time to their residence and want to have a monitoring company dial them and / or the police depending on which sensors have been tripped.
Good luck with your panel investment - it's not hard to fix the keypad message to whatever you want, but I'd sorta recommend if you are new to the panel to stick with the factory defaults. We do setup our customers with custom messages when a partitioned system has multiple keypads so that they understand they are only arming a subsection of their system, but most home systems are done as a single partition - businesses with a common lobby will usually have a keypad for each business and one for the entry lobby - after all businesses are armed, the last one to leave arms the lobby too protecting the whole establishment. Other uses can be created using common lobby logic in the higher end panels. You won't have this level of complexity to deal with - it's just a decision of do you want factory default messges or some customization.
Uwave Security Engineering
#5
07-30-06, 05:57 AM
The section for the keypad programming is *82. The programming instructions are in their own chapter in the installation manual. What you will be needing to change is the "custom words" location number 11. It's toward the end of the section on *82 programming.
It's easy to miss, they give is almost a passing mention in the manual.
It's easy to miss, they give is almost a passing mention in the manual.
#8
12-01-07, 07:35 AM
Sorry, I don't even have a copy of Compass loaded. It's not worth the hard drive space for something that I can do faster and easier with the keypad on the few Ademco Systems I work on.
Seriously, unless you are totally locked out of the system (in which case Compass does you no good anyway), use keypad programming. It's really the same learning curve, and the software was really intended for setup and maintainance on multiple systems.
Seriously, unless you are totally locked out of the system (in which case Compass does you no good anyway), use keypad programming. It's really the same learning curve, and the software was really intended for setup and maintainance on multiple systems.
#10
12-01-07, 08:40 AM
First, what _system_ is the keypad attached to? The keypad _is not the alarm system_! I'm guessing a Vista 15p or 20p, but that 6160 keypad is compatible with nearly all of the vista panels, and is the correct one for accessing all local programming.
Look in the FAQ and follow the procedure for extracting the installer code.
If you don't already have the installer manual for your system, you will need to get one.
What I am trying to tell you is that if you don't already have a grip on the basics of programming one of these systems, the compass software won't really help you.
In any case, if you don't have the direct connect module, the only way to use the software is to dial in through another phone line.
Look in the FAQ and follow the procedure for extracting the installer code.
If you don't already have the installer manual for your system, you will need to get one.
What I am trying to tell you is that if you don't already have a grip on the basics of programming one of these systems, the compass software won't really help you.
In any case, if you don't have the direct connect module, the only way to use the software is to dial in through another phone line.
