1 edit | Turn on Comcast alarm without subscription Hi all,
I'd like to be able to turn on the Comcast home security alarm but without subscribing to Comcast security service. Basically, the alarm will sound and all but it won't call out to Comcast/Police. Just a siren to scare off intruder.
Can someone help me with this? Thank you. |
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| btw, the keypad looks like this so it's probably built in system (preinstalled) and not Comcast equipment? I'm just guessing here. But the keypad looks like this.
»www.homesecuritystore.com/p-150-···pad.aspx |
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| reply to randomwalk10
Find an identifying brand and model # on the control panel and then google it. The manufacturer probably has a copy of the installation and user manuals, and that will tell you how it works. If you physically disconnect the phone wires from the system, it can't call out to whatever monitoring service might have been previously programmed.
As for "scaring off an intruder," alarms typically give you 30 seconds of gentle beeping after you open the door to remind you to disarm the system, and then the blaring siren sounds. At that point, it will call the monitoring service, who will call the house and ask whomever answers for the secret password, and if there is no answer or the wrong code is given, then they call the police. At that point, it will be another 10 minutes before an officer arrives. So now we are at ~15 minutes elapsed since the break-in. By then, the intruder will have long gone with the goods.
I'm not saying alarms are no good (the fire alarm is part of the system and quick detection of a fire beginning is a valuable service), just that an intruder who really wants the goods will ignore the siren and grab and run.
dw |
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| Thanks..I found the manual and all. Prob with disconnecting the phone line or actually call Comcast to disable the service is that the alarm will say "NOT READY" and you can't arm it.
Also thanks for your advice about the alarm usefulness...but it's better than nothing right? |
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| yes i have the same setup.
no point getting a monitoring service. they are useless.
You can fake a phone line -- I have mine plugged into the line port of my usb skype VOIP adaptor instead of a phone line. that fools the alarm into thinking it is connected to a phone line and it cant dial out even if it tries. you can also use a spare dry loop if you have one. or an intercom line port or something else which fools the system. |
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| Monitoring services are useless?? Sounds like the opinion of someone who has never used a monitoring service. Besides the fire protection as mentioned in a previous post, a properly programmed system can send fire or police panic alarms or silent "duress" alarms, where the monitoring service will dispatch police or fire before calling the homeowner, thereby reducing the response time significantly.
The icing on the cake is the 20% discount in home owner's insurance for having a monitored system. In my case, I'm saving more than $500 per year with the system, which costs me about $216 for monitoring, including cellular backup. So, I have a net savings of nearly $300 per year, plus have someone watching my backside.
Just an alternate viewpoint........ |
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| reply to randomwalk10
said by randomwalk10:Hi all,
I'd like to be able to turn on the Comcast home security alarm but without subscribing to Comcast security service. Basically, the alarm will sound and all but it won't call out to Comcast/Police. Just a siren to scare off intruder.
Can someone help me with this? Thank you.
can't you just program the alarm to just call the police?, and bypass Comcast?. |
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| can't you just program the alarm to just call the police?, and bypass Comcast?.
Most municipalites are not setup to recieve alarm signals. They do not have the recieving equipment or staff to handle them. This excludes the very rare townships that do. |
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| guys,
let's drop the monitoring service debate and help focus on how to keep the alarm turned on without monitoring service is possible? |
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| said by randomwalk10:guys,
let's drop the monitoring service debate and help focus on how to keep the alarm turned on without monitoring service is possible?
Give me a model number and I could surely help you. |
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| Give me a model number and I could surely help you.
The box said Honeywell, the controller is Honeywell so I'm thinking it's the ADEMCO/Honeywell V15P system.
Thanks for the help askinder. |
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 Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1
1 edit | VISTA-15P
at the bottom of the above page are downloadable manuals and data sheets.
VISTA-15PSIA Control Panel for CP-01 SIA certifications
This might help. |
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| reply to randomwalk10
said by randomwalk10:Give me a model number and I could surely help you.
Looking at the chip on the control box, its said "WA15PSIA v3.1" The box said Honeywell, the controller is Honeywell so I'm thinking it's the ADEMCO/Honeywell V15P system. Thanks for the help askinder. Assuming that the installer code was not changed by the installing company, the default code should be 4112. Give the following a shot:
Step A-- Try entering 4112 9. If the keypad beeps and the chime turns off or on, then this is the correct code. If 4112 is the installer code, follow step b to change the master code. If 4112 is not the code, proceed to step C
Step B--Change the master code, to do so enter [installer code] 802 [new 4 digit code] [new 4 digit code again]. This must be done very quickly or it will not take.
If 4112 is not the installer code, you can try to bootstrap into programming to pull the code.
Step C--Boot strap into programming: disconnect one lead from the battery in the metal cabinet and either disconnect the transformer from the outlet or disconnect the wire from terminal 1 on the circuit board. Reattach the battery and transformer and hurry to the keypad , once at the keypad, press and hold both the * and # keys (this must be done with in 50 secs. If this backdoor wasn't disabled, you should see "20" on the keypad. Press #20 and write down the code, this is the installer code. Exit programming by entering *99. Proceed to Step B to change the master code. If "20" never shows up, the installer disabled this backdoor and your only option is to beg the installing company to unlock it or to replace the circuit board and reprogram.
Once the master code is changed, you may use it to arm and disarm the system and use it locally. You may want to enter programming to delete the Account number, Receiver number ans download access number, however, you may not need to. If you have any questions feel free to PM me. |
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 49528867Premium
join:2010-04-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL
kudos:3 | said by askinder:Reattach the battery and transformer and hurry to the keypad , once at the keypad, press and hold both the * and # keys (this must be done with in 50 secs. Before you do this be sure to disconnect any method of reporting, phone cable etc. because if local programming is locked out pressing * and # may send in a panic alarm if the box is still being monitored.
--
"It is sobering to reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence." - Charles A. Beard |
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| reply to askinder
Wow that's amazing. Thank you guys!!! I'm at work right now and I can't wait to get the heck out of here to go home to try out the new trick 
Hopefully step A & B will work.
Regarding step C (hopefully not needed), I don't see a transformer or anything. I saw the outlet at the bottom of the box (inside the box) but it's not plugged in. I guess I will have to resort to disconnecting terminal wire #1 on the circuit board method. Just to be sure, terminal wire #1 is the uppermost top wire? I didn't look closely at the pins/wire yesterday.
Also, if last resort, I need to buy the new board, where can I purchase one and approx how much is it? Does it come with instruction how to program? My current system, they programmed to include a bunch of wireless sensors for upstair windows..I'd like to keep that if possible.
Thanks again for everything.. |
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 MsradellP.E.Premium
join:2008-12-25
Louisville, KY
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to iknow
said by iknow : can't you just program the alarm to just call the police?, and bypass Comcast?. Doesn't work that way! Police departments don't really like residential alarms (too many false alarms) and are not equipped to monitor them. The alarm sends out a coded signal, not anything you can understand on a phone. Special equipment is required and there are many types of equipment required for the various manufacturers. |
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| reply to randomwalk10
said by randomwalk10:Regarding step C (hopefully not needed), I don't see a transformer or anything. I saw the outlet at the bottom of the box (inside the box) but it's not plugged in. I guess I will have to resort to disconnecting terminal wire #1 on the circuit board method. Just to be sure, terminal wire #1 is the uppermost top wire? I didn't look closely at the pins/wire yesterday. Terminal 1 will be on the left side, unless they mounted the circuit board side ways  I have seen that done before.
said by randomwalk10:Also, if last resort, I need to buy the new board, where can I purchase one and approx how much is it? Does it come with instruction how to program? My current system, they programmed to include a bunch of wireless sensors for upstair windows..I'd like to keep that if possible. Before replacing, I would see if you can get some one to download it. If that is not possible, then you should be able to find a Vist 15P, or 20P for $100. You will need an alphanumeric keypad to reprogram the system. If your keypad is like the one in the picture posted earlier in the thread, you only have a fixed english keypad. Programming is not terrible, but there is a learning curve. Hopefully, the installer listed the serial numbers and zones at the panel. |
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1 edit | askinder,
you are a freaking genius!!! Thank you!!!
They changed the mastercode but I was able to get it via the boottrap method. So with this, I can unsubscribe the monitoring service but still be able to use the alarm as normal (without being monitored of course)?
Also, I unplugged the phone line/cable modem etc and tested the alarm with the master code and it worked...alarm sounded...
thanks again. |
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| If your goal is to use the alarm system locally, without monitoring, you should be good to go. If you need anything else, let me know. |
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1 edit | reply to randomwalk10
FYI you should only use the installer code for getting into programming. You should arm and disarm with the master code. |
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