--- title: AlarmDecoder description: Instructions on how to integrate a DSC/Honeywell alarm panel with Home Assistant using an AlarmDecoder device. logo: alarmdecoder.png ha_category: - Alarm - Binary Sensor - Sensor ha_release: 0.43 ha_iot_class: Local Push --- The `alarmdecoder` integration will allow Home Assistant users who own either a DSC or Honeywell alarm panel to leverage their alarm system and its sensors to provide Home Assistant with rich information about their homes. Connectivity between Home Assistant and the alarm panel is accomplished through a device produced by Nu Tech Software Solutions, known as the AlarmDecoder. The AlarmDecoder devices provide a serial, TCP/IP socket or USB interface to the alarm panel, where it emulates an alarm keypad. Please visit the [AlarmDecoder website](https://www.alarmdecoder.com/) for further information about the AlarmDecoder devices. There is currently support for the following device types within Home Assistant: - Binary Sensor: Reports on zone status - Sensor: Emulates a keypad display - [Alarm Control Panel](#alarm-control-panel): Reports on alarm status, and can be used to arm/disarm the system This is a fully event-based component. Any event sent by the AlarmDecoder device will be immediately reflected within Home Assistant. ## Configuration An `alarmdecoder` section must be present in the `configuration.yaml` file and contain the following options as required: ```yaml # Example configuration.yaml entry alarmdecoder: device: type: socket host: 192.168.1.20 port: 10000 panel_display: false zones: 01: name: 'Smoke Detector' type: 'smoke' rfid: '0123456' 02: name: 'Front Door' type: 'opening' ``` {% configuration %} device: description: List of variables for the AlarmDecoder device. required: true type: list keys: type: description: "The type of AlarmDecoder device: socket, serial or USB." required: true default: socket type: string host: description: The IP address of the AlarmDecoder device on your home network, if using socket type. required: false default: localhost type: string port: description: The IP address of the AlarmDecoder device on your home network, if using socket type. required: false default: 10000 type: integer path: description: The path of the AlarmDecoder device, if using serial type. required: false default: "/dev/ttyUSB0" type: string baudrate: description: The baud rate of the AlarmDecoder device, if using serial type. required: false default: 115200 type: string panel_display: description: Create a sensor called sensor.alarm_display to match the Alarm Keypad display. required: false default: false type: boolean autobypass: description: "If this is set to `true`, then when arming (home or away), it will automatically bypass all open zones (sending '6#')." required: false default: false type: boolean zones: description: "AlarmDecoder has no way to tell us which zones are actually in use, so each zone must be configured in Home Assistant. For each zone, at least a name must be given. For more information on the available zone types, take a look at the [Binary Sensor](/integrations/alarmdecoder) docs. *Note: If no zones are specified, Home Assistant will not load any binary_sensor integrations.*" required: false type: list keys: name: description: A name for the zone. required: true type: string type: description: "A type for the zone. Here you can find a list of [Device Classes](/integrations/binary_sensor/#device-class)." required: false default: opening type: string rfid: description: The RF serial-number associated with RF zones. Providing this field allows Home Assistant to associate raw sensor data to a given zone, allowing direct monitoring of the state, battery, and supervision status. required: false type: string loop: description: The loop number associated with RF zones (1, 2, 3, or 4). Providing this field allows Home Assistant to read open/closed status from the raw sensor data in addition to from the panel display, meaning it can correctly show a bypassed RF zone as open or closed when the alarm is armed. (This is an alternative to relayaddr/relaychan below for RF zones.) required: false type: integer relayaddr: description: "Address of the relay or zone expander board to associate with the zone. (ex: 12, 13, 14, or 15). Typically used in cases where a panel will not send bypassed zones such as motion during an armed home state, the Vista 20P is an example of this. AlarmDecoder can emulate a zone expander board and the panel can be programmed to push zone events to this virtual expander. This allows the bypassed zone binary sensors to be utilized. One example is using bypassed motion sensors at night for motion-based automated lights while the system is armed with the motion sensor bypassed." required: inclusive type: integer relaychan: description: "Channel of the relay or zone expander board to associate with the zone. (ex: 1, 2, 3, or 4 for relay expander boards, 1 - 8 for zone expander boards)" required: inclusive type: integer {% endconfiguration %} ## Alarm Control Panel There are several attributes available on the alarm panel to give you more information about your alarm. - `ac_power`: Set to `true` if your system has AC power supplying it. - `backlight_on`: Set to `true` if your keypad's backlight is on. - `battery_low`: Set to `true` if your system's back-up battery is low. - `check_zone`: Set to `true` if your system was recently triggered. When `check_zone` is `true`, it must be cleared by entering your code + 1 before attempting to rearm your alarm. - `chime`: Set to `true` if your system's chime is activated. When activated, your system will beep anytime a door or window is faulted while the alarm is disarmed. - `entry_delay_off`: Set to `true` if your system is in "Instant" mode, meaning the alarm will sound on any faults. - `programming_mode`: Set to `true` if your system is in programming mode. - `ready`: Set to `true` if your system is ready to be armed. Any faults, including motions sensors, will make this value `false`. - `zone_bypassed`: Set to `true` if your system is currently bypassing a zone. ## Services The Alarm Decoder integration gives you access to several services for you to control your alarm with. - `alarm_arm_away`: Arms the alarm in away mode; all faults will trigger the alarm. - `alarm_arm_home`: Arms the alarm in stay mode; faults to the doors or windows will trigger the alarm. - `alarm_arm_night`: Arms the alarm in instant mode; all faults will trigger the alarm. Additionally, the entry delay is turned off on the doors. - `alarm_disarm`: Disarms the alarm from any state. Also clears a `check_zone` flag after an alarm was triggered. - `alarmdecoder.alarm_keypress`: Sends a string of characters to the alarm, as if you had touched those keys on a keypad. - `alarmdecoder.alarm_toggle_chime`: Toggles the alarm's chime state.
`alarm_arm_custom_bypass` and `alarm_trigger`, while available in the services list in Home Assistant, are not currently implemented in the Alarm Decoder platform.
### Examples Using a combination of the available services and attributes, you can create switch templates. ### Chime Status and Control {% raw %} ```yaml - platform: template switches: alarm_chime: friendly_name: Chime value_template: "{{ is_state_attr('alarm_control_panel.alarm_panel', 'chime', true) }}" turn_on: service: alarmdecoder.alarm_toggle_chime data: code: !secret alarm_code turn_off: service: alarmdecoder.alarm_toggle_chime data: code: !secret alarm_code icon_template: >- {% if is_state_attr('alarm_control_panel.alarm_panel', 'chime', true) %} mdi:bell-ring {% else %} mdi:bell-off {% endif %} ``` {% endraw %}