Can a GSMX4G do emulation mode?

Using 4204, or 2 4204 emulation mode in the GSMX4G allows Honeywell panels that don’t support ECP mode to report either 4 (1 4204) or 8 (2 4204) unique events to the central station. This is done by programming outputs into the panel as if 1 or 2 4204 relay modules are being used.

ECP mode means that the GSMX4G connects to the panel through the keypad bus, and reports every enabled panel signal to the monitoring station in Contact ID format. Using this method, the monitoring station and the end-user get the most information available with each report.

However, not all panels support the use of ECP mode with the AlarmNet communicators. In some cases, these panels are best served by using 4204 emulation mode instead. When used in this manner, the GSMX4G connects to the keypad bus of the panel, and is enabled in panel programming as if it were 1 or 2 4204 relay modules. In 4204 emulation mode, the panel reports in Ademco High Speed format.

The GSMX4G will be given an address. That address is enabled in the alarm control panel as if it were a single 4204 output relay module. When using 2 4204 emulation, you set a single address in the GSMX4G, then in the control panel enable that address, as well as the next address in order, both as 4204 relay modules.

The device address(es) you use for this will depend on which panel you’re using, and what other devices you have connected to the keypad bus of that panel. Below is an example of how you might use this type of setup on a Vista-40 panel.

In radio programming:

• Choose Device Mode of either 4204 Emu, or Two 4204s, depending on whether you want to report up to four separate zones, or up to eight.
• Be sure Multi Mode is Disabled.
• Program the Primary City ID - Primary CS ID - Primary Sub ID using the account information provided to you by your dealer or central station.
• The Device Address you choose will be programmed in the control panel as a 4204 relay module. If you choose 2 4204s, this device address as well as the next address in order will both be enabled as 4204 relay modules.
• A particular zone can be selected to send a Telco Fault message, if a phone line is in use. For our purposes, we will not be using this option.
• An Open/Close Zone can be specified and will cause the unit to send a predefined Hi-Speed message for Open/Close (it will send a 2 for the selected zone or channel, as well as the status channel for Open, and a 4 in the selected zone, and status channel for Close, for example 5255 5555 2 would be an open reported on zone (channel) 2, 5455 5555 4 would be a close reported on zone (channel) 2.

In addition to the Telco and Open/Close zone options, you’ll need to answer the following questions for each zone you’re programming. Remember, if you choose to report restore, the report will be sent as soon as the “relay” you program stops, so factor that information into your relay programming. You can also delay the report for each zone from 1 to 15 seconds, or choose no delay. The last option, report only if armed will not come into play in the scenario we’re discussing, so be sure to answer No to this option for each zone. There are other programming fields in the GSMX4G, but this FAQ covers the fields specific to using emulation mode.

In the alarm panel, a Vista-40 in our example, you must first enter programming (Installer Code + 8 + 00) from an Alpha Keypad, then enter #93. You’ll see a series of menu options, choose 0 (No) for each until you reach Device Programming, then choose 1 (Yes):

Once in device programming, you will enable the address selected for the GSMX4G as an output relay module (4204). If you selected to use the GSMX4G in 2 4204 Emulation mode, you will enable the next address in order the same way. In our example, we chose Device Address 3 for the GSMX4G and we’re using 2 4204 Emulation, so in our Vista 40, we enable Address 3 and 4 both as output relay modules. Once finished enabling addresses, back at the Device Address prompt, enter 00 *. You will be prompted “Quit Menu Mode?” Choose 0 (No).

You’ll next be prompted for Relay Programming, choose 1 (Yes):

Because in our example we’re using 2 4204 Emulation mode, we’re going to think of our zones 1 - 8, as relays 1 - 8. Relay 1 is located at address 3, position 1. Relay 2 is located at address 3, position 2 and so on. Relay 5 is located at address 4, position 1, relay 6 is located at address 4 position 2, and so on. With that in mind, program as shown below, but here are a few things to consider: If your system only has a few zones, you can program each relay to correspond to an individual zone, Relay 1 could correspond to, and report as, zone 1, relay 2 as zone 2, and so on. If you have quite a few zones, then you may want to associate Relay 1 with all Fire Zones, Relay 2 with all Burg Zones, Relay 3 with Silent Panics, etc.

Enter Relay # - In our Example, this will be 01 - 08. Think of the relay number as a zone number, as this is how it will be reported to central station. We will specify how the panel will locate this “relay” later in programming. We’re going to use Relay 01, and we’re going to associate with an Alarm on Zone 01. Press * to Continue.

Summary Screen - This shows any current Relay programming, press * to continue.

Relay Action - You can choose Close for 2 Seconds, which will then restore immediately if you choose to report restore, or you can Close and Stay closed, in which case you will have to then tell the panel when you want to stop or restore that relay.

Start Event - Available options are Alarm, Fault, or Trouble. In our example, we would want to choose either Alarm, or Trouble, depending on what condition we’re trying to report with this output. In this case, we’ll choose Alarm.

Start Zone List - The Vista 40 only has 4 zone lists available, and it does not offer the option through Relay programming to activate a relay based on an event for an individual zone number, so this is something else that will need to factor into planning. For our scenario, we will choose Zone List 1, and we will assume Zone number 1 is assigned to Zone List 1.

Start Zone Type - There are many zone types available in relay programming for system operations, such as ZT33 Any Burg Alarm, or ZT39, Any Fire Alarm. Further, with start partition, you can specify a zone type on a particular partition, for example, you might program relay 01 to turn on (report) on Any Burg Alarm on Partition 1, and relay 02 to turn on (report) on Any Burg Alarm on Partition 2, then you could specify with your central station what each of these zones means. In our example, though, we will leave the Start Zone Type set to 00, No Response.

Start Partition - This option is only used in conjunction with Start Zone Type. In our example, we will leave it at the default of 0 Any Partition.

Stop Zone List - Using a Stop Zone List allows us to stop our “relay” upon restore of the zones on the list. In our case, zone 01 is the only zone on Zone List 1, so a restore on this zone will “stop” the relay, and send the restore message, if enabled.

Stop Zone Type - Another option for stopping our relay and causing the restore report to be sent would be to use Zone Type 36, Bell Timeout (or Disarm, whichever comes first). You could also use Zone Type 22, Disarm. In our example, we’re going for a true zone restore, so we will leave Stop Zone Type at 00, No Response.

Stop Partition - Once again, Stop Partition goes with Stop Zone Type. In the earlier example, we mentioned using Relay 01 to report Any Burg Alarm on Partition 1, and Relay 02 to report Any Burg Alarm on Partition 2. In that scenario, we might want to report restore on each of those by choosing Disarm on Partition 1 to restore or stop Relay 01, and Disarm on Partition 2 to restore or stop Relay 02. In our case, we will leave this at 0, Any Partition.

Restriction - A 1 for Yes in this field restricts end users from controlling this relay with a keypad command. I would suggest a 1 in this field.

Relay Type - This should be a 1, for ECP Relay

ECP Address - This is where you tell the panel where it can locate this particular device in order to activate it based on the preceding programming. For our first 4 zones, this entry will be a 03, and for our last 4 zones, this entry will be a 04.

Module Relay - This entry will be a number 1 - 4. Again, this entry helps the panel to locate the particular device it’s supposed to turn on and off based on the programming we just entered. For our example, this will be a 1.

Based on this programming, an alarm on zone 1 tells the Vista-40 to turn on “Relay 01” which is located at address 3, relay position 1. When the GSMX4G gets this command, it sends the High Speed Message for an Alarm on Zone 1 to the Central Station. When Zone 1 restores, this tells the Vista-40 to stop or turn off “Relay 01”. When the GSMX4G gets this command, it sends the High Speed Message for an Alarm Restore on Zone 1 to the Central Station. This is 4204 Emulation.