How Do I Enroll a PowerG Sensor to a DSC PowerSeries NEO?

You can enroll a PowerG Sensor to a DSC PowerSeries NEO through panel programming menu 804. PowerG Sensors can be auto-enrolled with a DSC PowerSeries NEO System in this manner. The alarm panel must have a wireless transceiver added, or else it cannot support wireless PowerG Sensors.

The DSC PowerSeries NEO lineup refers to a set of hardwired alarm control panels. These panels cannot support PowerG Sensors right out of the box. If you want to use wireless PowerG Sensors with these systems, then you must add a wireless transceiver module to the system. The most popular option is to get a DSC HS2LCDRF9 N Keypad. Since you need a keypad to control the system anyway, you may as well get one that serves a dual purpose. If you already have a keypad and don't need another one, then the DSC HSMHOST9 Standalone PowerG Wireless Transceiver is an option as well.

PowerG Sensors are known for being some of the best devices in the entire security industry. Their wireless range is incredible, and they can be used reliably with the NEO Panel from up to 2 km away in an open air environment. They also utilize 128-bit AES encryption in all their wireless communication for enhanced security and protection. We strongly recommend these sensors for anyone with a PowerSeries NEO System or any other compatible PowerG Security Panel.

For the purpose of this FAQ, we will assume that you already have a PowerG Transceiver set up with the NEO System. We will also assume that you are using a compatible push-button keypad, such as the DSC HS2LCDRF9 N. Please note that as a general rule when programming a DSC PowerSeries NEO System, the [*] key moves you forward, while the [#] key takes you back.

Complete the following steps to enroll a PowerG Sensor to a DSC PowerSeries NEO System:

1. Enter programming. Start from the main screen of your DSC PowerSeries NEO Keypad. Enter [*] + [8] + [Installer Code]. Remember that the default Installer Code is 5555. If you see "Select (000) Program Labels", then you have successfully entered programming.

2. Access wireless programming. Enter [804] to access the wireless programming menu. If successful, you should see "Select (000) Enroll Device".

3. Auto-Enroll the sensor. Press [*] to confirm that you want to enroll a device. You will then be prompted to auto-enroll the sensor. You must then activate the enrollment function on the sensor you are using. Some sensors enter enrollment mode upon powering on (inserting a battery). Others require you to press and hold a device enrollment button for a set period of time. The enrollment button is typically found underneath the device cover. For a list of PowerG Sensors and how they enroll, please check this helpful FAQ.

If the transceiver recognizes the enrollment signal from the panel, then you should see the Sensor ID displayed on the keypad screen. Confirm that it is correct, and press [*] to continue. Most PowerG Sensors will have a sticker somewhere that lists the Sensor ID. While you can technically manually enter the Sensor ID for enrollment, we recommend auto-enrollment for ensuring that the sensor can communicate with your system's transceiver successfully. Additionally, it is possible that you might make a mistake when entering a Sensor ID number manually.

4. Choose a Zone. You will now choose a 3-digit zone number for the sensor. You must select a wireless zone that is open and available on the system. Remember that wireless zones for a DSC PowerSeries NEO System start after the on-board hardwired zones. The DSC HS2016NK only has six (6) on-board zones, so the first wireless zone for that panel is 007. All of the other DSC PowerSeries NEO Panels have eight (8) on-board zones, so the first wireless zone for those panels is 009. The keypad will automatically display the first available wireless zone for the system. But if you want to select a different zone, then you can enter its 3-digit zone number instead. Once the zone number you want to use is displayed on the screen, press [*] to continue to the next step.

5. Choose a Zone Definition. You will now choose a Zone Definition. This may also be referred to as a Zone Type. This setting determines how the system will respond when the sensor is activated or faulted. Each Zone Definition has a different 3-digit code. You can see a complete list of Zone Types on Page 27 thru 29 of the DSC PowerSeries NEO Alarm Controller V1.0 Reference Manual. Please note that the default Zone Definition for the Sensor Type you are using will be displayed by default. If that's the Zone Definition you want to use, then you do not need to change the entry. Otherwise, enter the 3-digit Zone Definition you want to use with this zone. Once the correct 3-digit Zone Definition is displayed, press the [*] to continue to the next step.

6. Select partitions. You will now choose which partition will be associated with this zone. Remember that a DSC HS2016NK has two (2) partitions, the DSC HS2032NK has four (4) partitions, and both the DSC HS2064NK and the DSC HS2128NK have eight (8) partitions. You will use the arrow keys (< & >) to scroll between the available partitions. For each partition you can toggle between Yes (Y) and No (N) by pressing the [*] key. Go through each partition, and make sure they are set the way you want. Once they are all correct, you can press the [#] to continue. Please note that while the [#] is usually used as a "back" or "previous" button, it is used to proceed to the next zone programming setting for the partitions menu.

7. Set a Zone Label. You will now set the Zone Label for the zone. This serves as the name and identifier for the zone. There are many ways that you can go about setting the Zone Label. It is very important that you are careful in this menu, as you can get easily lost if you are not careful.

The Zone Label can be a maximum of 28 characters. There are two (2) lines (top and bottom) of 14 characters to work with. The easiest way to set the label is to choose from a list of pre-configured words. Start by pressing the [*] key. When asked to select an option, use the arrow keys (< & >) to find "Word Entry", and then press the [*] key again to continue.

You will then be able to select from a list of pre-configured words and some additional single letters and symbols. Each selection has its own 3-digit code. There are a total of 193 complete commonly-used words in this selector, so you should be able to find something that works. They are alphabetized to make it easier to find the word you want. After the first 193 codes, the codes 194 thru 238 are just various letters and symbols. After option 238, it resets back to option 001, which is the first alphabetical word in the selection, the word "Aborted". You can use the arrow keys (< & >) to manually scroll through the list. However, it is easier to enter the 3-digit code for the word you want. If you stick between 001 and 193, then you will end up at a word when making your entry. If you don't quite land on the word you want, then you can just use the arrow keys to manually scroll until you reach the correct word. Once the word you want is displayed, press the [*] key to add it to the Zone Label.

Keep adding words until the Zone Label is configured the way you want. Remember that the word will be added directly above wherever the underscore cursor _ was when you pressed the [*] key to first select the "Word Entry" option. If you want to make a space, and you probably will, you can do so by using the arrow keys (< & >) to move the cursor to the next available character. If you make a mistake, you can hover the cursor under the character you want to delete and press the [0] key to delete it.

Remember that only words included in the list of 193 complete words will be shown when using the list of pre-configured words. If you want to use a different word, you must manually enter it. We will not be covering the process for manually entering Zone Labels in this FAQ. Once you have the correct Zone Label displayed, press the [#] key to complete the programming process. Please note that while the [#] is usually used as a "back" or "previous" button, it is used to complete the programming process when used at the Zone Label menu.