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I've been looking for a way to create an app that will allow me to use my Android device as a virtual keypad for a Security Alarm System (DSC 1832 Panel to be more specific).

I'm not asking for anybody's code, just ideas on how this can be done. I've been working on the Home Automation business for 7 years now, and so far I've only worked with apps that were developed by the manufacturers of this Home Automation systems; now I'm trying to develop something on my own.

The DSC 1832 Panel uses a communication module called DSC IT-100 which allows the system to receive and send HEX commands (RS232) in order to be controlled. The idea is to have a TCP/IP to RS232 device that can help me send and receive these commands from my device while connected to my network, the device I'm planning on using is Global Cache IP2SL.

LeoColman
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user3310817
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Another approach is to use one of these cheap WiFi-enabled microcontrollers like ESP-8266 to build a dedicated bridge between the DSC serial line protocol and a TCP/IP-based equivalent. Did you come across the open source project DSC Keybus Interface? At a glance this looks promising to me as it claims to provide a library directly interfaces Arduino and esp8266 microcontrollers to DSC PowerSeries security systems for integration with home automation, notifications on system events, and usage as a virtual keypad. If the library is applicable for what you're trying to achieve you can get it possibly done without doing a lot of coding yourself. However, it requires some basic understanding how to program microcontrollers and you'd need to wire it.

Using a generic "RS-232 to TCP/IP converter" like the one you mentioned would require a significant develop effort for the application unless there are existing applications for this (which I did not find).

Marcus
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