Texecom alarm advice

[MM456]

Hi, I have a 15-year old Risco/Gardtec wired alarm and I'm looking to replace with a Texecom Premier Elite 48 and Texecom DBD-0168 keypad but I had a few questions I'd be really grateful for some help with before I buy please:

1. The current alarm has a siren/sounder inside the house (Gardtec Intergard 2) that I'd like to reuse. Will this be compatible with the Texecom panel or if not, is there a recommended sounder around the same size (200mm high x 125mm wide) to to avoid having to redecorate?

2. I have an existing smarthome system, so was looking to get the Texecom Connect Smartcom unit and connect the alarm to the smarthome system over WiFi using the Crestron protocol. I don't want to use Texecom Cloud or the Texecom App, so want the Smartcom unit configured so that it just runs the Crestron protocol and doesn't talk to the cloud or App. Is this possible? I've seen similar done with the ComIP unit and presume that the same could be done with the ComWiFi unit as well but would prefer to use the Smartcom instead as newer

3. Can I reuse all of the existing wired Risco PIRs (RK415PR), door contact and panic button from the old system or is the recommendation to replace? I was leaning towards replace as I'd seen some complexity around resistors and tamper config that looked like it could be a headache, so easier just to get Texceom ones matched to the Premier Elite panel.

4. If recommendation is replace, is there a recommended wired door contact for Texecom as I couldn't see any on their website?

5. Minor configuration question but does the Texecom Premier Elite need an external sounder to work? If so, I can install it in the house but would prefer just to have an internal speaker/sounder instead as per q1.

Thanks in advance and sorry for all of the basic questions (maybe with exception of q2).

 

[sparkymarka]

What Gardtec panel is it ? All below is based on a uk Risco panel eg …500/600/800 series
1 … it should be ok
2 ….why fit smartcom if your not using its features …
3 you should be able to re use all devices just set the Texecom to Gardtec EOL
4 any door contact should work
5 external sounder is optional

 

[MM456]

Thank you.

Panel is Risco 595.

Re: #2 - want to connect over wifi to existing smarthome system so I can integrate with that and control other devices in the house based on alarms and PIR status rather than have another device on my network exposed externally through the firewall. Smartcom looked like it could do it, or ComWiFi module but not 100% sure. Would prefer to keep away from other 'homemade' solutions like Pi Zero as I don't have enough knowledge of how to program them.

Thanks.

 

[sparkymarka]

Ok 595 will be fine assuming they are all hardwired devices ….as for 2 can’t comment but there are a few on here that have intergrated texecom to other third party systems

 

[secureiam]

In theory the smart com can be used for crestron protocol on the com ip side of the unit.

But the power is taken from the cable is to the smart com side. So two connections one of which is effective not in use other than power.

Not used it this way so not sure of any issues that might occur.

 

[MM456]

Thanks for the advice. I've seen other posts where people have had success swapping the cables around and changing the protocols, so I guess that explains why. Do you know if the ComWiFi works with the latest firmware on the Premier Elite please? That may be a more reliable way to go if it does. Thanks.

 

[secureiam]

The com wifi is effectively a wifi version of the com ip.

So no different as far as plugging in a com ip or a com WiFi.

The issue with the com wifi is it wasn’t great signal wise and there were options for aerials to be added when it was on sale.

If you have a metal box (elite 48 is a metal box), then you need the additional aerial as it is unlikely to work of places inside the panel case.

 

[MM456]

OK, thanks. I'll give the com WiFi a go.