SmartAlarm 4in1 in Practice

When designing the SmartAlarm 4in1, we aimed for simplicity to facilitate easy installation and setup of the alarm system, as well as user-friendly operation. Let’s look at how the alarm system is structured and which peripherals it consists of!

Central Unit

The central unit is a modularly expandable 8/16-zone alarm control panel (master), which can be expanded up to 96 zones via wired (CAN bus) and/or radio connection (LoRa) by connecting 8/16-zone expanders (slave) (1 master + 5 slaves). The wiring of individual zones can be configured according to the chosen programming options (NO, NC, EOL, DEOL). Besides the 96 zones, the central unit supports 32 independent partitions, to which 32 local or global proximity card readers can be connected. The alarm system allows RFID/Mifare-based access for 250 uniquely identified users. The built-in LoRa modem is not only suitable for connecting zone expanders but also for attaching any number of physical remote controls, providing users with easy local control. Internet communication via 4G is provided by an LTE-capable GSM modem, which enables 1) remote programming, 2) remote control, 3) remote monitoring, and 4) remote software updates within a single central unit. The alarm system is named SmartAlarm 4in1 primarily because of these four capabilities. Both the master and the slave have an equal number of freely programmable channels, which means 6 general-purpose I/O ports that can be used as general-purpose inputs, OC outputs, or Wiegand connections. The integration of smart home sensors and systems is supported by the central unit (master) through built-in wired (CAN and serial) and wireless (WiFi, Bluetooth) interfaces. Varistors provide overvoltage protection for the individual inputs and outputs. As an innovation, an OLED display has been placed on the printed circuit board, which is present on both the master and slave units. The OLED display and two buttons located at the edge of the panel allow for easy connection of individual peripherals to the central unit, as well as feedback on their operational status.

Control Units

Most alarm systems come with button-based or touchscreen control units. Some models also feature proximity card readers as an additional option alongside the traditional control units. The SmartAlarm 4in1 alarm system supports three different types of control units, catering to the unique needs of customers. These include the proximity card reader, the LoRa radio remote control, and the mobile application for iOS and Android smartphones.

The proximity card reader boasts an ultra-modern design, thanks to its 8 mm ultra-thin glass panel, available in both black and white. This glass panel is set in an aesthetically pleasing metal frame, which can be ordered in silver. This customizable appearance provides a luxurious feel, adorning the home like a piece of jewelry. The use of proximity card identification significantly reduces the stress associated with entering incorrect codes, resulting in a user-friendly operation. This is further enhanced by a subtle status indication accompanied by a beeping sound and LED flashing. The user experience is elevated by dual-frequency identification technology, which allows reading of not only 125 kHz RFID but also 13.56 MHz Mifare/NFC tags, cards, or stickers. Optionally, a WD2CAN (Wiegand-CAN) adapter can be purchased for the control unit, enabling adaptive communication. This facilitates bridging longer distances and/or connecting multiple control units on the same bus cable, offering substantial convenience and simplicity for installers. Thanks to Wiegand communication, the system can also accommodate readers from other manufacturers of any type, including pin code, card, or fingerprint identification. These options provide solutions for those who might distrust card usage due to the risk of loss or prefer not to use a card at all, allowing them to revert to the pin code option. Additionally, customers can opt for fingerprint identification, which, although more convenient for some, is also more costly. These options leave the choice to the customer regarding the level of risk they are willing to take in exchange for convenience.

The LoRa-based radio remote control enhances local and straightforward operation. It features 4 programmable buttons, which can be configured for various functions. For instance, one button could be used to arm the entire premises, another for home mode arming, a third to disarm the alarm system, and the fourth for silent panic alert. The buttons are freely configurable, allowing for alternative uses, such as controlling garage doors and garden gates.

The third and most advanced control unit is the mobile application that runs on both Android and iOS smartphones, offering functionality equivalent to that of traditional control units. Upon logging into the app, users encounter an interactive main menu that facilitates a quick overview of the current status of the alarm system(s) and easy operation. This user-friendly interface allows for remote bypassing or restoring of partitions, zones, and outputs; full and partial arming/disarming of the alarm; panic alerts; or, in alternative applications, control of garage and garden gates. A virtual remote control provides efficient assistance for handling these functions. Customers can flexibly regulate the installer access period in the system settings, which can range from one hour to unlimited time.

If users enable push notifications in the app, they receive real-time, automatic alerts about system status (fault notifications, alarm alerts, panic alerts). If a user (e.g., a child) sends a panic alert through the virtual remote control, the message arrives on the other family members' phones using the app, along with the sender's current GPS coordinates, which appear on the map interface and can initiate route planning. In case of a remote monitoring service subscription, the event also instantly appears on the monitoring software's map interface. The app includes an event log, allowing easy retrieval of past notifications and changes to system parameters.

Future plans include support for automated operation (control), enabling partial or full arming and disarming of the alarm system according to pre-defined times for the users. When operated with a remote monitoring service, the app can enable a dispatcher call quick button, displayed in the upper bar of the interactive main menu. Pressing the quick call button easily dials the dispatcher center.

Programming Software

The programming of the SmartAlarm 4in1 alarm system is facilitated by the Helios Toolbox, a cloud-based, platform-independent web application that can be accessed via any device's browser (computer, smartphone, tablet). Thanks to its responsive design, it adapts to various screen sizes and resolutions. With its modern and clean graphical interface, it is extremely user-friendly due to its transparency. Through the cloud server, installation professionals can perform system settings from anywhere, including comprehensive programming of zones, partitions, outputs, remote controls, identification cards, and reader control units. Additionally, with authorization, they can remotely update the alarm control panel software. However, any intervention by the installer affecting the alarm system must be pre-authorized by the customer in the MonitoringBook HOME application. The MonitoringBook HOME always provides information about the modifications to its users, which can be retrieved at any time later.

When a remote monitoring service is used, the alarm system settings created in Helios Toolbox, upon authorization, are automatically forwarded to the server of the selected remote monitoring service provider. Currently, more than 80 providers with 160 remote monitoring stations can receive event notifications from the SmartAlarm 4in1 alarm system. The SmartAlarm 4in1 also supports the quick and cost-effective replacement of existing outdated alarm control panels, thanks to its retrofit capability, which allows the free configuration of end-of-line resistor values. This eliminates the need to replace resistors installed in existing sensors, as their values can be set in the programming software. The Toolbox's major advantage is its flexible settings management, which also supports the restoration of previous system settings. All settings, changes, or deletions made in the programming software are logged, allowing individual interventions to be tracked later.

MOHAnet will soon launch practical training sessions where installers can program and test their created SmartAlarm 4in1 configurations live, using their mobile phones and a demo board. For more information about the training sessions, please visit our Training page.