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PowerSeries Neo Intrusion Panel

DSC PowerSeries Neo Intrusion Panel Operating instructions

  • Hello! I've reviewed the DSC PowerSeries Neo Troubleshooting Guide. This document provides detailed instructions on how to troubleshoot communication issues and configure your security system. I'm ready to assist you with any questions regarding verifying settings, firmware versions, wiring, and communication tests described within this guide.
  • How to verify section 382 option 5 is enabled?
    How to find the panel firmware version?
    What is the required firmware version for most compatible keypads?
    How to initiate a communication test on LCD keypads?
DSC PowerSeries Neo - Troubleshooting Guide
If a DSC PowerSeries Neo panel is unable to communicate with Alarm.com, follow the troubleshooting steps below or
use the troubleshooting walkthrough by clicking View Walkthrough.
View Walkthrough
DSC PowerSeries Neo settings troubleshooting
Verify section 382 option 5 is enabled (Alternate comm)
1. Press [*][8] to enter programming.
2. Enter the installer code.
3. Press [382] for the section.
4. Scroll to Option 5.
5. Verify that Option 5 is set to Y.
a. If it is not set to Y, press [*] to change the setting.
b. Once it is set to Y, press [#] to go back and save the settings.
Verify the firmware version of the panel and keypad
To find the panel firmware version:
1. Press [*][8] to enter programming.
2. Enter the installer code.
3. Press [900] for the section.
4. When the keypad reads 000 HSXXX Info, press [*] to select the section.
5. Scroll to view the version, which should read as Software V01.xx.xx.xx. The required version is 01.11+.
◦ To update a panel below version 01.11, use DSC's DLS software locally at the system. For more information
about the upgrade process, contact DSC support at 800-387-3630.
6. Press [#] to go back to the home screen.
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To find the keypad firmware version:
1. Press [*][8].
2. Enter the installer code.
3. Press [900] for the section.
4. Press [001] for keypad 1. The 00n identifies the keypad being checked. (e.g., 001 for keypad 1, 002 for keypad 2,
etc).
5. Press [*].
6. Press [>] to scroll to view the firmware version number.
◦ The required version is 01.10+ for most compatible keypads.
▪ One exception is the HS2TCHP (Touchscreen) keypad, which is compatible on version 01.00+.
Note: Some keypads cannot be used for programming.
7. Press [#] to go back to the home screen.
Verify section 300 option 001 is set to 2 (Alt Comm Auto)
1. Press [*][8] to enter programming.
2. Enter the installer code.
3. Press [300] for the section.
4. Press [*] to select the section.
5. Scroll to Alt Comm Auto.
6. Press [#] to go back and save the settings.
Verify section 380 option 1 is enabled
1. Press [*][8] to enter programming.
2. Enter the installer code.
3. Press [380] for the section Comms Enabled.
4. Verify that this is set to Y.
a. If it is not set to Y, press [*] to change the setting.
b. Once it is set to Y, press [#] to go back and save the settings.
Verify section 301 option 1 is set to DCAA
1. Press [*][8] to enter programming.
2. Enter the installer code.
3. Press [301] for the section.
4. For Phone Number 1 (001), press [*] to verify the phone number programming shows DCAA. All values
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following DCAA should be set to F(i.e., DCAAFFF).
For more information on setting this option, see Why does phone number programming show DCAA on a DSC
PowerSeries Neo?.
Note: To change the letters using an alphanumeric keypad, press the [*] key until the underscore begins to blink, then
use the corresponding number to make your selection (e.g. [1] = A, [2] = B, [3] = C, etc.). Press the [#] key to save
changes.
Wiring troubleshooting
1. Verify PCLink2 red is next to RED on the main panel board and M1 on the remote mounting module (PCL422).
2. Verify wiring between the module and gateway is correct as outlined in the following table:
Terminal on PCL422 Terminal on HSPA/CDMA
controller board
TX+ Goes to RX+
TX- Goes to RX-
RX+ Goes to TX+
RX- Goes to TX-
GND Goes to GND
12V Goes to 12V
3. Verify an appropriate wire gauge and length is being used to receive the proper amount of voltage. For more
information about wire length and gauge, see What are the power requirements for a DSC PowerSeries Neo?.
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Communicator remote
Activation
1. Verify the module serial number is tied to an active Alarm.com account.
2. Apply power to the module.
3. Initiate a communication test:
◦ On LCD keypads, press and hold [3] for about two seconds to initiate a test.
▪ Another method to send a communication test is to:
a. Press [*][8] to enter programming.
b. Enter the installer code or master code.
c. Press [851] for the section.
d. Scroll to Communications Test.
e. Press [*] to send.
◦ On touchscreen keypads:
a. Tap Options.
b. Tap Installer Menu.
c. Enter the installer code.
d. Tap Keypad Mode.
e. Tap [851].
f. Scroll to Communications Test.
g. Press [*] to send.
If unable to initiate a comm test using the [3] key or section 851:
1. Verify that section 382 option 5 and section 380 option 1 are enabled. This enables panel communication with the
communicator. If it was not, enable this option and send a comm test.
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2. Verify the PC link wire and the TX/RX wiring are correctly installed and not damaged. For wiring assistance,
see DSC PowerSeries Neo Quick Install Guide. After the verification, try sending a comm test again.
3. Verify that the Alarm.com module firmware version is 183d+.
4. Verify that DSC panel firmware version is 1.11+, and the DSC Keypad firmware version. For keypad instructions
on verifying the DSC panel and keypad version, see Verify the firmware version of the panel and keypad.
◦ If you are able to use the hotkey functions on the keypad, the cause is not the firmware.
◦ For information on compatibility with specific keypads, see DSC PowerSeries Neo Quick Install Guide.
Troubleshooting for initial communication
L1 common troubleshooting indicators
Common L1 indicators and their troubleshooting steps:
Number of flashes Troubleshooting steps
No Lights at all Verify PC Link red next to RED on the PC Link 2
terminal and M1 on the PCL422
1 flash on L1 Verify Section 382 option 5, and RX ->TX wiring and TX
-> RX.
3 flash on L1 Check signaling: L4 flashes for strength and carrier
coverage.
Note: It may take up to 10 minutes before L1 detects and flashes an error code.
If the L1 light is flashing a different pattern, see DSC PowerSeries Neo - Troubleshooting LEDs.
System reverting to Arm Away
• If the panel is reverting to Arm Away when armed Stay, the panel likely does not have a Stay/Away zone
programmed. There are a few different zone types that are categorized as Stay/Away zones, meaning that they will
allow for the system to be armed in either state.
• If a system does not have a Stay/Away zone, it will arm in the Away state.
Alarms are not showing in event history or programming updates not taking effect
If using panel firmware version 1.13 or lower:
1. Verify that Section 401, option 2, is set to OFF. This is ON by default for most firmware versions.
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2. After it is turned off, the Monitoring Settings must be resaved to push the correct information to the panel.
3. Allow a few minutes for the commands to save to the panel, then test alarms. Proceed to the next section if the
behavior continues.
If all other forms of communication are shown except alarms:
1. Verify Section 300, option 1, is set to option 2 (Alt Comm Auto). For keypad instructions, see Verify section
300 option 001.
2. Verify Section 380 option 1 is enabled. For keypad instructions, see Verify section 380 option 1.
3. Verify Section 311, option 1 (Alarm/Restorals), is set to Yfor receiver #1. This is most common when panics
show in the event history but not alarms.
◦ If there is more than one partition, also configure the sections for those. For example, Section 312, option 1,
must also be set to Yfor the second partition signals to go through.
4. Re-save the Monitoring Settings from the Partner Portal or MobileTech app to save the monitoring station
information back to the panel.
5. If alarms still aren't showing in the event history, verify the account number displays in panel programming using
the keypad or Remote Toolkit in section 310 for the Account codes.
◦ If the account number is not showing, the panel is not reading the account number. Verify the account
numbers are correct, and then test alarms again.
For additional troubleshooting for this behavior, see Why are only restorals sending to the monitoring station but not the
initial alarms from a DSC PowerSeries Neo?.
Key presses are not working
This indicates that the module is not communicating with the panel. This is similar to when L1 flashes once.
Verify Section 382 option 5, then verify wiring. For keypad instructions for enabling Section 382 option 5, see Verify
section 382 option 5 is enabled.
For more information about hotkeys, see Hotkeys for English keypads.
Additional troubleshooting
Panel time is not displaying or incorrect
If the panel date and time does not display, the Alarm.com communicator is not communicating with the panel.
1. Verify that the ribbon cable is installed correctly in the panel.
2. Verify that section 380 option 1 and section 382 option 5 are enabled. This enables panel communication with the
communicator.
If the panel time is not accurate, Real-time Clock or Daylights Saving Time could be enabled.
• To disable Real-time Clock, go to section 024 option 5 and disable Daylights Saving Time via section 016 option 8.
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System will not arm when a zone is open
The zone attribute for Force Arming could be disabled. If Force Arming is disabled then the system cannot be armed if
the zone is open. Enable the force arming attribute for the zone via option 5 of the section corresponding to that zone
(sections 101 through 164).
Blank and frozen screen when trying to access Interactive Services menu
The module has not successfully logged onto the panel. Power cycle the panel and do not try to access Interactive
Services until Alarm.com Module Ok displays on the panel.
Panel displays phone line trouble condition but the panel is not connected to a phone line
Telephone Line Monitoring is enabled. Disable Telephone Line Monitoring by turning section 015 option 7 OFF.
Notifications not being received
Notification type Potential solution
Panel failure
Verify AC Failure Communication Delay is set correctly.
1. Verify that section 382 option 6 is disabled. This
specifies that the AC Failure Transmission Delay is
in minutes.
2. Verify that AC Failure Communication Delay in
section [377][002] is set to a number between
000 and 255.
Low battery from sensors
Verify Wireless Device Low Battery Transmission Delay
is set correctly. Verify that AC Failure Communication
Delay in section 377 is set to 001.
Panel tamper Verify System Tampers are enabled. Enter section [311]
[002] to enable tampers.
Trying to delete an Image Sensor from the account, but it doesn’t disappear on the equipment list
When deleting an Image Sensor, clear it out of Interactive Services (section 851), and go to section 560 to delete the
virtual zones.
To delete the virtual zones in section 560:
1. Press [*][8] to enter programming.
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2. Enter the installer code.
3. Press [560] for the section. It displays Virtual I/P XX, where XX represents the zone selected.
4. Scroll to the corresponding zone for the image sensor to be deleted (30-32).
5. Press [*] to enter the zone.
6. Press [#] to exit.
Appendices
Programming quick reference:
•[*][8] [installer code] is used to enter programming.
•[*] is used to select.
•[#] is used to exit.
Hotkeys for English keypads:
• Press and hold [1] – Displays the serial number of the Alarm.com module.
• Press and hold [3] – Performs a phone test.
• Press and hold [5] – Shows signal strength.
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