Overview
The GSM Communications Task interfaces the Integriti controller with an Inner Range FE3000 or Multipath STU device to provide alarm reporting and SMS-based control via the GSM network.
Three core functions:
- Normal Alarm Reporting — Reports events to a Central Monitoring Station through the FE3000’s communication paths. If reporting fails, events can be passed to a Backup Communications Task.
- SMS Alarm Reporting — Sends alarm events as SMS messages to programmed telephone numbers.
- SMS Control — Allows remote control of Areas, Auxiliaries, Named Actions, and Input isolation via SMS commands, authenticated by phone number or User PIN.
Prerequisites
- Inner Range FE3000 or Multipath STU device
- Serial UART connection between controller and FE3000
- Integriti System Designer software
- Central Monitoring Station account (for alarm reporting)
- GSM SIM card with SMS capability (for SMS features)
- For PIN-authenticated SMS control: Users configured with appropriate Menu Group permissions
Step-by-Step
1. Hardware Connection
Connect one of the Integriti controller’s UART serial ports to the FE3000. Recommended port configuration:
- Baud Rate: 1200 (also supports 600, 2400)
- Data Bits: 8
- Parity: N (None)
- Stop Bits: 1
2. Create the GSM Communications Task
- In Integriti System Designer, navigate to Communications Tasks tab and click Add.
- Enter a Name and any notes.
- Under Comms Task Setup, set the Type to GSM.
- Expand Connectivity and configure the serial port settings to match the FE3000 (recommended: 1200, N, 8, 1).
3. Configure Alarm Reporting
- Expand the Alarm Reporting settings.
- Tick Enable Alarms to allow normal alarm reporting to the Central Monitoring Station.
- Select a Backup Communications Task — if the FE3000 cannot report events, they are passed to this backup task.
4. Configure SMS Alarm Reporting
- Expand the SMS settings.
- Tick Enable SMS to allow alarm events to be sent via SMS.
- Enter SMS Number 1 — primary destination for SMS alarms.
- Optionally enter SMS Number 2 — fallback if SMS Number 1 is not qualified.
- If the FE3000 is busy for more than 30 seconds, the pending SMS is discarded.
5. Configure SMS Control Authentication
SMS control commands are always available when the GSM task is running. Authentication options:
- Phone Number only: No restrictions — any correctly formatted SMS command from the authorized number is executed.
- User PIN: Include a PIN in the SMS command. The User’s Menu Group permissions then govern what actions can be performed (Area ON/OFF lists, Action Groups, etc.).
6. Save and Start
- Click OK to save the Communications Task.
- Click Start to activate.
Verification
Alarm Reporting
- Trigger a test alarm and confirm it reaches the Central Monitoring Station.
- Verify the FE3000 indicates successful transmission.
SMS Alarm Reporting
- Trigger a test alarm with SMS enabled and confirm SMS is received on the programmed number.
SMS Control
Send test SMS commands to the FE3000’s phone number:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
[PIN] ? | Display SMS help |
[PIN] A 001 N | Turn Area 1 ON |
[PIN] A House F | Turn Area “House” OFF |
[PIN] I C01:Z05 I | Isolate Input C01:Z05 |
[PIN] I Entry PIR D | De-isolate Input named “Entry PIR” |
[PIN] P 001 N | Trigger Named Action 1 |
[PIN] X C01:X07 N | Turn Auxiliary C01:X07 ON |
[PIN] X Strobe F | Turn Auxiliary “Strobe” OFF |
[PIN] A 1 L | List 4 Area names starting at Area 1 |
[PIN] R | Reset SMS buffer to latest review |
A successful SMS control command returns an SMS reply with the associated review text. If the FE3000 is busy for >30 seconds, the reply is discarded. SMS alarms take priority over SMS replies.
Troubleshooting
- No communication with FE3000: Verify serial port selection, baud rate (recommended 1200), data bits (8), parity (N), stop bits (1). Check physical cabling.
- Alarms not reaching CMS: Check FE3000 signal strength and account configuration. Verify the alarm format (IRfast or ContactID) is determined by the FE3000 — not configurable in the GSM task.
- SMS not sending: Verify SIM card has credit and signal. Check that Enable SMS is ticked. Confirm SMS numbers are correct.
- SMS commands ignored: Ensure SMS is sent from an authorized phone number. If using PIN authentication, verify the User PIN is correct and the User has appropriate Menu Group permissions (Remote Access Permissions, Area ON/OFF lists, Action Groups).
- SMS replies not received: The FE3000 may be busy sending SMS alarms (higher priority). If busy for >30 seconds the reply is discarded.
- Backup comms task engaging frequently: Indicates the FE3000 is failing to report — check GSM signal, SIM status, and CMS connectivity.
- Note: When the GSM task is configured as a Backup Communications Task, SMS control commands are still processed even when no events are being reported.