Falcon GSM User manual

V1.0 08 Jul 2021

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1. INTRODUCTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
5
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2.1 Reporting Options
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6
2.2 Interfaces
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2.3 Programming
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6
3. INSTALLATION 7
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6
2. FEATURES & FUNCTIONS
3.1 Falcon GSM Wiring
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7
3.1.1 Power Supply
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8
3.1.2 Check AC
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8
3.1.3 Dry Contact Inputs 8
3.1.4 Contact ID Inputs
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9
3.1.5 Serial Port
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9
3.2 Falcon GSM Installation
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10
3.3 GSM Connection and Signal Strength
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10
3.5 Selecting the Alarm Panel Serial Port Format
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12
3.6 Indicators and Controls 15
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6
2.4 Indicators & Controls
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6
3.1.6 Relay Outputs
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10
3.4 Changing the Default SIM Card
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11

APPENDIX A Serial Interface 19
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4.2 PC-based Programmer
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18
APPENDIX B Programming Cable & Software 25
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4. PROGRAMMING 18
4.1 Onboard Push-Button
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18

The Falcon GSM is a highly-featured GSM-based unit which is
used for the secure transmission of alarm signals to a control
room.
The Falcon GSM will communicate via GSM messages to the
control room and includes the universal Contact ID interface to
alarm panels as well as a serial interface to leading panels. It
also has seven dry contact input triggers.
In addition, the Falcon GSM has two dry-contact relay outputs
which can be used to command alarm panels and other devices.
These outputs can also be controlled via the MiFalcon mobile
application.
1. INTRODUCTION
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GSM

2. FEATURES & FUNCTIONS
2.1 Reporting Options
§Option for single or dual sim card operation for enhanced
network reliability
§GPRS reporting to a control room
2.2 Interfaces
Ÿ7 Hardwired inputs with positive trip, negative trip or both
ŸDedicated AC Supply monitoring input
Ÿ2 onboard relay outputs which can be controlled by GPRS
ŸContact ID tip and ring telephone interface to leading control
panels
ŸSerial alarm interface to leading control panels
ŸOver-the-air panel uploading and downloading on the Rhino
and Texecom Premier control panels through the serial
interface
2.3 Programming
ŸFull programming and software updating via a computer serial
port
ŸProgramming over-the-air via GPRS
2.4 Indicators and Controls
ŸStatus and error indication via a seven segment display
ŸSerial port selection via the onboard push-button
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3. INSTALLATION
3.1 Falcon GSM Wiring
Connections to the Falcon GSM are shown below:
SERIAL CAC 12V GND 1 2 345 6 7C1 C2NO1 TIP RING
- + T R NO2
GSM
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3.1.1 Power Supply
The Falcon GSM must be connected to a stable 12V DC (nominal
13.2V) power supply. If a battery is available in the alarm panel,
it must preferably be powered directly from the battery.
3.1.2 Check AC
The Check AC (CAC) input detects the presence of the AC
supply and is used to check for AC power failure. The CAC line
should be connected to one of the transformer's SECONDARY
terminals. DO NOT connect this line to the mains.
The CAC input will detect AC voltages between 10 and 24V.
If the CAC line is not connected, the Falcon GSM should not be
programmed to send AC Fail or AC Restore signals.
The AC Fail and AC Restore signals have programmable delay
times in order to prevent false triggers.
3.1.3 Dry Contact Inputs
The dry contact inputs can be used to detect alarms generated
from the outputs of the alarm panel or from other sources.
If the external device generates the alarm by pulling the input to
ground (negative trigger), the pull-up jumper should be inserted
on the input of the Falcon GSM.
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3.1.4 Contact ID Inputs
The Falcon GSM can 'intercept' signals sent by the alarm panel
on its telephone line (Contact ID) interface.
If the Contact ID interface is to be used, the alarm panel's TIP
and RING lines should be connected to the TIP and RING lines
on the Falcon GSM.
The alarm panel must be programmed to use its dialer, and the
option for reporting must be set to Contact ID. Refer to the
programming manual of the applicable alarm panel.
3.1.5 Serial Port
The Falcon GSM can receive alarms from the following alarm
panels on its serial port:
Ÿ Rhino 816 and Rhino 68 alarm panels
Ÿ Texecom premier range (panel uploads and downloads can
also be done)
Ÿ Paradox SP & MG Series
Ÿ Pima
Ÿ IDS805 & IDS X-Series
Ÿ DSC Neo & PowerSeries
ŸRisco LightSYS 2
ŸOrisec
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3.2 Falcon GSM Installation
Software version
Connect the Falcon GSM to the 12V supply, observing polarity.
On start-up, the Falcon GSM will display its software and
hardware versions, e.g.
3.3 GSM Connection and Signal Strength
The performance of the Falcon GSM depends on the quality of
its connection to the GSM network.
The Falcon GSM will send alarms quicker and more reliably if it
has a strong connection to the GSM service provider.
For the software version 4.20 and
hardware version A
3.1.6 Relay Outputs
Two dry-contact relay outputs are available on the Falcon GSM.
These outputs can be commanded to turn on and off via the
GSM network. The outputs are rated at 24V AC or DC, up to a
maximum current of 5A.
Do not connect the relay outputs to the mains supply.
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When the Falcon GSM has connected to the GSM network, it will
display the sim card of the network it is connected to and the
signal strength of the connection.
Example:
If an adequate signal strength is not obtained:
ŸMove the Falcon GSM to a more suitable location
ŸFit the Falcon GSM with a higher gain antenna
ŸChange the default sim
When the Falcon GSM has powered up, it will start connecting
to the network, displaying its status as it initialises and connects
(see section 3.5 – Indicators and Controls)
3.4 Changing the Default SIM Card
The Falcon GSM has the option of changing the default SIM card
to be used.
The default SIM card should be changed to the one with the
highest signal strength.
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Connected on sim 1; signal strength 6
The minimum signal strength required
for good remote connectivity is 5.

To do so:
ŸBriefly press the push-button until the Falcon GSM swaps SIM
cards and restarts using the new SIM card
ŸWait until the Falcon GSM has re-connected to the GSM
network on the new SIM card and displays the signal strength.
ŸIf the Falcon GSM displays an error message (E1 or E4), the
selected SIM card is not working and the other one should be
selected
ŸThe minimum signal strength required is 5. Lower than this
signal strength will make it difficult to access the Falcon GSM
remotely
3.5 Selecting the Alarm Panel Serial Port Format
The alarm panel serial port can be selected via the onboard
push-button (as well as the PC-based programming software).
The following serial port formats are available:
Ÿ Rhino 816 and Rhino 68 alarm panels
ŸTexecom premier range (panel uploads and downloads can
also be done)
Ÿ Paradox SP & MG Series
Ÿ Pima
Ÿ IDS
Ÿ DSC Neo Series
ŸSherlotronics MB4000
Ÿ DSC PowerSeries
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ŸIDS805 FSK Key-Bus
ŸRisco LightSYS 2
ŸOrisec
Refer to Appendix A
To change the serial port format:
ŸRemove the power from the Falcon GSM
ŸHold down the push-button and re-apply the power
ŸRelease the button then push the button to cycle through the
panel serial port settings until the correct serial port is
displayed
ŸLeave the button for 15 seconds. The will Falcon GSM
remember the new serial port format
See table on next page.
GSM
Falcon GSM Installation and Operation Manual I13

d DSC Neo Series
S Sherlotronics
DISPLAY SERIAL FORMAT
Pima Hunter Pro
F
Texecom Premier
t
P
Rhino
Paradox
r
i IDS
b DSC Power Series
EIDS805 FSK Key-bus
GSM
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3.6 Indicators and Controls
The Falcon GSM has a seven segment display which indicates
the current operating status.
Falcon GSM Status
GSM
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DISPLAY SERIAL FORMAT
Risco LightSYS 2
A
DESCRIPTIONCHARACTER FLASHED STATUS
The communicator is
starting the GSM
modem
Initialising
i
Restarting
r
The communicator is
connecting to the GSM
network
The is communicator
re-starting the GSM
modem
c (lower case) Connecting
Orisec
O

Connecting
to server Sending GPRS alarms
C S
C d
Discon-
necting
from server
All alarms sent,
disconnecting from the
server
DESCRIPTIONCHARACTER FLASHED STATUS
Falcon GSM Errors
If the Falcon GSM detects an error it will flash the error code on
the seven segment display.
DESCRIPTIONCHARACTER FLASHED STATUS
E1 SIM card not
found
The communicator
has not detected a
SIM card which
it has been
programmed to
use
Falcon GSM Status (cont.)
GSM
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Connected
The communicator is
connected to the GSM
network and is ready
to send alarms
C (upper case)

Diagnostics of Error Codes
ERROR
STATE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION
The SIM card is damaged
Make sure that the chip SIM
is not damaged. If it is
damaged return the unit to
the manufacturer to be
repaired.
No SIM card
Server
connection
failed
The communicator cannot
connect to the server to route
the GPRS message to the
control room
Make sure that the
programming of the Server
GPRS settings are correct.
The GSM network may
be experiencing technical
problems. Contact the
manufacturer.
GSM
Falcon GSM Installation and Operation Manual I17
The communicator
cannot connect to
the server to send
the alarms
Connection to
server has failed
E4
DESCRIPTIONCHARACTER FLASHED STATUS
Falcon GSM Errors (cont.)

4. PROGRAMMING
4.1 Onboard Push-Button
The onboard push-button is used to change the operation of the
serial port (select the alarm panel).
Refer to Section 3.4
4.2 PC-based Programmer
Falcon GSM configuration software utility is a Windows-based
programmer which is used as the primary means of
programming the Falcon GSM.
The Falcon GSM programmer requires a PC running Windows XP
or above, with an available USB Port. The FSK USB
programming cable is required to program the Falcon GSM (see
Appendix B).
To program the unit:
Ÿ Push and hold down the push-button for more than 7 seconds
Ÿ The display will now show Pr to indicate that it is in
programming mode
Ÿ The unit will stay in this mode for 20 seconds to allow
programming
ŸIf the unit exits programming mode, repeat the process
GSM
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APPENDIX A
SERIAL INTERFACE
The Falcon GSM uses a standard interface cable (with
interchangeable ends) along with an adapter to connect to
various alarm panels except for the DSC PowerSeries and the
IDS805 panels which use a key-bus module and the Orisec panel
which has its own serial cable whose ends are NOT
interchangeable.
The following adapter boards are available:
VERY IMPORTANT: Plug the adapter board into the alarm panel and
NOT the Falcon GSM.
GSM
Falcon GSM Installation and Operation Manual I19
ALARM PANEL ADAPTER
Rhino
Texecom Premier
IDS
Paradox
Pima Pima (4 pin)
Paradox (4 pin)
Texecom-IDS (5 pin)
No adapter
Texecom-IDS (5 pin)
DSC Neo DSC Neo (5 pin)
DSC Power Series
IDS805 DSC Power Series/IDS805 FSK Key-Bus Module
DSC Power Series/IDS805 FSK Key-Bus Module
Risco LightSYS 2 Risco (3 pin)
Orisec Orisec Serial Cable

Falcon GSM Serial Interface Cable
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Set the serial port format to Texecom on the Falcon GSM (Refer
to Section 3.4). Connect the Falcon GSM to Com1 on the alarm
panel using the serial interface cable with the TEXECOM-IDS
adapter board.
TEXECOM SERIAL INTERFACE