Pima Sentinel Installation guide

SENTINEL Receiver & Decoder PCI Card
PIMAGUARD Configuration Application
Installation and Operating Guide
PIMA Electronic Systems Ltd.
www.pima-alarms.com
P/N 4410051 F1
XX, en (Feb 2011)

2Sentinel & PimaGuard Installation Guide

Sentinel & PimaGuard Installation Guide 3
Table of contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................... 5
Main Features................................................................................................................................... 5
Benefits ........................................................................................................................................... 5
Smart Repeater ................................................................................................................................ 5
The Product Package ......................................................................................................................... 6
Hardware requirements ..................................................................................................................... 6
Bios configuration .......................................................................................................................... 6
Software requirements ...................................................................................................................... 6
Sentinel Installation ......................................................................................................... 7
Installation Package .......................................................................................................................... 7
Installing a Sentinel card.................................................................................................................... 7
Installing several Sentinels ................................................................................................................. 7
Connecting the cards inputs ............................................................................................................... 7
Setting the card’s address............................................................................................................... 8
Adjusting the transceiver’s output ....................................................................................................... 8
PimaGuard Installation ..................................................................................................... 8
Under Windows XP© ......................................................................................................................... 8
Under Windows 7© ......................................................................................................................... 10
General Description and Interface .................................................................................... 12
The File menu ................................................................................................................................ 12
The Edit menu ................................................................................................................................ 12
Copy/Paste/Clear ......................................................................................................................... 12
General ........................................................................................................................ 13
Configuration ................................................................................................................................. 13
Communication formats ................................................................................................................... 14
Creating a new format.................................................................................................................. 14
Programming ................................................................................................................ 16
Sentinel 1 ...................................................................................................................................... 16
Sentinel configuration................................................................................................................... 16
Line 1 configuration ..................................................................................................................... 16
Radio 1 ...................................................................................................................................... 18
Communication ............................................................................................................. 18
Type ............................................................................................................................................. 19
Mode ......................................................................................................................................... 19
On error switch to ........................................................................................................................... 19
Examples.................................................................................................................................... 19
Format .......................................................................................................................................... 20
ACK timeout ............................................................................................................................... 20
Idle timeout ................................................................................................................................ 20
Port number................................................................................................................................ 20
IP/URL ....................................................................................................................................... 20
Add to account ............................................................................................................................ 20
Route to ..................................................................................................................................... 20
Filters ........................................................................................................................................ 20
Logs ............................................................................................................................ 21
Log file size .................................................................................................................................... 21
Tools ........................................................................................................................... 21
Monitor.......................................................................................................................................... 21
General ...................................................................................................................................... 21
Debug ........................................................................................................................................ 21
Config Analyzer .............................................................................................................................. 22
Oscillograph ...................................................................................................................................22
Firmware...................................................................................................................... 23
Firmware upgrade ........................................................................................................................... 23
Test RAM ....................................................................................................................................... 23
Repeaters ..................................................................................................................... 24
Repeater 1 ..................................................................................................................................... 24
Input ......................................................................................................................................... 24
Output ....................................................................................................................................... 25
Channel...................................................................................................................................... 25
Filters .......................................................................................................................... 25
Account ......................................................................................................................................... 25
Limit List .................................................................................................................................... 25
Event ............................................................................................................................................ 26
Date.............................................................................................................................................. 26
Days ............................................................................................................................................. 26
Time ............................................................................................................................................. 26
Format .......................................................................................................................................... 26
Channel ......................................................................................................................................... 26
Appendix A: Recommended Transceiver Specifications........................................................ 27
Appendix B: Central Station Installation Checklist .............................................................. 27
Radio Transceiver ........................................................................................................................... 27
Antenna & Cable ............................................................................................................................. 27
Appendix C: Fault Codes ................................................................................................. 28
Sentinel status events ..................................................................................................................... 29

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Appendix D: Structured Communication Formats ............................................................... 29
Legend .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Source options examples .............................................................................................................. 30
Structured Formats ......................................................................................................................... 30
Appendix E: Events Conversion Table ............................................................................... 36
NPAF/EPAF ..................................................................................................................................... 40
ELL6 ............................................................................................................................................. 49
CID/PID......................................................................................................................................... 50
SIA ............................................................................................................................................... 55
Appendix F: Programming Line & Radio Formats ................................................................ 60
Line Formats .................................................................................................................................. 60
System ...................................................................................................................................... 60
Flags.......................................................................................................................................... 60
Radio Formats ................................................................................................................................ 60
System ...................................................................................................................................... 60
Flags.......................................................................................................................................... 60
Extra.......................................................................................................................................... 60
Repeater Formats ........................................................................................................................... 61

Sentinel & PimaGuard Installation Guide 5
INTRODUCTION
PimaGuard is PIMA’s configuration application for its Sentinel receiver. The Sentinel receiver solution combines
both 4 PSTN lines with 2 radio channels per device; up to 4 devices can be mounted in one PC.
The application can be used as a receiver and as a repeater; the PimaGuard can handle all communication
requirements for both functions.
PimaGuard is a sophisticated and multiple-function application that includes the following programmable
variables:
• Channel formats configurations;
• Central Monitoring Station format modification;
• Logs management;
• Sophisticated programmable Repeater;
• Advanced debug mode and failure mechanism;
• Sophisticated event filters;
The Sentinel contains radio & telephone receiver. The receiver and the smart Repeater differ only in the
PimaGuard settings.
Main Features
• Expandability: the PimaGuard is an expandable product, allowing customers to start with a single PSTN line
or Radio channel and purchase more as business grows. A PC can have up to 4 Sentinel cards, enabling up
to 16 PSTN lines and 8 Radio channels;
• Each Sentinel card is driven by PIMA's proprietary technology, that enables upgrading and expanding the
number of inputs without any hardware changes;
• Supports multiple formats for each channel: PAF, CID, SIA, KP, DESK, ELL and more;
• Automatic testing of the card and the input channel. Failures and status are reported to the Central
Monitoring Station management application;
• Up to 4 Sentinels;
• Each PSTN line supports up to 4 different ACKs ans 8 formats per ACK;
• Eight communication channels with switching option upon failure;
• Sophisticated debugging mode for failure diagnostics;
• Password protection;
• Time flexible buffer;
• Optional Caller-ID (where supported);
• High Radio signal sensitivity;
• Built-in scope utility for easy tuning of Radio amplifier;
Benefits
• With PimaGuard technology, each card can be expanded to 4 telephone lines and 2 radio-receivers;
• Live monitor of the last 1024 events;
• Bi-directional channel (Repeater to CMS) saves more than 90% of transmission air-time occupancy;
Smart Repeater
The smart repeater utilizes bi-directional communication with the Central Monitoring Station, for sending events
efficiently. The repeater requires no external software for its operation. It operates in dual-mode as a multi-
channel repeater, i.e., it can receive the event in one channel (e.g. Radio) and transmit it via a various media (e.g.
telephone) and vice versa. The most common application is Radio-to-Radio repeater with a telephone or the
network as a backup.
The CMS acknowledges each event sent by the Repeater. Messages are re-sent if an '500 events or event timeout
limit, until 'Acknowledge' is received from the CMS. This sequence guarantees the following:

6Sentinel & PimaGuard Installation Guide
A. Transmission time is extremely fast as each transmission is consisted of one frame (contrary to
transmission of 10 frames by customer’s transmitter), thus saving air time. When confirmation is not
received, the Repeater continues to transmit the event until it is acknowledged. While retransmitting an
event, new incoming events are stored in the buffer.
B. Continuous bi-directional monitoring identifies failures in communication and events to the
monitoring station.
The Product Package
The Sentinel package contains the following:
• The Sentinel Card;
• The PimaGuard™ driver installation CD;
• A radio connection cable (P/N 3411055);
• 4 RJ-11 standard telephone cords (P/N 3411046);
• Cross link 9-pin D-type serial communication cable (P/N 3411041);
• This guide;
Hardware requirements
• CPU: Intel Pentium , 233MHz & up processor;
• RS-232 port (optional);
• LAN connection 10/100/1000Mb (optional);
• Hard Drive 1.5 GB;
• Memory card 64Mb & up;
• 4 available USB ports (optional);
• Standard PCI (33 MHz);
• Availabe I/O physical addresses 0C00-FCFF for the sentinel support;
• CD-DVD drive;
• UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) - recommended;
Bios configuration
• On AC Power - Turn On (recommended);
Software requirements
• Operating System: Windows XP Pro©, XP Home©, Win Server 2008©, Vista©, Win7©- All versions ;

Sentinel & PimaGuard Installation Guide 7
SENTINEL INSTALLATION
Installation Package
The installation package includes the following files:
1. Sentinel.sys: a driver for Windows©XP;
2. SIS.exe: the application file;
3. *.bs1: configuration file;
4. Sentinel7.sys: Windows© 7 & Vista driver;
5. CARD.S19: Sentinel’s firmware file;
6. English.lng: interface language file. The application’s default language is English;
7. *.inf: Sentinel’s hardware installation file;
8. English.evnm: Structured protocols conversion tables for monitoring & logging;
Installing a Sentinel card
1. Turn off the PC and unplug it from mains. Any attempt to install the card otherwise would damage it and
the PC.
Figure 1. Installing a Sentinel card
2. Open the PC case and insert the Sentinel card to the first available standard PCI slot1
3. If you install more than one Sentinel, insert the others too (max. 4 cards).
4. Close the PC case, plug it and turn it on.
Installing several Sentinels
When you install several Sentinels (up to 4), the procedure is as folllows:
1. Insert the cards to the slots;
2. Reboot the PC;
3. Install the cards drivers via Windows ‘Device Manager’ or ‘New Hardware Wizard’. This also automatically
installs the PimaGuard files under ‘C\Program Files\Common Files\SIS;
4. Reboot the PC;
Connecting the cards inputs
The Sentinel has 4 PSTN and 2 radio inputs. The next figure shows how these inputs are connected.
Figure 2. Connecting the radio channels and telephone lines
1. Connect the supplied telephone cords to the Sentinel in the order the PimaGuard will later be
programmed;
2. Connect the supplied radio cable (P/N 3411055): connect one cable to transceiver #1 and the other to
transceiver #2. The wiring should be done according to the following table:
1. See, for example: http://video.about.com/pcsupport/PCIcard-mov.htm
SW2
Channel #1
Sentry/
Sentinel
PSTN
#1
#2
#3
#4
Channel #2
Radio
Line

8Sentinel & PimaGuard Installation Guide
3. Adjust the transceiver’s output, as described on page 27
Setting the card’s address
The Sentinel’s address is set by a 4-pin dip-switch, located on the PCB.
Figure 3. The card’s address setting dip-switch
The address options are as follows:
Adjusting the transceiver’s output
When connecting a transceiver to the Sentinel, the following should be adjusted:
1. The receiver’s output signal should not exceed 2 Vp-p (Peak-to-peak Voltage). When the 2 Vp-p limit
cannot be met, contact your vendor for support;
2. The receiver’s squelch control should be turned off, i.e., reception signal is not interrupted by the
squelch filter;
PIMAGUARD INSTALLATION
Under Windows XP©
After installing the Sentinel, when Windows boots up, the ‘Add New Hardware Wizard’ should start running
automatically. If not, go to ‘Start’ -> ‘Control Panel’ and double-click the ‘Add Hardware’ icon, or open the
‘Device Manager’ (‘Start’ -> ‘Control Panel’ -> ‘System’ -> ‘Device Manager’), right-click the device with the
yellow question mark and click ‘Update Driver...’.
Figure 4. The Sentinel as appears in the Device Manager before installing its driver
Color Description Transceiver
Red PTT -
White Sentinel DATA Out Audio input
Green Sentinel DATA In Audio output
Black Volume Volume control
Yellow Shield (GND) Ground
The availabe I/O physical addresses for the sentinel support are: 0C00-FCFF
Two Sentinels cannot have the same address

Sentinel & PimaGuard Installation Guide 9
1. In the wizard’s first screen, click ‘Next’; Windows will now search for the newly installed Sentine hardware.
2. In the next screen, after the Sentinel was identified by Windows, select ‘No, not this time’ and
click ‘Next’.
3. Select ‘Install from a list or specific location’ and click ‘Next’.
4. Select ‘Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install’ and click ‘Next’.
5. Press ‘Have Disk’. If the PimaGuard was previously intalled on the PC, disregard the driver
installation history as seen in the image.
6. Browse to the folder where the PimaGuard installation files are located. Click the folder and click ‘OK’.
7. The Sentinel will now appear on the window.
8. Press ‘Next’. The PimaGuard driver will now be installed.

10 Sentinel & PimaGuard Installation Guide
9. In the wizard’s final screen; press ‘Finish’.
10. When the installation is finished, you should see the installed Sentinel in the ‘Device Driver’ window,
under ‘CMS.’
11. Reboot the PC. The PimaGuard runs automatically after the reboot.
Under Windows 7©
To install the Sentinel under Windows 7©follow the next steps. See the note at the end of this section:
1. On the desktop, right-click the ‘My Computer’ icon and select ‘Manage’. In the window that pops up, click
‘Device Manager’ on the left pane.
2. Right-click the first ‘Network Controller’ and select ‘Update Driver Software...’.
3. In the next window click the option “Browse for driver software on your computer”.
4. In the “Select your device’s type from the list below” window click the option ”show all devices” and
click ‘Next’.
• When installing several Sentinels, you might need to reboot the PC
between each installation.
• If the newly installed sentinel doesn’t appear in the ‘Device Manager’
window, contact PIMA support team.