In laymans terms Norm-maybe easier for the OP!

Why not just fit a dialler then-some can send texts as well, prog your outputs up for set etc and Bobs your Aunty-easier than messing with relays and the like-as already said though not as good as using the onboard digi to send reliable signals.

I suppose because I'm primarily a desktop/internet software developer I'm used to the internet being my primary channel for communication. I intend to get the alarm to talk to my home server - which can then act on a set of rules and notify me via as many channels as I want at the same time - it could email me, SMS me, send iOS notifications, or even post to twitter (not that you'd want your alarm tweeting.)

The point is that once the information is in a general-purpose computer it gives me a great deal of flexibility to set-up rules as to how that information is dealt with. If I want to change the rules then I don't need to change the hardware, I just change some code - whereas a dialler is rather a rigid solution which just does one thing.

I could even get the server to trigger other events - such as recording video from web cams, or start playing audio of dogs barking / distant police sirens etc...

Edited October 7, 201114 yr by diggory

I seem to remember that panel has "zone follow" for outputs. that would prolly be the easiest op for switching on a webcam

I suppose because I'm primarily a desktop/internet software developer I'm used to the internet being my primary channel for communication. I intend to get the alarm to talk to my home server - which can then act on a set of rules and notify me via as many channels as I want at the same time - it could email me, SMS me, send iOS notifications, or even post to twitter (not that you'd want your alarm tweeting.)

The point is that once the information is in a general-purpose computer it gives me a great deal of flexibility to set-up rules as to how that information is dealt with. If I want to change the rules then I don't need to change the hardware, I just change some code - whereas a dialler is rather a rigid solution which just does one thing.

I could even get the server to trigger other events - such as recording video from web cams, or start playing audio of dogs barking / distant police sirens etc...

Sounds good in thoery...

SMS is hit & miss assuming you get one or more means notifcation what do you expect to do ?

Oh might be prudent to ensure all parts of you network are able to match the 8hr standby of your alarm