ESP-Mail-Client VS dscKeybusInterface

Shot in the dark here - take a look at ESP-Mail-Client and see if you can use it to check/read mail and grab subject lines and/or other info to act upon.

Very cool, love the big button to stop the light! I echo what the other person suggested, you could give a try at this https://github.com/mobizt/ESP-Mail-Client. Also, it's funny I've been working on something quite similar, the same kind of rotating light but with broader use cases. Basically, you can connect it to pretty much anything to automatically turn it on (a new alert in your github, a new sale on your shopify, etc). https://getgumball.com/ I'm not gonna lie, I'm addicted to it (and yep, I'm obviously biased because I create it, but still!)

The sensors themselves are relatively easy to defeat, a strong enough magnet in the right position and you can pop a door or window open without tripping the sensor. This specific DSC panel was chosen as the bus protocol was unencrypted(the only reasonable attack would be a playback attack, everything needs a user, master, or installer code), but it would be relatively easy to add an esp8266 behind the wall plate of a keypad. (take notes, this is why you should have motion detectors wired inside, and add latching tamper zones). I don't have to worry about the encryption issue, since the keybus line doesn't go outside of a locked closet, which will probably use the latching tamper preset.

Additional context for anyone that's trying to google the same thing. DSC power series pc1816, pc1832, and pc1864 main boards use this connector for the battery harness, which is difficult to source. (This sub is also relevant as there is a DSC key bus Protocol library for Arduino or espressif boards, this was one of the last boards they made before the bus line was encrypted).

Actually it's not "dated" as much as it's "timeless" :) Things get a lot easier with a serial cable and the DLS software. You can even build your own Envisalink like module that works with Home Assistant, for about $6, see: https://github.com/taligentx/dscKeybusInterface

There is a lot of work done for DSC powerseries keybus interface (not the NEO version): - https://github.com/taligentx/dscKeybusInterface - https://github.com/taligentx/dscKeybusInterface/tree/expander But I cannot find any documentation online for the NEO version.

What's the main goal here? The EnvisaLink™ EVL-4EZR module works really well with home automation like Home Assistant or, if you want a less expensive solution taligentx / dscKeybusInterface is an open source solution which can run on a Wemos D1 mini (< $10). Both of these solutions appear to the DSC panel to be a keypad so unless you exceed the maximum number of keypads for a given panel then you should be OK.

Speaking of DIY, you can build your own for under $10 in components and use opensource software like taligentx / dscKeybusInterface, then monitor yourself with Home Assistant. There is even open source software to recover the installer code. So the options for such an panel are not limited.

I'm wondering because I'm planning to run this project on the system to recover the installer code. I'm a little worried that doing so will start dialing to the old alarm company.

Did you check if https://github.com/taligentx/dscKeybusInterface would support to unlock it? It would only require an arduino and a few days maximum to run (most likely a few hours). I've done it on my panel although it was more recent.

If one doesn't like the $100 cost of Envisalink, with DSC systems there is open source software on GitHub that uses a $5 Wemos D1 mini board and another $1 worth of electronic components (couple resistors and a transistor) to interface directly to the KeyBus and then provides several methods of control.

Or use a Wemos D1 mini ($3 for a chinesium one), 3 resisters to connect directly to the DSC KeyBus along with this firmware and it will send ALL of the data from the Alarm via MQTT! Add an NPN transistor and now you can even arm and control the system via MQTT! All for $3.50 in parts :)