Would anyone know exactly how SmartSync works? I know it consists of coded pulses but I would like to know about the pulse sequences. Thank you!
When the alarm receives power, the strobe will flash (or do nothing if it’s newer). Then, the panel will cut out the power and turn it back on and the alarm sounds. After that, it’s like any other sync for any other type of strobe syncing.
Actually that’s not true.
SmartSync uses two stages…
When the alarms are to sound, the panel or sync module sends a 4 bit binary “Go” code to the signals by turning the circuit on and off rapidly. This code tells the TrueAlerts what to do – Code 3, March, Continuous, etc.
After that is sent and the signals start sounding, a sync pulse is sent every so often (by briefly interrupting power to the circuit) to keep everything in sync.
When the signals are to be silenced, another 4 bit code is sent to tell the horns to stop.
This is why SmartSync signals do absolutely nothing when they are powered, they’re waiting for the “Go” signal.
If you want to know what those 4 bit codes are, look for the patent filed by Simplex or Tyco or whoever did it.
Just be warned that using this without authorization is a patent violation and if Tyco finds out, you’ll be in a world of hell, probably.
Interesting, it’s kind of a more complicated version of Wheelock’s sync protocol. I know from playing with a Wheelock sync module that their alarms are synced with little pulses of no power. Each time power is cut on a Wheelock alarm, it triggers a strobe flash. So the sync module cuts power for a few milliseconds to trigger the strobe every second in sync. I don’t know how they get their horn strobes to just flash the strobe light though. I hear 2 clicks from the sync module for audible silence.
I’ve decoded the protocol before to integrate it into one of my homemade panels. When the horns are sounding the sync module sends out two ~100 ms pulses with a ~100 ms delay between them; when only the strobes are going the duration and delay of each pulse is ~50 ms. That is how they are able to tell.
1 Like
To add some more info…
System Sensor and Gentex’s sync protocols are nearly identical, a steady on/off cycle with no special double pulses or codes or anything. Gentex’s version is a little bit faster than System Sensor’s verison. Theoretically there’s a sweet spot between the timings where you could sync a SpectrAlert Advance and a Commander 3 on the same circuit.
Faraday’s sync protocol (before 2008) is almost identical to Wheelock, except it is a little more rapid in its pulse durations. I am going to bet that similarity and the fact that a lot of the “U” series signals are dead knock-offs of Wheelock products is part of the lawsuit that resulted in the forced discontinuation of the “U” series.
The sync protocol used before Simplex developed SmartSync – this protocol was used on the 4 wire 4903 “Sync” signals such as the 4903-9405 – is identical to Gentex. I bet this is because of the relationship Simplex had with Gentex in the 90s.
I don’t know how Amseco works but I think it may also be a coded signal similar to Wheelock.
1 Like
How much shit are you apt to get in for that? Although do you think that Tyco is willing to use resources to chase hobbyists violating patents?
Tyco couldn’t care less. They’d only take legal action if you were trying to market their technology in some way.