Simplex Time Recorder Company - 4100 Doc. No. Ver: 1.

08

Computer Port Protocol FS-8700-41 Rev: 1

1 DESCRIPTION

The Simplex Time Recorder Company - 4100 Computer Port Protocol driver allows the FieldServer to transfer data to and
from devices over either RS-232 or RS-485 using Simplex Time Recorder Company - 4100 Computer Port Protocol.

This driver is designed to connect to a Simplex 4100 panel equipped to support the “4100 Computer Port Protocol” as defined
in Simplex’s document 950-004 Revision E dated 28 July 2000. The implementation provides a selected subset of protocol
functions and subset of functionality for each of these selected functions. It is important to note the exclusions and
limitations described in this document.

The driver is capable of parsing and storing information sent by a panel in the form of unsolicited messages which are
typically generated when there is a state change in the panel or one of the connected devices. The driver is also capable of
polling for point and panel status data and some additional data such as the panel’s time and revision information. In
addition the driver is capable of setting some control points in the panel – acknowledging and resetting alarms and writing
data (where permitted) to some analog and discrete points.

This is a client only driver and is not capable of emulating a Simplex Panel. Server emulation is provided for test purposes
only and is not supported or documented.

2 FORMAL DRIVER TYPE

Serial

Client Only

3 COMPATIBILITY MATRIX

FieldServer Model Compatible with this driver

FS-x2010 Yes
FS-x2011 Yes
FSx25 Yes
FS-x30 Yes
FS-x40 Yes
SlotServer Yes
ProtoCessor Yes
ProtoNode Yes

4 CONNECTION INFORMATION

Connection type: RS-232 or RS-485 (Two wire, Half-Duplex)

Baud Rates: 110; 300; 600; 1200; 2400; 4800; 9600; 19200; (Vendor limitation)
Data Bits: 7,8
Stop Bits: 1,2
Parity: Odd, Even (4100), Mark, Space, None (4100U)
Multidrop Capability No

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 Simplex Time Recorder Company - 4100 Doc. No. Ver: 1.08

Computer Port Protocol FS-8700-41 Rev: 1

5 DEVICES TESTED

Device Tested (FACTORY, SITE)

4020 Panel Firmware Revision 9.02 Site
4100U Panel Firmware Revision 11.03 Site

6 CONNECTION CONFIGURATIONS

6.1 Connection to a Simplex 4020/4100 Panel

6.1.1 Communication Board

Card 4020/RS-232/2120 modem

ready assembly.

Terminal Block
Port A =1-5, Port B=6-10.

6.1.2 Serial Connection

Pinouts

FS-X40 From Simplex Terminal Block

Function Panel #
Rx RJ45-01 XMIT 6
4 8
1 Tx RJ45-08 RCV 8
GND RT45-04 GND 10

FS-8917-16

8 1
FieldServer
P1

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 Simplex Time Recorder Company - 4100 Doc. No. Ver: 1.08

Computer Port Protocol FS-8700-41 Rev: 1

6.2 Connection to a Simplex 4100U Panel

Sim4100U Panel

RS-232 Card

Port B

8917-07
FS-8717-07

FieldServer Part #
8915-10
UTP cable

8 1
FieldServer
P1

Port B Port
Front of 4100U Panel
A
Pin 2 - White
Pin 3 - Blue

Pin 7 - Green

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 Doc. No. Ver: 1.08
Simplex 4100 Computer Port Protocol
FS-8700-41 Rev: 1

7 CONNECTION NOTES

To enable the 4100 Protocol, the 4100 system, supplied by the user, must have a free RS-232 port dedicated for use with the
FieldServer. In most cases, this is not included in the base configuration of the product provided by The Simplex Time
Recorder Company, and must be added as a sales option. All 4100 systems limit the number of computer ports active at one
time in a system. To determine the limit for the specific product configuration being used, refer to the specific product
specifications, or contact a Simplex sales representative. The RS-232 port being used must be configured with a port device
type of "COMPUTER". This can only be enabled by a Simplex Technical Representative using the 4100 Programming Unit.

The driver does not support the CTS/RTS handshaking supported by the ‘Computer’ port of Simplex devices.

The driver does not support port expansion and the write through feature of the FieldServer is only supported for the CLIST
function which is used to read point status.

Further connection information is documented in the 4100 Driver Manual.

8 COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTIONS - SUPPORTED FUNCTIONS AT A GLANCE:

8.1 Data Types Supported

Function Read/Write Description

This command acknowledges all card-point-sub states. The points to be ack’d are determined by inspection
AckAll Client Writes
of a data array. i.e. This is a data driven command.
This command allows the driver to acknowledge a single point. .The points to be ack’d are determined by
Ack Client Writes
inspection of a data array. i.e. This is a data driven command
This command returns the current point status for one point.
When a point' status is obtained the FieldServer will write one byte of data to a data array. The byte will
contain the following information.

Bit Identifier Description

0 (First Bit) F Fire Alarm
1 P Priority 2
2 S Supervisory
Clist Client reads
3 T Trouble
4 U Utility
5 C Control
6 D Disable
7 A Primary state (based on point type - F if smoke detector, C
if signal circuit, etc.)

The acknowledge state of the point is not available.

This command allows the user to Modify the value of an analog pseudo point. The port access level must
Seta Client Writes
be set appropriately in the Simplex device otherwise the device returns an error.
This command allows the user to:
Manipulate the status and/or priority of a control point
Setd Client Writes Modify the value of an analog pseudo point.
Set the sensitivity of a TrueAlarm sensor
Set the rate-of-rise threshold of a TrueAlarm heat sensor
Xpoint Client listens Point Status Change. This is an unsolicited message sent automatically by a Simplex Device to report some

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 Doc. No. Ver: 1.08
Simplex 4100 Computer Port Protocol
FS-8700-41 Rev: 1

Function Read/Write Description

for panel or other points status if there is a change of interest. When one of these messages is received then the
generated card-point-sub are used to calculate an offset into the associated data array
messages.
Reset Client Writes Used to send a reset signal to the Simplex device. This is a triggered command.
Revision Client Reads Used to request revision information from the simplex panel
Client
Time Allows Panel time to be read/ set.
Reads/Writes
This function reads information about a point other than just the status. Only the point format of this
command is implemented. The driver is only capable of processing responses from a sub-set of point types and
is not tolerant to variations in the formatting of responses.
Show Client Reads

The function can be used to read the current analog value (for TrueAlarm devices and Analog pseudo points
only)
This driver function used the Simplex ‘CSHOW c-p-s CVAL’ command..A subset of the function is
Value Client Reads implemented to allow the analog values of certain points to be read and stored.
It is only supported by panels with firmware revision numbers greater than 10.
This driver function uses the Simplex ‘SYSDIAG Earths’ command. It is only supported by panels with
firmware revision numbers greater than 10.
Earths Client Reads

A subset of this function is implemented to allow device and panel earth states to be read and stored.

8.2 Unsupported Functions and Data Types

Function
Symbolic point formatting is not supported.
The following command and message are not supported. XLOG, TERM, DISARM, DISABLE, HELP, LOGIN, RESTART, LIST,
PRINT, TYPE, SELECT, CLEAR, DIAGNOSTIC, WALKTEST, CTRL-D, SYSDIAG, SWAP, TICMODE
For all commands, a subset of the command capability has been implemented. The subset is chosen to exclude most ASCII
based responses.

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 Doc. No. Ver: 1.08
Simplex 4100 Computer Port Protocol
FS-8700-41 Rev: 1

8.3 Functions Described

Information Functions Supported

The driver reports the state by setting a Data Array element to a value corresponding to each possible state.
Point Status This data is obtained using the Clist and Xpoint functions. The Setd function can be used to set the state of
selected points if access levels are set appropriately.
The panel time and software revision information may be read. The panel may be sent an ack, reset
Panel
command or silence command. A number of methods for triggering these commands are provided. The
Information
panel time may be set.
Additional information about device attributes is provided using the protocol’s SHOW command. The Show
command provides an ASCII response formatted for printing. The driver parses these messages and converts
the data to numbers so that they can be sent to Client devices using another protocol. The driver compares
the state keyword to a table of state keywords which it uses to set the value of the array point. The offset
Device
into the Data Array is determined by the attribute and the value stored is determined by the attribute state
Information
value. The position of the array element to be set for each attribute is determined using an attribute table.
A range of array locations must be reserved for each device being polled to allow the driver to set array
values for all the possible attributes of that device. The table of attributes and attribute states is extendable
by modifying the configuration of the driver.

Notes:

The driver can only recognize known attributes. if the device response is spelled, spaced or formatted differently
from the expected response the whole response may be ignored, the attribute may be ignored or the driver may
report that the state of the attribute is not recognized.

The driver can only process responses where the address of the point is provided in card-point-subpoint format.

The driver can only process responses where a dashed line separates the header and attribute information.

The user is able to define a list of additional attributes that the driver will recognize.

The driver can only interpret attribute states/values that it recognizes. If he attribute is spelled, spaced for formatted
differently from the expected response the driver will report the state/value as unknown.

The possible attribute states/values are unknown. The driver/manual cannot provide information on what
states/values can be expected for a particular attribute or device.

The Driver will report attribute states/values by setting a data array element to a value corresponding to the index
number associated with the attribute state.

A table of attribute states will be maintained. The user can add to this table so that additional attribute states can be
recognized.

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 Doc. No. Ver: 1.08
Simplex 4100 Computer Port Protocol
FS-8700-41 Rev: 1

Examples:

A pull station reports that its primary status is 'Alarm', the driver will set the value of array position 1 to 20 because
the state word 'alarm' has in index of 20 in the table of attribute states.

A smoke detector reports that the device attribute is 'On-Line'. The driver sets the value of array position 9 to a
value of 1 because the device attribute's array position is 9 and the state word 'on-line’ has an index of 9 in the table
of attribute states.

A smoke detector reports that the device attribute is 'On Line'. The driver sets the value of array position 9 to a value
of 999 because it does not recognize the way that the attribute state is formatted.

Analog Values

The current analog value for TrueAlarm devices and Analog pseudo points can be read from the panel. This is only
true of panels with firmware revisions 10.x and later. Typically this excludes older panels such as the 4020 and 4100
unless they have had their firmware updated.

TrueAlarm smoke devices show the triplet current count/current % of alarm/current smoke level.
TrueAlarm heat devices show the pair current count/current temperature.
Analog monitor ZAM devices show their current sensor counts (0-255)
Analog pseudo points show their current value (0-65535).
When multiple values are returned they are stored in consecutive array location.

Some points may have their values set if access levels are set appropriately. The seta function is used for this
purpose.

Earth States

The Sysdiag function may be used to monitor the current raw state of the earth statuses in the panel. It displays the earth
statuses for 1) SPS/XPS, 2) Mapnet/IDNet, 3) TrueAlert cards. This is only true of panels with firmware revisions 10.x and
later. Typically this excludes older panels such as the 4020 and 4100 unless they have had their firmware updated.

FieldServer Technologies 1991 Tarob Court Milpitas, California 95035 USA Web: [Link]
Tel: (408) 262-2299 Fax: (408) 262-2269 Toll Free: (888) 509-1970 email: support@[Link]
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