Interesting, as I’m using a USB → RS232. But getting same results as you.
Panel v5.8.
Panel seems to be echo’ing all characters thats being sent to it.
Get Status Command sent to Panel does nothing but echo back.
Just tested the loop back with my USB → RS232. And it appears to work fine.
Is there a way to restart the d8x panel?
If you have a windows pc that you can connect to the serial of the alarm, you can test the connectivity with this program
Does your panel have a 3 or 4 wire connector?
I use a generic serial to ethernet bridge from ebay that I bought years ago
Matt
thanks aumatt,
I’ll try tool you posted.
My panel has a 3pin connector.
I was thinking restart the panel, maybe I crashed it with too much rubbish inputs.
Thanks @aumatt I have a 3 wire as well. Just tried your program over a virtual com port (IP-COM) and same issue the command just echos back. Confirming I can receive state updates from the panel including PIR changes and panel arming, disarming and alarms.
I have a USB to serial cable that I could try perhaps?
P88888888E
Edit: you have to be in program mode as well
This is what I see FYI (when the program doesnt crash 
)
Receive from panel: 87008361000300200312055507fc
Panel Time: Thursday, 12 March 2020 5:55:07 AM
Address: 0 Seq: 1 Length: 3 Command: System Status
Event: Unsealed - User 3Receive from panel: 870003610103002003120555146e
Panel Time: Thursday, 12 March 2020 5:55:14 AM
Address: 0 Seq: 0 Length: 3 Command: System Status
Event: Sealed - User 3Transmit to panel: 8300360S16E2?
Receive from panel: 8300360S16E2?
Data InvalidReceive from panel: 87008361000500200312055520e1
Panel Time: Thursday, 12 March 2020 5:55:20 AM
Address: 0 Seq: 1 Length: 3 Command: System Status
Event: Unsealed - User 5Receive from panel: 870003610105002003120555255b
Panel Time: Thursday, 12 March 2020 5:55:25 AM
Address: 0 Seq: 0 Length: 3 Command: System Status
Event: Sealed - User 5
Interesting. At least your panel responds.
My panel isn’t responding. I hope it’s because it crashed.
I just powered it all off to restart it. Will retry again later.
Ozgav you said your panel crashes. How often does that happen? do you use the 8888888 code to reboot it? How do you fix a crash?
No sorry not the panel crashing the program @aumatt uploaded to Dropbox. Also I wouldn’t say the panel responds, those messages are just what the panel sends out when something changes (eg. I do something on the keypad or a PIR detects)
Im sure my panel is a v7.0 (just went through some old messages and I think I check it once previously).
Looking at the NESS installer manual it look as though v6.0 was the first version to support full two way serial comms. Maybe the status command wasnt implemented until v6.0
Does the arm and disarm function work?
Extract from NESS installer manual
Matt
I did a P99999999E in programming mode and saw 7 0 0 0 which is why I think I have a v7 board?
If I arm and disarm on the wall panel I see those state changes in HA. I just can’t send any commands via serial I just get the echo back.
Are you able to connect a pc to the serial end of the Ethernet converter and confirm that the converter is actually sending the command? It could be a simple setting on the converter not allowing it through
Matt
Yeah I don’t unfortunately have anything with an actual COM port. I have thought about that previously and I have in the past compared my settings to someone else who had a working system and could not find any differences.
I will see if I can find my old USB to serial adapter and try that again……
This is weird, I have the same problem except I’m on v5.8.
But in the iComm manuals it clearly states that iComm supports v5.6 onwards.
And it explains how to enable the P199E flags.
I also get the same echo problem. I’ve tested the USB Serial cable I have and it seems to be ok.
When I have nothing plugged in, no echo. When I connect TX with RX. I get echo.
Also when I connect to D8x I get echo.
I’m going to try the tool aumatt suggested tomorrow.
I’ve message Nick to see whether he has heard anyone with v5.6 panels getting all this to work properly.
The only problem I can see is that, our serial cables/ adapters dont work with Ness panel well.
Or we fried our RX pin on the panel.
OzGav which brand was your rs232 ethernet adapter?
No commands work at all.
Arm doesn’t work. Get Status doesn’t work.
Nothing seems to work.
There is a link to mine about 13 posts above
Just tried the d8x d16x serial programming tool aumatt sent.
Bad news. It’s echoing just like before.
I’m guessing same problem.
I’m going to try a desktop computer’s serial port to see. hopefully I will have good news.
Just tried a desktop computer with a serial port.
No more echoing. but panel does not respond.
Possibly faulty panel.
Or still incompatible serial port.
can only get messages from panel.
But never send it any commands. Or get status requests.
Thanks for all the investigation. I can only assume an incompatible panel. Why my V7 panel doesn’t work is a mystery!
I’m pretty confident we have a problem sending data to the panel.
Whether its the Serial Adapter’s fault or the Ness Panels fault I’m not sure.
I would think a RX Pin shouldnt fail on the Ness Panel. I’m suspecting the rs232 adapter’s voltage isn’t high enough for the Panel to register it as data. Hence its just all silence according to the ness panel.
I think panel versions above v5.6 should work.
I couldn’t see a serial port only having a TX portion failing but I spose not impossible.
It’s strange that you receive data but can’t send. Are you sure you haven’t connected the tx pin to the gnd pin ?
I’ll check it all again later tonight.
Thinking of ordering the rs232 to ethernet that ozgav has.
Its the same one you have isnt it aumatt??
But given ozgaz and myself using different panel and different rs232 adapters…but show same issue is abit weird.
I can order the same rs232 to ethernet adapter on aliexpress for $20-30 or so. But it will take 4 weeks to arrive lol.
I’ve got another cheap rs232-usb adapter coming. The unitek one y105 is a fail. I might try check the voltages on it with my multimeter later tonight.
I’m suspecting the d8x wants >5v…maybe wants around 12v, hence…
or the panel is really faulty.
OzGav has the right rs232 adapter. not sure why his isn’t working. He has a v7 panel too.