I have two PCs ... and they are both high end XP ones. I have no access to any older PC technology I'm afraid.

If I could get the keypad side of things working it wouldn't be too much of an issue. Assuming that I can get the alarm config right by just trying each send from the PC s/w multiple times until it took .... I will just use the alarm with the keypad and SMS controller (which I already have built, tested and boxed ready).

I have tried reversing the tx/rx on the four way connector in the keypad unit (which would obviously do the same thing as swapping on the front panel.

Unfortunately all I ever get is a dddd whenever I hit the arm / disarm button. It responds so quickly with the dddd it makes me wonder if it is even waiting for a response from the main alarm which is odd in itself.

Can you remember what tones it is supposed to make ?

i.e. if you put in a correct code, what tone should it make ?
if you put in an incorrect code, what tone should it make ?
and is there a tone for a communications issue (like I suspect I have ... ) ?

Are any of the tones you remember the dddd ?

As regards the s/w, am I correct in thinking that the keypad codes you setup in zone config are completely independent of the users created in access control ? I have one owner setup in access control and I have tried setting the keypad codes to 0000, 1111, 2222, 3333 respectively. I have ensured that following hitting ok on zone config that the tx/rx led shows activity ... this makes me assume that the codes are being stored in the eprom correctly.

Have checked for dry joints .... all good connections. Have also tried different PICs in both main alarm and keypad ... and also swapped both crystals for new ones.

Although I struggled previously to understand your frustrations with SC ... my recent experiences with EPE have led me to sympathise.

If there is anything you can do to help I'd hugely appreciate it.

Best regards

Paul.