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Appendix A: ARC Communication
Formats
Fast Format
Fast Format is the format most widely used in the UK. When using the Fast Format, each
message transmitted to the ARC consists of the following:
A 4,5 or 6-digit account number.
8 channels of data. Each channel communicates the status of an output, as
programmed using the
”Fast Format Channels” option (see page 103 ). The value of
the channel can be:
1 = new alarm and not previously reported
2 = status of output is open/unset
3 = alarm restored and not previously reported
4 = status of output is closed/set
5 = not in alarm
6 = in alarm but previously reported
A test signal.
Contact ID
The Contact ID format transmits data from the event log to the Alarm Receiving Centre
(ARC). Examples of messages in the Contact ID format are:
Example 1 - 1234 18 1137 01 015 2
1234 is the account number, as specified in Account Numbers option (page 103).
18 is the message type used to identify the message as Contact ID.
1137 is the event qualifier for a new event (1), followed by the event code for a system
tamper alarm (137).
01 is the partition number.
015 is the zone number.
2 is the checksum value, which the ARC needs to verify to confirm a valid message
has been received.
Example 2 - 1234 18 3137 01 015 3
The only difference between this and the first example, is the event qualifier of 3 to
indicate a restore of a system tamper alarm, and the checksum value.
