There are very specific programming fields that need to be set in order to have any kind of success with this unit. If it is working it sounds like it may just be a signal grounding issue. Here are some other tips. Make certain the protocol is set for 1200, 8, none, one stop bit and programming on the ademco side is as follows.
Field Value 05 1 14 1 178 1 179 1 230 0 319 1
Also the 4100SM MUST BE CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE J5 4142TR CABLE!! It makes no sense why you cannot extend the cable but if you want it to work heed that advice. Also how is it connected to the rs232 port? The rs232 will only travel 75' or so before you have problems. The interface has a 25 pin printer cable harness on it. I suggest you go to radio shack and get a 25 pin harness and make your own adapter. Here is the pinout
Only the RxD, TxD, SG, and DTR need to be connected. To test your signal ground at the Crestron end you should get 4 volts dc across RxD and Ground when idle and pulse to 1Vdc when transmitting. The TxD should sit around 800mVdc when idle and spike to 6Vdc when transmitting.
If all of this does not help you could have a bad piece of hardware. I have been through this too many times and it can be maddening. There are a few other solutions the first of which is to use GE or Sequel. The second is if you can find a Vista ICM module somewhere control works makes a module that works great and the panel see's this device as an additional keypad. It also has a built in webpage. If all else fails you can set the house on fire.. Oh yea and go f&*k yerself.
