Some devices supervise, some don’t, and some have a jumper to turn them on and off. We’ve received a number request recently about how to configure the accounts and what devices to make supervise. This week’s tech bulletin will cover the differences between device supervisions and device settings as well as how they work together to monitor missing supervisions.
TECH SUPPORT SUMMARY:
There are two separate parts to configuring supervision monitoring and the distinction between the two needs to be understood. Setting aside the variations in how they are configured, the device itself either is supervising or not supervising. The server itself meanwhile is either looking for or not looking for the supervision of that device. We will only be covering the most common devices here.
Device Type 1: Regular Automatic Intervals
Most devices register as a UT-3 and supervise automatically every 18 hours whether you want them to or not. These devices include universal transmitters (UT-3/UT-3RE), Pullcords (BP-7RWR), Bedside Stations (JR-14), Wall Mount Push Buttons (WM-8’s)
Device Type 2: Dip Switch Supervisions
The two most common devices that require dipswitch supervisions are Motion Sensors (MS-6) and Window Door Contacts (WD-3). It is highly recommended that you leave these switches defaulted because they supervise at very short intervals. Constant supervisions from these devices have a high probability of creating corrupted signals across the system. Corrupted signals, when significant enough, can both prevent real alarms and create false ones. These devices should only be set to supervise on a case by case basis and in very limited quantities. These devices will still display low battery alerts that can be used to help monitor functionality of the device.
MS-6 (Left): The Jumpers for the motion sensors have three prongs. JP2 manages supervisions and if the jumpers are placed on the two right pins, as seen below, these devices will not send a supervision signal. If it is parked on the two left pins it will supervise every 30-50 minutes.
WD-3 (Right): The jumpers for the window door contacts have two prongs. JP2 manages the supervisions and if the jumpers are placed on both pins, as seen below, these devices will not send a supervision signal. If it is parked on one pin only it will supervise every 15 minutes.
Device Type 3: Pendants
We’ve had previous tech bulletins solely dedicated to pendants that can be found on the distributors’ log in, but these do not supervise unless it is held down for 20-25 seconds for the third red light. Again, if these are set to supervise, they will have a significantly reduced battery life. For pendant supervisions, once enabled, cannot be undone.
Device Settings
For the purposes of this bulletin we will only be discussing the Yes/No drop down option highlighted below. By selecting “Yes” for Monitor Supervision signals you are only telling the server to look for supervisions. This option has no control over whether or not the device actually supervises. If you have a device that is not supervising for any reason, and you select yes, it will report a missed supervision in the service alerts. If you select no for any reason, the system is not concerned whether the device is supervising or not, it is simply not looking for it.
SOLUTION:
Prior to installation, identify what devices you have that are transmitting signals, and then determine what type of supervision these devices are transmitting. If this is not done properly, you may be setting up your system to report false missing supervisions, or worse, setting up a facility that is not being properly monitored. If you have a device that is not listed above please contact Response Care with specifics.
