FBII StarFone - 80s tech, it talks, and you can control it with your phone

This video is an overview of a fairly rare and rather unique security system made by Fire Burglary Instruments, Inc featuring a telephone interface with a voice synthesizer that lets you dial into your security system and control it over the phone.
00:00 Intro
00:48 Overview
03:00 Keypad Operation
03:40 Burglar Alarm Test
04:33 More Keypad Operation
05:43 Duress & Central Station
06:30 Telephone Operation
13:00 Lights on
13:49 You Have Pressed Panic
14:01 Fire Alarm Test
15:29 Remote Access
17:46 Outro

[@bringit7271]

I have an FBII XL-2T in my house with those same flush mount keypads. Very nice system that blends well with the house and doesn't look offensive like today's modern systems. I've even got the old X10 home automation with the Powerflash module that flashes all of the lights on and off during an alarm. After watching this video I grabbed a scrap keypad and started to sort of reverse engineer it. I'm wiring it into a USB input/output interface to allow my home automation PC interact with it, just like as if it was a keypad. I'm going to use Twilio to recreate the Starfone features to the best of my ability, because I think this is really cool. I'll probably even write code to facilitate panel programming using an easy desktop application, since the app will technically be able to operate the keypad.

[@achannelwithnopurpose1977]

For its time, that system was very space age and for today’s standard is still really nice. I feel like it was one of the systems paved the way for the newest high end systems which can be monitored and utilized with a cellphone

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

I would not call "SimpliUnsafe" high end at all

[@achannelwithnopurpose1977]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm i do agree they’re really flawed especially in how easy they are to bypass for anyone with a simple signal jammer fob. I only meant high end as in with gimmicks.

[@ArgoSAABArgoFireSecurityMan5]

@@NewAgeServerAlarmI have that system as seen in a video of mine, however now I call it sh*t. It does not run correctly as I want it to like it did in 2018. They discontinued a bunch of things I liked

[@PINKBOY1006]

I forgot you were a phonephreak for a second until I saw the Telstar and heard a ring from one of Evan Doorbell's tapes. Very nice demo!

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

was hoping someone would appreciate that ;)

[@TheTrainsandfirealarmdude]

Love the setup. It always makes me happy to see a Upload From you! im liking the new series

[@CJ9899]

This gives me a whole new appreciation for Security systems. Very cool!

[@douro20]

"Smoke detector is in trouble"...

[@ArgoSAABArgoFireSecurityMan5]

I see that Ademco scooped that feature right up with their phone module known as the 4284 or 4285VIP. This panel was definitely had future in mind at a high level.

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

FBII was owned by Pittway at the time this was made and they got absorbed into Ademco when Pittway bought them too. Several other companies did this as well though, including ITI who despite not being first, did actually do it better than this. It’s going to be a future video..

[@ArgoSAABArgoFireSecurityMan5]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm ahh I see, however with Ademco’s version, it had the voice similar to the 6160V

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

Armed. Away. exit. NOW. Instead of a voice synthesizer chip like the StarFone It’s actually a bunch of recordings of a person basically reading words or phrases from a script.

[@ArgoSAABArgoFireSecurityMan5]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm yes

[@ArgoSAABArgoFireSecurityMan5]

@@NewAgeServerAlarmthat’s also pretty much was happened to the FBII VS279, the VS299 does not use a voice chip, it uses recordings from a similar voice

[@FourtyFiftyEighty]

Awesome video. These old security systems are very interesting

[@CascadiaFA]

Glad to see you back

[@expgretaillegacy]

Happy (late) New Year, Andrew!

[@Jimmy06blue]

Hi NewageServerAlarm I’ve been watching your videos for a long time and I became a member of the fire alarm community in the beginning of April last year, 2022

[@NyxKemo]

Very very advanced system for it’s time, FBII is pretty impressive, i have a star xl 4800 system with 16 zones and 2 alphanumeric keypads for it and i love playing around with it

[@Lachlant1984]

Those voice prompts were quite verbose which is quite good, better than just single word or two word responses. I think most of us probably understood the meaning of the relays, but for those who aren't in the know, would you please explain the function of the relays? Also, how do you program the names of each zone? Is that info programmed into the phone voice chip?

[@jeffmoss26]

Very cool!!

[@aarocka11]

lol love the GarageBand loops

[@JessieMHadaller]

This is very cool. I’ve always seen those keypads when I was younger and thought they were cool! 😅 I wonder what’s next in the series. DMP? Caretaker+? So many possibilities! 😅

[@bringit7271]

Me too, to the point where a few years ago I purchased one, purely due to how sleek and well-fitting the keypads are. People don't even notice I have an alarm system because they blend so well with the house. These new wireless systems are absolute crap, I watch ADT eviscerate my friends properties leaving wires showing, and that huge ugly keypad of theirs slapped on a random wall. Not to mention the fact that if you get in and smash an ADT wireless keypad before the entry delay, the system is dead. Smash these keypads all you want, the system will still run. I coupled the system with a dial capture cellular dialer that gives the system reliable cellular monitoring that works seamlessly. It's a shame they don't manufacture systems like this anymore. The security industry has lost it's way and is focused on money only, which means very quick installs of slap and stick wireless systems, in which nobody needs a "security expert" to install.

[@nhweather19]

The pull station brings back memories

[@djifirealarms]

very nice setup, im loving this security series honestly. feels really professional and explains things in a simple easy to understand way IMO. that panel is very ahead of it's time, goes to show how much you really could do with relatively basic technology back then. is there any way of doing a total reset to defaults? like say you messed up setting a passcode and screwed the whole thing up (due to there being no password set confirmation), is there an easy way to fix that? if not, how would you fix it?

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

There is a way to factory default these panels actually. I just didn't show it in the video.

[@noahfurry4146]

That was very cool

[@212Elevators]

What you didn't demonstrate with the voice is if multiple zones are faulted when checking the status.

[@vrryan6]

This is very cool

[@Lachlant1984]

Do you plan to make anymore videos about these security systems please? I like these videos.

[@Joshtheweatherman]

Reminds me of those talking Chrysler cars from that era

[@samtovar2447]

Nice!

[@jordyvt08]

I expected a smartphone, BOOM old af telephone

[@AKSoapy29]

Have you ever played with a Moose alarm panel? I believe they are of the same vintage. I'd have to dig one out to see if I could find some date codes.

[@Tiger21820]

Would the A B C & D DTMF tones simulate the Stay, Bypass, Instant, and Code buttons? And does the security system transmit these commands via DTMF? If so, would Stay, Bypass, Instant, and Code represent the A B C & D keys?

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

No the ABCD tones aren't supported as almost nobody actually had a phone that had that capability

[@lspdfrisawesome8972]

Hello! I cannot afford a FACP so I was wondering if you have instructions or something for those homemade alertek panels? Thanks!

[@MrNewtDude]

Is that a western electric 2500 telephone being used in the video?

[@siphonralarms9411]

This is quite the unique system! I actually have an XL 4600 in my collection, but it’s unfortunately completely dead.

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

those are pretty resilient panels so i’m surprised it’s not working.. did you check the fuses and make sure your 12VAC transformer is working ?

[@siphonralarms9411]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm I’ll eventually take another look at it. I’m planning on setting up my good old Silent Knight 2615 in my room at some point, just need more wire.

[@HenBasketFireAlarms]

That’s quite a neat system there! Is it just me, or does the fire tone sound a bit like a 1st generation Gentex HG?

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

I thought the same thing, honestly

[@TheTrainsandfirealarmdude]

It actually does lol i thought the same

[@firealarm2903_]

I have a 4800 EZ that I pulled out of my grandmas house installed in 1991

[@ZachToons24]

Where can I find this today?

[@TheCarson116]

A _very_ interesting system indeed, nice video on it! That's not the same Star XL-4600 you had years ago is it? (the one you had in the closet of your room) 15:30 Cool-looking telephone there!

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

That is actually the exact same one

[@TheCarson116]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm Well what do you know...

[@ArgoSAABArgoFireSecurityMan5]

A panel that has been constantly moved and put into silence, what do ya know?

[@TheTrainsandfirealarmdude]

Btw Happy new years

[@user13424]

Are you going to be doing any stuff with DMP Alarms. I would love to see a video of a DMP XT30 OR XR550 Alarm Reportng CID to a receiver. Also if you have a DMP receiver would love to see a video with that too.

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

Yeah actually, my Sur-Gard receiver which you saw in this video does take DMP format. I do however also have a DMP single line receiver as well.

[@user13424]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm could that receiver take outside alarm? Or is it only local? Because if it could take outside alarms, that would be a cool video. That would be a cool video some setting off there alarm for testing purposes from like a different state and it sending you signals. I would love to see what my alarm signal look like on the other end.

[@HappyJigg]

@@user13424 I have 2 videos of mine on my channel. It can take calls from wherever you can call it from.

[@coolworms7297]

this is cool. my modern system doesnt even have this lol

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

what kind of modern system?

[@coolworms7297]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm its an ADT, not sure what model. though i live in the UK, so it may be different from the US ones. i'll have to check.

[@piggyfan29]

I need your help I got a 4050 of eBay but it doesn't work the issue is the part that makes the plate vibrate I have no idea how it works it is broken can you please help me

[@gradientgamer5480]

will phone access work on a VOIP/Mobile number? meaning you can use your mobile phone to control the system?

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

as long as you can convert a voip line to an analog line, yes

[@DiegoElevators44]

Can you please make your old videos from back in the day public again?

[@carlomicillo4221]

Do they still make them

[@Vanool35]

Could this work with a ITI CS-4000 out of curiosity?

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

It would, just you can only use double round pulse as that receiver oddly can’t do pulse with parity

[@Vanool35]

@@NewAgeServerAlarm Okay. I looked on the CS-4000 manuals and it said it wasn't compatible with touch tone systems which kind of confused me. Also could this hypothetically be used in tandem with a SX-V with this acting as a 'slave' unit / phone line? Also where were you able to find this, I've been trying to look for a StarFone now myself and all I see on Google are manuals for it

[@KJ7BZC]

Very nice demonstration, strange that the system has absolutely no verification when changing user codes. I guess just don't mistype it lol

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

Yep and I accidentally changed the master code on it once.... so that was.. FUN

[@user-rt9mw2yt4b]

3:50 "a police were called" like, I get what it's trying to say, but why did it say THAT

[@willbill808]

This panel must’ve been designed for the ESL 445 smoke detectors lol, they always falsely trip and need all that verification/trouble if it doesn’t reset

[@NewAgeServerAlarm]

You’re absolutely correct

[@carlomicillo4221]

ADT had something like this

[@ArgoSAABArgoFireSecurityMan5]

Yes but the difference is that they are recorded voices rather than the voice chip

[@Egress.]

oooooooo

[@2901er]

Hi

[@sircampbell1249]

Burned lot of chips baCk in day....