How to Set Up Your Honeywell Alarm with Apple Home for Push Notifications and Geofence-Based Arming/Disarming
I’ve lived in my house for nearly 20 years and have automated many things. However, one of the last holdouts was my Honeywell Ademco Vista 20p alarm system. I was initially hesitant to modify such an outdated system, but I finally decided to take the plunge. My goal was to enable remote arming and disarming, receive push notifications, use the sensors in automations, and integrate the alarm with HomeKit to automate arming and disarming based on presence—for example, arming when the last person leaves and disarming when the first person arrives.
To achieve this, I purchased the Eyezon Duo. After it arrived, I followed the initial software activation instructions to register the device to my account.
Next came the installation, which involved wiring the Duo to my alarm system and running an Ethernet cable through my attic, as the device doesn’t support Wi-Fi and requires a wired internet connection.
To create a custom-length cable, I bought a spool of Cat6e cable from Best Buy Insignia. They sell an entire spool, measure what you take, and allow you to use what you need. You return the remainder for a refund, and it costs approximately $0.30 per foot.
I was motivated to get the wiring done while I had some solar installers on-site so that I could borrow their Ethernet crimper, cable tester and ladder to access my attic. Thanks, Jesse!
Retrieving the Honeywell Installer Code
After installing the Eyezon Duo, I needed to add it as a virtual keypad/panel to my Honeywell alarm system. To do this, the first step was retrieving the installer code for my alarm. Once I had the installer code, I was able to move forward with the setup. Make sure to save this code since you may need it again in the future. I attempted to get this code from the folks who manage my alarm but it was against their policy since they don’t want folks messing up their systems.
Don't Know Your Installer Code?
Step 1: Shut down the system.
1. Shut down transformer.
2. Shut down battery.
3. Leave system off for 60 seconds.
Step 2: Bring the system back up.
1. Repower the battery.
2. Repower the transformer.
Step 3: Force system to programming mode and retrieve existing installer code.
1. Within 30 seconds of rebooting system, push and hold the * and # keys together on a keypad.
2. Hold for 2 seconds and the 20 should appear on the display which indicated you are in programming mode. If 20 does not appear the panel is locked and you must contact the installer for the code.
3. Enter #20 and the display will show the existing installed for digit code, one digit at a time.Next, I ran into a few challenges with the Eyezon Duo instructions.
Finding the Wire to Connect the Duo to the Alarm Panel
The first challenge was figuring out how to wire the Duo to my alarm system. The instructions mentioned that the necessary cable wasn’t included. However, when I thoroughly unpacked the box, I unexpectedly found a short cable tucked away in the packaging.
Logging into the Duo Device on the Local Network
The second challenge was figuring out how to connect to the Eyezon Duo device on my local network. I stumbled on some instructions online that mentioned the default username is “user,” and the password is the last six digits of the device’s MAC address (which can be found on a sticker on the bottom of the device). It’s a good idea to snap a photo and jot down these details for reference.
Adding the Duo as a Keyboard to the Honeywell Panel
Next, I encountered a challenge adding the Duo as a keypad, as the default address 18 was already in use by my Honeywell panel. To resolve this, I logged into the Eyezon Duo device portal and registered the Duo to a different keypad address—in my case, address 21 was available.
To add the Duo to the Honeywell panel I had to contact support who explained I needed to enter the following codes:(Installer Code) 800 *194 10 *99.
Programming the Duo to Work with the Honeywell Alarm
Once the Duo was configured as a keypad, I programmed the Honeywell Vista Panel following the 23-step process outlined on pages 9 and 10 of the manual. Initially, I was unsure if every step was necessary—but yes, they all are.
Honeywell Vista 10P, 15P, 20P & 21iP
1. Enter (Installer Code) + 800 to access installer programming mode. “20” should appear on the display. If you
do not know the Installer Code, see Troubleshooting Tips on page 13.
2. Keypad programming: *190 to *196 (addresses 17-23) are the keypad programming sections. Enable the assigned Envisalink4 addresses as needed. If it is a single partition system using the default Envisalink4 address of 18, the programming section is *191. In section *191 enter 10. If the keypad was on Partition 2, you would enter 20.
3. *29 Enable IP/GSM (IP/GSM/LRR support required for your Envisalink4 to transmit alerts): The codes to enter in the section depend on the age of the panel. Start by entering 1, If you hear 3 beeps proceed to #4; if not continue with *0**.
4. *48 Report Format: Enter 77 (this is pre-set and cannot be changed on ADT Panels).
5. *49 Split/Dual Reporting: Enter 5 and you will hear 3 beeps.
6. *50 Burglary Dialer Delay: Enter 0 and you will hear 3 beeps.
7. *54 Dynamic Signalling Delay: Set to 0 and you will hear 3 beeps.
8. *55 Dynamic Signalling Priority: Set to 1 and you will hear 3 beeps.
9. *59 Exit Error Alarm Report Code: Set to 0 and you will hear 3 beeps.
10. *60 Trouble Report Code: Enter 10 and you will hear 3 beeps.
11. *62 AC Loss Report Code: Enter 10 and you will hear 3 beeps.
12. *63 Low Battery Report Code: Enter 10 and you will hear 3 beeps.
13. *64 Test Report Code: Enter 10 and you will hear 3 beeps.
14. *65 Open Report Code: Enter 110 and you will hear 3 beeps.
15. *66 Arm Away/Stay Report Code: Enter 111100 and you will hear 3 beeps.
16. *67 RF Transmitter Low Battery Report Code: Enter 10 and you will hear 3 beeps.
17. *70 Alarm Restore Report Code: Enter 1 and you will hear 3 beeps.
18. *71 Trouble Resolve Report Code: Enter 10 and you will hear 3 beeps.
19. *73 AC Restore Report Code: Enter 10 and you will hear 3 beeps.
20. *74 Low Battery Restore Report Code: Enter 10 and you will hear 3 beeps.
21. *75 RF Low Battery Restore Report Code: Enter 10 and you will hear 3 beeps.
22. *84 Auto Stay Arm: Enter 0 and you will hear 3 beeps.
23. Enter *99 to exit programming.Once the panel programming was complete I connected to the Eyezon portal (and mobile app) and confirmed I was able to control the Honeywell alarm. The next step was figuring out how to connect the Duo to HomeKit.
Connecting the Duo to Homebridge to Expose it in HomeKit
To connect unsupported 3rd party devices to HomeKit I am using Homebridge. I installed the homebridge-envisalink-ademco plugin and then configured the plugin with the IP address of the Duo on my network, the port, the MacID password, and my alarm code (which happens to be user code #2.)
Since the plugin was now referencing the Duo device by its IP address, I wanted to ensure the address didn’t change. To achieve this, I logged into the Duo device and configured it to use a static IP address under the network options. I then assigned this static IP address to the device’s MAC ID in my router’s settings.
In the Apple Home app, I was now able to see and adjust the alarm states. However, there was still more work to be done to see and control all the devices connected to the alarm.
I wanted to have access to all the contact sensors, motion sensors, smoke alarms, and other devices in the Apple Home app. To achieve this, I needed to retrieve the corresponding zones and device names from the Honeywell panel.
Retrieving Zones from the Honeywell Panel
Using ChatGPT, I got some helpful instructions to guide me through the process. Starting with zone 01, I worked through each zone incrementing by one until no more appeared, taking photos of the zones and their names for future reference.
Step-by-Step to View Zone Names:
1. Enter Programming Mode:
* Enter your Installer Code (default is 4112), followed by 8 and 00.
Example: 4112 + 8 + 00.
* The keypad will display Installer Code 20.
2. Enter Zone Descriptor Programming:
* Press *82.
* The keypad will display "Alpha?".
* Select Yes by pressing 1 (to confirm Alpha programming).
3. View the Zone Descriptors:
* The keypad will display "Enter Zone No." prompting you to input a zone number.
* Input a zone number to view its programmed descriptor (e.g., 01 for Zone 1).
* The keypad will show the name (if programmed) for that zone.
* To move to the next zone, simply enter the next zone number or use the arrow keys (* to proceed and # to go back).
4. Review Additional Zones:
* Repeat the process for each zone to view its name.
* Example: Enter 02 for Zone 2, 03 for Zone 3, etc.
5. Exit Programming Mode:
* After reviewing all zones, exit programming mode by pressing *99.
* This ensures the system returns to normal operation.Configuring the Envisalink Ademco Plugin with Honeywell Zone Names
Next, I reviewed the Homebridge Envisalink Ademco config.schema to figure out how to add my new sensors to a custom configuration. Setting this up correctly ensures each device connected to the alarm appears in HomeKit. It took some trial and error since the schema was slightly outdated. Below is an example of the configuration that worked for me showing a mix of sensor types, with a few details redacted. Note: I included some # comments for clarity, but you may need to remove them for the file to save correctly.
{
"name": "Envisalink-Ademco",
"host": "192.168.XX.XX", # Enter the IP for your Duo
"port": 4025,
"deviceType": "20P",
"password": "XXXXXX", # Enter last 6 digits of your Duo MacID
"pin": "XXXX", # Enter your alarm pin
"changePartition": false,
"openZoneTimeout": 30,
"heartbeatInterval": 30,
"commandTimeOut": 10,
"autoReconnect": true,
"sessionWatcher": true,
"chimeToggle": false,
"envisalinkFailureSuppress": false,
"ignoreFireTrouble": false,
"ignoreSystemTrouble": false,
"maintenanceMode": false,
"policePanic": {
"enabled": true,
"name": "Police Panic"
},
"firePanic": {
"enabled": true,
"name": "Fire Panic"
},
"ambulancePanic": {
"enabled": true,
"name": "Ambulance Panic"
},
"partitions": [
{
"name": "House"
}
],
"zones": [
{
"name": "Tamper",
"partition": "1",
"zoneNumber": "8",
"sensorType": "door"
},
{
"name": "XX Door",
"partition": "1",
"zoneNumber": "9",
"sensorType": "door"
},
{
"name": "XX Door",
"partition": "1",
"zoneNumber": "10",
"sensorType": "door"
},
{
"name": "XX Door",
"partition": "1",
"zoneNumber": "11",
"sensorType": "door"
},
{
"name": "XX Window",
"partition": "1",
"zoneNumber": "12",
"sensorType": "window"
},
{
"name": "XX Window",
"partition": "1",
"zoneNumber": "13",
"sensorType": "window"
},
{
"name": "XX Heat",
"partition": "1",
"zoneNumber": "14",
"sensorType": "smoke"
},
{
"name": "XX Motion",
"partition": "1",
"zoneNumber": "15",
"sensorType": "motion"
}
],
"bypass": [
{
"enabledbyPass": true
}
],
"_bridge": {
"username": "XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX", # Homebridge Duo Bridge MacID likely auto added
"port": 50577
},
"platform": "Envisalink-Ademco"
}I then pasted my configuration into the Homebridge Envisalink Ademco plugin settings under the JSON Config section in Homebridge and restarted Homebridge.
Adding Honeywell Zones to the Duo Portal
While Homebridge was rebooting I logged into the Eyezon web portal and navigated to Systems > Settings. Performing the next series of steps simply ensures I have pretty names for all of my devices if I opt to use the Eyezon services.
I scrolled down to Zone Labels and selected Manage Zone Labels.
Next, I added each zone and label name from my Homebridge Envisalink Ademco configuration file to the Duo portal, ensuring I selected the appropriate partition before submitting each entry.
Viewing Alarm Sensors in the Apple Home App
With the Homebridge Envisalink Ademco plugin and Duo updated, I launched the Apple Home app. Sure enough, now all of my alarm’s contact sensors, motion sensors, and alarm sensors appeared, ready to be integrated into Apple Home automations. In my case, some alarm entities were displayed in a room as tabs above physical devices.
Configuring Geofence Alarm Triggers in the Home App
Finally, since my partner and I use Apple Home’s geofence settings for first-person-arrived and last-person-left automations, I wanted to automate arming and disarming the alarm based on presence, removing the need to manually access the panel each time we come and go.
To enable this feature, I installed another Homebridge plugin called Homebridge Security System and created a new “Alarm” within the plugin, naming it “Alarm.”
Under the Switches tab I enabled "Show Mode Switches".
Then, I restarted the Homebridge Security System plugin.
Once Homebridge rebooted I launched the Apple Home app and discovered four new Alarm Mode Switches had been added that I can use in automations: Mode Away, Mode Home, Mode Night, and Mode Off.
While the setup may not be entirely intuitive, these switches must be enabled and integrated as actions in automations to avoid confirmation prompts triggered by geofence events. Using Mode Switches guarantees you receive notifications for alarm state changes initiated by automations. Essentially, the plugin’s Mode Switches (Mode Away, Mode Home, Mode Night, Mode Off) enable automations to run seamlessly without requiring manual intervention.
The plugin adds a few other Mode Switches (Trip Home, Trip Away, Trip Night) which are used to trigger critical alerts when the alarm is activated. These will be discussed in more detail later.
From here, I proceeded to configure my geofence automations to use the appropriate modes to automatically arm and disarm my alarm when people come and go.
Configuring an Automation to Arm the Alarm When the Last Person Leaves
In the “When the Last Person Leaves” automation, I set it to turn on “Mode Away,” which arms the alarm (e.g., sets it to Away mode).
Configuring an Automation to Disarm the Alarm When the First Person Arrives
In the “When the First Person Arrives” automation, I set it to turn on “Mode Off,” which disarms the alarm (e.g., sets it to off).
Now, when the first person arrives or the last person leaves, the alarm in the home automatically adjusts, and my partner and I receive push notifications from the Home app about the alarm state changes.
Enabling Critical Alerts to Get Push Notifications When the Alarm Goes Off
Apple Home supports sending Critical Alerts on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 or later. To ensure these alerts are active, verify that they are enabled under Settings > Notifications > Home.
Once configured, if the security system triggers the Mode Switches for Trip Away, Trip Home, or Trip Night (e.g., the alarm is activated), you’ll automatically receive the corresponding alert. While no additional automations are required to enable these critical alerts it's worth intentionally setting off your alarm to confirm everything is setup and working correctly.
Manually Adjusting the Alarm in the Apple Home app
It is also possible to manually adjust the alarm modes directly in the Apple Home app. One limitation is that, because a single master code is used for the Security plugin, all events are logged under the same user, even though the entire household can adjust the modes. This applies not only to manual adjustments but also to automations.
When Push Notifications Are Sent
Push notifications are sent in these scenarios:
- When someone else sets a mode.
- When an automation sets a mode.
- When you set a mode, but the Home app is closed or the device is locked (conditions set by Apple).
Note: Each person in the household who wants to receive push notifications from the Home app should check Settings > Notifications > Home. For instance, I made sure critical alerts were enabled on my partners phone.
Refining Alarm Notification Wording
A nice implementation detail I discovered is that by assigning the alarm and its sensors to a room named after my home address, I can receive more descriptive notifications. For example, moving the alarm to a room named “123 Main” will generate a push notification that says, “123 Main Alarm was disarmed.” Since the push notification will use the room name where the alarm is installed in the Home app it might read a bit goofy if you don’t adjust it.
Using Alarm Contact Sensors and Motion Sensors in Apple Home Automations
With the Envisalink Ademco plugin configured to expose all entities connected to the alarm, it’s possible to create automations utilizing them.
For instance, I set up an automation to turn on the Den light at night whenever the Front Door is opened, leveraging the Front Door Alarm contact sensor.
FWIW I’ve noticed that contact sensors can be a bit slow to register.
Final Thoughts
In the end, integrating my aging Honeywell alarm system into a modern smart home ecosystem was a rewarding challenge. By using the Eyezon Duo, Homebridge, and carefully configuring the necessary plugins, I was able to breathe new life into an older system while achieving seamless functionality with Apple Home. Automating alarms and utilizing sensors for everyday tasks has made our securing our home much more convenient. If you’re considering a similar upgrade, this demonstrates that even legacy systems can adapt to modern smart home needs with the right tools and effort.