Seeking simple sensor input method for HS

[iury]

I am looking for an easy (inexpensive) way to sense when my alarm system gets triggered so that I can have HS send an email to my phone. (I don't want to have to wait till the alarm company finds me.) I would rather not use X10 for this because I want things to be robust and also to I want it to still work if the bad guys cut power to my house. The alarm has battery backup and the computer and telecom units all are powered by a UPS.

I have seen interface units that cost hundreds of dollars but I am just interested in sensing one relay closing (or votage change). Can this be done using the parallel port or some other means without going wild on cost?

[Rupp]

Which alarm system are you using? Does it offer connectivity to a serial port by any chance?

[jon00]

Have a look at Stipus's direct input connector. You can use a cheap joystick for several inputs: http://board.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t=115712

[mrhappy]

I would go game port for this, it has 4 digital inputs (can't remember if you are meant to input high or low, would need to check this) and the DI connector as Jon00 suggested, you would only need a plug, some wire and you may need an opto isolator or relay depending on what your alarm outputs.

Using two inputs could also be a fail safe to eliminate a circuit error and have HS check both inputs are the same...

[iury]

I downloaded Stipus' plugin, went out and bought a cheap game controller and now I have more inputs than I know what to do with!

Thanks y'all for your help.