Help Wanted: Paradox Alarm Interface (PAI) 3.6.1 error "Invalid PC Password"

Hi

I’m attempting to integrate a Paradox MG5050 panel with Home Assistant using the Paradox Alarm Interface (PAI) 3.6.1 add-on, connected via a local IP connection to an IP150+ module. The connection to the IP150+ succeeds, but authentication with the MG5050 panel fails with the error Invalid PC Password , despite using the correct PC Password (section [911] in MG5050 programming) and Installer Code, verified via BabyWare and panel programming.

Environment

• PAI Version : 3.6.1 (Home Assistant add-on)
• Paradox Panel : MG5050, firmware 7.01.012
• IP Module : IP150+, firmware 5.06.030
• Connection Type : Local IP (not SWAN)
• Home Assistant : Core 2025.4.1, Supervisor 2025.03.4, OS 15.1
• MQTT : Mosquitto broker (core-mosquitto), configured and working

Configuration

Relevant YAML configuration:

CONNECTION_TYPE: IP
IP_CONNECTION_HOST: [redacted local IP]
IP_CONNECTION_PORT: 10000
IP_CONNECTION_PASSWORD: paradox
IP_CONNECTION_USERNAME: null
IP_CONNECTION_SITE_ID: null
PASSWORD: [redacted 4-digit PC Password]
MQTT_ENABLE: true
MQTT_HOST: core-mosquitto
MQTT_PORT: 1883
MQTT_USERNAME: mqttUser
MQTT_PASSWORD: [redacted]
MQTT_HOMEASSISTANT_AUTODISCOVERY_ENABLE: true
IP_INTERFACE_ENABLE: true
IP_INTERFACE_PASSWORD: paradox

With LOGGING_LEVEL_CONSOLE: 10, the relevant log excerpt is:

2025-04-21 14:22:00,894 - INFO - MainThread - PAI.paradox.connections.connection - Connection established 2025-04-21 14:22:00,894 - INFO - MainThread - PAI.paradox.connections.ip.commands - Authenticating with IP Module 2025-04-21 14:22:00,909 - INFO - MainThread - PAI.paradox.connections.ip.commands - Authentication Success. IP(114) Module version 20, firmware: 5.6, serial: 72022f00 2025-04-21 14:22:00,936 - INFO - MainThread - PAI.paradox.connections.ip.commands - Session successfully established with IP Module 2025-04-21 14:22:00,938 - INFO - MainThread - PAI.paradox.paradox - Connecting to Panel 2025-04-21 14:22:01,042 - INFO - MainThread - PAI.paradox.paradox - Panel Identified MG5050 version 7.1 build -1 2025-04-21 14:22:01,042 - INFO - MainThread - PAI.paradox.paradox - Initiating panel connection 2025-04-21 14:22:01,171 - INFO - MainThread - PAI.paradox.hardware.spectra_magellan.panel - Installer login 2025-04-21 14:22:01,268 - ERROR - MainThread - PAI.paradox.paradox - Got ERROR Message: Invalid PC Password 2025-04-21 14:22:01,270 - ERROR - MainThread - PAI.paradox.lib.handlers - Exception caught during message handling Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/paradox/lib/handlers.py", line 116, in handle await handler(data) File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/paradox/lib/handlers.py", line 65, in call result = self._handle(data) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/paradox/paradox.py", line 636, in handle_error_message raise AuthenticationFailed() paradox.exceptions.AuthenticationFailed

Steps Taken

1. Verified the PC Password (section [911] in MG5050 programming) and Installer Code using BabyWare and keypad programming. Both are correct and work in BabyWare for panel access.
2. Tested both PC Password and Installer Code in the PASSWORD field, as well as defaults (0000, 1234, 5555). All result in the same Invalid PC Password error.
3. Successfully authenticated with the IP150+ using IP_CONNECTION_PASSWORD: paradox.
4. Enabled DEBUG logging (LOGGING_LEVEL_CONSOLE: 10) to capture more details.
5. Reviewed PAI documentation and GitHub issues but found no specific references to IP150+ firmware 5.06.030 or MG5050 firmware 7.01.012

Suspected Issues

• The log mentions “Installer login,” suggesting PAI may be attempting to use the Installer Code instead of the PC Password, despite the PASSWORD field being set to the PC Password.
• Possible incompatibility between PAI 3.6.1 and IP150+ firmware 5.06.030, which is designed for SWAN server integration and may restrict local IP authentication.
• Potential bug in PAI’s handling of PC Password authentication for MG5050 firmware 7.01.012

Questions

• Does PAI 3.6.1 support local IP connections with IP150+ firmware 5.06.030 and MG5050 firmware 7.1?
• Should the PASSWORD field use the PC Password (section [911]) or the Installer Code for this setup?
• Are there known workarounds for the Invalid PC Password error with newer IP150+ firmware?
• Could the “Installer login” log entry indicate a specific authentication requirement or bug?

Additional Notes
Local IP connection is preferred over SWAN due to reliability. SWAN attempts failed due to unresolved hostnames (e.g., swan.paradoxmyhome.com, turn.paradoxmyhome.com).

Willing to provide further logs or test specific configurations if needed.

Thank you for any assistance or insights!

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