ELK-ISY too many Areas?

[renatohtpc]

As part  of the routine maintenance of my network, I was looking at the ELK-Areas configuration and I was surprised to see that more that one Area was being populated:

 

Now, If I execute the ELK-RP2 program I only see one Area.  Where/why are the other areas coming from?

 

Thanks

Renato

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Renato,

 

Those areas are coming from ELK based on the user-access code you entered in ISY. Is it possible that it's going against a different account?

 

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[renatohtpc]

Michel

 

Unfortunately, I only have 1 account.....

 

Thanks

Renato

[kstock]

I too have just recently noticed this. I believe it happened about the time I updated my Elk M1G to the latest firmware 5.3.8, from firmware 5.3.0. MobiLinc HD, as well as my ISY 994i/IR PRO, now see all Elk maximum of 8 areas as active, even though I have only set up Area 1.

[renatohtpc]

kstock

 

You are right, I too upgraded to the latest firmware last week.......

 

Renato

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi guys,

 

Thanks so very much for the feedback. Before I contact ELK tech support, would you be kind enough to:

1. Open the Event Viewer

2. Change the Level to 3

3. Under Configuration | ELK, please click on Refresh Topology

4. Let me know whether or not the zones get updated properly. If not, please click on the Copy to clipboard button on Event Viewer and then paste back to your post

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[renatohtpc]

Michael

 

All 8 still appear.  Here is the log:

 

Mon 08/03/2015 07:39:09 PM : [ELK-TX      ] Get Topology
Mon 08/03/2015 07:40:13 PM : [FileOpen    ] Open failed for [/CONF/ELKXPRT.XML] ®
Mon 08/03/2015 07:40:40 PM : [ELK-TX      ] Refresh Topology
Mon 08/03/2015 07:40:40 PM : [ELK-TX      ] Get Topology
Mon 08/03/2015 07:40:40 PM : [ELK-TX      ] Get All Status
Mon 08/03/2015 07:40:41 PM : [ELK-TX      ] Keypad Display Text

 

Thanks

Renato

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Renato,

 

Thanks so very much. I am going to send an email to our contact at ELK and see whether or not they are aware of this issue.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[MWareman]

FWIW - My ISY with Elk plugin (4.3.10) only shows 1 area (correctly). I did a 'Refresh Topology' and still only have one area.  I'm not sure what the difference is.

 

Michael.

[renatohtpc]

Michael

 

What version of the Elk M1G firmware are you running?

 

Renato

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello everyone,

 

ELK Tech Support is looking into this issue as we speak. I shall keep you all posted.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello everyone,

 

Here's the response from ELK:

 

Hi Michel,

 

Getting back to you about this. The ELK ASCII protocol command that is used to request the text descriptions of the Areas (command ‘sd’) was changed in firmware version 5.3.8. Issuing the ‘sd’ command to the M1 for each area now replies with a default name for the unused area(s). Whereas with the previous firmware versions if the area is not used, the M1 would reply with blank spaces for the area’s name. The ISY interpreted the blank spaces to indicate the area was not used or that it was unassigned.

 

A workaround is to erase the area names for the unused areas.  Say for example that Area 1 is the only area you need: à open your account with ELK-RP, connect to the M1, and create a “new area” for each of the other 7 areas.  Delete the text in the Name box for each of the other 7 areas. Send those areas to the M1. The M1 now has blank spaces for the text description of the unused areas. The M1 will reply to the ASCII protocol ‘sd’ command with blanks spaces for the area names and the ISY will interpret it as an unused area.

 

The other solution is to revert back to their previous M1 firmware version. Of course that’s if they don’t need any of the changes listed in the release notes.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[elvisimprsntr]

You can eliminate the unassigned areas by adding, send to elk, delete, send all areas to elk. This will delete the unassigned areas which are restored during a factory reset. I was able to eliminate unassigned areas from all ISY and mobile app interfaces.

[ldrinc]

Thanks much, will try this this afternoon.