ctownj30 Posted July 29, 2016 Posted July 29, 2016 Are there any alternatives to the Elk M1 for a security system that others are using?My house currently has an unused older ADT system. I'd like to be able keep all of the existing door, motion, and glass-break sensors, but integrate events into my ISY automatons. Stuff like: Arming/disarming the security system via a ISY program Checking armed state in ISY program Using the security system events (whether or not the system is armed) to control ISY programs I know I can do this with the Elk but for a variety of reasons I'm wondering what else can be used.What about a Z-Wave equipped security system? Or am I better of going with (and paying for) the M1? Thanks - djm
G W Posted July 29, 2016 Posted July 29, 2016 There are but they cost hundreds to thousands more. Elk is the best ROI I have found. If you can do it yourself it's pretty cheap. It's cost way less that my Insteon system. Best regards, Gary Funk
MWareman Posted July 29, 2016 Posted July 29, 2016 io_guy has written a program called dsclinc to integrate DSC based alarms to the ISY. It runs on a Raspberry Pi. Plenty of people report success with it - but (IMO) nothing beats the native integration of the Elk M1 system.
KeviNH Posted July 29, 2016 Posted July 29, 2016 You might be able to do this with your existing alarm and sensors, just need an interface device, some software, something to run it on (e.g. rPi) Many, but not all, older ADT systems use a Ademoco/Honeywell "Vista" Panels (Vista20P, 21iP, 15P, 10P, 128P, and 250P) alarm "brain" which is compatible with the interface box needed for 'dsclinc' or the other two ways to integrate these specific alarms with ISY. Warning: Expect to spend +$150 and a fair amount of time getting this working.
MarkJames Posted July 31, 2016 Posted July 31, 2016 The only caveat with Elk is that they no longer provide all their software and documentation to end users. Rather, they've put it behind a subscriber only 'installer wall'. Same with Univeral Remote Control sadly (they make the bar none best remote controls on the planet) If you do go the Elk route and need anything then feel free to pm me - I have an installer account and will dropbox you anything you may need. I've just finished integrating my Elk with ISY via my own webpage and websockets. I couldn't be happier with my Elk investment. The peripherals and add-ons are second to none and work flawlessly. mark
DennisC Posted July 31, 2016 Posted July 31, 2016 All you need to do is register on the Elk website as an owner. You then have access to all of the software and firmware updates.
MWareman Posted July 31, 2016 Posted July 31, 2016 All you need to do is register on the Elk website as an owner. You then have access to all of the software and firmware updates.This. I've never had an issue getting software and documentation from their website as an end user. I've even got support contacting them directly (purchased the Elk from smarthome.com).
G W Posted July 31, 2016 Posted July 31, 2016 The only caveat with Elk is that they no longer provide all their software and documentation to end users. Rather, they've put it behind a subscriber only 'installer wall'. Same with Univeral Remote Control sadly (they make the bar none best remote controls on the planet) If you do go the Elk route and need anything then feel free to pm me - I have an installer account and will dropbox you anything you may need. I've just finished integrating my Elk with ISY via my own webpage and websockets. I couldn't be happier with my Elk investment. The peripherals and add-ons are second to none and work flawlessly. mark That's just not true. I'm an end user and have access to all updates and documents. Best regards, Gary Funk
DennisC Posted July 31, 2016 Posted July 31, 2016 This. I've never had an issue getting software and documentation from their website as an end user. I've even got support contacting them directly (purchased the Elk from smarthome.com). I have also received support as an end user. Elk support is very helpful, patient, and friendly.
ctownj30 Posted July 31, 2016 Author Posted July 31, 2016 Thanks for the advice - it sounds like best just to stick with the Elk system. I may go the M1EZ route as I do not have many zones, and I do not need any sort of voice control (no phone line so will likely need cellular monitoring anyway).
MarkJames Posted August 1, 2016 Posted August 1, 2016 I'm glad to hear they're supporting end users again. I bought my system about 15 years ago and all the software, updates, etc. either came with it or could be downloaded. Shortly after they put all the software and updates behind a professional log-in page. mark
G W Posted August 1, 2016 Posted August 1, 2016 I'm glad to hear they're supporting end users again. I bought my system about 15 years ago and all the software, updates, etc. either came with it or could be downloaded. Shortly after they put all the software and updates behind a professional log-in page. mark They still do. Best regards, Gary Funk
MWareman Posted August 1, 2016 Posted August 1, 2016 Yep. They just allow non-professional to create an account. Well they have since I setup mine - 14 years ago...
MarkJames Posted August 1, 2016 Posted August 1, 2016 Oh ok... They weren't doing that when I set up mine. I had to send fake credentials to my 'account manager' who then set me up with an account. I bought mine from Smarthome and they had all the software available there to download. Soon after they pulled it off the Smarthome site and I had to approach Elk directly to get in. That's when the fun started. I guess they had so many unhappy end users that they changed their policy. Good thing, too. Now if only Universal Remote would do the same - I LOVE their products but it's brutal getting the software for them. mark
kohai Posted August 1, 2016 Posted August 1, 2016 I just setup an account with Elk about 4-5 weeks ago. Their form asked where I bought the system (probably verifying it was an authorized dealer). The only surprise was that the account is manually approved and takes 1-2 business days. I didn't do this in advance and the install was at a vacation home and I was leaving that day when I got around to needing the software and couldn't get it from their website. It was annoying but not end of the world as I wasn't done with the install and was coming back anyway. Elk has some decent videos on youtube about install. I like that youtube allows you to set the playback speed so I watched a bunch of those at 1.5x to get familiar with the system. The one other thing I ran into and Elk support was helpful to quickly point me in the right direction was with the wireless transceiver. I followed the instructions for the ERP2 software to enroll it instead of the keypad method and I either missed a step or the instructions didn't include a step that got me stuck until I called them. I thought I had a dead battery and drove around town looking for an odd sized battery (CR123a or something like that) before finding one, paying way too much for it, and then discovering it wasn't the battery. Anyway, the written instructions are generally well written and verbose.
jsu1995 Posted August 4, 2016 Posted August 4, 2016 Another vote for the Elk system. I know I can do this with the Elk but for a variety of reasons I'm wondering what else can be used. Out of curiosity, what are your reasons for not wanting to go with the Elk?
gweempose Posted August 5, 2016 Posted August 5, 2016 The ISY/ELK integration is phenomenal. I can't recommend it highly enough. Everything just works so seamlessly.
ocyberbum Posted September 23, 2016 Posted September 23, 2016 I know this is a older thread but I wanted to ask if anyone had considered the pcpoodle alarm system?, I think it would be the best hands down if it would work with a ISY994i and insteon hub/plm running at the same time. if this would work using both I would get one, the designer has some good videos of features and modules that are compatible with Insteon at a fair price but I haven't been able to find anyone using it that has a ISY994 or someone running both hubs making it work???? Alarm http://pcpoodle.com/collections/insteon-alarm-system/products/alarmlab-security-controller-with-insteon-plm Main Page http://pcpoodle.com/collections/insteon-alarm-system
G W Posted September 23, 2016 Posted September 23, 2016 I know this is a older thread but I wanted to ask if anyone had considered the pcpoodle alarm system?, I think it would be the best hands down if it would work with a ISY994i and insteon hub/plm running at the same time. if this would work using both I would get one, the designer has some good videos of features and modules that are compatible with Insteon at a fair price but I haven't been able to find anyone using it that has a ISY994 or someone running both hubs making it work???? Alarm http://pcpoodle.com/collections/insteon-alarm-system/products/alarmlab-security-controller-with-insteon-plm Main Page http://pcpoodle.com/collections/insteon-alarm-system The best at what? Short and to the point. Best regards, Gary Funk
giesen Posted September 23, 2016 Posted September 23, 2016 I know this is a older thread but I wanted to ask if anyone had considered the pcpoodle alarm system?, I think it would be the best hands down if it would work with a ISY994i and insteon hub/plm running at the same time. if this would work using both I would get one, the designer has some good videos of features and modules that are compatible with Insteon at a fair price but I haven't been able to find anyone using it that has a ISY994 or someone running both hubs making it work???? Alarm http://pcpoodle.com/collections/insteon-alarm-system/products/alarmlab-security-controller-with-insteon-plm Main Page http://pcpoodle.com/collections/insteon-alarm-system Hah, it's a Raspberry Pi (I have that exact case from ModMyPi.com). Definitely not UL© listed hardware. Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk
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