Elk M1 vs. an HAI system

[video321]

Quick question regarding the ELK-M1 and the XEP... If you connect the XEP to a hub/switch/router, can it see Serial-to-IP devices such as a Lantronix or Comtrol?

No.
The XEP is not aware of network devices - it is only used for communications in/out of the panel itself.
Besides, those products typically require software to enable virtual ports.

 

[WayneW]

The XEP is not aware of network devices - it is only used for communications in/out of the panel itself.

But I think the XEP works with the Elk touchscreens & the Elk-IP232 for Russound/Nuvo control, so there might be "some" capabilities there.

 

[electron]

I think the IP232 initiates the connection to the M1XEP, as do the touch screens. The IP232 is a pretty neat device, one of the few ip-serial adapters out there which can run as a client or server.

 

[drvnbysound]

No.
The XEP is not aware of network devices - it is only used for communications in/out of the panel itself.
Besides, those products typically require software to enable virtual ports.

But I think the XEP works with the Elk touchscreens & the Elk-IP232 for Russound/Nuvo control, so there might be "some" capabilities there.

I think the IP232 initiates the connection to the M1XEP, as do the touch screens. The IP232 is a pretty neat device, one of the few ip-serial adapters out there which can run as a client or server.

Thanks for the input guys. I was mainly wondering simply for the idea of not having to purchase multiple XSP's and wire them. I have (2) 4-port Comtrol serial servers that I could have used if that would have worked, which I think would have been a more elegant solution in terms of mounting and wiring in a panel

Thinking along the same process... how many devices (or which ones) do most people have connected directly to their alarm panels vs. a HA controller/machine running CQC/Homeseer, etc? I haven't thought much about this, and was initially thinking to connect most all devices directly to ELK (WGL Rain8, Nuvo, UPB PIM/CIM, etc). However, the more I think about it, it doesnt make much sense to me to connect something like Nuvo to the panel.

 

[electron]

I have 4 XSP's (only 3 in use right now), and they take up very little room using the stacking method.

 

[fcwilt]

Thinking along the same process... how many devices (or which ones) do most people have connected directly to their alarm panels vs. a HA controller/machine running CQC/Homeseer, etc?

In my HomeLogic setup a ELK M1G provides the security part.

HomeLogic has very good support for IR and Serial devices so I have all of those connected to the HomeLogic system.

I do make use of the ELK for "automation" purposes, since it has lots of spare inputs (which I use for sensing the state of other devices) and relay outputs (for controlling other devices) BUT I have no serial devices connected.

The HomeLogic system can respond to the state of the ELK inputs and control the ELK relay outputs so most of the automation "rules" are in the HomeLogic system (not called rules by HomeLogic but "events").

I do have a few rules in the ELK when it made sense to put them there.

But you should feel free to use whatever elements of both systems that make the most sense to you - just try to keep it simple.