uplink 2500 or 4500EZ?
- Thread starter Ira
- Start date
I didn't think the 2500 was even still available. I would go straight to the 4500ez. I installed one last year. the only problem was the cable that i had to change the connector. The cable comes with the Elk serial m1xsp, but I posted a link on how to cut it and repin it to avoid having to buy another plug. Elk may have a cable now. Look at the updated manual for m1xsp from elks website.
The date given by ATT is 2016. Other carriers are going to be similar.
Weigh the price between the two...2500's can be had usually just upward of $100 and frequently go on sale for a LOT less. I wouldn't buy into the fees they charge to replace the unit once it becomes obsolete. The fees end up adding up to the cost of a new unit. If you can get up and running for that sort of change, I'd personally consider that while the 4G units start to come down in price and the networks are improved.
Investigate what sort of coverage you have for 4G GSM first before jumping. I've had a bunch of accounts with 4530/4550 units and the 4G was marginal but 2-3G is great...they automatically hunt the 4G and when they start flopping over they can start sending random signals (not burg but system supervisiory). I ended up killing those report options as an interim solution. Yes, less than ideal but I didn't have too many other choices and the benefits of having a unit be transparent to the CS is greater.
Weigh the price between the two...2500's can be had usually just upward of $100 and frequently go on sale for a LOT less. I wouldn't buy into the fees they charge to replace the unit once it becomes obsolete. The fees end up adding up to the cost of a new unit. If you can get up and running for that sort of change, I'd personally consider that while the 4G units start to come down in price and the networks are improved.
Investigate what sort of coverage you have for 4G GSM first before jumping. I've had a bunch of accounts with 4530/4550 units and the 4G was marginal but 2-3G is great...they automatically hunt the 4G and when they start flopping over they can start sending random signals (not burg but system supervisiory). I ended up killing those report options as an interim solution. Yes, less than ideal but I didn't have too many other choices and the benefits of having a unit be transparent to the CS is greater.
Well, take what Del said into consideration first, but it was really not much work to do it. Here is the link to that thread:
http://cocoontech.com/forums/topic/24308-uplink-4500ez-serial-connector-pic-need-to-find-the-pin-out/
If you look at the last post, you will see my post with two picture links. Just pull out the pins, cut the connector, and caulk together, let dry, put pins back in in proper order. I had to shave a few of the pumps and what not off sides to get them flush. It took all of 5 min (not including drying time). I spent hours trying to figure out where to get the connector and finally came up with that solution. (I checked radio shack and they did not have them.) Oh, and you don't really need to glue it together, but it made for better, cleaner plug, less likely to pull out.
2016 is only 4 years away. It will come around fast.
http://cocoontech.com/forums/topic/24308-uplink-4500ez-serial-connector-pic-need-to-find-the-pin-out/
If you look at the last post, you will see my post with two picture links. Just pull out the pins, cut the connector, and caulk together, let dry, put pins back in in proper order. I had to shave a few of the pumps and what not off sides to get them flush. It took all of 5 min (not including drying time). I spent hours trying to figure out where to get the connector and finally came up with that solution. (I checked radio shack and they did not have them.) Oh, and you don't really need to glue it together, but it made for better, cleaner plug, less likely to pull out.
2016 is only 4 years away. It will come around fast.
2016 is 2 years away 
That said, the 2016 date isn't a scheduled or calendar event...it's no different than the AMPS sunset. All it means is they're stopping support on the network and it may or may not be functional for a period of time afterwards, even years, because historically, that's what happened with the AMPS network.
Uplink offers the correct cable which would, IMHO be a better solution rather than bashing the connector together.
The issue, at least in my area of the country, is everyone is hung up on 4G this and that....it must be 4G and there's a host of issues that come into play when you're not in a saturated 4G market. The coverage is generally limited to the greater metro areas and still varies widely. That factually affects the performance as the cells end up switching back and forth. Many hours on the phone with Uplink, Honeywell and C24 about this issue.
Not saying it's not coming, but the price offset is pretty large when comparing devices. I know it's a gamble, but I broach the subject on the installs I do...either they buy X or Y. The "guarantee" that Uplink offers, by the time you factor the time involved and costs associated, you're at the price of essentially a new unit anyhow.
That said, the 2016 date isn't a scheduled or calendar event...it's no different than the AMPS sunset. All it means is they're stopping support on the network and it may or may not be functional for a period of time afterwards, even years, because historically, that's what happened with the AMPS network.Uplink offers the correct cable which would, IMHO be a better solution rather than bashing the connector together.
The issue, at least in my area of the country, is everyone is hung up on 4G this and that....it must be 4G and there's a host of issues that come into play when you're not in a saturated 4G market. The coverage is generally limited to the greater metro areas and still varies widely. That factually affects the performance as the cells end up switching back and forth. Many hours on the phone with Uplink, Honeywell and C24 about this issue.
Not saying it's not coming, but the price offset is pretty large when comparing devices. I know it's a gamble, but I broach the subject on the installs I do...either they buy X or Y. The "guarantee" that Uplink offers, by the time you factor the time involved and costs associated, you're at the price of essentially a new unit anyhow.
DELInstallations said:2016 is 2 years away
LOL, Sorry, I guess I was decaffeinated...
Like I said, I had a hard time finding the cable. If i remember right, i called elk or uplink or both, and no one seemed to know what i was talking about, or had a number for cable. The cable splice was easy, but obviously if you are professional installer, I would not recommend that route.
As for 2g/4g, We are in the city, so did not figure it would be issue. And it seems fine. I still need to change cellular from being secondary, to primary dial out. Maybe I will do that tonight, and also try to figure out what is wrong with my kpnav and motions.
Also, i don't remember the price being that different between the two devices. But that was 6-8 months ago so things might have changed. DEL deals with this everyday so he KNOWS his stuff...
I've decided to go with the 2500. I live in a semi-rural area, and I don't have any idea what ATT 4G service is out here (I'm a verizon customer). I think the 2500 will be an easier "proof of concept" for me ("ready-made" serial interface and cable, no need to worry about 4G), and if I can get it all working and get a couple of years of reliable service out of a $100+ device, I'm good with that.
Thanks,
Ira
Thanks,
Ira
FreefallDoug
New Member
Do the UPLINK products only work with ATT?
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