I’ve been considering upgrading my home alarm system to an Elk M1 for a couple of months. I discovered this site while doing Google searches for info and feedback on the M1 panel. There appears to be a wealth of info here, with some qualified members. I am hoping you can help me out on a few issues/concerns that I have.
My primary need is for a new alarm panel, but I’m leaning towards the Elk due to its automation/controller capabilities. I am recently retired and I expect to be traveling a lot more so I’m hoping this new system will give me some piece of mind while I’m gone by monitoring my sump pump pit, home temperature, status of my standby automatic generator, etc. At this point I have little in the way of home automation. I have a few X-10 modules for basic lights on/off type of stuff. I expect that to become more of an issue when I have a more sophisticated panel.
Some of the features that I see in the M1 that I need are 16 on board inputs, custom voice messages based upon events, event logger, multiple outputs, etc. The alarm panel functions and the telephone dialing are items that I am very familiar with as I spent over 20 years installing Radionics/Bosch series 8112 & 7400 series control panels. Some of the features that I want in my new control panel are the ability to program and check status via the Internet, from anywhere in the world. I also want the capability to have the panel send me emails upon certain events.
I currently have DSL service in my home with a small wireless router. My ISP provider is AT&T. I use them for my email account. My intent is to have a system that I can log into while traveling, and that will send me emails when there is a problem. My original plan was to buy an M1 with the M1XEP module. However, I’ve been reading many threads here that are making me re-consider. It seems as though setting up the email capability of the M1 is a real challenge. I’ve also read comments that indicate that the M1 can only be accessed from my own internal LAN, rather than from anywhere in the world. I've also read threads that say that it can be accessed from outside my LAN? I’m not a network expert, but I do have a basic understanding of networking. Addressing basic network programming is OK, but if it’s situation where I need to be a network programmer to configure my panel, I’ll need some assistance. I’ve also read some interesting threads touting the advantages of the ISY-99 controller. After doing some basic research on-line about the ISY-99, I’m still not sure how/why it would be helpful to have an ISY-99 if I have a M1.
I have a few questions that I hope someone can help me out with.
Thanks
Tom
My primary need is for a new alarm panel, but I’m leaning towards the Elk due to its automation/controller capabilities. I am recently retired and I expect to be traveling a lot more so I’m hoping this new system will give me some piece of mind while I’m gone by monitoring my sump pump pit, home temperature, status of my standby automatic generator, etc. At this point I have little in the way of home automation. I have a few X-10 modules for basic lights on/off type of stuff. I expect that to become more of an issue when I have a more sophisticated panel.
Some of the features that I see in the M1 that I need are 16 on board inputs, custom voice messages based upon events, event logger, multiple outputs, etc. The alarm panel functions and the telephone dialing are items that I am very familiar with as I spent over 20 years installing Radionics/Bosch series 8112 & 7400 series control panels. Some of the features that I want in my new control panel are the ability to program and check status via the Internet, from anywhere in the world. I also want the capability to have the panel send me emails upon certain events.
I currently have DSL service in my home with a small wireless router. My ISP provider is AT&T. I use them for my email account. My intent is to have a system that I can log into while traveling, and that will send me emails when there is a problem. My original plan was to buy an M1 with the M1XEP module. However, I’ve been reading many threads here that are making me re-consider. It seems as though setting up the email capability of the M1 is a real challenge. I’ve also read comments that indicate that the M1 can only be accessed from my own internal LAN, rather than from anywhere in the world. I've also read threads that say that it can be accessed from outside my LAN? I’m not a network expert, but I do have a basic understanding of networking. Addressing basic network programming is OK, but if it’s situation where I need to be a network programmer to configure my panel, I’ll need some assistance. I’ve also read some interesting threads touting the advantages of the ISY-99 controller. After doing some basic research on-line about the ISY-99, I’m still not sure how/why it would be helpful to have an ISY-99 if I have a M1.
I have a few questions that I hope someone can help me out with.
- Is the M1XEP module stable? Can it be setup correctly by someone with basic network knowledge?
- Will the M1XEP allow me to access my M1 panel from anywhere in the world? Can it send me emails upon certain events occurring?
- Is the ISY-99 a substitute for the M1XEP as far as providing an internet connection to the M1 panel? Can the ISY-99 send me emails based upon events that occur in the M1? Do I need the M1XEP to connect to the internet if I have the ISY-99?
- Is the ISY-99 stable and is it easy to set up?
- Do I need both the ISY-99 and the M1 to accomplish what I want to do?
Thanks
Tom
